The fungus damages both part and the entire nail, including the nail plate, bed and root of the nail. The infection develops slowly, causing the nail to change color, thicken, and bend. Concomitant signs may be skin lesions on the fingers, peeling, itching and redness. Over time, the nails become so deformed that they interfere with, for example, wearing the usual shoes.
Most often, the fungus affects the toenails. The medical name is onychomycosis. It is mainly found in older people and rarely in children. In most cases, mycosis of the nails develops under the influence of the dermatophyte fungus, 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 be cured, 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 resort to surgical removal of the nail. There is also a laser treatment method.
Signs and symptoms of nail fungus
The most common symptom of onychomycosis is nail discoloration and deformation. The nail can turn white, black, yellow, or green. As a rule, nail fungus is not of much concern at first and in most cases does not have complications. If the infection is left untreated, pain in the affected nail may develop. Toenail fungus makes it difficult to walk and wear shoes, and if the nails of the hands are affected, it can be difficult to write.
As onychomycosis develops, other symptoms appear, for example, the nail may become brittle, loose, or completely flake 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 flake off. All these changes can be seen in the photo of nail fungus.
Causes of nail fungus
The most common cause of toenail damage is a skin fungal infection, such as a foot fungus. Usually, foot fungus develops on the skin between the toes, causing it to turn red, flaky and itchy. Fungus grows and multiplies quickly in warm, humid environments, so prolonged wearing of sneakers or sweating your feet increases the chances of developing an infection. In about a third of people with foot fungus, nail decay occurs.
Toenail fungus can be caused by an infection caused by the yeast candida, which is also a culprit in diseases such as vaginal thrush or stomatitis. The likelihood 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 fungi to access the nail. The risk of developing candidal nail lesions is higher with certain diseases, namely:
- diabetes mellitus or psoriasis;
- weakened immunity, for example, with HIV;
- poor general health.
Other factors that can increase your risk of developing nail fungus include:
- wearing false nails;
- damage to the nail;
- constant biting of nails;
- living in a warm, humid climate;
- smoking.
With age, the likelihood of developing nail fungus increases. Sometimes the fungus appears for no apparent reason.
Nail fungus treatment
In mild cases, treatment may not be necessary. However, if left untreated, the infection can spread to other nails and the skin of your toes and hands. To get rid of mycosis of nails as soon as possible, it is important to follow simple rules: give up shoes with sweaty feet, trim nails and carefully monitor foot hygiene.
With the use of drugs, a new healthy nail will begin to grow at the base of the nail bed, indicating that the treatment is helping. The old affected nail grows 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 prescribed drugs without consulting a doctor, as this can lead to a return of the infection.
Foot care tips for toenail fungus
Below are tips on how to contain infection during and after treatment.
- keep feet dry and cool, socks and shoes should allow feet to "breathe";
- wear clean cotton socks and try to wear sneakers as little as possible;
- start treatment for foot fungus at the first signs of damage to prevent the infection from spreading to the nails;
- trim nails correctly;
- remove the affected areas of the nails with separate scissors to avoid spreading the infection;
- wear shoes of a suitable size with low heels and with a wide toe;
- putting on clean slippers in a public shower;
- if walking is difficult due to thickened toenails, consult a dermatologist;
- it is advisable to get rid of old shoes that may be contaminated with fungal spores.
Medicines 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 drugs. 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 pills is that they will simultaneously help eliminate any associated fungal infections, such as foot fungus. Possible side effects of antifungal pills:
- headache;
- itching;
- loss of taste;
- nausea;
- diarrhea.
Topical remedies for nail fungus
Antifungal nail polish can be used instead of pills. It is not as effective as pills because the medicine is applied to the affected nail and needs to get to the site of the infection through it. Often it is not possible to cover the entire lesion. Treatment of a nail on a hand can take about six months, on a toenail - up to a year.
To remove the affected nail plates, you can use a paste containing 40% urea. This paste is sold over 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 off, and in the evening the nail is filed according to the instructions and the procedure is repeated. In about two weeks, nails affected by fungus dissolve.
This is a painless procedure that allows you to remove the affected nail plate and get rid of the fungus. It avoids taking medications for several months and painful surgery. After the nail plate has dissolved, antifungal varnish should be applied to the nails twice a week so that the new nail is not infected.
Surgery and laser treatment for onychomycosis
In cases of advanced nail fungus or severe pain, surgical removal of the nail may be recommended if other treatments have failed. After the operation, over time, a new one will grow at the site of the removed nail, but this may take a year or longer.
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 need to undergo treatment every 3 months for a maximum of one year. This procedure can be costly.
The need for treatment and the choice of medication should be consulted with a dermatologist. Once the infection is cleared, the nail may not return to its original appearance. In these cases, pieces of the nail are taken for analysis to determine if the infection has persisted in the thickness of the nail despite treatment.