Onychomycosis is a disease that is easy to contract but much more difficult to treat.It is not only a cosmetic problem, but also causes unpleasant and painful sensations in a person.According to statistics, one in 10 inhabitants of the planet suffers from it and you too could be at risk.What are the causes of the disease, factors for the development of onychomycosis and how to defeat fungi on toenails?
What does toenail fungus look like and why does it occur?
The disease is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and molds.According to statistics, one in ten people on the planet is affected by this disease.
Where can you find toenail fungus?The main risk areas are swimming pools, bathrooms, saunas.You can get the infection from using someone else's shoes, socks, or during a pedicure procedure.Onychomycosis most often affects individuals who suffer from chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anemia, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune and cardiovascular disorders, as well as steroids, antibacterials and long-term chemotherapy.
Heat and humidity favor the development of spores.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 fungi easily penetrate inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as do acrylics, gels and nail polishes.
Make a diagnosis
Visual manifestations of the disease are already the second stage of the disease.The first signs of infection - itching, burning - are often attributed to excessive dryness of the skin, poor soap or a side effect of taking medications.Timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment allow you to eliminate the problem quickly and effectively.
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 (front) edge of the nail plate or on the sides.At the onset of onychomycosis, an unpleasant sensation may occur during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort, and loss of fitness.Characteristic external changes include the following symptoms:
- discoloration: white, yellow, brown, greenish, gray spots appear on the ends of the nails;
- peeling and delamination of the tissue, its fragility clearly increases;
- thickening of the stratum corneum, characteristic symptoms of excessive keratosis;
- unpleasant foot odor.
Fungal infections are found more often 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 closer proximity to the shoes.
How is fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic?
The self-diagnosis method is not always effective, because There are a number of diseases that, in their history, are similar to a fungal infection.These include:
- Psoriasis may seem similar, but the characteristic of this disease is that it affects symmetrically.Characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to accumulations of air, redness of the socket, thimble syndrome (dent), loss of shine, roughness.Furthermore, the patient presents typical skin lesions.
- Candidiasis.It is characterized by the appearance of purulent secretions and painful sensations when pressing on the affected area.The disease is more common in women, especially people who often have to wear closed, airtight shoes in hot, humid areas.To develop this type, you need to suffer 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 plate (i.e. at its base).
- Lichen.Characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.The plaque affected by the lichen is usually covered with yellow-white stripes.
Additionally, 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 detected.If treatment is delayed, a complication may occur: infection of nearby 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 mushrooms
In the initial stages of the disease, home remedies are useful to combat fungal infections.To eliminate mushrooms, 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 mushrooms.An old proven method 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 nearby 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 harmful effect on the treatment process.
- Lemon juice.It is applied as a compress for 30 minutes.to the affected areas.
Food restrictions during treatment have a positive effect.You should exclude sweets and starches from your daily diet, increase the amount of proteins (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruits 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 the fungus - simple sugars that are formed in the body when consuming easily digestible carbohydrates.
Modern medicines 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 need to consult a doctor.The effectiveness of medical therapy depends on the duration of the cycle, which lasts several months even after the visual symptoms disappear.But patients forget that it is necessary to continue the course after the cosmetic effect has occurred.This leads to relapse and the need for treatment right from the start.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are minor, a fungicidal ointment will be useful.For advanced cases, oral medications are usually prescribed.Foot fungus is prone to recurrence, so after recovery, follow your doctor's recommendations.In general, the duration and order depend on the species that infected the nails, the clinical course, the number of infected nails, and the extent of plaque damage.In some cases, a systematic approach combining several methods is necessary.The combination of systemic and local effects improves the effectiveness of the therapy.
Topical antifungal ointments
Topical 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 bifonazole, urea.They are used daily for 5-12 months.The last option for topical treatment of onchomycosis is bifonazole in combination with a 40% urea solution.
But external remedies cannot help heal completely because they do not penetrate the tissues enough.It has been found that, although the latest generation ointments cover all layers, they still have low effectiveness when used as a single preparation.However, these agents may be useful as adjuvant therapy, to complement oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients who have previously taken 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 nail treatment.The effectiveness of these products is explained by their ability to penetrate the nail plate 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 in the pharmacy), fungicides (kill the pathogen) treat the disease and prevent the subsequent spread of the spores.These drugs work against both 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 and useful method when the growth is very thick and interferes with the patient's comfort.
Nail plate removal for onychomycosis should be considered as adjuvant therapy in patients treated with oral agents.A combination of oral, topical (lubricant) and surgical treatment of the fungus leads to the highest cure rate and is at the same time the most economical option (lowest number of relapses, short course).
Laser therapy
A new method showing maximum efficiency.In just 4 irradiation sessions with a "cold" laser you can completely eliminate the problem.The only drawback of this type of flu is the relatively high cost of the procedures.
Prevention principles
Having learned what causes foot fungus, it is easier to avoid the disease.By following simple advice you can prevent the problem.Basic rules on how to avoid mushrooms:
- Avoid injury to the skin in the finger area.
- Do not break the edges, but only cut them with very sharp scissors.
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, abrasive files and sharpening stones).
- After washing your feet, carefully 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 socks and shoes frequently.
- Use pedicure services in approved locations where tools are disinfected and sterilized according to established protocol.
- Do not use shoes or slippers previously worn by others.
You need to take care of your feet and keep them clean.After following the bath procedures, it is advisable to treat the skin with cosmetics with an antiseptic effect.Wet shoes should be dried until completely dry after a day of use: do not wear shoes that are even slightly damp.If, despite the precautions taken, changes characteristic of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.