Onychomycosis is a disease that is quickly caught, but much more difficult to cure.It is not only a cosmetic problem, but also causes unpleasant, 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 toenail fungus?
How does toenail fungus appear and why does it appear?
The 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 area of danger is swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can get infected by using someone else's shoes, socks or during a pedicure procedure.Onychomycosis more often affects individuals suffering from chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune and cardiovascular disorders, as well as long-term steroid, antibacterial and chemotherapy.
Warmth and moisture promote spore development.The main routes of infection are wounds, microcracks and other skin lesions in the finger area.Mycosis develops when the nail plate is damaged - if we cut or break it, the fungus easily penetrates inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as do nail acrylics, gels and polishes.
Making a diagnosis
Visual manifestations of the disease are already the second stage of the disease.The first evidence of infection - itching, burning - is most often attributed to excessive drying of the skin, bad soap or a side effect from taking medications.Timely diagnosis and the start of treatment allows 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) of the nail plate or on the sides.At the beginning of onychomycosis, it can be an unpleasant sensation during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort and loss of physical ability.External characteristic changes include the following symptoms:
- spot - white, yellow, brown, green, gray spots appear on the edges of the nails;
- peeling and distortion of the fabric, its fragility clearly increases;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, characteristic symptoms of excessive keratosis;
- unpleasant foot odor.
Fungal infections are more often 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, 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 a number of diseases that, in their anamnesis, are similar to a fungal infection.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 accumulations, redness of the nest, sheath (digging) syndrome, 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 painful sensations when pressing on the affected area.The disease is more common in women, especially in people who often have to wear closed, airtight shoes in hot, humid areas.To develop this type, it is necessary to get a finger injury in the nail area.Discharge: the plaque follicles swell, becoming very red and painful.
- Trophic changes caused by mechanical damage.The problem is usually concentrated in the proximal part of the plaque (ie, at its base).
- Lichen.It is characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.The plaque affected by lichen is usually covered with white to yellow stripes.
In addition, there are different types and forms of nail fungus, depending on the pathogen that caused 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 should begin immediately after the problem is discovered.If you delay treatment, a complication may occur: infection of neighboring fingers, transition to a chronic form and progressive course of the 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 initial stages of the disease, home remedies to fight fungal infection are helpful.To get rid of the fungus, you can try the following recipes:
- Tea tree oil.The mixture is a powerful natural antiseptic and fungicide.It is applied drop by drop to the affected area 2 times a day.The duration of the course is 21 days.
- Apple cider vinegar.Foot baths are prepared from it, mixed in equal parts with water.
- Iodine for fungi.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 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 compress for 30 minutes.in the affected areas.
Food restrictions during treatment have a positive effect.You should exclude sweets and starchy foods from your daily diet, increase the amount of protein (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruits should also be sugar-free (lemon, grapefruit, sour apple, raspberry, cherry).The diet is necessary to strengthen human immunity and reduce the concentration of nutrients for fungi - simple sugars that are formed in the body when easily digestible carbohydrates are consumed.
Modern drugs and procedures
Unfortunately, treating fungal infections at home is often ineffective.This is due to the fact that the disease has already entered a progressive form.To get rid of it, you should consult a doctor.The effectiveness of medical therapy depends on the duration of the course, which lasts 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 in the first place.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are small, a fungicidal ointment will help.For advanced cases, oral medications are usually prescribed.Athlete's foot is prone to recurrence, so after recovery, follow the doctor's recommendations.In general, the duration and order depends on the species that has infected the nails, the clinical course, the number of nails infected and the degree of damage to the plaque.In some cases, a systematic approach combining several methods is required.The combination of systemic and local effects improves the effectiveness of therapy.
Topical antifungal ointment
Local medications should be used only in cases where the lesion occupies less than half of the distal part of the plaque and when the patient does not tolerate systemic treatment.Ointments and suspensions include amorolfine, ciclopirox and bifonazol, urea.They are used daily for 5-12 months.The last option for topical treatment of onychomycosis is bifonazole in combination with a 40% urea solution.
But 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, they still have low effectiveness when used as a single preparation.However, these agents may be useful as adjunctive therapy, supplementing oral medications or to prevent relapse in patients who have previously received 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 the treatment of toenails.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate only a few days after the start of the course.Using them, you can afford a shorter duration of therapy with a high recovery rate and fewer side effects.Terbinafine (international name, you need to 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 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 useful when the growth is too thick and interferes with the patient's comfort.
Removal of nail plate for onychomycosis should be considered as adjunctive therapy in patients treated with oral agents.A combination of oral, local (lubricant) and surgical treatment of fungus leads to the highest cure rate and is at the same time the cheapest option (lowest number of relapses, short course).
Laser therapy
A new method that shows the greatest efficiency.In just 4 radiation sessions with a "cold" laser, you can completely get rid of the problem.The only drawback 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 on how to avoid mushrooms:
- Avoid damaging the skin in the finger area.
- Do not tear the ends, but only cut them with well-sharpened scissors.
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, sanding files and pumice stones).
- 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 materials.
- If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks and shoes often.
- Use pedicure services at approved locations where instruments are disinfected and sterilized according to established protocol.
- Do not use shoes or slippers that have been worn by others.
You should take care of your feet and keep them clean.After taking bath procedures, it is advisable to treat the skin with cosmetics with an antiseptic effect.Wet shoes should be dried to a completely dry state after a day of wear - you should not even wear slightly damp shoes.If, despite the measures taken, any characteristic changes of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.