Nail fungus or onychomycosis (medical name) are a disease that involves damage to the fungal infection.Onichomycosis suffers from 5-15 % of people.The risk of development increases with age, although the fungus is often observed in infants.Life increases 2.5 times every 10 years.If this is 3 %in children, elderly people already have 50-60 %.
The pathogen of the disease
Onichomycosis is caused by microorganisms from the fungal kingdom.The world of mushrooms is varied, and not all as pleasant as the champignons, the nightmares or the mushrooms we got used to on our desk.There are microscopic parasitic species that nourish the tissues of plants, animals, humans.
The causal agents of onychomycosis consume keratin protein, which is part of the nail plate, hair, upper (keratinized) skin layer.About 50 fungal representatives of parasitic fungus that can cause illness.
Divided into three groups:
- Dermatofites.These account for 80 % of the cases of onychomycosis.These are distinguished by high survival and vitality.They are found in the soil in nature;
- Yeast -like mushrooms.Among them, Candida Albicans is known for women (microorganisms of the Candida genus), causing thrushing or vaginal candidiasis.Explosion -like fungi touch their hands five times more often than on their feet.Toxic and exacerbate the work of the whole body;
- Shapes.Onychomycosis caused by the penk is rare.But this is the most dangerous, moving quickly, can completely destroy the nail plate and go to the adjacent tissues.
Onychomycosis affects the nails of the arms and legs, but the nail fungus on the legs is much more common.This is due to the fact that hands pay much more attention, wash more often during the day and treat antiseptic agents.They are always open, well ventilated, except for winter, when we wear gloves.And the legs are constantly closed by street shoes, homemade slippers, tights, socks, sweat.These factors create ideal conditions for the development of the fungus on the legs because heat and moisture are the best "friends".
Onychomycosis pathogens penetrate the nail from different directions.The most common method is from above, from the free edge of the nail plate.It is possible to the side of the side rollers or at the bottom of the cuticle and nail growth zone.
The most dangerous onychomycosis is near the cuticle.In this case, the fungus slows down or stop sharing onychoblasts - the drive zone cells under the lower nail roller.The nail grows long and the infected areas cannot heal.Pathological change in the structure, destruction of the nail.
Fungi are rarely introduced directly into the nail plate.At first, their spores fall into the skin around the nail, or through the gaps, cuts, abrasions, blows, corn around the interdigital gaps.Then the colony growth begins, the pathogen moves towards the nail plate, penetrates and parasitized.
Why does onychomycosis appear?
The fungi live in warm and wet places, and wherever there are conditions, it is easy to infect them.For example, if you are barefoot in public baths, pools, showers or gyms segments, the chances of infection are high.
The development of onychomycosis is facilitated by some diseases:
- Diabetes.In patients with diabetes, the fungus is more common.Excess glucose in the blood creates favorable conditions for life for fungi.In the absence of sugar control and due to retention within the norm, blood vessels suffer.The more experience in the disease, the more the blood supply to the legs (diabetic foot syndrome) is damaged.The wounds are worse, the infection is easier;
- Poor blood circulation in the lower limbs, which are varicoos, atherosclerosis (lumen narrowing, obstruction of arteries), thromboflebitis (formation of blood clots in the veins);
- Weakening of immunity, immune deficiency conditions (HIV), damage to the organs of the immune system.Reduce any anti -infection resistance of the body;
- Psoriasis.90 % of people with psoriasis changes the nail plate.The basics develop on it, there is a pull -up, the recesses appear, the nail plate isolation.These factors increase the chances of fungal infection 1.5 to 2 times;
- Hyperhidrosis or increased sweating of the legs often causes onycommicosis in men;
- The presence of the focus of fungal infection in other parts of the body.
The risk group also has elderly people.
The cause of onychomycosis is often associated with the characteristics of the profession and improperly care for the legs:
- lack of daily hygiene procedures due to the poor care of the legs and nails, neglecting personal hygiene rules or neglecting difficulties (in patients with bedding or in patients with limited mobility);
- works in wet, raw rooms (greenhouses, greenhouses, vegetable shops), frequent wearing rubber gloves or rubber shoes;
- Professional sport;
- Wearing uncomfortable, crowded, narrow shoes or artificial material (imitation leather) that creates a "greenhouse" that prevents normal air exchange.
Disposable factors of onychomycosis include the surrounding nail or tissue injuries, taking antibacterial or hormonal drugs.
Women have a common reason for the fungal long -term gel sheet.It creates a closed space between the nail plate and the coating, in which the fungal infection is successfully developed.It is not recommended to use gel plates on the legs, it is better to use the usual decorative varnish.In women, onychomycosis appears in the salons after a failed manicure or pedicure, where high -quality disinfection of tools is not carried out and sterility is not observed.
Signs of onychomycosis
Most often, the fungus infects the thumb of the legs.
The following changes in the nail plate are indicated in connection with mushroom damage:
- Loss of boredom, yellowish, smoothness and glow;
- itching, redness, skin peeling;
- Relaxing, fragility, loose;
- unpleasant odor;
- violation and thickening of the structure;
If you find at least one of the signs listed, you should immediately consult a doctor by treating the nail fungus.It can be a premium, dermatologist or mycologist.
After injury to the nail or the skin around it, mandatory checks are required to check onychomycosis.If there are disposable factors (varicos, diabetes, mellitus, atherosclerosis, weakened immunity, increased sweating, etc.
Is the mushroom dangerous on the nails?
Onychomycosis is a disease that is more likely to cause psychological discomfort than physical disease.To understand what it is all about, just look at the photo fungus on your feet on the internet.It is characterized by a slow course, not causing pain, fever and other symptoms that require an urgent doctor.
People are not in a hurry to treat nail fungus.After all, if the area of injury is small, you can paint varnish, socks or closed shoes with strangers.And the problem of psychological discomfort is temporarily solved.But unfortunately everything is not that simple.If you do not kill the fungal infection, it will not disappear anywhere, but will continue to reach your nails.And onychomycosis contrast.The infected person is a threat to his family members and others.
How to prevent infection?
The best remedy for nail fungus is prevention.
To protect yourself from infection, you need:
- Use medical disinfectants with the inscription GOST (they can kill onychomycosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV);
- Observe the condition of the legs and nails, the main rule - the legs must be clean and dry;
- It is convenient for the care of the shoes, regularly for disinfection and drying for electric dryers for drying;
- Treat your feet with drying products or antiper fibers if your legs sweat hard;
- In the pool, the sauna, gym cabinets do not walk barefoot, but with a closed toe;
- Wear comfortable shoes from natural, breathing materials;
- Do not use towels, shoes or manicure sets about strangers.
These tips help to warn onychomycosis, nails healthy and well -designed.They are effective not only to prevent the fungus, but also to other problems: a climbed nail, corn, corn.
Characteristics of Onychomycosis Treatment
Advertising on TV promises that nail fungus is easily and quick to cure antifungal (fungicide) creams, solutions, varnishes.We promise that "different drugs penetrate deep into the nail structure, actually kill the fungus 2-3 and return to the earlier appearance to the nails".But why give such an independent treatment of the fungus on the legs, with up to 10 % of cases?Because these drugs are effective only in the early stages of the fungus, when the symptoms are not yet obvious and almost not noticeable.
Manufacturers often cunning to produce drugs using the latest technologies and have good active substances in the composition. Most drugs are simply very well advertised and very expensive, while not having the material needed for treatment. He does not buy special medicines in the usual pharmacies as production is very expensive.
Aggry drugs are the basis for treating onychomycosis.Without them, no matter how much we want to overcome the infection.But they should be used correctly and intentionally.The healing of the nail fungus should be applied to a pre -treated and prepared nail to have an appropriate healing effect.
The first thing you need to do if you have suspicion on onychomycosis is to consult a doctor who confirms or refutes the diagnosis.If necessary, enter an additional examination and treatment.From the Internet, friends or TV, choosing a product from the nail fungus results in a loss of time and money, which spends on unnecessary drugs.The same results are achieved when onychomycosis is treated by folk methods.Vinegar, garlic, onions, herbs are not able to destroy the pathogen.
An important point in treating onychomycosis is the disinfection of shoes and clothing, which contacted the infected area.If this is not accomplished, you can get infected again from your own things.Clothing should be washed at high temperatures (above 60 ° C), ironed and treated with special disinfectants.
What drugs and methods are effective?
In the initial stages, the treatment of onychomycosis is easier and faster than in advanced cases.How to treat nail fungus?
Use to fight the pathogen:
- Hardware medical pedicure.Allows you to clean the areas affected by onychomycosis without blood and pain, prepare them for using antifungal agents;
- Keratolytics.These are local drugs against nail fungus applied to the affected nail for painless removal.They relax, soften and dissolve the nail plate and can be easily removed with pedicure tools.Keratolytics facilitate the treatment of onychomycosis, remove the infected area and stimulate the growth of the new healthy nail plate;
- Fungicides.The effect of these drugs is aimed at destroying the fungus.For onychomycosis, they are used locally in the form of varnishes, solutions, ointments, creams and internal tablets.In internal use, the active materials of the fungus from the fungus of the nails accumulate in the skin and in the nail plate.The activity of fungal enzymes is suppressed, the permeability of the cell membranes is disturbed and the pathogenic death.
The treatment methods of onychomycosis are chosen based on the severity of the symptoms and area of the lesion zone.In the early stages of the disease, there are sufficiently hardware treatment and external fungicides.In the form of serious injuries, when the entire nail fungus is infected, tablets are needed to remove the nail plate.Treatment of the advanced form of onychomycosis lasts from 3 months to 1 year and depends on the growth rate of the nail.
Local fungicide drugs are safe for health, but not always effective.The tablets negatively affect the liver, so their administration requires laboratory control of the body condition.
We heal onychomycosis and that's the most important!
The sooner you consult a doctor, the faster you can treat.
Don't be afraid and be shy.This problem is very common, with millions of people around the world.
When treating nail fungus, you get at a professional medical center:
- Monitoring of a lower and micologist (a doctor who deals with fungal diseases);
- 100 % sterility when all procedures are performed;
- the possibility of fence (scraping the skin and nail plate) to identify the type of fungus;
- Fast results (average 3 - 4 procedures are required);
- • a pair of shoes to disinfect the possibility of disinfecting all shoes in which on onychomycosis;
- Suggestions for the legs and shoes that help prevent recreation.
The most important thing is to choose a specialist competently and just get help, then the nails will be healthy and beautiful!