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Treatment of nail fungus on the big toe

Nail fungus on big toe

It is recommended that the treatment of fungus on the big toe be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist, even in mild cases of the disease.This recommendation is based on the fact that therapy for onychomycosis (the medical name of this disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and the type of pathogen.

With self-medication, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.

Characteristics of the thumb

Dermatologists consider eliminating the fungus on the nail of the big toe more difficult than on other fingers of the lower extremity.This is because it is large and has a large nail bed.

The structure of the big toe makes onychomycosis difficult to treat

Due to the structural features of finger lesions, they are characterized by the following features:

  • large affected area (large nail);
  • high risk of fungal spores entering the bloodstream (more blood supply).

These features extend the duration of the treatment process.Dermatologists note that the greatest difficulty is eliminating lesions on the thumb when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis.

Stages of a fungal infection

The doctor's recommendation for curing toenail fungus depends on the stage of the disease:

  1. First.The patient does not feel any unpleasant sensations;Barely noticeable streaks or spots appear on the nail plate.The toenail looks healthy and a slight change in color is perceived as a cosmetic defect and not as the first symptom of a mycosis infection.If you detect the infection during this period, you can quickly heal the nail lesion.
    2. Streaks and spots on the big toenail in the first stage of fungal development
  2. Second.The development of a fungus on the thumbnail causes a person mild discomfort.The main symptoms at this stage: unpleasant foot odor and changes in the nail plate.The nail becomes yellowish and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort only bother you if you wear tight or closed shoes.Cure is possible through the external application of antifungal agents;Antifungal tablets are prescribed only if a person's immune system is severely weakened.
    3. Yellow color of the nail plate in the second stage of fungal infection
  3. Third.It is an advanced form of pathology in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When it occurs, other toes are affected and the skin of the feet may become inflamed.The patient fears itching and severe deformation of the nail plate, which thickens and loosens.It is at this time that the sick person is most dangerous for others, since particles of the nail plate with the fungal spores contained on it peel off.At this stage of the disease, nail fungus on the big toe can only be cured with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
    4. Severe deformation of the toenails is a sign of the third advanced stage of the fungus

A dermatologist can advise you on how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the symptoms and signs of the severity of the infection.

Mistakes in self-medication

Nail fungus appeared on my big toe, treatment is constantly being carried out, but there is no result.This can be heard from some patients who were treated independently with the help of antifungal drugs purchased at the pharmacy.

As a rule, patients blame drug manufacturers for mistakes, but in reality, the patient's mistakes are the main reason why the fungus is not cured:

  • Incorrect determination of the degree of pathology.If at the first stage the use of medical varnishes and treatment with nonspecific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide) is sufficient, with severe lesions specific therapy is required.Due to inexperience, a person may limit himself to taking only topical medications when taking pills is necessary.
  • Incorrect assessment of the treatment process.There are many pathogens that cause fungal infections and most medications for external use have a broad spectrum of action.However, the remedy for the fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis has developed.The key to the effectiveness of therapy will be the timely replacement of the drug with a drug from another group, but most people do not take this into account and continue to use purchased ointments or sprays in vain.
  • Irregularity of therapy.To cure nail fungus on the big toe, treatment must be carried out daily.Regular removal of nail plate detachments and the use of medications prevent the progression of onychomycosis and contribute to the destruction of fungal spores.Avoiding external treatments disrupts the inhibition of mycosis growth and slows down the healing process.
  • Poor hygiene.A fungus on the big toe is dangerous not only for others, but also for the patient: microspores of the pathogen remain on clothing and shoes.Wearing slippers on bare feet or rarely changing socks promotes self-infection and has a negative impact on the course of treatment.When carrying out antifungal therapy, you should always wear clean socks made from natural materials, even at home.
To avoid the spread of fungal microspores, you should not walk barefoot at home.

Important!

How advanced toenail fungus should be treated in each individual case is determined individually after the type of pathogenic microorganism has been determined in the laboratory.

Review of medicines

Depending on the form of release, preparations for toenail fungus are divided into the following groups:

  • varnishes;
  • ointments and sprays;
  • pills;
  • Nail plate remover.

Lucky

Varnishes are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and are recommended not only for the treatment of the initial stage of the disease, but also for the prevention of onychomycosis.The drugs have an antiseptic effect and help soften the areas affected by the fungus.

The use of medical varnish for the treatment and prevention of onychomycosis of the big toe

The drugs act on certain groups of pathogens, destroying spores and suppressing the growth of mycotic colonies.The varnish is applied to a clean nail plate and left for a long time after drying.

Ointments and sprays

Topical products are available over the counter in pharmacies and their use rarely causes side effects.After cleaning and treating the nail, apply to the affected surface and surrounding skin.Lubrication of the affected areas is carried out 1-2 times a day and therapy can last from several months to a year (depending on the severity of the pathology).

The drugs have different effects in suppressing the growth of mycocolonies, but they all have good therapeutic properties.

Tablets

Oral medications are used in advanced forms of the disease when there is a risk of mycotic spores entering the bloodstream.The drug is transported throughout the body via the bloodstream and helps eliminate deep tissue damage.Taking pills is always prescribed in combination with taking external agents.

It is not recommended to prescribe the treatment of fungal infections of the extremities when you need to take tablets.If when using drugs externally, an error in the selection of a drug leads only to the ineffectiveness of treatment, then when taken internally, such an error leads to the development of dysbiosis and additional suppression of a weakened immune system.

When considering what and how to treat if you need to take tablets, it is better to trust the competence of the doctor.

The selection of medication is individual and takes into account not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the presence of contraindications and possible side effects.All medications have an inhibitory effect on the development of fungal colonies and can be taken over a longer period of time.

Nail remover

If the nail plate is severely damaged, it must be removed for treatment to be successful.However, removing a nail from the nail bed is always painful and can cause disability.In the absence of special instructions, it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way and with plasticizers.

The most popular are:

  • A product that is applied to the affected areas in the evening and left to act overnight.In the morning you need to remove the compress, remove all peeled plates and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The process is repeated daily until the affected structures are completely removed.
  • An antifungal plaster is glued to a clean and, if possible, free of peeling nail plate, left for 10-12 hours and in the morning the nail is removed with nail scissors.For most patients, one session is enough to completely remove the nail.However, in some cases, multiple procedures may be required to achieve the effect.

In mild cases of fungal infections on the big toes, a properly selected drug is sufficient for treatment, but in advanced pathologies, combination therapy is required (drugs for internal and external use are prescribed).

home remedies

The use of home remedies as self-therapy has a good effect in the early stages of the disease.

Non-medical means you can use:

  • Potato peels.Bring to the boil in plenty of water without cleaning salt.Drain the water, use it to steam your feet and mash the scrubs into a puree.After steaming the nails in the cleansing water, apply the puree to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.After completing the procedure, rinse the pulp with warm water and put on clean socks.
  • Coffee.Brew ground coffee or instant coffee solid with boiling water and let it cool to a moderately hot temperature.Take a foot bath with coffee for 15 minutes, then rinse your feet and lubricate them with moisturizer.
  • Garlic.Mix a pulp of 3-4 cloves of garlic with a tablespoon of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture to a gauze pad and use it for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
  • Kombucha.Mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed into areas affected by the fungus.

At an early stage of the disease, these available funds help to fight the fungus, and in advanced forms of pathology they are recommended to be used as an adjunct to drug therapy.

Due to the structure of the toe, treating fungus on the nail of the big toe takes a long time.The doctor will help you choose the appropriate therapy, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient carries out the treatments.