Currently, about 25% of the world's population suffers from fungal infections. The disease is often expressed on the feet. Nail fungus on the big toe brings many unpleasant moments, depriving a person of a normal and quiet life. In addition, it can spread to neighboring areas. How to cure fungus on the thumb? Which medications are most effective? The answers to these questions are in our article.
Reasons for submission
A fungus on the skin of the thumb can be caught in public places (baths, saunas, swimming pools, water parks and other institutions where people walk barefoot). It should be noted that fungal spores often enter the skin of humans, but not all are infected. For infection to occur, the microorganism must enter the skin cells, gain a base there, and begin to multiply. This is alleviated by wounds and microcracks. We may not see them, but for mushrooms they are open doors.
It is also possible to become infected with it if one of the family members is already infected with fungal infections. This is noticed if people do not follow the rules of personal hygiene, use a shared towel, sleep in the same bed, have common shoes and socks.
The threat of fungal infection in public places is reduced if a person has a strong immune system.
Thumbnail fungus can appear even after you have tried the shoes in stores or in the market, if you do it with bare feet.
Other factors contributing to fungal infection:
- Lack of foot hygiene.
- Excessive sweating (sweat is an excellent breeding ground for fungi).
- Flat feet.
- Wearing tight shoes.
- Old age (over the years, blood circulation in humans is disturbed, immunity weakens).
- Performing a pedicure with instruments that have not been disinfected.
Most often, the fungus first appears on the skin of the thumb, as it is easier for it to develop in the soft layers of the dermis. If the disease is not treated, it goes to the nails. However, in some cases, onychomycosis is the main disease, and already from the affected nail plate, microorganisms spread to the skin.
signs
The microorganisms that infect the nail plate secrete enzymes that contribute to its destruction. Thus, the fungus prepares the space for its own reproduction and growth of colonies. The symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.
Mycosis of the skin is manifested by severe itching. This is the first sign. Then a bubble appears, filled with slight exudates. The bubble bursts and a deep crack is created in its place. It is extremely painful, it even hurts to walk in shoes. In addition, the wound continues to itch. Dry and cracked skin forms around it. Cracking can be cured, but it soon reappears.
At first, the disease does not appear on the nail plate. It is possible to suspect by spots and distinct white streaks that there is a nail fungus on the thumb. The photo above shows what the affected area looks like.
In the second stage, the nail fades (sometimes turns yellow), thickens considerably and bends. It can often grow on the skin, causing pain during walking and local inflammation.
In the third stage of onychomycosis, the nail is released, it hurts to cut it. In some patients, it may melt from the skin. At this stage, the patient poses a considerable threat to others, as his nail plate becomes a container for fungal spores, which spread easily over the surface.
Distribution
Onychomycosis has three stages:
- The first is that there is no change in texture, tone modifications are not quite noticeable: streaks, spots may appear.
- Second - the plaque turns yellow, ceases to shine, an unpleasant odor comes from the feet.
- Third - the plate loses its structure, becomes loose, exfoliates from the nail bed.
From the color of the nail, you can tell which mushroom has caught it:
- Yellow spots indicate a dermatophyte lesion, while the changes are limited to the areas in the center of the plaque and along the edges.
- The location of the changes along the edges and the discard indicate damage by yeast family fungi.
- Plaque darkening indicates lack of blood circulation in the finger and adhesion of the fungus.
Treatment
The success of nail fungus treatment depends entirely on how quickly it starts. In the initial stages, local remedies can help cure mycosis, and only surgical therapy can help in subsequent stages and an ingrained nail.
medicaments
Fungi on the fingernail are treated with special varnishes, ointments and medications taken orally. In the initial stages, the disease can be cured within 1-2 months, in the later stages it can last six months or even a year.
Lucky
The action of therapeutic varnishes is accompanied by a softening of the plaque and a disinfectant result. The varnish penetrates the nail plate and destroys the fungus.
Ointments, lotions and sprays
Such drugs are used for dermatomycosis and onychomycosis. They are quite effective and side effects are extremely rare. It is recommended to apply these funds once or twice a day.
Oral preparations
Tablets for the treatment of big toe mold are used in the later stages. With mycosis, only complex treatment can help. Oral preparations include tablets and capsules.
How to Remove a Nail |
With a fungus on the thumb, removing the nail plate can give an effective result. To do this, use tools that help soften nails: patches, ointments, lotions.
Hardware pedicure
This is not a cosmetic procedure, but a medical one. Perform it in medical institutions. Hardware pedicure is done with a special nozzle with a grinding layer. With the help of this procedure, you can get rid of the fungus on the thumb. The photo shows the application of a hardware pedicure.
How is the procedure:
- The affected area is disinfected.
- Soften with special medicines.
- Remove the outer layer with the nozzle.
The procedure is performed very carefully, gradually removing the layers. If the healthy part of the nail is affected, this can provoke further spread of the fungus.
The advantages of this method include:
- Quick elimination of affected parts of the nail.
- Lack of pain.
- Obtaining good permeability to ointments and medical varnishes.
But this type of pedicure has disadvantages:
- Allergic reactions may occur.
- There is a risk of infection.
Laser
Laser technologies are far more promising than other methods of removing fungi. The beam heats up towards the point and destroys harmful microorganisms without affecting healthy tissues.
Laser nail plate removal takes a few minutes. If more than one finger is infected, the laser procedure will take longer. To remove a nail with the fungus, it may take several sessions, depending on the degree of damage. Healthy nails will only grow after six months.
Surgery
With this type of procedure, the diseased nail is completely removed. Use this method only in cases where other methods can not help to get rid of the disease. Removal of the nail in the thumb can destroy the fungus only if after the operation the patient undergoes complex treatment prescribed by the doctor.
The operation is contraindicated:
- People with poor blood clotting.
- Having infectious diseases and other diseases in the acute phase.
- Intolerant to anesthesia.
- Suffers from diabetes.
- Those with immune diseases.
- With dilated veins and permeable capillaries.
How the operation is performed
The procedure itself is painless for the patient, as it is performed under anesthesia. The nails and skin around it are treated with iodine. The doctor inserts a special tool under the nail plate and isolates it from the skin. If a small area of the nail is affected, only that part is removed.
After the procedure, the antibiotic medicine is applied to the wound and bandaged. The healing process takes several weeks. Requires connection. The process of growing a new nail can take several months.
Possible consequences:
- Incision, pain after the procedure.
- Infection.
- Irregular nail growth.
recovery
Usually, the doctor gives personalized advice on wound care. However, there are some general tips:
- Bed rest after surgery for at least 1 month.
- An open wound should be treated regularly, new sterile dressings applied and medications (ointments, lotions) used.
- After the procedure, the doctor prescribes medication (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal).
prevention
To reduce the risk of onychomycosis infection, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Fungi can be infected in the beauty salon. This occurs in case of insufficient sterilization of manicure-pedicure instruments. You should visit salons that have a good reputation and a large number of positive reviews.
- Accessories for a pedicure performed at home, it is advised to have your own, and not to use strangers.
- If your feet sweat a lot, you should sprinkle them with talcum powder or powder and also wipe them dry after taking a bath or shower.
- It is recommended to take vitamins that increase immunity.
- Frequent pedicure surgeries dilute the nail plate, breaking its structure, which contributes to fungal infection.
- Acetone nail polish remover can also damage the nail plate.
- It is forbidden to wear someone else's shoes.
- Drying towel should be personal.
- Cracks in the feet are a risk condition for the appearance of mycosis, so they should be treated in a timely manner.
Folk remedies
Those who are interested in how to treat a fungus on the thumb should remember that there are methods of traditional medicine that also show good results.
Most often use such recipes:
- Vinegar-based table lotions. Take half a glass of water, glycerin and vinegar, mix. In the resulting liquid, a gauze napkin is wetted and applied to the nails affected by the fungus for 25 minutes. The procedure should be performed 2 times a day.
- Bathroom with coffee. Boil the coffee (preferably natural) in such a way that the drink comes out strong, then wait until it cools down a bit. The legs should be lowered into the mixture for 25 minutes. The operation is required to be performed daily for 5 days.
- Jodi. It is a cheap medicine, but it is considered a strong antiseptic. They lubricate the affected areas with a cotton swab. It is necessary to perform the procedure for a week, then make a gap of 7 days and start the course again.
- Sea salt bath. Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of warm water and soak your feet in it for 20 minutes.
- Horseradish bandage. It is necessary to take fresh horseradish roots, grind them on a fine grater. One teaspoon of ground mass is enough for a compress. It is necessary to apply a bandage at night.
- Compress and wash with potatoes. You need potato peelings. They should be washed and boiled, pureed. The liquid in which the cleansers are cooked should be used for bathing. After that, the prepared puree is applied to the affected nails. Bandage. When the product has cooled, rub the internal grease on the nails.
Folk remedies have effect only in the initial stages of the disease. They can be used as prophylaxis and in complex therapies.
evaluations
People suffering from foot fungus write that ointments, varnishes, sprays and any other external agent only help with fungus in the initial stage. They are not suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis, as they are not able to kill all fungal spores. Therefore, during treatment, after a noticeable improvement, relapses will certainly occur.
Patients are advised not to spare shoes, socks, tights and throw them away during or after therapy.
Also, patients are advised to walk home with socks on all the time to those persons who have been caught by the mold. Otherwise, fungal spores will spread throughout the apartment.
According to those who are trying to get rid of nail fungus, this disease is very difficult to treat. The course of therapy should be long. The most effective means for oral use, but all have many negative reactions and contraindications.
All patients are unanimous that it is better to follow preventive measures than to treat the disease.