Identify toenail fungus, why it occurs and how to deal with it, helps specialized medical literature, websites on the Internet. However, it is recommended to give preference to consultation with a mycologist. Laboratory tests accurately determine the type of fungal infection, which facilitates the selection of the correct treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis
A subgroup of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the nail plate tissue is onychomycosis. The infection is usually the result of untreated skin lesions on the fingers and toes. The disease can occur at any age, but is more common in men between the ages of 20 and 55.
According to the International Classification of Diseases, onychomycosis is B35. 1. Mostly dermatophytes cause pathological changes on the nails, less often diagnostic studies are established by pathogens of the genus Candida or mold microorganisms.
Fungus on the nails is transmitted, which is why it occurs in 90% of cases - this is direct contact with an already ill person, for example, with members of the same family or in close communication, using common household items. Promotes infection by weakening immune barriers in the body -causes of toenail fungusthey are rooted in diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent severe diseases.
The clinical picture directly depends not only on the type of mycosis pathogen, but also on the area of its penetration - the distal form of onychomycosis or the proximal nail lesion. A variant with an overall spread of infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus
The research conducted by the experts enabled us to studynail fungus on the nails, where it comes fromand which people are at risk of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms live not only on the tissues of the feet and hands, but also on the rest of the human body, they are able to maintain their vital activity on the surrounding objects. To do this, it is enough to be in warm, humid conditions, and there are enough epidermal scales for food, which in humans are constantly falling apart.
Chiefcauses of nail fungus:
- age criterion - any person can face a fungal infection, but men aged 18 to 50 are susceptible to it;
- work in hazardous industries - in polluted gases, dusty rooms with high temperature / humidity;
- constant wearing of narrow, poorly ventilated shoes;
- frequent minor tissue injuries - scratches, scuffs, blisters on the feet;
- anatomical and physiological features - for example, narrow interdigital spaces;
- tendency to excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis;
- the course of various somatic pathologies that weaken the protective barriers of the skin - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, obesity.
To doubtfungus on the nail nailsallow for characteristic symptoms and signs of disease. Most often, people turn to a doctor with complaints that their nail plate is cloudy, yellowish in color, an unpleasant odor comes from the feet, and there is increased fragility of the edge of the nail.
Fungal risk groups
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. Finally, everyone can become infected with the fungus, especially when visiting places where the concentration of pathogens is higher. Many people are in danger:
- employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- cleaning agents for public spaces;
- family members of a sick person;
- persons weakened by recent illnesses;
- future mothers - pregnancy worsens the condition of the skin of the feet;
- people who neglect personal hygiene;
- forced to be in a hot, poorly ventilated room throughout the work shift, especially in tight plastic shoes;
- women who visit pedicure salons with an unproven reputation;
- beach lovers - the sand is often infected with fungal microorganisms, because people walk on it barefoot or in dirty shoes.
If you know who has the most andbecause there is a fungus on the toenails, it is easier to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, each person is advised to assess the risk of infection and take appropriate preventive measures.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, it is much easier to choose a treatment when people seek medical help early. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the nail plate, the mycologist will definitely prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures:
- thorough examination of the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
- collection of complaints and anamnesis - the reasons for its penetration into the tissues, which a person can indicate himself;
- taking scrapings from the surface of the plate and examining the cells under a microscope;
- taking a piece of nail for sowing on a special nutrient medium - existing fungal colonies begin to actively multiply, but the analysis takes a lot of time;
- histological examination - if the process is suspected to be malignant.
After comparing all the data from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisfungus on the nails, and then chooses the optimal mode of his therapy.
Treatment of nail fungus
Important information aboutfungus on the nailsfor the mycologist in a way that allows you to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as to choose the correct treatment regimen. Finally, there are many pathogens of infectious disease and some drugs will be effective, while others only stop the growth of infectious cells but do not remove them completely.
By settingcauses of nail fungus, experts already at the first consultation give recommendations for their removal - for example, the purchase of new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treatment of all family members. Only after that, estimatingbecause there is a fungus on the nails, you can start drug therapy. It is common to distinguish two main areas - the local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicidal ointments, varnishes and, according to individual needs, courses of systemic antifungal drugs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic version,because there is a fungus on the toenails- infection with a contaminated shoe or barefoot walking on the tiles of the pool, it is better to start medication against the infection by external means. On the pharmacy shelf, antifungal drugs are presented in a wide range:
- subgroup of polyenes - are characterized by democratic costs and high efficiency, various dosage forms;
- subgroup of azoles - they cope with most known fungal microorganisms by timely initiation of therapy;
- subgroup of alliamides - is characteristic of the rapid suppression of mycoses of the nails, hair or epithelium of the feet and body.
After finding outwhy the fungus appears on the nails, mycologist will recommend optimal drugs for external control of onychomycosis activity - cream / ointment with fungicidal properties. While in case of severe course of the disease tablets / capsules or injections of drug solutions will be prescribed - to create a systemic effect on the infection.
It is unacceptable to change the dosage of drugs, the frequency of their use or the duration of treatment. Such actions will worsen the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the creation of complications.
ethnoscience
A long time agotreatment of nail fungusit was the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, bee products and improvised home remedies that remove discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
Accumulated knowledge about the causes of the disease and symptoms has enabled the creation of effective prescriptions for home treatment:
- Before going to bed, make a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate in which you place your feet for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin thoroughly and apply a mixture of chopped propolis with alcohol to the affected area of the fungus. Fix the gauze bandage on top, leave for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Insist in a dark cupboard on 1 liter of vinegar essence, the contents of 1 packet of medicinal celandine. Filter after 3-4 weeks. Add to foot baths along with salt. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.
- Lotions with tar soap. After preliminary steaming of the foot tissue, thoroughly soap the interdigital spaces and nails with tar soap, pour over table salt. Leave it overnight.
To speed up the recovery from nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - wipe the affected areas in the morning with iodine tincture or the juice of golden mustache, onion, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that suppress the activity of fungal cells.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Preventing primary infection, as well as recurrence of fungal infection, is much easier than resolving foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary prevention interventions are affordable and easy to implement. After allwhat does the fungus on the toenails say- on the weakening of the human body's own defenses.
Therefore, a number of measures need to be taken to restore strong and powerful immunity:
- revise diet - menu should contain more fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, light proteins, but reduce pickles and preservatives, fast food and fatty / smoked foods;
- refuse alcohol / tobacco products;
- pay close attention to personal hygiene - take a shower every day, change underwear, socks;
- buy shoes made of high quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear other people's shoes / boots;
- do a pedicure yourself with individual tools or entrust your nails to a professional master;
- before visiting public places with humid air - swimming pool, sauna or bath, use protective equipment against fungi.
Widespread prevention of fungal infection is compliance with sanitary and epidemiological rules - wet cleaning of the premises with the use of disinfectants, active ventilation and, if necessary, quartz.
Reviews on the treatment of nail fungus
- "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis is not only an effect on drug infection, but also a correction of a person’s lifestyle. The fungus can be defeated by a combination of measures - for example, the simultaneous application of fat, hardening of the human body and adherence to personal hygiene. In addition, it is recommended to treat all family members at once, so that the disease does not recur. There are many antifungal agents in pharmacies, you can choose the optimal treatment regimen for each case. "
- "I recently learned that if there is a fungus on my nails - my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the process of early inflammation has started in the blood and tests can show it. Mycologist told me in detail all the information about the fungal infection and how best to deal with it. already passed the course of therapy, I feel much better. Now I will better observe the prevention of such pathologies, and I will also tell my friends and acquaintances not to get infected with this bad infection. "
- "Pharmaceutical products, of course, can deal with nail fungus, but at the same time they are harmful to health with their chemical components. Therefore, I prefer to use the recipes of traditional medicine. I removed the fungus from my husband's feet in a simple way - every night the nails were steamed with soda, and then the lotions were smeared with homemade vinegar. Initially, the itching with burning was eliminated, and then healthy nails grew back. In addition, they took decoctions with marigold and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband has completely got rid of the nail fungus. "