Onychomycosis is a disease that is quickly detected, but much more difficult to cure.It is not just a cosmetic problem but also causes painful and unpleasant sensations in the person.According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of the planet suffers from this and you too 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 nail fungus appear 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 get nail fungus?The main risk zones are swimming pools, baths, saunas.You can become infected by wearing 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, immunological and cardiovascular disorders, as well as steroids, antibacterials and long-term chemotherapy.
Heat and humidity promote spore development.The main routes of infection are wounds, microcracks and other skin lesions in the finger region.Ringworm develops when the nail plate is damaged - if we cut or break it, fungi easily penetrate inside.Wearing tight shoes also weakens the fabric, as do acrylics, gels and nail polish.
Making a diagnosis
The visual manifestations of the disease already constitute the second stage of the disease.The first evidence of infection - itching, burning - is most often attributed to excessive dryness of the skin, bad soap, or a side effect of medication use.Timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment 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 initial 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, there may be an unpleasant sensation during physical activity.Patients describe paresthesia (numbness), pain, discomfort and loss of physical fitness.Characteristic external changes include the following symptoms:
- discoloration - white, yellow, brown, greenish, gray spots appear on the tips 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 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 greater proximity to the shoes.
How is fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic?
The self-diagnosis method is not always effective, since there are a number of diseases that, in their anamnesis, resemble a fungal infection.These include:
- Psoriasis may look similar, but the characteristic of this disease is that it affects in a symmetrical way.The characteristic signs are the appearance of white spots due to air accumulation, redness of the cavity, thimble (tooth) syndrome, loss of shine, roughness.Furthermore, the patient presents 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 suffer an injury to the finger in the nail region.Leakage: The plaque follicles swell, becoming very red and painful.
- Trophic changes caused by mechanical damage.The problem is generally concentrated in the proximal part of the plaque (i.e., at its base).
- Lichen.Characterized by typical lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.The plaque affected by lichen is usually covered with yellowish-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 carried out.
Treatment methods
Treatment of onychomycosis should begin immediately after the problem is detected.If treatment is delayed, a complication may occur: infection of neighboring fingers, transition to 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 early stages of the disease, home remedies to combat 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 dropwise to the affected area twice 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 and proven way to get rid of fungal nail infections.Directions 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 impair the treatment process.
- Lemon juice.It is applied as a compress 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 proteins (beef, fish, poultry) and fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese).Fruits should also be unsweetened (lemon, grapefruit, sour apple, raspberry, cherry).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 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 see 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 treatment after the cosmetic effect occurs.This leads to relapse and the need for treatment early on.
In the early stages, when tissue changes are minor, a fungicidal ointment can help.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 degree of damage to the plate.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 medications should only be used in cases where the lesion occupies less than half of the distal part of the plaque and when the patient cannot tolerate systemic treatment.Ointments and suspensions include amorolfine, ciclopirox and bifonazole, urea.They are used daily for 5 to 12 months.The last option for topical treatment of onchomycosis is bifonazole in combination with 40% urea solution.
But external remedies cannot help to cure completely because they do not penetrate the tissues sufficiently.It was 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 adjunctive therapy, supplementing oral medications, or to prevent relapse in patients who have already taken oral medications.
Antifungal tablets
Oral treatment in case of ringworm is almost always necessary.New generations of antifungal medications, such as itraconazole or terbinafine, have recently replaced older generic medications in nail treatment.The effectiveness of these products is explained by the ability to penetrate the nail plate 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) cure the disease and prevent the further spread of spores.These medications 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 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 cheapest option (fewer recurrences, short course).
laser therapy
A new method showing the highest efficiency.In just 4 sessions of “cold” laser irradiation, you can completely get rid of the problem.The only disadvantage of this type of influence 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 recommendations, you can avoid the problem.Basic rules on how to avoid fungus:
- Avoid skin injuries in the toe area.
- Don't break the ends, just cut them with very sharp scissors.
- Only use towels and personal hygiene products (scissors, files and sharpening stones).
- After washing your feet, dry the skin between your toes well.
- Don't walk barefoot in public places.
- Wear cotton socks and shoes made from breathable materials.
- If your feet sweat excessively, change your socks and shoes frequently.
- Use pedicure services in approved locations where instruments are disinfected and sterilized according to established protocol.
- Do not wear shoes or flip-flops that have already been worn by other people.
You must take care of your feet and keep them clean.After bath procedures, it is advisable to treat the skin with cosmetics that have an antiseptic effect.Wet shoes should be dried until they are completely dry after a day of use - you should not wear even slightly damp shoes.If, despite the care taken, any change characteristic of the disease appears, a doctor should be consulted immediately.