To know the toenail fungus, why it appears and how to deal with it, helps specialized medical literature, websites. However, it is recommended that you consult a mycologist. Laboratory tests performed accurately determine the type of fungal infection, which facilitates the selection of the appropriate treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis?
A subset of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the nail plate tissue is onychomycosis. The infection is usually due to untreated skin lesions on the fingers / toes. The disease can occur at any age, but most often men 20-55 years face it.
According to the International Classification of Diseases, the onychomycosis code is B35. 1. It is mainly dermatophytes that cause pathological changes in the nails, less often diagnostic studies are determined by pathogens of the genus Candida or fungal microorganisms.
Nail fungus is transmitted, so it happens in 90% of cases - this is direct contact with an already sick person, for example, with members of the same family, or with close communication, using ordinary household items. Stimulates infection by weakening the body's immune barriers -causes of fungus on toenailsare rooted in diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent serious illness.
The clinical picture depends directly not only on the type of mycosis pathogen, but also on the area of its penetration - the distal form of onychomycosis, or proximal nail lesions. The variant with the total spread of the infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus
Research conducted by experts allowed us to studytoenail fungus, where it comes fromand which people are at risk of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms live not only in the tissues of the feet and hands, but also in the rest of the human body, they are able to maintain their vital activity in the surrounding objects. To do this, it is enough for them to be in warm and humid conditions, and for nutrition there are enough epidermal scales, which are constantly destroyed in humans.
primarycauses of toenail fungus:
- age criterion - any person can face a fungal infection, but men aged 18 to 50 are susceptible to it;
- work in hazardous industries - in rooms with dust contaminated by gas with high temperature / humidity;
- continuous wearing of tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
- frequent minor tissue damage - scratches, abrasions, calluses on the feet;
- anatomical and physiological characteristics - for example, narrow interdigital spaces;
- a tendency to excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis;
- the course of various somatic pathologies that weaken the protective barriers of the skin - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, overweight.
To doubttoenail fungusallow the characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease. Most often, people go to a doctor with complaints that their nail plate has become cloudy, with a yellow tinge, an unpleasant odor comes out of the feet and there is an added brittleness of the nail edge.
Fungal risk groups
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. After all, anyone can be infected with a fungus, especially when visiting places where the concentration of pathogens is highest. Many people are at risk:
- employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- public space cleaners;
- family members of a sick person;
- persons weakened by recent illnesses;
- expectant mothers - pregnancy worsens the condition of the skin of the feet;
- people who neglect personal hygiene;
- forced to be in a hot, poorly ventilated room throughout the work shift, especially in tight shoes made of artificial materials;
- women visiting pedicure salons with an unverified reputation;
- beach lovers - sand is often infected with fungal microorganisms because people walk on it barefoot, or with dirty shoes.
If you know who has more andwhy is toenail fungus, it is easier to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, each person is advised to assess their risk of infection and take appropriate preventive measures.
Diagnosis of the disease
Much it is much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, it is much easier to choose treatment when people seek medical help early. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other nail plate pathologies, the mycologist will definitely prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures:
- a thorough examination of the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
- collection of complaints and anamnesis - the reasons for its penetration into the tissues, which a person can tell himself;
- taking scratches from the surface of the plate and examining the cells under a microscope;
- obtaining a portion of the nail for planting in a special nutrient medium - existing mushroom colonies begin to actively multiply, but analysis takes a long time;
- histological examination - if the process is suspected to be malignant.
After comparing all the information from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisnail fungus, and then chooses the optimal regimen of his therapy.
Treatment of nail fungus
Important information fornail fungusfor a mycologist in that allows you to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as choose the right treatment regimen. After all, there are many pathogens of an infectious disease and some drugs will be effective, while others only stop the growth of infectious cells but do not completely eliminate them.
Decidingcauses of nail fungus, experts already in the first consultation give recommendations for their elimination - for example, buying new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treatment of all family members. Only after that, after evaluatingwhy is nail fungus, you can start medication therapy. It is customary to distinguish two main areas - a local effect on the wound with the help of fungicide oils, paints and, according to individual needs, courses of systemic antifungal drugs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic version,why there is a fungus on toenails- infection through dirty shoes or walking barefoot on the pool tiles, it is better to start medication for infection with external means. On the pharmacy shelf, antifungal drugs are presented in a wide range:
- subgroup of polyenes - they are distinguished by democratic cost and high efficiency, a variety of dosage forms;
- subgroup of azoles - they deal with most known fungal microorganisms with timely initiation of therapy;
- subgroup of aliamides - it is natural to quickly suppress mycoses of nails, hair or epithelium of the feet and body.
Once you find outwhy fungi appear on nails, the mycologist will recommend the optimal medication for external suppression of onychomycosis activity - a cream / oil with fungicidal properties. In the event of a severe course of the disease, tablets / capsules or injections of medicinal solutions will be prescribed - to create a systemic effect on the infection.
It is unacceptable to independently change the dosage of drugs, the frequency of their administration or the duration of treatment. Such actions will worsen the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the formation of complications.
ethnoscience
Lots of time with moneytreatment of nail funguswas the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, beekeeping products and improvised home remedies that eliminate the discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
Accumulated knowledge about the causes of the disease and symptoms, made it possible to create effective recipes for home treatment:
- Make a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate before going to bed, in which you put your feet for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin thoroughly and apply a mixture of crushed propolis with alcohol to the area affected by the fungus. Fix a gauze bandage on top, leave for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Insist in a dark cupboard in 1 liter of vinegar essence, the contents of 1 packet of pharmacy celandine. Filter after 3-4 weeks. Add to foot baths along with salt. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.
- Creams with tar soap. After pre-evaporating the foot tissue, thoroughly clean the interdigital spaces and nails with tar soap, sprinkle table salt on top. Leave it overnight.
To speed up the healing of nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - wipe the affected areas in the morning with iodine tincture, or with the juice of golden mustache, Indian onion, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that suppress the activity of fungal cells.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Preventing the primary infection, as well as recurrence of a fungal infection, is much easier than dealing with the removal of the foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary preventive interventions are affordable and easy to implement. After allwhat fungus says on toenails- to weaken the self-defense of the human body.
Therefore, to restore a strong and powerful immunity, it is necessary to take a number of measures:
- review the diet - the menu should contain more fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, light proteins, but minimize pickles and preservatives, fast food and fatty / smoked dishes;
- refuse alcohol / tobacco products;
- carefully observe personal hygiene - take a hygienic shower every day, change underwear, socks;
- buy shoes made of high quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear someone else's shoes / boots;
- do your own pedicure with individual tools or entrust your nails to a professional craftsman;
- Before visiting humid public places - swimming pool, sauna or spa, use fungal protection equipment.
Widespread prevention of fungal infection is the observance of sanitary and epidemiological rules - wet cleaning of premises with the use of disinfectant solutions, active ventilation and, if necessary, quartzization.
Reviews on treating toenail fungus
- "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis is not only the effect on drug infection, but also the correction of a person's lifestyle. It is possible to defeat the fungus with a combination of measures - for example, the simultaneous application of oils, strengthening the body of"In addition to personal hygiene. In addition, it is recommended to treat all family members at the same time so that the disease does not return. There are many antifungal agents in pharmacies, you can choose the optimal therapy regimen for each case. "
- "I recently learned that if there is a fungus on the nails - my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the process of early inflammation has started in the blood and tests can show it. The mycologist told me in detail all the information about the fungal infection. , and the best way to deal with it. Now I have already passed a course of therapy, I feel much better. Now I will better observe the prevention of such pathologies, and also tell friends andto my acquaintances so that they do not become infected with this nasty infection. "
- "Pharmaceuticals, of course, can deal with nail fungus, but at the same time they are harmful to health with their chemical ingredients. Therefore, I prefer to use traditional medicine prescriptions first. I removed the fungus from my husband's feetin a simple way - every evening they steamed the nails with a soda bath, then applied home-made vinegar lotions. At first, the burning itching was eliminated, then the healthy nails grew back. In addition, they got boiled"with calendula and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband is completely rid of toenail fungus. "