The initial stage of nail fungus

The initial stage of nail fungus (onychomycosis) occurs without obvious symptoms.Minor 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 at the initial stage?

The first signs of nail mycosis appear almost immediately after infection.If, after visiting public places such as a swimming pool, sauna, shower in 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

Fingernail fungus is more often diagnosed 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 turns yellow, then becomes gray or brown;
• the nail begins to crumble at the edges, becomes brittle, and flakes;
• the skin around the plate may begin to peel and swell, but at the initial stage of the disease this rarely happens.

On 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 feet.

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

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

Treatment of the initial stage of the fungus

In most cases, to treat the early stage of onychomycosis, drugs 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 medications for external action.

Folk remedies

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

1. Iodine – apply 1 drop of iodine 5% to the affected nails daily until symptoms disappear.The procedure is carried out in the morning and also in the evening.More material about 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 must be left overnight.
3. Vinegar – prepare a bath by diluting 1 part 9% vinegar with 8 parts warm water.Soar your feet or hands in it for 20 minutes.Carry out 7 procedures every other day.More material about vinegar treatment.
4. Egg ointment - put a raw chicken egg in the shell into a glass and fill it to the top with 9% vinegar.When the shell 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 hydrogen peroxide 3% in 2 liters of water.Steam your arms or legs, depending on where the fungus is located, for 20 minutes.Repeat the procedure for 7-10 days in a row.
6. Peroxide compress - soak a cotton swab with peroxide and apply it to the nails that show signs of fungus.Before this, your hands or feet need to 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 - dip a cotton swab in alcohol tincture of propolis 20% 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 method suitable 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 symptoms disappear.
9. Garlic – cut a peeled clove of garlic, dip in salt, and then rub on the nail plate.Repeat twice daily 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 consistency and apply to the affected nails for 30 minutes.Repeat twice a day 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 days in a row for 45 minutes.The recipe is contraindicated for pregnant women.
15. Soda – dilute baking soda with a small amount of water to a paste consistency.Apply it to your nails for 20 minutes, and 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 nail plates until the nail grows 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 completely.
18. Willow – chop 500 g of young willow shoots, add 2 liters of water, bring to a boil.Make hand or foot baths 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 swabs with this decoction and apply them to the nail plates twice a day until recovery.
20. Grind the rowan leaves and apply a thick layer on the nails, and then wrap with cling film for 30 minutes.Repeat the procedure daily 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 has been possible to recognize the type of fungus that has affected the nail, the doctor selects medications that will help destroy it.It is most convenient to treat the initial stage of onychomycosis with local agents: varnishes, ointments and creams.Let's look at the most effective drugs.

Varnishes for mycosis

They are effective precisely at 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 substances penetrate deep into the affected nail and do not wear off.

The most popular varnishes:

1. Ciclopirox is active against 58 varieties of fungi.Varnish 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 3rd and subsequent months of therapy, the varnish is applied once a week.Side effects from this remedy include urticaria and itching.It is contraindicated for pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as children under 10 years of age.
2. Amorolfine - destroys many fungi.Apply to the affected areas of the nail twice a week until they grow.Not prescribed for children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers.The 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. Naftifine, apply 2 times a day until the affected nail grows, and then continue use 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 need to apply it to the affected nails until they grow back twice a day.Side effects - allergies.Contraindications for use – the presence of cracks or damage on the nails.
3. Clotrimazole, which kills all types of fungi.The duration of treatment is a month.The cream is applied daily three times a day.No side effects were identified.Contraindications: pregnancy.

Before each 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 off 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 antimycotic effect.

Prevention

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

Simple recommendations will help:

• Do not go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools, or saunas.In such establishments you should always wear your own slippers, which you should not let anyone 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 only with your socks on.
• For manicures and pedicures, bring your own set of tools, which need to 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 need to 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 without delay.The sooner you start treating onychomycosis, the less harm 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 on your own, the disease may progress.