Nail fungus is an easy disease to detect but much more difficult to treat.It is not only an aesthetic problem but also causes discomfort and pain for people.According to statistics, every 10 inhabitants of the planet suffer from this disease, and you can also be in danger.What causes the disease, factors for the development of onychomycosis and how to defeat fungus on toenails?
How does toenail fungus appear and why does it happen?
The disease is caused by dermatophytes, yeast and mold.According to statistics, every 10 people on the planet suffer from this disease.
Where can you get toenail fungus?The main risk areas are swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can become infected by using someone else's shoes or socks or while getting a pedicure.Onychomycosis commonly affects people with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, digestive, hormonal, immune and cardiovascular disorders, as well as long-term use of steroids, antibacterials and chemotherapy.
Warmth and humidity promote spore growth.The main routes of infection are wounds, small cracks and other skin lesions in the finger area.Fungal diseases develop when the nail plate is damaged - if we cut it short or break it, the fungus will easily penetrate inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as does acrylic, gel, and gloss nail polish.
Perform diagnostics
Visual manifestations of the disease are already the second stage of the disease.The first evidence of infection - itching, burning - is often attributed to excessive dry skin, poor soap use or side effects of medication.Timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment allow you to get rid of the problem quickly and effectively.
How to self-diagnose the disease
The main symptoms are external changes, especially in the early stages of the disease.The first signs often appear on the free edge (front) of the nail plate or on the sides.At the onset of onychomycosis, there may be discomfort during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort, and loss of strength.Characteristic external changes include the following symptoms:
- discoloration - white, yellow, brown, green, gray spots appear at the tips of the nails;
- peeling and delamination of the fabric, its fragility increases noticeably;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, characteristic symptoms of hyperkeratosis;
- unpleasant foot odor.
Fungal infections are more common in the feet than in the hands.They can be limited to one finger or cover everything.However, the disease often affects the first and fifth toes because they are closest to the shoe.
How is fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic?
Self-diagnosis methods are not always effective, because there are a number of diseases that have a history similar to fungal infections.These include:
- Psoriasis may look similar, but the characteristic of this disease is that it affects symmetrically.Characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to air accumulation, redness of the tooth socket, thimble syndrome (dents), loss of shine, and roughness.In addition, the patient also has typical skin lesions.
- Candidiasis.It is characterized by the appearance of purulent discharge, as well as a painful feeling when pressing on the affected area.The disease is more common in women, especially in those who often have to wear tight, closed shoes in hot and humid places.To develop this type, it is necessary to have an injury to the finger in the nail area.Leakage: The follicles swell, become very red and painful.
- Nutritional changes due to mechanical damage.The problem is often concentrated in the proximal part of the plate (i.e., at its base).
- Lichen.Characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.Sheets affected by lichen are often covered with yellow-white stripes.
Additionally, there are different types and forms of nail fungus, depending on the pathogen causing the problem and the duration of the infection.The clinic determines the type of disease and prescribes a treatment regimen based on the tests performed.
Treatment methods
Treatment of onychomycosis must begin as soon as the problem is detected.If you delay treatment, a complication may occur: infection of neighboring fingers, transition to a chronic form and progression of the disease.Therefore, always make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any suspicious changes or use traditional, time-tested methods.
Folk remedies to treat fungus
In the early stages of the disease, home remedies to combat fungal infections are helpful.To get rid of fungus, you can try the following recipes:
- Tea tree oil.This mixture is a powerful natural antiseptic and fungicide.It is applied dropwise to the affected area 2 times a day.The duration of the course is 21 days.
- Apple cider vinegar.Foot bath is prepared from it, mixed in equal parts with water.
- Iodine for mushrooms.An old proven way to get rid of fungal nail infections.Instructions for use: Apply 1-2 drops of the preparation to the affected area once a day.To prevent infection of neighboring fingers, it is recommended to lubricate them with iodine, but less often - every 2-3 days.
- Listerine mouthwash.It contains antiseptics and a small amount of alcohol, which have a detrimental effect on the treatment process.
- Lemonade.It is applied as a compress for 30 minutes.to affected areas.
Food restriction during treatment has a positive effect.You should exclude sweets and starchy foods from your daily diet, increase the amount of protein (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented dairy products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruits should also not contain sugar (lemon, grapefruit, sour apples, raspberries, cherries).The diet is necessary to strengthen human immunity and reduce the concentration of nutritional medium for fungi - simple sugars formed in the body when consuming easily digestible carbohydrates.
Modern drugs and procedures
Unfortunately, treating fungal infections at home is often ineffective.This is due to the fact that the disease has entered an advanced stage.To get rid of it, you need to consult a doctor.The effectiveness of medical therapy depends on the duration of the course, which takes several months even after the elimination of visual symptoms.But patients forget that they need to continue the treatment after the cosmetic effect is achieved.This leads to relapse and requires immediate treatment.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are insignificant, antifungal ointments will be effective.For severe cases, oral medications are often prescribed.Foot fungus can easily recur, so after recovery, follow your doctor's advice.In general, the timing and order depend on the species of infected nail, the clinical course, the number of infected nails, and the extent of damage to the nail plate.In some cases, a systematic approach combining multiple methods is required.The combination of systemic and local effects helps improve treatment effectiveness.
Topical antifungal ointment
Topical medications should only be used in cases where the lesion involves less than half of the distal portion of the plate and when the patient cannot tolerate systemic treatment.Ointments and suspensions include amorolfine, ciclopirox and bifonazole, urea.They are used daily for 5-12 months.The final option for topical treatment of onychomycosis is bifonazole combined with a 40% urea solution.
But external remedies cannot help complete healing because they do not penetrate the tissues sufficiently.It was found that although the latest generation of ointments cover all the layers, they still have low effectiveness when used as a single preparation.However, these drugs may be useful as adjunctive therapy, in addition to oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients who have previously taken oral medications.
Antifungal tablets
Oral treatment for ringworm is almost always necessary.New generations of antifungal drugs, such as itraconazole or terbinafine, have recently replaced older generic drugs in nail treatment.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate just a few days after the start of the course.By using them, you can shorten treatment time with high recovery rates and fewer side effects.Terbinafine (international name, you should look for commercial analogues in the pharmacy), a fungicide (kills pathogens) that cures the disease and prevents the subsequent spread of spores.These medications are effective against both yeast viruses and dermatophytes, the most common causes of nail fungus.
Surgical treatment of nail fungus
This method can also be used to treat fungal nail infections.It involves mechanical and chemical removal of the infected nail plate (using 40-50% urea).This is a painless method and is useful when the tumor grows very thick and interferes with patient comfort.
Nail plate removal for the treatment of onychomycosis should be considered as adjunctive therapy in patients treated with oral medications.The combination of oral, topical (lubricant) and surgical fungal treatment results in the highest cure rate, and is also the cheapest option (lowest number of recurrences, short treatment duration).
Laser therapy
A new method brings the highest efficiency.After just 4 sessions of “cold” laser irradiation, you can completely get rid of the problem.The only drawback of this type of effect is the relatively high cost of the procedures.
Principle of prevention
Knowing the cause of foot fungus will make it easier to avoid the disease.By following simple recommendations, you can prevent the problem.Basic rules on how to avoid mushrooms:
- Avoid damaging the skin on your toes.
- Do not cut off the edges, just trim them with sharpened scissors.
- Use only towels and your own personal hygiene products (scissors, sanding files and whetstones).
- After washing your feet, thoroughly dry the skin between your toes.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places.
- Wear cotton socks and shoes made of breathable materials.
- If your feet sweat too much, change your socks and shoes regularly.
- Use pedicure services at approved locations where tools are sterilized and sterilized according to established procedures.
- Do not use shoes or sandals that have been previously worn by someone else.
You must take care of your feet and keep them clean.After carrying out the bathing procedure, it is recommended to treat the skin with cosmetics that have an antiseptic effect.Wet shoes should be dried to a completely dry state after a day of wear - you should not wear shoes that are even slightly damp.If, despite taking preventive measures, any changes characteristic of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.