To recognize the fungus of toenails, why it appears and how to deal with it, helps specialized medical literature, sites on the Internet. However, it is recommended to give preference to consultations with a mycologist. The laboratory tests carried out accurately establish the type of fungal infection, which facilitates the selection of the correct treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis
A subgroup of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the tissue of the nail plate is onychomycosis. Infection is usually due to untreated skin lesions in the fingers / toes. The disease can occur at any age, but more often men 20–55 years old 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 established by pathogens of the genus Candida or mold microorganisms.
Nail fungus is transmitted, which is why it occurs 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 common household items. Promotes infection by weakening the body's immune barriers -causes of fungus on the toenailsare rooted in diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent severe illnesses.
The clinical picture directly depends 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. The variant with the total spread of the infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus
Research carried out by experts allowed us to studytoenail fungus, where does it come fromand which people are at risk of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms live not only on the tissues of the feet and hands, but also on the rest of the human body, they are able to maintain their vital activity on the surrounding objects. To do this, it is enough for them to be in warm, humid conditions, and for nutrition there are enough epidermal scales, which are constantly crumbled in humans.
The maincauses of toenail fungus:
- age criterion - any person can face a fungal infection, but men from 18 to 50 years old are susceptible to it;
- work in hazardous industries - in gas-polluted, dusty rooms with high temperature / humidity;
- constant wearing of tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
- frequent minor tissue injuries - abrasions, abrasions, calluses on the feet;
- anatomical and physiological features - 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, obesity.
To suspecttoenail fungusallow the characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease. Most often, people go to the doctor with complaints that their nail plate has become cloudy, with a yellowish tinge, an unpleasant odor emanates from the feet, and there is an increased fragility of the nail edge.
Fungus risk groups
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. After all, everyone can become infected with a fungus, especially when visiting places where the concentration of pathogens is higher. Many people are at risk:
- employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- public premises 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 entire work shift, especially in tight shoes made of artificial materials;
- women who visit pedicure salons with an unverified reputation;
- 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 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
It is much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, to choose the treatment when people seek medical help early. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the nail plate, 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 indicate on their own;
- taking scrapings from the surface of the plate and examining cells under a microscope;
- taking a piece of the nail for sowing on a special nutrient medium - the existing fungal colonies begin to multiply actively, but the analysis takes a lot of time;
- histological examination - if the process is suspected of being malignant.
After comparing all the information from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisnail fungus, and then selects the optimal regimen of his therapy.
Nail fungus treatment
Important information aboutnail fungusfor a mycologist in that it allows you to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as to select the correct 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.
By settingcauses of nail fungus, experts already at the first consultation give recommendations on how to eliminate them - for example, the purchase of new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treatment of all family members. Only after that, having estimatedwhy is nail fungus, you can start drug therapy. It is customary to distinguish two main areas - a local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicidal ointments, varnishes, and, according to individual needs, courses of systemic antifungal drugs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic version,why there is a fungus on the toenails- infection through contaminated shoes or walking barefoot on the tiles of the pool, it is better to start medication on the 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 cope with most of the known fungal microorganisms with the timely initiation of therapy;
- subgroup of alliamides - it is inherent to quickly suppress mycoses of nails, hair or epithelium of the feet and body.
After finding outwhy does the fungus appear on the nails, the mycologist will recommend the optimal medicines for the external suppression of the activity of onychomycosis - a cream / ointment with fungicidal properties. Whereas in the case of a severe course of the disease, tablets / capsules or injections of drug 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 intake or the duration of treatment. Such actions will aggravate the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the formation of complications.
ethnoscience
Long agonail fungus treatmentwas the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, beekeeping products, and improvised home remedies that eliminate discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
The accumulated knowledge about the causes of the disease and the symptoms, made it possible to create effective recipes for home treatment:
- Make a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate before going to bed, in which to place the feet for 15-20 minutes. Then thoroughly dry the skin and apply a mixture of crushed propolis with alcohol to the affected area by the fungus. Fix a gauze bandage on top, leave for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Insist in a dark cabinet 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.
- Lotions with tar soap. After preliminary steaming of the tissues of the feet, thoroughly lather the interdigital spaces and nails with tar soap, pour table salt on top. Leave it on overnight.
To speed up recovery from nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - wipe the affected areas in the morning with iodine tincture, or with 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 primary infection, as well as recurrence of a fungal infection, is much easier than then dealing with getting rid of the infection of the feet / hands. Primary / secondary prevention interventions are affordable and easy to implement. After allwhat does the fungus on the toenails say- on the weakening of the own defenses of the human body.
Therefore, in order to return a strong and powerful immunity, it is necessary to take a number of measures:
- revise 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;
- purchase shoes made of high-quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear someone else's shoes / boots;
- do a pedicure yourself with individual tools, or entrust your nails to a professional master;
- before visiting public places with humid air - swimming pool, sauna or bath, use protective equipment against fungus.
The 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, quartzing.
Reviews on the treatment of toenail fungus
- "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis is not only the effect on the infection with medicines, but also the correction of 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 to treat all family members at once so that the disease does not relapse. 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 the tests can show it. The mycologist told me in detail all the information about the fungal infection, and how best to deal with it. Now I have already undergone a course of therapy, I feel much better. Now I will better observe the prevention of such pathologies, and I will also tell my friends and acquaintances so that they do not get infected with this bad infection. "
- "Pharmaceutical products, of course, can cope with nail fungus, but at the same time they are harmful to health with their chemical components. Therefore, I prefer to use traditional medicine recipes first. I removed the fungus from my husband's feet in a simple way - every evening they steamed the nails with a soda bath, then applied lotions with homemade vinegar. At first, itching with burning was eliminated, then healthy nails grew back. In addition, they took decoctions with calendula and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband has completely gotten rid of toenail fungus. "