The treatment of fungus on the thumb, even in mild cases of the disease, is recommended to be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist.This recommendation is based on the fact that therapy for onychomycosis (this is the medical name of this disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and the type of pathogen.
When self-medicating, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.
Characteristics of the thumb
Dermatologists consider it more difficult to eliminate fungus on the nail of the big toe compared to other fingers of the lower limb.This is due to the fact that it is large in size and has a large nail bed.
Due to the structural features of finger lesions, they are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- large affected area (big nail);
- high risk of fungal spores entering the bloodstream (more abundant blood supply).
These distinctive features increase the duration of the treatment process.Dermatologists note that when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis, the greatest difficulty is in eliminating the lesions of the thumb.
Stages of fungal infection
The doctor's recommendation on how to cure toenail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:
- First.The patient does not experience any unpleasant sensations;barely visible lines 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 symptoms of mycosis infection.Detecting the infection during this period allows you to quickly cure the nail lesion.
- Secondly.The development of miniature mushrooms causes little discomfort to a person.The main symptoms at this stage: unpleasant smell from the feet and changes in the nail plate.The nail turns yellow and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort only bother you when you wear tight or closed shoes.Healing is possible with the external use of antifungal agents;Anti-fungal tablets are prescribed only if a person has a severely weakened immune system.
- Thirdly.It is considered an advanced form of pathology, in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When it happens, other toes are affected and the skin of the feet can become infected.The patient is worried about itching, severe deformation of the nail plate, which thickens and loosens.At this time, the sick person is the most dangerous for others due to the fact that the particles of the nail plate with the fungal spores contained in it are removed.At this stage of the disease, nail fungus on the thumb can only be cured with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
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.
Self-medication errors
A nail fungus has appeared on my thumb, the treatment is constantly being carried out, but there is no result.This can be heard from some patients who have been treated independently with the help of antifungal agents purchased at the pharmacy.
As a rule, patients begin to blame drug manufacturers for failures, but in reality the main reason why the fungus does not heal is the patient's mistakes:
- Incorrect determination of the degree of pathology.If for the first stage it is enough to use medicated varnishes and treatment with non-specific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide), then for severe lesions specific therapy is necessary.Due to inexperience, a person may be limited to using only external medications when it is necessary to take pills.
- Incorrect evaluation of the treatment process.There are many causative agents of fungal infections and most medications for external use have a broad spectrum of action.But the medicine for the fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis has developed.The key to the effectiveness of the therapy will be the timely replacement of drugs with a drug from another group, but most people do not take this into account and continue to use purchased ointments or sprays to no avail.
- Irregularity of therapy.To cure toenail fungus, the treatment should be done daily.Regular removal of nail plate detachments and the use of medications will prevent the progression of onychomycosis and help destroy fungal spores.Avoiding external treatment disrupts the inhibition of fungal growth and slows down the healing process.
- Poor hygiene.Fungus on the big toe is dangerous not only for others, but also for the patient: microspores of the pathogen remain on clothes and shoes.Wearing slippers on bare feet or rarely changing socks promotes self-infection and negatively affects the treatment process.When performing antifungal therapy, you should constantly wear clean socks made of natural fabrics, even at home.
Important!
The method of treatment of advanced toenail fungus in a particular case is determined individually, since laboratory methods have determined the type of pathogenic microorganism.
Drug review
Preparations for toenail fungus are divided into the following groups according to the form of release:
- varnish;
- ointments and sprays;
- pills;
- nail plate remover.
With luck
Varnishes are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, and they are recommended for use not only in the treatment of the initial stage of the disease, but also for the prevention of onychomycosis.Medicines have an antiseptic effect and help soften areas affected by fungi.
Medicines act on certain groups of pathogens, destroying spores and suppressing the growth of fungal colonies.The varnish is applied to a clean nail plate and after drying is left for a long time.
Ointments and sprays
Products for external use are available without a prescription in pharmacies and their use rarely causes unwanted reactions.Apply after cleaning and treating the nail to the affected surface and the skin nearby.Lubrication of the affected areas is carried out 1-2 times a day, and the therapy can last from several months to a year (depending on the severity of the pathology).
The drugs have different effects on suppressing the growth of mycocolonies, but all of them have good therapeutic properties.
tablets
Oral medications are used for advanced forms of the disease, when there is a risk of fungal spores entering the blood.The drug is carried through the bloodstream throughout the body and helps eliminate deep tissue damage.Taking pills is always prescribed in combination with the use of external agents.
It is not recommended to determine how to treat fungal infections of the extremities if you need to take pills.If, when using drugs externally, a mistake in the choice of a drug will only cause the ineffectiveness of the treatment, then when taken internally, such a mistake will cause the development of dysbiosis and additional suppression of a weakened immune system.
In the question of what and how to treat, if you need to take pills, it is better to trust the competence of the doctor.
Medicines are selected individually and take into account not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the presence of contraindications, as well as possible side effects.All medications have an inhibitory effect on the development of fungal colonies and they can be taken for a long time.
Remove the nails
In case of severe damage to the nail plate, it must be removed for the success of the treatment.But removing a nail from the nail bed is always painful and can lead to disability.If there are no special instructions, then it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way, using softening agents.
The most popular are:
- A product that is applied to the affected areas in the evening and left overnight.In the morning you need to remove the compress, clean all the peeling plates and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The procedure is repeated every day until the complete removal of the affected structures.
- An antifungal patch is attached to a clean and maximally skin-free nail plate and left for 10-12 hours, and in the morning the nail is removed with scissors.For most patients, 1 session is enough to completely remove the nail, but in some cases several procedures may be required to achieve the effect.
In mild cases of fungal infections on the big toes, a properly selected medication is enough to treat, but in advanced pathologies, combined therapy is necessary (medications for internal and external use are prescribed).
Home remedies
The use of home remedies as self-therapy has a good effect in the initial stages of the disease.
Non-medicinal means you can use:
- Potato peeling.Boil in plenty of water without cleaning salt.Drain the water and use it to steam the legs, and grind the peels into a puree.After steaming the nails in the cleaning water, apply the paste to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.After the procedure, rinse the pulp with warm water and put on clean socks.
- Coffee.Steep ground or instant coffee with boiling water and cool to moderately hot.Take a coffee foot bath for 15 minutes and then rinse your feet and apply moisturizer.
- Garlic.Mix a pulp of 3-4 cloves of garlic with a tablespoon of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture to a gauze and use for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
- Kombucha.Mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed into the areas affected by the fungus.
At an early stage of the disease, these available tools will help defeat the fungus, and in advanced forms of the pathology they are recommended to be used as an adjunct to drug therapy.
Toenail fungus, due to the structure of the toe, takes a long time to treat.The doctor will help you choose the right therapy, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient performs the treatment procedures.