Onychomycosis is a disease that is quickly infected but more difficult to cure.It is not only a cosmetic problem, but also causes unpleasant and painful sensations in a person.According to statistics, every 10th inhabitant of the planet suffers from it, and you may also be at risk.What are the causes of the disease, factors for the development of onychomycosis and how to defeat the fungus on the toenails?
How does toenail fungus appear and why does it happen?
This disease is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and molds.According to statistics, every 10th person on the planet is affected by this disease.
Where can you get toenail fungus?The main risk zones are swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can get infected by using other people's shoes, socks or during a pedicure procedure.Onychomycosis more often affects individuals with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune and cardiovascular disorders, as well as long-term steroids, antibacterials and chemotherapy.
Warmth and humidity promote the development of spores.The main route of infection is wounds, micro-cracks and other skin lesions in the finger area.Mycosis develops when the nail plate is damaged - if we cut it short or break it, the fungus easily penetrates inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as do nail acrylics, gels and polishes.
Make a diagnosis
The visual manifestation of this disease is already the second stage of this disease.The first signs of infection - itching, burning - are most often associated with excessive drying of the skin, bad soap, or side effects from taking medication.Timely diagnosis and the start of treatment allow you to get rid of the problem quickly and effectively.
How to diagnose the disease itself
The main symptoms are external changes, especially in the early stages of the disease.The first signs usually appear on the free edge (front) of the nail plate or on the side.At the beginning of onychomycosis, it may be an unpleasant sensation during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort, and loss of physical vitality.Characteristic external changes include the following symptoms:
- discoloration - white, yellow, brown, greenish, gray spots appear at the tip of the nail;
- peeling and peeling of the fabric, its fragility is clearly increased;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, a characteristic symptom of excessive keratosis;
- unpleasant foot odor.
Fungal infections are more commonly seen on the feet than on the hands.They can be limited to one finger or cover everything.However, the disease usually 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 some diseases that, in their anamnesis, are similar to fungal infections.These include:
- Psoriasis may look the same, but the characteristic of this disease is that it affects symmetrically.Characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to the accumulation of air, redness of the socket, thimble syndrome (dent), loss of its shine, roughness.In addition, the patient has typical skin lesions.
- Candidiasis.It is characterized by the appearance of purulent discharge, as well as a painful sensation when pressing on the affected area.This disease occurs more often in women, especially in people who often have to wear closed and airtight shoes in hot and humid areas.To develop this type, it is necessary to receive an injury to the finger in the nail area.Leakage: Plate follicles swell, become very red and painful.
- Trophic changes caused by mechanical damage.The problem is usually concentrated in the proximal part of the plate (that is, at its base).
- Lichen.Characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.Plates affected by lichen are usually covered with yellow-white stripes.
In addition, 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 for onychomycosis must be started immediately after the problem is detected.If you delay treatment, complications may occur: infection of neighboring fingers, transition to chronic form and progressive disease.Therefore, always make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any suspicious changes or use time-tested traditional methods.
Folk remedies for fungus
In the early stages of the disease, home remedies to combat fungal infections are very helpful.To get rid of fungus, you can try the following recipe:
- Tea tree oil.The mixture is a powerful natural antiseptic and fungicide.It is applied drop by drop to the affected area twice a day.The duration of the course is 21 days.
- Apple cider vinegar.A foot bath is prepared from it, mixed in equal parts with water.
- Iodine for fungus.An old proven way to get rid of fungal nail infections.Instructions for use: Apply 1-2 drops of the composition to the affected area once a day.To prevent infection of neighboring fingers, it is recommended to lubricate them with iodine, but less often - once every 2-3 days.
- Listerine dessert.It contains an antiseptic and a little alcohol, which has an adverse effect on the treatment process.
- Lemon juice.It is used as a compress for 30 minutes.to the affected area.
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, chicken) and fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruits should also be sugar-free (lemon, grapefruit, tart apple, raspberry, cherry).Nutrition is necessary to strengthen human immunity and reduce the concentration of nutrient medium for fungi - simple sugars that are formed in the body when consuming easily digestible carbohydrates.
Modern medicine and procedures
Unfortunately, treating yeast infections at home is often ineffective.This is due to the fact that the disease has entered a progressive form.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 course after the cosmetic effect occurs.This leads to relapse and the need for treatment from the very beginning.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are small, fungicidal ointment will help.For advanced cases, oral medication is usually prescribed.Toenail fungus is prone to recurrence, so after recovery, follow your doctor's recommendations.In general, the duration and order depends on the species that infects the nail, the clinical course, the number of infected nails and the degree of damage to the plate.In some cases, a systematic approach combining several methods is required.The combination of systemic and local effects increases the effectiveness of therapy.
Topical antifungal ointment
Topical drugs should be used only in cases where the lesion occupies less than half of the distal part of the plate and when the patient does not tolerate systemic treatment.Ointments and suspensions include amorolfine, ciclopirox and bifonazole, urea.They are used daily for 5-12 months.The last option for topical treatment of onchomycosis is bifonazole in combination with 40% urea solution.
But external medicine cannot help to heal completely because it does not penetrate the tissue enough.It was found that although the latest generation ointment covers all layers, it still has low effectiveness when used as a single preparation.However, these agents may be useful as adjunctive therapy, complementary to oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients who have previously taken oral medications.
Antifungal tablets
Oral treatment in cases of ringworm is almost always necessary.A new generation of antifungal drugs, such as itraconazole or terbinafine, has recently replaced old generic drugs in the treatment of nails.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate in just a few days after the start of the course.By using it, you are able to undergo a shorter duration of therapy with a high recovery rate and fewer side effects.Terbinafine (international name, you should find a commercial analogue in the pharmacy), fungicide (kills pathogens) cures the disease and prevents further spread of spores.These drugs are effective against both yeast viruses and dermatophytes, the most common causes of nail fungus.
Surgical treatment of onychomycosis
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 growth is very thick and interferes with the patient's comfort.
Removal of the nail plate for onychomycosis should be considered as adjuvant therapy in patients treated with oral agents.The combination of oral, topical (lubricant) and surgical treatment of the fungus leads to the highest cure rate and at the same time is the cheapest option (lowest number of relapses, short course).
Laser therapy
A new method that shows the greatest efficiency.In just 4 sessions of irradiation with a "cold" laser, you can get rid of the problem completely.The only disadvantage of this type of influence is the relatively high cost of the procedure.
The principle of prevention
Once you know what causes foot fungus, it is easier to avoid this disease.By following simple recommendations, you can avoid problems.Basic rules on how to avoid fungus:
- Avoid injury to the skin in the toe area.
- Do not cut off the edges, but cut only with well-sharpened scissors.
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, sanding files and whetstones).
- After washing your feet, dry the skin between your toes thoroughly.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places.
- Wear cotton socks and shoes made of breathable material.
- If your feet sweat excessively, change your socks and shoes regularly.
- Use pedicure services at an approved location where instruments are disinfected and sterilized according to established protocols.
- Do not use shoes or slippers that have been worn by other people.
You must take care of your feet and keep them clean.After taking the bathing procedure, it is advisable to treat the skin with cosmetics with an antiseptic effect.Wet shoes must be dried to a completely dry state after a day of wear - you should not wear shoes even slightly damp.If, despite the precautions taken, any characteristic changes of the disease appear, you should immediately see a doctor.