Onychomycosis is a disease that is quickly contagious, 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 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 occur and why does it occur?
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 risk zone is swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can get infected by using other people's shoes, socks or during a pedicure.Onychomycosis more often affects people suffering from chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune and cardiovascular disorders, as well as long-term steroid, antibacterial and chemotherapy.
Heat and moisture encourage the development of spores.The main routes of infection are wounds, microcracks and other skin lesions in the area of the fingers.Mycosis occurs when the nail plate is damaged - if we shorten or break it, fungi easily penetrate inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as do acrylics, gels and nail polishes.
Establishing 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 side effects of medication.Timely diagnosis and the start of treatment allow you to get rid of the problem quickly and efficiently.
How to self-diagnose a disease
The main symptom is external changes, especially in the early stages of the disease.The first signs usually appear on the free edge (front part) of the nail plate or on the side.At the beginning of onychomycosis, there may be an unpleasant feeling during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort and loss of physical ability.Characteristic external changes include the following symptoms:
- color change - white, yellow, brown, greenish, gray spots appear at the ends of the nails;
- peeling and delamination of the fabric, its fragility clearly increases;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, symptoms characteristic 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, due to the closest proximity to the 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 are similar to a fungal infection in their anamnesis.This includes:
- Psoriasis may look similar, but the characteristic of this disease is that it works symmetrically.Characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to air accumulation, redness of the socket, thimble syndrome (indentation), 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 pressure is applied to the affected area.The disease is more common in women, especially in people who often have to wear closed, hermetically sealed shoes in hot, humid areas.To develop this type, it is necessary to get a finger injury in the nail area.Leakage: The follicles of the plaque swell, become very red and painful.
- Trophic changes caused by mechanical damage.The problem is usually concentrated in the proximal part of the plate (ie at its base).
- Lichen.It is characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.A 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 agent 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 of onychomycosis must begin immediately after the problem is detected.If you delay treatment, complications may occur: infection of adjacent 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 proven 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 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 against fungi.An old proven way to get rid of fungal nail infections.Instructions for use: Apply 1-2 drops of the product to the affected area once a day.In order to prevent infection of neighboring fingers, iodine lubrication is recommended, 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.You should exclude sweets and starchy foods from your daily diet, increase the amount of protein (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented dairy products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruit should also be unsweetened (lemon, grapefruit, sour apples, raspberries, cherries).The diet is necessary to strengthen human immunity and reduce the concentration of the nutrient medium for fungi - simple sugars that are created in the body when consuming easily digestible carbohydrates.
Modern drugs and procedures
Unfortunately, treating yeast 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 need to 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 must continue the course after the cosmetic effect appears.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.Oral medications are usually prescribed for advanced cases.Foot fungus tends to recur, so follow your doctor's recommendations after recovery.In general, the duration and sequence depends on the species that infected the nails, the clinical course, the number of infected nails and the degree of plate damage.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 ointments
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 local treatment of onchomycosis is bifonazole in combination with 40% urea solution.
But external drugs 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 efficiency when used as a single preparation.However, these agents may be useful as adjunctive therapy, in addition to oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients previously taking 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 nails.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate in just a few days after starting the course.By using them, you can afford a shorter duration of therapy with a high recovery rate and fewer side effects.Terbinafine (international name, you should look for commercial analogues at the pharmacy), fungicides (kill the pathogen) treat the disease and prevent further spread of spores.These drugs work against fungal 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 and useful method 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 medications.The combination of oral, topical (lubricant) and surgical treatment of the fungus leads to the highest cure rate and is at the same time the cheapest option (lowest number of recurrences, short course).
Laser therapy
A new method that shows the highest efficiency.In just 4 sessions of irradiation 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 we know what causes foot fungus, it is easier to avoid the disease.By following simple recommendations, you can prevent the problem.Basic rules to avoid fungi:
- Avoid skin injuries in the finger area.
- Do not break the edges, but only with well-sharpened scissors.
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, sanding files and sanding boards).
- After washing your feet, thoroughly dry the skin between your toes.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places.
- Wear cotton socks and shoes made of breathable materials.
- If your feet sweat excessively, 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 must take care of your feet and keep them clean.After bathing, it is recommended 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 - even slightly damp shoes should not be worn.If, despite the precautions taken, any changes characteristic of the disease appear, consult a doctor immediately.