Treatment of thumb fungus, even in mild forms of the disease, is recommended to be done under the supervision of a dermatologist.This recommendation is based on the fact that therapy for onychomycosis (this is the medical name of the 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 get rid of toenail fungus compared to other toes of the lower limb.This is due to its large size and large nail bed.
According to the structural features of finger lesions, they differ in the following features:
- large affected area (big nail);
- there is a high risk of fungal spores entering the bloodstream (more abundant blood supply).
These different features increase the duration of the treatment process.Dermatologists note that when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis, the biggest difficulty is to remove the lesions of the thumb.
Stages of fungal infection
The doctor's advice on how to treat nail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:
- First.The patient does not experience any unpleasant sensations;barely noticeable streaks or spots appear on the nail plate.The toenail looks healthy, and a slight change in color is not considered the first symptoms of a mycosis infection, but a cosmetic defect.Detecting the infection in this period allows to quickly treat the nail damage.
- Second.The development of fungus on the thumbnail causes a person a little discomfort.The main symptoms at this stage: unpleasant smell from the feet and changes in the nail plate.The nail becomes yellowish and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort only bothers you when you wear tight or closed shoes.Treatment is possible with the external use of antifungal agents;anti-fungal tablets are prescribed only if a person has a severely weakened immune system.
- the third.It is considered an advanced form of pathology in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When this happens, other toes are affected and the skin on the feet can become infected.The patient is worried about itching, severe deformation of the nail plate, thickening and loosening.At this time, the sick person is the most dangerous for others, because the particles of the nail plate are peeled off with the fungal spores they contain.At this stage of the disease, nail fungus on the thumb can be treated only with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
A dermatologist can advise on how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the signs and symptoms of the severity of the infection.
Self-medication errors
I have a nail fungus on my big toe, the treatment is ongoing, but there is no result.This can be heard from some patients who are 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 fact, the main reason why the fungus does not heal is the patient's mistakes:
- Incorrect determination of the pathological degree.If for the first stage it is enough to use medicated varnishes and treat with non-specific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide), special therapy is needed for severe injuries.Due to inexperience, a person may be limited to using only external drugs when it is necessary to take pills.
- Incorrect evaluation of the treatment process.There are many causative agents of fungal infections, and most of the drugs for external use have a wide spectrum of action.However, the remedy for fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis develops.The key to the effectiveness of therapy will be 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 without any results.
- Irregularity of therapy.Treating toenail fungus should be done daily.Regular removal of nail plates and the use of drugs will prevent the development of onychomycosis and help destroy fungal spores.Skipping external treatment inhibits the growth of mycoses and slows down the healing process.
- Poor hygiene.The fungus on the thumb 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 infrequently changing socks encourages self-infection and adversely affects the healing process.During antimycotic therapy, even at home, you should always wear clean socks made of natural fabrics.
It is important!
How to treat nail fungus developed in a particular situation is determined individually after laboratory methods determine the type of pathogenic microorganism.
Drug review
Preparations for toenail fungus are divided into the following groups according to the release form:
- lacquers;
- ointments and sprays;
- pills;
- nail plate remover.
Lucky
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 the areas affected by the fungus.
Medicines affect certain groups of pathogens, destroy spores and suppress the growth of mycotic colonies.Varnish is applied to a clean nail plate and is kept for a long time after drying.
Ointments and sprays
Products for external use are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, and their use rarely causes negative reactions.After cleaning and treating the nail, apply it to the affected surface and the surrounding skin.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).
Drugs have different effects in suppressing the growth of mycocolonies, but they all have good therapeutic properties.
Tablets
Oral drugs are used for advanced forms of the disease, when there is a risk of mycotic spores entering the bloodstream.The drug is carried throughout the body by the bloodstream and helps to repair deep tissue damage.Taking pills is always prescribed in conjunction with the use of external agents.
If you need to take pills, it is not recommended to prescribe how to treat fungal infections of the extremities.When using drugs externally, an error in drug selection will only lead to the ineffectiveness of treatment, while when taken internally, such an error will lead to 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 authority 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 drugs have an inhibitory effect on the development of mycotic colonies and they can be taken for a long time.
Nail polish removers
In case of serious damage to the nail plate, it is necessary to remove it for the success of the treatment.But removing a nail from the nail bed is always painful and can cause disability.If there are no special indications, it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way using emollients.
The most popular are:
- A product that is applied to the affected areas in the evening and left overnight.In the morning, it is necessary to remove the compress, clean all the peeled plates and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The procedure is repeated daily until the complete removal of the affected structures is completed.
- An antifungal patch is applied to a clean and maximally unpeeled nail plate and left for 10-12 hours, and in the morning it is removed with nail scissors.For most patients, 1 session is enough to completely peel off the nail, but in some cases, several procedures may be required to achieve the effect.
In mild cases of fungal infections of the big toes, a correctly selected drug is sufficient for treatment, but in advanced pathologies, combination therapy is necessary (drugs for internal and external use are prescribed).
Home treatment
Using home remedies as self-treatment has a good effect in the early stages of the disease.
Non-drug remedies you can use:
- Potato peels.Boil in plenty of salted water.Drain the water and use it to steam your feet and puree the peels.After steaming the nails in cleaning water, apply the paste on the damaged areas for 15-20 minutes.After completing the procedure, wash the pulp with warm water and put on clean socks.
- Coffee.Steep the cake or instant coffee with boiling water and cool to medium-hot.Take a foot bath with coffee for 15 minutes, then wash and moisturize your feet.
- garlic.Mix the pulp of 3-4 cloves of garlic with a spoonful of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture on a gauze pad and use it for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
- Kombucha.Mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed on areas affected by the fungus.
In the early stage of the disease, these available tools will help defeat the fungus, and in advanced forms of the pathology, it is recommended to use them in addition to drug therapy.
Fungus on the nail of the big toe, due to the structure of the toe, is treated for a long time.The doctor will help you choose the appropriate therapy, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient performs the treatment procedures.