Fungi damage part and all of the nail, including the nail plate, the bed, and the root of the nail. The infection develops slowly, causing the nail to change color, thicken and bend. Accompanying signs may be skin lesions on the fingers, skin, itching and redness. Over time, the nails deform so much that they interfere, for example, in wearing ordinary shoes.
Most often, the fungus affects the toenails. The medical name is onychomycosis. It is mainly found in the elderly and rarely in children. In most cases, nail fungus develops under the influence of dermatophyte fungi, which also affects the skin. Sometimes the disease is caused by other types of fungi.
In mild cases, nail treatment may not be necessary. To determine the exact cause of the infection and to rule out other possible diseases, a dermatologist will analyze the cut nail. Nail fungus can heal, but sometimes it takes several months. Antifungal medications come in the form of pills and nail polish. In the case of advanced nail fungus, they use surgical nail removal. There is also a method of laser treatment.
Signs and symptoms of nail fungus
The most common symptom of onychomycosis is discoloration and deformity of the nails. The nail can become white, black, yellow or green. As a rule, nail fungus does not bother much at first and in most cases has no complications. If the infection is left untreated, pain may develop in the affected nail. Toenail fungus makes it difficult to walk and wear shoes, and if toenails are affected, it can be difficult to write.
As onychomycosis develops, other symptoms appear, for example, the nail may become brittle, loose, or completely peel off the nail bed. If left untreated, the fungal infection can spread to the skin of the fingers and interdigital spaces. White or yellow spots may appear on the nail bed and the skin around the nail may go. All these changes can be seen in the picture of nail fungus.
Causes of nail fungus
The most common cause of toenail damage is a fungal infection of the skin, such as a toenail fungus. Usually, foot fungus develops on the skin between the toes, causing it to become red, shaky and itchy. Fungi grow and multiply rapidly in warm, humid environments, so prolonged wearing of sneakers or sweating of the feet increases the chances of developing an infection. In about one-third of people with toenail fungus, nail decay occurs.
Toenail fungus can be caused by an infection caused by candida yeast, which is also a culprit in diseases such as vaginal mosquitoes or stomatitis. The possibility of developing nail fungus is higher if at work a person has to wash their hands often or keep their hands in water for a long time. Moisture exfoliates the skin at the base of the nail, making it easier for fungus to enter the nail. The risk of developing candidal nail lesions is higher with certain diseases, namely:
- diabetes mellitus or psoriasis;
- weakened immunity, for example, to HIV;
- poor general health.
Other factors that may increase the risk of developing nail fungus include:
- wearing fake nails;
- nail damage;
- persistent nail biting;
- living in a warm and humid climate;
- smoking
With age, the likelihood of developing nail fungus increases. Sometimes fungi appear for no apparent reason.
Treatment of nail fungus
In mild cases, treatment may not be necessary. However, if left untreated, the infection can spread to other nails and the skin of your fingers and hands. To get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible, it is important to follow simple rules: get rid of sweaty toe shoes, trim your nails and carefully monitor your foot hygiene.
With the use of medication, a new healthy nail will start to grow at the base of the nail bed, indicating that the treatment is helping. The old affected nail will grow back gradually and can be trimmed within a few months. If, after 2-3 weeks of treatment, the new nail does not start to grow, you should consult a doctor. It is impossible to stop using the prescribed medication without consulting a doctor, as this may lead to a recurrence of the infection.
Toe care tips for toenail fungus
Below are tips on how to contain the infection during and after treatment.
- keep feet dry and cool, socks and shoes should allow the feet to "breathe";
- wear clean cotton socks and try to wear sneakers as little as possible;
- start treatment for toenail fungus at the first signs of injury to prevent the infection from spreading to the nails;
- trim the nails correctly;
- remove the affected areas of the nails with special scissors to avoid the spread of infection;
- wear shoes of a suitable size with low heels and a wide toe;
- putting clean slippers in a public shower;
- if walking is difficult due to thick toenails, consult a dermatologist;
- it is advisable to get rid of old shoes that may be contaminated with fungal spores.
Remedies for nail fungus
When an antifungal tablet is taken, the medicine reaches the nail through the bloodstream. Most often, terbinafine and itraconazole are prescribed for nail fungus, which are very effective medicines. However, it takes several months of therapy to completely get rid of the infection. If treatment is not completed, the infection may return.
The advantage of the pills is that they will simultaneously help eliminate concomitant fungal infections, such as foot fungus. Possible side effects of antifungal pills:
- headache;
- itching;
- loss of taste;
- mixed;
- diarrhea.
Current Remedies for Nail Fungus
Antifungal manicure can be used instead of pills. It is not as effective as the pills because the medicine is applied to the affected nail and must reach the site of infection through it. It is often not possible to cover the entire lesion. Treating a nail in one hand can take about six months, in one nail - up to a year.
To remove the affected nail plates, you can use a paste containing 40% urea. This pastry is sold on the counter without a prescription. In the evening, the paste is gently applied to the affected nails, which are then covered with a bandage overnight. In the morning, the paste is washed, and in the evening the nail is deposited according to the instructions and the procedure is repeated. In about two weeks, the nails affected by the fungus disperse.
This is a painless procedure that allows you to remove the affected nail plate and get rid of the fungus. Avoids taking medication for several months and painful surgery. Once the nail plate has dissolved, antifungal varnish should be applied to the nails twice a week so that the new nail does not become infected.
Surgery and laser treatment for onychomycosis
In cases of advanced nail fungus or severe pain, surgical removal of the nails may be recommended if other treatments have failed. After surgery, over time, a young one will grow in place of the removed nail, but this can take a year or more.
Another method of treating advanced nail fungus is laser treatment. The laser emits powerful light energy that kills the fungus. Research results have shown that this method of treatment is safe and effective, with some studies reaching 90% efficacy after 3 months. However, there is little data on the long-term effectiveness of this method, as most studies have followed people for only 3 months. To achieve a lasting result, you should undergo treatment every 3 months for a maximum of one year. This procedure can be costly.
The need for treatment and choice of medication should consult a dermatologist. Once the infection is cleared, the nail may not return to its original appearance. In these cases, parts of the nail are taken for analysis to determine if the infection has persisted in the thickness of the nail regardless of treatment.