The initial stage of nail fungus

The initial stage of nail fungus (onychomycosis) occurs without obvious symptoms.Small changes in the appearance of the nail plate are observed, minimal discomfort is possible, so diagnosing the disease at this stage is rather difficult.

Symptoms: What do nail fungus look like in the early stage?

The first signs of nail mycosis appear almost immediately after infection.If, after visiting public places such as the swimming pool, sauna, shower at the gym or the beach, your nails become dull and start to itch slightly, these may be the first signs of onychomycosis.

Healthy nails are practically not susceptible to fungal infections.It begins to develop rapidly when it only comes into contact with damaged nails.

In my arms

Nail fungus is diagnosed most often in women, but men are also susceptible to this disease.

The first symptoms of damage to the nail plate:

• the surface of the nail becomes dull;
• spots appear, often white;
• the nail begins to change shade, first it becomes yellow, then it becomes gray or brown;
• the nail begins to crumble at the edges, becomes brittle and flakes;
• the skin around the plaque may begin to peel and swell, but in the initial stage of the disease this rarely happens.

Standing

You can recognize toenail fungus by typical symptoms:

• the top or side of the nail begins to turn yellow;
• the nail plate gradually thickens;
• the nail plate becomes dull, the base is not visible through it;
• the nail begins to detach from the nail bed;
• there is a slight itching in the fingers;
• there is an unpleasant foot odor.

If treatment is not started promptly, stage 1 onychomycosis progresses rapidly.As a result, the nail becomes deformed and may come off completely.Poisonous toxins released during the life of pathogenic fungi enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.This leads to a deterioration of metabolic processes and dysfunction of internal organs.

Important!Start treating nail mycosis at the first symptoms of the disease.

Treatment of the initial stage of the fungus

In most cases, to treat the initial stage of onychomycosis, drugs that have a local effect directly on the affected nail are sufficient.For more advanced stages, tablets and injections are prescribed.

Folk remedies are used to treat nails at home.It is better to combine them with externally acting pharmacological drugs.

Folk remedies

There are many folk remedies that will help cure nails affected by fungus in the initial stage.Let's look at effective yet simple recipes.

1. Iodine: apply 1 drop of 5% iodine daily to the affected nails until the symptoms disappear.The procedure is performed in the morning and also in the evening.More material on iodine treatment.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of iodine, vinegar, glycerin and dilute with 6 teaspoons of water.Rub your nails with the resulting mixture for 10 days in a row.The composition on the nail plate should be left overnight.
3. Vinegar: Prepare a bath by diluting 1 part 9% vinegar with 8 parts warm water.Soak your feet or hands for 20 minutes.Perform 7 procedures every other day.More material on the treatment of vinegar.
4. Egg ointment: Place a raw chicken egg in the shell in a glass and fill it to the brim with 9% vinegar.When the shell melts, remove the remaining film and mix the egg with the vinegar.Apply the resulting mixture twice a day to the affected areas for 2-3 weeks.
5. Hydrogen peroxide – dilute 2 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 2 liters of water.Steam the arms or legs, depending on where the mushroom is located, for 20 minutes.Repeat the procedure for 7-10 consecutive days.
6. Peroxide compress: Soak a cotton ball with peroxide and apply it to nails that show signs of fungus.Before that, the hands or feet should be steamed in a soda bath.To prepare it, 1 teaspoon of soda is diluted in 1 liter of water.The top of the compress is wrapped in cellophane or cling film and left for 60 minutes.This is necessary so that the peroxide does not evaporate.Repeat the procedure for 10-14 days, twice a day.
7. Propolis tincture: soak a cotton ball in 20% alcoholic propolis tincture and apply to the affected areas.Store the lotion until the composition dries.Repeat daily until recovery.1-2 procedures per day are enough.
8. Washing powder is a suitable method for treating toenails.It is necessary to dissolve 100 g of detergent, which contains a lot of alkali, in 2 liters of water.Keep your feet in this bath for 15 minutes.Repeat 10-14 procedures until symptoms disappear.
9. Garlic – cut a peeled clove of garlic, dip it in salt and then rub it on the nail plate.Repeat twice a day until symptoms disappear.
10. Ammonia – dilute 1 tablespoon of ammonia in 1 glass of water.Cotton fabric is impregnated with the resulting solution.You need to wrap your legs or arms with it and leave this compress overnight.Repeat the procedure for 7 days every day.
11. Onion: Chop the onion to a paste-like consistency and apply to affected nails for 30 minutes.Repeat twice daily until recovery.

12. Mix chamomile, sage, mint, you can take dry or fresh herbs.Place the resulting mixture in a sock or glove overnight.Herbs need to be changed every evening.Repeat the procedure in combination with other recipes until the symptoms of the fungus disappear.
13. Boric acid: Cotton swabs soaked in boric acid are applied to pre-steamed nails.You need to keep the lotion for 30 minutes.The procedure is repeated for 10 consecutive days every day.
14. Celandine and tea tree oils: mix these products in equal proportions, soak a gauze bandage with the resulting mixture and apply it to the nails for 20 consecutive days for 45 minutes.The recipe is contraindicated for pregnant women.
15. Soda: Dilute the baking soda with a small amount of water to a paste-like consistency.Apply it on your nails for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water for 10-12 days, twice a day.
16. Apple cider vinegar: dilute it with olive oil.The required proportion is 2 parts vinegar to 1 part oil.Apply the mixture to the affected nails until the nail grows out completely.
17. Tea tree oil: Apply a couple of drops of oil to your nails until the fungus-affected areas of the nail plate grow out completely.
18. Willow – chop 500 g of young willow shoots, add 2 liters of water, bring to the boil.Take foot baths or foot baths three times a week from the prepared decoction for 20 minutes until recovery.
19. Nettle – infuse 3 tablespoons of nettle leaves in 400 ml of water.Soak cotton swabs with this decoction and apply them on your nails twice a day until recovery.
20. Grind the rowan leaves and apply a thick layer on the nails, then wrap them with cling film for 30 minutes.Repeat the procedure every day for 12-14 days.

Before using folk remedies, it is necessary to check whether there is an individual intolerance to the components of the recipes.

Medicines

After it was possible to recognize the type of fungus that affected the nail, the doctor selects drugs that will help destroy it.It is more convenient to treat the initial stage of onychomycosis with local agents: varnishes, ointments and creams.Let's look at the most effective drugs.

Paints for mycosis

They are effective precisely in stage 1 of mycosis, when no more than 50% of the surface of the nail plate is affected.This product is convenient to apply and adheres well to the nail, thanks to which the active ingredients penetrate deep into the affected nail and do not wear off.

The most popular paints:

1. Ciclopirox is active against 58 varieties of fungi.The paint is applied every other day.If the symptoms do not disappear within 1 month, the number of uses is reduced to 2 times a week.During the 3rd and subsequent months of therapy, the paint is applied once a week.Side effects of this remedy include hives and itching.It is contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under 10 years of age.
2. Amorolfine: destroys many mushrooms.Apply to affected areas of the nail twice a week until they grow out.Not prescribed to children, pregnant women or nursing mothers.The use of this product may increase the fragility of the nails.

Antifungal ointments and creams

Contains an optimal concentration of active ingredients to fight fungi.

List of effective drugs:

1. Naftifine, apply 2 times a day until the affected nail grows, then continue use for another 2 weeks to consolidate the result.Side effects: itching is possible, which disappears quickly.Contraindications: pregnancy, age under 12 years.
2. Ketoconazole is an ointment that quickly stops the growth of fungi.You need to apply it on the affected nails until they grow back twice a day.Side effects: allergies.Contraindications for use – presence of cracks or damage on the nails.
3. Clotrimazole, which kills all types of fungi.The duration of treatment is one month.The cream is applied daily three times a day.No side effects have been identified.Contraindications: pregnancy.

Before each application of varnishes, ointments and creams, the nail must be prepared.To do this, it is steamed, after which it is cut as much as possible.You should try removing the affected areas with a nail file.For each nail you need to use an individual tool.

In rare cases, when the disease progresses very rapidly, the doctor may prescribe pills.Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Terbinafine have an antifungal effect.

Prevention

Always follow preventive measures that will eliminate or at least minimize the likelihood of nail fungus infection.

Simple tips will help:

• Do not go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools or saunas.In such establishments you should always wear your slippers, which you should not allow anyone to use.
• Wear comfortable shoes made from natural materials.It should not press, rub, cause discomfort or damage the nail plate or the skin around the nail.
• Don't wear other people's shoes.In stores, try on shoes with socks only.
• For manicures and pedicures, bring your own set of tools, which will need to be disinfected regularly.
• Maintain good hygiene.After water procedures, always dry your feet and hands.
• Strengthen your immune system, regularly take vitamins and mineral complexes.
• If cracks appear on the nails and wounds on the skin around the nail plate, they must be treated urgently.

No one is immune from mycosis.Even if you practice good hygiene and try to eliminate the possibility of infection, if you notice symptoms typical of a fungus, consult a doctor immediately.The sooner you start treating onychomycosis, the less damage it will cause to the body.Don't self-medicate;only a qualified doctor can prescribe an effective therapeutic cycle.If you try to treat the initial stage of the fungus yourself, the disease may progress.