Initial stage of nail fungus

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

Symptoms: what does nail fungus look like in the initial stage?

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

Healthy nails are practically not susceptible to fungal infection.It begins to develop quickly when it comes into contact only with damaged nail plates.

In my arms

Toenail fungus is diagnosed more 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 falls;
• the skin around the plaque may begin to peel and swell, but in the initial stage of the disease this rarely happens.

At my feet

You can recognize toenail fungus by the 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 peel off from the nail bed;
• there is a slight itching of the fingers;
• there is an unpleasant smell of the feet.

If treatment is not started in time, stage 1 onychomycosis progresses rapidly.As a result, the nail is deformed and can completely peel off.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 the treatment of mycosis of the nails at the first symptoms of the disease.

Treatment of the initial stage of fungus

In most cases, to treat the early stage of onychomycosis, medications that have a local effect directly on the affected nail are sufficient.Tablets and injections are prescribed for more advanced stages.

Folk remedies are used to treat nails at home.It is better to combine them with pharmacological drugs for external action.

Folk remedies

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

1. Iodine – apply 1 drop of 5% iodine to the affected nail daily until symptoms disappear.The procedure is carried out in the morning and in the evening.More material about iodine treatment.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of iodine, vinegar, glycerin and dilute with 6 teaspoons of water.Rub the 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 in it for 20 minutes.Perform 7 procedures every other day.More material about vinegar treatment.
4. Ointment for eggs - put a raw chicken egg in the shell in a glass and fill to the top with 9% vinegar.When the peel dissolves, remove the remaining film and mix the egg with 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 - moisten a cotton swab with peroxide and apply it to nails showing signs of fungus.Before that, your 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 upper part of the compress is wrapped with cellophane or food 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 - dip a cotton swab in a 20% alcohol solution of propolis and apply to the affected areas.Keep the lotion until the composition dries.Repeat daily until recovery.1-2 procedures per day are enough.
8. Washing powder is a convenient method for treating toenails.You need to dissolve 100 g of washing powder, 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 the symptoms disappear.
9. Garlic – chop a peeled clove of garlic, soak it in salt and then rub it into 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 saturated with the resulting solution.You should wrap your legs or arms with it and leave this compress overnight.Repeat the procedure for 7 days every day.
11. Onion – Cut the onion into a paste and apply to the affected nails for 30 minutes.Repeat twice a day until recovery.

12. Mix chamomile, sage, mint, you can get dry or fresh herbs.Put the resulting mixture in a sock or glove overnight.Plants should 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 should 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 to the nails for 20 consecutive days for 45 minutes.The recipe is contraindicated for pregnant women.
15. Soda – dilute baking soda with a small amount of water to the consistency of a paste.Apply it on your nails for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water for 10-12 days, twice a day.
16. Apple cider vinegar - dilute with olive oil.The required percentage is 2 parts vinegar to 1 part oil.Apply the mixture to the affected nail plates until the nail is fully grown.
17. Tea tree oil – apply a few drops of the oil to your nails until the areas affected by the nail plate fungus are fully grown.
18. Willow – Cut 500 g of young willow stems, add 2 liters of water, let it boil.Make a hand or foot bath three times a week from the prepared decoction for 20 minutes until recovery.
19. Nettle – brew 3 tablespoons of nettle leaves in 400 ml of water.Soak cotton pads with this decoction and apply to the nail plates twice a day until recovery.
20. Grind rowan leaves and apply a thick layer to the nails, then wrap in 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 ingredients of the recipes.

medicaments

Once it has become possible to recognize the type of fungus that has affected the nail, the doctor chooses medications that will help to destroy it.It is more suitable to treat the initial stage of onychomycosis with local agents: varnishes, oils and creams.Let's look at the most effective drugs.

Spray for mycosis

They are effective precisely in the 1st stage 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 nails, thanks to which the active substances penetrate deep into the affected nail and are not consumed.

The most popular varnishes:

1. Ciclopirox is active against 58 types of fungi.Spray is applied every other day.If the symptoms do not go away within 1 month, the number of uses is reduced to 2 times a week.During the third month and following the therapy, the varnish is applied once a week.Side effects of this drug include hives and itching.It is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as for children under 10 years of age.
2. Amorolfin - destroys many fungi.Apply to the affected areas of the nail twice a week until they grow.Not recommended for children, pregnant women or nursing mothers.Use of this product may increase nail fragility.

Antifungal ointments and creams

Contains an optimal concentration of active ingredients to fight fungus.

List of effective drugs:

1. Apply Naftifine 2 times a day until the affected nail grows and then continue to use it for another 2 weeks to consolidate the result.Side effects - itching is possible, which goes away quickly.Contraindications: pregnancy, age under 12 years.
2. Ketoconazole is an ointment that quickly stops the growth of fungi.You should apply it on the affected nails until they grow twice a day.Side effects - allergies.Contraindications for use - the presence of cracks or damage to 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 were identified.Contraindications: pregnancy.

Before every application of varnishes, as well as 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 to remove the affected areas with a nail file.An individual tool must be used for each nail.

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

Preventing

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

Simple recommendations will help:

• Do not go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools or saunas.In such premises you should always wear your slippers, which you should not let anyone use.
• Wear comfortable shoes made of 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 only with socks.
• For manicures and pedicures, bring your own set of tools, which must be disinfected regularly.
• Maintain good hygiene.After water procedures, always wipe your feet and hands dry.
• Strengthen your immune system, take vitamins and mineral complexes regularly.
• 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 typical symptoms of fungi, consult a doctor without delay.The sooner you start treating onychomycosis, the less damage it will cause to the body.Do not self-medicate;only a qualified doctor can prescribe an effective course of therapy.If you try to cure the initial stage of the fungus yourself, the disease can progress.