Health This can actually help against stubborn nail fungus

Nail fungus should be treated absolutely

A nail fungus, medically called Onychomycosis, sometimes presents itself tedious and persistent. It not only looks ugly, but is a disease that should not go untreated. The nail fungus pathogens can be quickly caught where many people walk barefoot, such as in saunas, public pools, gymnasiums, gyms, showers and changing rooms. But how to get rid of the annoying mushroom the fastest? Experts report.

Frequently, the fungus in the area of ​​the toenails comes to light, as the feet are much more often in a humid climate, which creates good conditions for the mushrooms. One should not ignore a nail fungus. If left untreated, it can, in the worst case, completely destroy the nail. The nail then separates from the nail bed, a painful nail bed infection may arise, which sometimes spreads to other nails and on the skin.

A treatment lasts at least three months

Claudia Heller-Vitouch is a specialist in skin and venereal diseases and head of the mushroom ambulatorium in Vienna-Hietzing. She knows that a nail fungus does not disappear overnight. According to the expert, those affected must expect a treatment period of at least three months. "The drug is very difficult there and grows out with the nail," explains Heller-Vitourch compared to the newspaper "the standard".

Final graduation after six to twelve months

Successful therapy is only considered complete when a healthy nail has regrown. This can take up to a year. The matter is so tedious, as toenails generally grow slowly and especially fungus-infected nails even slower.

Which medicines are effective against the fungal attack?

When treating you should not rely solely on over-the-counter products. The specialist is convinced that only medicines can stop the fungus. Various commercially available pens and paints, which are applied to the nail, are only partially effective. The expert advises sufferers to pay particular attention to the fact that such local applications contain an antimicrobial substance against the fungus.

Oral intake of an antimycotic necessary

Robert Strohal, head of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch confirms this. "Non-prescription treatments are supportive in the treatment of drugs, but not solely healing," says the expert. He recommends in most cases an additional oral intake of an antimycotic. However, this should only be used if the fungal infection is confirmed by a medical diagnosis.

What can affected people do additionally??

Heller-Vitouch advises those affected to keep fungus-infected nails always very short. "If the nail is very thick, it helps to rake it off a bit so that the drug can reach the affected areas," advises the expert. In addition, there are special creams that dilute the nail, so that it is easier to detach from the nail bed. Socks should be washed at 60 degrees and shoes should be treated with an antifungal remedy to kill any seditious pathogens.

Naturopathic additional treatment

Supportive to the conventional medical treatment, a naturopathic therapy can support the healing process. Coming from phytotherapy, the nasturtium has proven itself. It has an antifungal effect and is usually applied internally.

Oak bark footbath

A cold brushing of the nails followed by oak bark footbath is recommended in natural medicine. For production, 50 grams of oak bark are boiled with half a liter of cold water and boiled for about 20 minutes. Then remove the solids and add the liquid to the foot bath.

Schüßler salts and homeopathy

Also Schüßler salts are used in naturopathy both internally, as well as externally against nail fungus. For this purpose, the salts no. 1 Calcium fluoratum, No. 3 Ferrum phosphoricum and No. 11 Silicea into consideration. For the supportive homeopathic treatment of nail fungus, the agents Sepia, Antimonium crudum, Silica, Thuja and Acidum hydrofluoricum be used. (Vb)