Nail fungus or onychomycosis (medical name) is a disease that occurs with nail plate damage with a fungal infection.Onychomycosis suffers from 5 to 15 % of people.The risk of its development increases with age, although the fungus is often detected in babies.Every 10 years of life, the incidence grows 2.5 times.If in children are 3 %, the elderly already have 50 - 60 %.
Pathogens of the disease
Poomcosis is caused by microorganisms of the Kingdom of Mushrooms.The mushroom world is diverse, and not all are as pleasant as chamignons, Chanterelles or mushrooms, which we are used to seeing at our table.There are microscopic parasitic species that feed on plants, animals, humans.
Onychomycosis causing agents consume keratin protein, which is part of the nail, hair, upper layer (keratinized) license plate.About 50 representatives of parasitic fungi that can cause a disease are known.
They are divided into three groups:
- Dermatophytes.They represent 80 % of cases of onychomycosis.They are distinguished by high survival and vitality.In nature, they are found in the soil;
- Mushrooms similar to yeast.Among them is the known as Candida Albicans (Microorganisms of Candida), causing candidate or vaginal candidiasis.Explosions -like mushrooms 5 times more affect nails in the hands than on the legs.Toxic and worsen the work of the whole body;
- Molds.Onychomycosis, caused by molds, is rare.But it is very dangerous, progressing quickly, can completely destroy the nail plate, go to neighboring fabrics.
Onychomycosis affects the nails of the arms and legs, but on the legs, the nail fungus occurs much more often.This is due to the fact that hands are provided much more attention, more often washed during the day, deal with anti -support agents.They are always open, well ventilated, except for winter, when we wear gloves.And the legs are constantly closed with street shoes, homemade slippers, socks, socks, sweat more.These factors create ideal conditions for the development of the fungus in the legs, because heat and humidity are their best "friends".
The causative agent of onychomycosis penetrates the nail from different directions.The most common way is from above, from the free edge of the nail plate.It is also possible to enter the side of the side rollers or below the cuticle and the nail growth zone.
The most dangerous onychomycosis is close to the cuticle.In this case, the fungus decreases or interrupts the division of Onychoblasts - the sprout zone cells under the lower nail roll.Nails stop growing in length, infected areas may not recover.A pathological change in structure, nail destruction occurs.
Mushrooms are rarely introduced immediately into the nail plate.At first, their spores fall to the skin around the nail or interdigital gaps through microcrack, cuts, abrasions, scratches, calluses.Then the growth of the colony begins, the pathogen moves to the nail plate, penetrates it and is taken to parasite.
Why does onychomycosis appear?
Mushrooms live in hot and humid places, and wherever these conditions exist, it is easy to infect them.For example, if you are barefoot in public baths, pools, showers or gym segments, the chances of infection are high.
The development of onychomycosis is facilitated by some diseases:
- Diabetes.In patients with diabetes, the fungus occurs 3 times more often.Excess blood glucose creates favorable conditions for life for mushrooms.In the absence of sugar control and its 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 the more impaired.Wounds cure worse, the infection is easier;
- Poor blood circulation at the lower extremities caused by varicose veins, atherosclerosis (lumen narrowing, artery block), thrombophlebitis (the formation of blood clots in the veins);
- Immunity weakening, immunodeficiency conditions (HIV), damage to the organs of the immune system.Reduce body resistance to any infection;
- Psoriasis.90 % of people suffering from psoriasis have changes in the nail plate.The fundamentals are formed in it, cloudy is present, the recesses appear, detachment of the nail plate.These factors 1.5 - 2 times increase the chances of infection with a fungus;
- Hyperhidrosis or increased feet perspiration usually causes onychomycosis in men;
- The presence of a focus of a fungal infection in other parts of the body.
The risk group includes seniors.
The cause of onychomycosis is often associated with the characteristics of the profession and the wrong care of the legs:
- It owes to the feet and nails, the lack of daily hygiene procedures due to the neglect of the rules or difficulties of personal hygiene with their implementation (in bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility);
- Work in wet and raw rooms (greenhouses, greenhouses, vegetable stores), frequent use of rubber gloves or rubber shoes;
- professional sports;
- Wearing uncomfortable, tight and narrow shoes or shoes made of artificial materials (courotte), creating a "greenhouse effect" that prevents normal air change.
Disposable factors for the development of onychomycosis include nail or tissue injuries around, taking antibacterial or hormonal drugs.
Women have a common cause of long -term fungal gel polishing.It creates a closed space between the nail plate and the coating in which a fungal infection develops successfully.It is not recommended to apply gel polishing to the legs to the legs, it is better to use common decorative varnish.Also in women, onychomycosis appears after an unsuccessful manicure or pedicure in halls, where no high quality tool disinfection is performed, sterility is not observed.
Signs of Onychomycosis
Most of the time, the fungus infects the thumbs of the feet.
The following changes in the nail plate are indicated on fungal damage:
- monotony, yellowing, loss of softness and brightness;
- itching, redness, peeling of the skin around;
- Relaxing, fragility, loose;
- Unpleasant odor;
- violation of structure, thickening;
If you find at least one of the signs listed, you will need to consult a doctor immediately by treating nail fungus.It can be a premium, dermatologist or mycologist.
Mandatory inspection of a crack for onychomycosis is required after nail or skin injury.If there are disposable factors (varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, weakened immunity, increased sweating etc.), it is recommended to make a medical pedicure once a month, where the doctor will carefully examine nails and skin, reveals changes in early stages.
Is the fungus dangerous on nails?
Onychomycosis is a disease that is more likely to cause psychological discomfort than physical diseases.To understand what it is, just look at the photo fungus on the legs on the internet.It is characterized by a slow path, does not cause pain, fever and other symptoms that require an urgent search from a doctor.
People are not in a hurry to treat nail fungus.After all, when the damage area is small, you can paint it with varnish, put socks or shoes closed with strangers.And the problem of psychological discomfort is temporarily resolved.But unfortunately, everything is not so simple.If you do not destroy the fungal infection, it will not disappear anywhere, but will reach the nail even more.And onicomycosis is contrast.An infected person is a danger to members of his family and others.
How to prevent the infection?
The best medicine for nail fungus is prevention.
To protect yourself from infection, you need:
- Use medical disinfectors with the inscription of GOST (they are able to kill Onychomycosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV);
- Monitor the condition of the feet and nails, the main rule - the legs must be clean and dry;
- To take care of shoes, regular disinfection, drying, it is convenient to use electrical dryers for drying;
- Treat your legs with drying products or antiperspirants if your feet sweat tightly;
- In the pool, sauna, gym cabinets do not walk barefoot, but wear rubber slippers with closed thumb;
- Wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathable materials;
- Do not use a towel, shoes or supplies of strangers manicure.
These tips will help you alert onicomicosis, keep your nails healthy and humorous.They are effective not only for fungus prevention, but also of other problems: a ingrown nail, choir, calluses.
Characteristics of treatment of onychomycosis
TV advertising promises to easily and quickly cure nail fungus using antifungal creams (fungicides), solutions and varnishes.We promise that "different medicines penetrate deeply into the nail structure, effectively destroying the fungus, for use 2 - 3, they return to the prior appearance to the nails."But why, then, such independent treatment of leg fungus provides good results in a maximum of 10 % of cases?Since these medications are effective only in the early stages of the fungus, when symptoms are not yet obvious and almost not noticeable.
Manufacturers are often cunning that drugs are produced using the latest technologies and have good active substances in the composition. Most medicines are simply very well -reported and are very expensive without the substances needed for treatment. You will not buy medicines specialized in ordinary pharmacies, because the production is very expensive.
Aggregate medications are the basis for the treatment of onychomycosis.Without them, no matter how much we would like to defeat the infection.But they need to be used correctly and deliberately.A cure for nail fungus should be applied to a pre -traded and prepared nail so that it has the correct healing effect.
The first thing you should do if Onychomicosis is suspected of consulting a doctor who will confirm or refute the diagnosis.If necessary, prescribe additional examination and treatment.Choosing a nail fungus product based on TV criticism, friends or TV advertising will lead to a waste of time and money that will spend on unnecessary drugs.The same results will be obtained when trying to treat onychomycosis with folkloric methods.Vinegar, garlic, onion, medicinal herbs are not able to destroy the pathogen.
An important point in the treatment of onychomycosis is the disinfection of shoes and clothing, which contacted an infected area.If not fulfilled, you can be infected again by your own things.Clothing should be washed at high temperature (above 60 ° C), with special disinfectant handling shoes.
What medicines and methods are effective?
In the early stages, the treatment of onychomycosis is easier and faster than in advanced cases.How to treat nail fungus?
To combat the pathogen, use:
- Hardware medical pedicure.It allows to clean the nail areas affected by blood and painless onychomycosis, prepare them for the use of antifungal agents;
- Keratolytics.These are local drugs against nail fungus, which are applied to the affected nail with the purpose of their painless removal.They release, soften and dissolve the nail plate and then easily removed with pedicure tools.Keratolytics facilitate the treatment of onychomycosis, remove the infected area and stimulate the growth of a new healthy nail plate;
- Fungicidal agents.The action of these drugs aims to destroy the fungus.For onychomycosis, they are used locally in the form of varnishes, solutions, ointments, creams and in the form of tablets.With internal use, the active substances of nail fungus pills accumulate on the skin and nail plate.The activity of fungal enzymes is suppressed, the permeability of cell membranes is disturbed and the pathogen is death.
Treatment methods for onychomycosis are selected based on the severity of symptoms and the lesion area area.In the early stages of the disease, there is sufficiently hardware treatment and external fungicide agents.In severe forms of damage, when the entire nail is infected with a fungus, it is necessary to take pills, remove the plate from the nail.Treatment of an advanced form of onychomycosis takes 3 months to 1 year and depends on the nail growth rate.
Local fungicidal medications are safe for health, but is not always effective.The tablets negatively affect the liver;Therefore, throughout the administration, laboratory control of the state of the body is necessary.
We enjoy onicomicosis, and this is the main thing!
The sooner you consult a doctor, the faster you can handle it.
Don't be afraid and have shy.This problem is very common, millions of people around the world have it.
In the treatment of nail fungus in a professional medical center, you receive:
- Joint observation of a suburvey and mycologist (a doctor who is involved in fungal diseases);
- 100 % sterility when performing all procedures;
- The possibility of a material fence (scraping the skin and nail plate) to identify the type of fungus;
- Fast result (on average, 3 to 4 procedures are required);
- • Free disinfection of a pair of shoes you came to, the possibility of disinfection of all the shoes you were during the onychomycosis period;
- Recommendations for foot and shoes that will help avoid re -infection.
Most importantly, choosing a specialist with competence and turning a time to get help only so your nails will be healthy and beautiful!