Onychomycosis is a disease that can be caught quickly, but is much more difficult to cure.It is not only a cosmetic problem, but also causes unpleasant and painful feelings in people.According to statistics, every 10th inhabitant of the planet suffers from it, and you may be at risk too.What are the causes of the disease, the factors of the development of onychomycosis and how to overcome the fungus on the nails?
How does nail fungus appear and why?
The disease is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and molds.According to statistics, this disease affects every 10th person on the planet.
Where can you get nail fungus?The main risk zone is swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can get infected by someone else's shoes, socks or pedicure procedure.Onychomycosis more often affects people with chronic medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as long-term steroid, antibacterial, and chemotherapy.
Warmth and humidity promote the development of spores.The main routes of infection are wounds, microcracks and other skin changes in the area of the fingers.Mycosis develops when the nail plate is damaged - if it is cut short or broken, fungi can easily penetrate.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the material, as do nail acrylics, gels and varnishes.
Making a diagnosis
The visual manifestations of the disease represent the second stage of the disease.The first signs of infection - itching, burning sensation - are most often attributed to excessive drying of the skin, the wrong soap or the side effects of taking medicines.Timely diagnosis and starting treatment will allow you to quickly and effectively get rid of the problem.
How to diagnose the disease yourself
The main symptom is external changes, especially in the early stages of the disease.The first signs usually appear on the free edge (front) or sides of the nail plate.At the beginning of onychomycosis, there may be discomfort during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort, and loss of physical fitness.Typical external changes include the following symptoms:
- discoloration - white, yellow, brown, greenish, gray spots appear at the end of the nails;
- peeling and detachment of the tissue, its fragility clearly increases;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, symptoms characteristic of excessive keratosis;
- unpleasant foot odor.
Fungal infections are more common 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, due to their closest proximity to shoes.
How is fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic?
The method of self-diagnosis is not always effective, because there are many diseases that resemble a fungal infection in the anamnesis.These are:
- Psoriasis may seem similar, but the characteristic of this disease is that it acts symmetrically.Its characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to the accumulation of air, redness of the substrate, thimble (dent) syndrome, loss of shine, roughness.In addition, the patient has typical skin lesions.
- Candidiasis.It is characterized by the appearance of purulent discharge and painful sensations when the affected area is pressed.The disease is more common in women, especially those who often have to wear closed, airtight shoes in hot, humid places.To develop this type, you need to injure your finger in the area of the nail.Leakage: The disc follicles become swollen, very red and painful.
- Trophic changes caused by mechanical damage.The problem is usually concentrated in the proximal part of the disc (i.e. the bottom of it).
- Lichen.It is characterized by characteristic changes of the skin and mucous membranes.The plate affected by lichen is 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 of onychomycosis should be started as soon as the problem is detected.If you postpone the treatment, complications may occur: infection of the adjacent fingers, transition to a chronic form and progressive course of the disease.Therefore, if you notice any suspicious changes or use proven traditional methods, always make an appointment with your doctor.
Folk remedies against fungus
In the early stages of the disease, home remedies to combat fungal infection are useful.To get rid of mushrooms, try the following recipes:
- Tea tree oil.The mixture is a strong natural disinfectant 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 baths are made from it, mixed in equal parts with water.
- Iodine against fungus.An old proven method for getting rid of fungal nail infections.Instructions for use: Apply 1-2 drops of the product to the affected area once a day.To prevent infection of adjacent fingers, it is recommended to apply iodine, but less often - once every 2-3 days.
- Listerine mouthwash.It contains an antiseptic and a small amount of alcohol, which have a detrimental effect on the treatment process.
- Lemon juice.It is applied as a poultice for 30 minutes.to the affected areas.
Dietary restrictions during treatment have a positive effect.Sweets and starchy foods should be excluded from your daily diet, and the amount of protein (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese) should be increased.Fruits should also be unsweetened (lemon, grapefruit, sour apple, raspberry, cherry).The diet is necessary to strengthen human immunity and to reduce the concentration of the mushroom's nutrient medium - simple sugars - which are formed in the body during the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates.
Modern drugs and procedures
Unfortunately, home treatments for yeast infections are often ineffective.This is due to the fact that the disease has already entered a progressive form.To get rid of it, you need to see a doctor.The effectiveness of medical therapy depends on the duration of the course, which lasts for several months even after the visual symptoms have disappeared.But patients forget that they need to continue the course after the appearance of the cosmetic effect.This leads to relapse and the need for treatment right from the start.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are minor, antifungal ointment helps.In advanced cases, oral medications are usually prescribed.Athlete's foot tends to recur, so follow your doctor's recommendations after recovery.In general, the duration and sequence depend on the species infecting the nails, 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 needed.The combination of systemic and local effects improves the effectiveness of the therapy.
Topical antifungal ointments
Topical drugs should be used only in cases where the lesion occupies less than half of the distal part of the disc and if the patient does not tolerate systemic treatment.Ointments and suspensions include amorolfine, ciclopirox and bifonazole, as well as urea.Used daily for 5-12 months.The last option for local treatment of onchomycosis is bifonazole in combination with a 40% urea solution.
However, external remedies cannot help complete healing, because they do not penetrate enough into the tissues.It was found that although the latest generation of ointments cover all layers, their effectiveness is still low when used as a single formulation.However, these agents may be useful as adjuvant therapy, in addition to oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients previously taking oral medications.
Antifungal tablets
Oral treatment is almost always necessary in the case of ringworm.New generations of antifungals, such as itraconazole or terbinafine, have recently replaced older generic drugs in the treatment of toenails.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate a few days after the start of the course.By using them, you can afford a shorter duration of therapy with a high cure rate and fewer side effects.Terbinafine (international name, look for commercial analogues in the pharmacy), fungicides (kill the pathogen) cure the disease and prevent the subsequent spread of spores.These drugs work against both yeast viruses and dermatophytes, which are the most common causes of nail fungus.
Surgical treatment of onychomycosis
This method can also be used to treat fungal nail infections.This includes mechanical and chemical removal of the infected nail plate (using 40-50% urea).This is a painless and useful method when the growth is very thick and interferes with the patient's comfort.
In patients treated with oral agents, removal of the nail plate should be treated as adjuvant therapy for onychomycosis.The combination of oral, topical (lubricant) and surgical treatment of the fungus leads to the highest cure rate, but is also the cheapest option (lowest number of relapses, short treatment).
Laser therapy
A new method that shows the highest efficiency.You can completely get rid of the problem with just 4 "cold" laser treatments.The only disadvantage of this type of influence is the relatively high cost of the procedures.
Principles of prevention
Once you learn what causes athlete's foot, it's easier to avoid the disease.By following simple recommendations, you can prevent the problem.Basic rules to avoid fungus:
- Avoid damaging the skin in the area of the toes.
- Do not break the edges, but only cut them with well-sharpened scissors.
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, sanding files and whetstones).
- After washing your feet, thoroughly dry the skin between the toes.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places.
- Wear breathable cotton socks and shoes.
- If your feet sweat excessively, change your socks and shoes frequently.
- Use pedicure services at approved locations where tools are disinfected and sterilized according to established protocol.
- Do not use shoes or slippers that have been worn by others.
You need to take care of your feet and keep them clean.After spa treatments, it is advisable to treat the skin with antiseptic cosmetics.Wet shoes should be dried completely dry after a day of wear - even slightly damp shoes should not be worn.If changes characteristic of the disease occur despite the precautions taken, consult a doctor immediately.