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 it is quite difficult to diagnose the disease at this stage.

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 like a swimming pool, sauna, shower in a gym or at 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 infections.It begins to grow rapidly when it comes into contact only with damaged nail plates.

In my arms

Nail 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 color, it first becomes yellow, then 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.

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 lift away from the nail bed;
• there is a slight itching of the fingers;
• there is an unpleasant smell of feet.

If treatment is not started on time, stage 1 of onychomycosis progresses quickly.As a result, the nail becomes deformed and can come off completely.Toxic 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 fungus 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, medications with 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 of 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 but simple recipes.

1. Iodine – apply 1 drop of 5% iodine daily to affected nails until symptoms disappear.The procedure is carried out 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 consecutive days.The composition on the nail plate should be left overnight.
3. Vinegar – prepare a bath by diluting 1 part 9% vinegar with 8 parts lukewarm water.Hover your feet or hands for 20 minutes.Perform 7 procedures every other day.More information on vinegar treatment.
4. Egg ointment - put a raw chicken egg in its shell in a glass and fill it to the top with 9% vinegar.When the shell dissolves, 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 your arms or legs, depending on where the fungus is, for 20 minutes.Repeat the procedure for 7 to 10 consecutive days.
6. Peroxide compress – soak a cotton swab in peroxide and apply it to nails that show signs of fungus.Before this, 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 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 to 14 days, twice a day.
7. Propolis tincture - dip a cotton swab in 20% alcohol tincture of propolis and apply to affected areas.Keep the lotion until the composition dries.Repeat daily until healed.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 to 14 procedures until symptoms disappear.
9. Garlic – cut a peeled garlic clove, dip it in salt, then rub it on the nail plate.Repeat twice daily until symptoms disappear.
10. Ammonia – dilute 1 tablespoon of ammonia in 1 glass of water.The 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 it on the affected nails for 30 minutes.Repeat twice daily until healed.

12. Mix chamomile, sage, mint, you can take dry or fresh herbs.Place the resulting mixture in a sock or glove overnight.Herbs 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 dipped in boric acid are applied to previously steamed nails.You need to keep the lotion on for 30 minutes.The procedure is repeated every day for 10 consecutive days.
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 baking soda with a small amount of water until you have a paste-like consistency.Apply it on your nails for 20 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water for 10 to 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 few drops of oil to your nails until the areas of the nail plate affected by fungus 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 healing.
19. Nettle – infuse 3 tablespoons of nettle leaves in 400 ml of water.Soak cotton swabs in this decoction and apply them to the nail plates twice a day until healing.
20. Grind the rowan leaves and apply a thick layer to the nails, then wrap them with cling film for 30 minutes.Repeat the procedure daily for 12 to 14 days.

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

Drugs

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 take a look at the most effective drugs.

Varnish for fungus

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, due 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.The varnish is applied every other day.If the symptoms do not disappear after a month, the number of uses is reduced to 2 times a week.During the 3rd month of therapy and subsequent months, the varnish 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 old.
2. Amorolfine - destroys many fungi.Apply to affected areas of the nail twice a week until they grow back.Not prescribed 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 against 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 quickly disappears.Contraindications: pregnancy, age less than 12 years.
2. Ketoconazole is an ointment that quickly stops the growth of fungus.You should apply it to 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 varnish, 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 should be used for each nail.

In rare cases, when the disease progresses very quickly, the doctor may prescribe pills.Fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine have an antimycotic effect.

Prevention

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

Simple recommendations will help you:

• Do not go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools or saunas.In such establishments you must always wear your own slippers, which you must not let anyone else 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 store, try on the shoes only with your socks.
• For manicures and pedicures, bring your own set of tools, which should be disinfected regularly.
• Maintain good hygiene.After water procedures, always dry your feet and hands.
• Strengthen your immune system, take vitamins and mineral complexes regularly.
• If cracks appear on the nails and sores on the skin around the nail plate, they need to be treated urgently.

No one is safe from mycosis.Even if you practice good hygiene and try to eliminate any risk of infection, if you notice symptoms typical of a fungus, seek medical attention 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 effective treatment.If you try to cure the initial stage of the fungus yourself, the disease may progress.