Recognizing the nail fungus, why it appears and how to treat it, helps the specialized medical literature, the pages on the Internet. However, it is recommended that consultation with a mycologist be preferred. The laboratory tests performed determine the exact type of fungal infection, which makes it easier to choose the right treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is a subset of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the nail plate tissue. The infection is usually due to untreated skin lesions on the fingers / toes. The disease can occur at any age, but is more common in men aged 20-55.
According to the International Classification of Diseases, the onychomycosis code is B35. 1. Dermatophytes are the main cause of pathological changes in the nails, less often diagnostic tests are performed by pathogens of the genus Candida or mold microorganisms.
Nail fungus spreads, so it occurs in 90% of cases - it is a direct contact with an already sick person, such as members of the same family, or close communication, using common household items. Promotes infection by weakening the body's immunosuppressants -fungal causes on the nailsthey are rooted in diabetes, immune deficiency, and more recently, serious diseases.
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 the proximal nail lesion. A variant with full spread of the infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of nail fungus
Research by experts has allowed us to studynail 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, able to maintain their vital activity on surrounding objects. To do this, it is enough to stay in warm, humid conditions, and there is enough epidermal balance for nutrition, which is constantly crumbling in humans.
The maincauses of nail fungus:
- age criterion - any person may face a fungal infection, but men between the ages of 18 and 50 are susceptible to it;
- work in hazardous industries - in gas-contaminated, dusty rooms at high temperature / humidity;
- constant wearing of tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
- common minor tissue injuries - abrasions, abrasions, hardening of the skin on the legs;
- anatomical and physiological features such as narrow interdigital spaces;
- tendency to excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis;
- course of various somatic pathologies that weaken the protective barriers of the skin - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, obesity.
Suspectednail fungusthey allow the characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease. Most often, people turn to a doctor with complaints that their nail plate has a cloudy, yellowish tinge, an unpleasant odor emanating from the legs, and the edge of the nail is increasingly brittle.
Mushroom risk groups
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. After all, everyone can get infected with a fungus, especially if you visit places where the concentration of pathogens is higher. Many people are at risk:
- employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- public space cleaners;
- family members of a sick person;
- persons debilitated by recent illnesses;
- expectant mothers - pregnancy worsens the condition of the skin of the feet;
- people who disregard personal hygiene;
- forced to stay in a warm, poorly ventilated room during the entire working break, especially in shoes made of tight artificial materials;
- women visiting uncontrolled pedicure salons;
- beach lovers - sand is often infected with fungal microorganisms because people walk on it barefoot or in dirty shoes.
If you know who has the most andwhy is the nail fungus, it is easier to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone assess the risk of infection and take appropriate preventive measures.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is much easier to get rid of the abnormal focus of the disease, much easier to choose treatment when people see a doctor early. Because the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the nail plate, the mycologist definitely prescribes a number of diagnostic procedures:
- thorough examination of the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
- collecting complaints and a history - the reasons for its penetration into tissues, which a person can indicate on their own;
- removing scratches from the surface of the plate and examining the cells under a microscope;
- taking a piece of nail into a special medium - existing fungal 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 of the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives an expert opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisnail fungusand then selects the optimal regimen for your therapy.
Nail fungus treatment
Important information anail fungusfor a mycologist to the extent that it allows the mechanism of human infection to be identified and eliminated and the appropriate treatment regimen to be selected. After all, there are many infectious disease pathogens and some drugs will be effective, while others will only stop the growth of infectious cells but not eliminate them completely.
With the settingcauses of nail fungus, experts give recommendations on their elimination in the first consultation - for example, to buy new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treatment of all family members. Only then did he estimate itwhy is the nail fungus, you can start drug therapy. Two main areas are usually distinguished - they have a local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicides, varnishes, and cures of systemic antifungal drugs according to individual needs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic versionwhy there are mushrooms on the nails- infection through contaminated shoes or walking barefoot on the pool tiles, it is better to start treating the infection with external devices. There is a wide range of antifungal medicines on the pharmacy shelf:
- a subset of polyenes - they are distinguished by their democratic cost and high efficiency, with different dosage forms;
- a subset of azoles - they cope with most known fungal microorganisms by initiating therapy in a timely manner;
- a subgroup of allamides — involves rapid suppression of mycosis of the nails, hair, or leg and body epithelium.
After finding outwhy the fungus appears on the nails, the mycologist recommends the optimal drugs for external suppression of onychomycosis activity - fungicidal cream / ointment. While tablets / capsules or injections of drug solutions are prescribed in case of severe disease - to have a systemic effect on the infection.
It is unacceptable to change the dose, frequency of administration or duration of treatment on your own. Such actions exacerbate the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to complications.
ethnoscience
Long time agonail fungus treatmentit was the privilege of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with herbs, beekeeping products, and impromptu home remedies that eliminate discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
Accumulated knowledge of the causes and symptoms of the disease has made it possible to prepare effective recipes for home treatment:
- Before going to bed, prepare a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate in which the feet are placed for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin thoroughly and apply a mixture of crushed propolis and alcohol to the area affected by the fungus. Fix a gauze bandage on top, leave for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Stick to a dark cupboard in 1 liter of vinegar essence, 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.
- Tar soap creams. After pre-steaming the foot tissues, foam the interdigital areas and nails thoroughly with tar soap, pouring salt on it. Leave overnight.
To speed up the recovery of nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - in the morning, wipe the affected areas with iodine tincture or the juice of a golden mustache, Indian onion, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that suppress the activity of fungal cells.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Preventing the recurrence of a primary infection as well as a fungal infection is much easier than getting rid of a foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary prevention interventions are affordable and easy to implement. Finallywhat does the nail fungus say- the weakening of the human body's own defenses.
Therefore, a number of measures need to be taken to restore strong and strong immunity:
- review your diet - the menu should include more fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, light proteins, but minimize pickles and preservatives, fast food and fatty / smoked foods;
- refuse alcohol / tobacco products;
- take care of personal hygiene carefully - take a hygienic shower every day, change underwear, socks;
- buy shoes made of high quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear other shoes / boots;
- do a pedicure with your own tools or entrust your nails to a professional master;
- before visiting public places with humid air - swimming pool, sauna or spa - use fungicide protection.
Widespread prevention of fungal infections is compliance with health and epidemiological rules - wet cleaning of rooms using disinfectant solutions, active ventilation and, if necessary, quartzing.
Reviews on nail fungus treatment
- "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis means not only an effect on drug infection, but also a correction in a person’s lifestyle. It is possible to defeat the fungus by a combination of measures - for example, the simultaneous application of ointments, hardening of the human body and adherence to personal hygiene. In addition, it is recommended that all family members be treated at the same time to prevent the disease from returning. Pharmacies have a number of antifungal agents, you can choose the optimal therapeutic regimen for each case. "
- "I recently learned that if there is a fungus on my nails - my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the process of early inflammation has started in the blood and tests can show it. The physician-mycologist told in detail all the information about the fungal infection and how best to treat it. I have now gone through a therapeutic course, I feel much better. I am now paying more attention to the prevention of such diseases and I will also tell my friends and acquaintances not to get infected with this bad infection. "
- "Pharmaceutical products are, of course, able to cope with nail fungus, but at the same time their chemical ingredients are harmful to health. Therefore, I prefer the recipes of traditional medicine. I simply removed the mushrooms from my husband’s feet - every night they steamed my nails with a soda bath and then looked at creams with homemade vinegar. At first the burning itching disappeared and then the healthy nails grew back. They were also cooked with calendula and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband is completely rid of the nail fungus. "