Every third person on Earth came across a problem such as stratification and cringing of nails, clouding of the plate - this is onychomycosis. The disease affects various age groups. The nail fungus on the legs, quickly spreads and adapts to new conditions.
What is nail fungus?
Onychomycosis is a pathology that destroys the nail plates. The fungus eats keratin - the construction basis of the nail. The infection falls into the intercellular space and begins its division. In the advanced stages, pathology is able to affect the skin of the feet, the intercal zone, heels.
Do not start the fungus and treat it immediately
Causes of nail fungus
An infected with onychomycosis is quite easy. The infection can lurk on the beach, in the public soul, pool. A high probability of catching a fungus from infected relatives or acquaintances (using common lives).
There are several main prerequisites that can provoke the ingress of the virus into the human body:
- A weak immune system - a decrease in protective forces due to infectious or inflammatory diseases;
- vascular pathologies (blockage of veins) violations of the work of internal organs (diabetes), which lead to problems with blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- minor damage to the skin on the feet (abrasions, microcracks, corns, corns) that arose as a result of wearing tight shoes;
- ignoring diaper rash and intensive sweating of the lower extremities;
- Violation of caution measures - trying on someone else's shoes, visiting public places without slippers, and neglect of hygiene of the legs.
The nail fungus begins on the thumb. In addition, in parallel, the virus is able to develop on the little finger.
Types of nail fungus
Onychomycosis can provoke several types of fungi. Dermatophytes, for example, appear in the form of clouding of the nail. There is a formation of yellow spots along the edges or in the middle of the plate. In addition, longitudinal stripes along the affected area can be observed.
In the late stages of nail fungus, surgical intervention may be required
The yeast fungus provokes deformation of the nail plate. She is very sophisticated and begins to move away from her place, becomes grayish. The metabolism in injured cells worsens, furrows appear on the nail roller. In addition, inflammation, edema, redness appear on the adjacent epidermis, the disappearance of the nail skin is observed.
Mold bacteria can injure the nail plate if there are already diseases that provoke nail nutrition disorders. In this case, there is also a clouding of the plate, a change in its color (from light yellow and greenish to brown and even black).
To find out the cause and pathogen of negative changes in the skin and nails, you must contact a specialist. An independent determination of the disease and its treatment without consulting a doctor can be fraught with consequences.
Stages of the disease
Mycosis of nails affects healthy cells gradually. The disease has several stages of development, each of which has its own specific manifestations. What does the development of the fungus look like in different forms, presented in the photo.
The first stage of onychomycosis (normotorophytic) has no bright manifestations. In most cases, it proceeds hidden. The first signs - the nail fades a bit, its color changes, microcracks and yellow spots are formed in the form of circles or longitudes, and tuberosity appears. A novice fungus may be accompanied by itching and burning. It is difficult to recognize the infection in the initial stage correctly, since symptoms are similar to other diseases (psoriasis, liver pathology).
If treatment does not start in time, the disease will go to the next stage - hypertrophic. The nail becomes thickened, dark. There is a deformation of the plate, its crowning and destruction.
The advanced form of nail disease is manifested by a strong thinning of the nail plate, which leads to its further rejection. The adjacent skin turns blue, an unpleasant smell appears.
In case of infection with concomitant infections, a purulent process may occur.
Symptoms
Onychomycosis most often affects the nails on the legs, hands suffer less often. The disease begins with the thumb and little finger (the external edge is touched), smoothly affecting all the plates.
The leading symptoms of onychomycosis will help to determine the fungal infection:
- the appearance of strips and spots of a whitish or greenish tint under the nails;
- clouding of the plate, a change in its color (from yellow to dark brown);
- redness and peeling of the skin around the nail;
- the appearance of roughnesses on the feet and between the fingers;
- The formation of mold on the nails.
To know how to recognize the disease in the initial stage, you can see the main manifestations of nail fungus in the photo. This will at least approximately understand how the development of infection begins, and in the event of similar signs, consult a doctor.
You need to take measures at the first features of the nail fungus
Methods of treatment
Therapy of onychomycosis depends on the degree of neglect and individual characteristics of the course of the disease. The treatment should be complex, and consist of both drugs and auxiliary methods of traditional medicine.
Traditional medicine
Mycosis of nails can be treated with home methods. Folk remedies are good assistants in the complex therapy of the disease.
Acetic baths
In 2 liters of hot water (37 degrees), dilute 5 tbsp. l. 9%vinegar. The legs must be soared in such a solution for at least half an hour. Next, clean the softened, keratinized layer of the nail with a file, and treat the affected areas on the feet and between the fingers with a pumice. After such manipulation, it is recommended to apply an antifungal cream or solution. The procedures do regularly (1-2 times a day) within a month. Read more about the treatment of fungus vinegar.
Tea tree oil
Injured nails must be lubricated before bedtime, bandaged and leave overnight. In the morning, remove the bandages, clean the nail from the keratinized layer and again drip tea tree oil, but no longer wrap it up. It is important to continue treatment until a healthy nail begins to grow. Read more about tea tree oil.
Iodine processing
Injured nail plates must be lubricated 2 times a day with a 5%iodine solution. Therapy lasts at least 3 weeks. At the same time, pharmacy drugs of external and internal use prescribed by a doctor are actively used. Read more about the treatment of nail fungus with iodine.
Using iodine in the treatment of fungus will help accelerate the recovery process
Before each manipulations by folk or pharmacy products, it is previously recommended to steam in a soda or saline solution, and remove the keratinized layer as much as possible. Thorough preparation of the plate for the procedure allows drugs to penetrate deeper into the affected layers and more efficiently fight the infection.
Fungal diseases are the most common ailments on Earth. We offer to consider how to treat nail fungus on the legs, what professional drugs (tablets, ointment, cream, varnish, other drugs) and folk remedies are used for this.
Onychomycosis (also known as "dermatophytic onykhomycosis" or "girdle lichen") is the most common nail infection, according to statistics, every tenth in the world suffers from this disease. Despite the fact that the disease needs to be treated at home, this infection is very difficult to renew from outside, often infection is accompanied by relapses and inflammations.
Before the start of active actions, it is necessary to minimize the negative impact of the external environment, eliminate the reasons why the fungus appeared under the nails on the legs:
- A warm and humid environment is ideal for the growth of various microorganisms, try to dry shoes all the time after walking, wear socks only from natural materials that provide normal heat and air exchange;
- The foot fungus often appears due to poor immunity, you can just step on the floor with your bare foot, and pick up the infection, take vitamins to avoid this;
- Frequent nail extension can become one of the causes of onychomycosis, limit the procedure up to 1 session in six months;
- The most complicated is the sympathetic - this is a fungus caused by active disputes. They penetrate into the hollows between nails and fingers, can be in a sleep stage for some time, and then grow sharply. Most often, they are infected in places of public use (pools, showers, solariums), during the operation of other people's shoes, etc.
Treatment of fungus
In order to withdraw onychomycosis, you will need a lot of effort and means (if you plan to use professional tools). Consider different methods of how to treat the nail fungus on the legs.
Methods of modern medicine
- Antifungal varnish or oil. If the infection is in the initial stage, then the doctor will advise the use of external drugs. Once a day you need to apply the product to the nail plate, before applying a fresh layer, the previous one must be erased. These varnishes destroy unpleasant odors, improve the condition of the nail, in a week its species will improve much;
- Actual medicines. Your doctor can also choose other local antifungal drugs. It can be lotions, creams, ointments and other compositions with urea. It should be noted that these drugs are not separate drugs, rather they complement the oral agents and are used to prevent various forms of candida. By the way, we have prepared for you an overview of the best ointments for the treatment of nail fungus.
- Oral products (internal use). These are tablets that enhance the body's resistance with fungal infections. A strong neglected fungus of nails on the arms and legs can only be cured with the help of the integrated use of ointments, lotions, pierces;
- Surgery. If the nail is seriously damaged, most likely it will have to be removed. But this is the only way to remove the rooted fungus;
- Dermatophytes are excellently treated with temperature methods and a laser, for example, cryotherapy, acid disinfection, laser removal of fungi and the upper part of the nail plate. Of course, after this, the surface of the skin, which is under the nail, will also suffer, but the distribution of the fungus will be stopped.
Folk recipes
At home, you can influence the damaged area with medicinal external remedies. For example, it has proven itself to clean nails with iodine. Twice a day, you need to apply an iodine solution to the nail plate and space around it, this disinfects the nails and kill active disputes. It should be borne in mind that the iodine dries the nails, so after a weekly course you need to take a break of several days.
You can use simple garlic, it disinfects and kills any bacteria. We clean one clove, rub on a grater, the resulting gruel is applied to the damaged area, wrap it with a bandage. We leave the mixture at night, remove in the morning, repeat regularly until the condition of the nail improves.
A good external remedy is obtained with apple cider vinegar. Every day twice a day you need to wipe the legs with this liquid, the solution is applied not only directly to sore zones, but also around them. The basin of cool water will need 200 ml of vinegar. With this method, you can also get rid of increased sweating and unpleasant odor.
Another recipe with vinegar: one glass of products mix with one egg and 100 grams of butter, mix the resulting gruel very well and leave it in the refrigerator at night, in the morning you can use it as compresses.
You can remove fungi from the nails using celandine juice. As for warts, it does not need to be diluted. You break the plant leaves, a reddish or yellowish fluid is released at the breakdown site, rub it into the zones of nail deformation. Use every day for a week, after making a break for 3-5 days. Pre -check yourself to allergies, otherwise there may be consequences.
Even coffee is used to combat aggressive yeast. This natural antioxidant helps to cleanse the upper layers of the skin from dead cells and dispute. We brew very strong coffee, cool it, lower the damaged limbs into this solution. You will need from 5 to 10 procedures for complete getting rid of fungi.
A bow will help from yeast. Peel the vegetable, rub on a grater, mix with a spoon of honey and apply mass to the nails and space around them. Keep a few hours every day, in a couple of days you will notice an improvement, and in a week all the symptoms will disappear.
Practical advice
The prevention of the fungus of the thumb and feet is a very important task. Immediately after getting rid of adversity, you will find yourself in an increased risk zone, becauseThe body will be very susceptible to this kind for a long time, infections.
Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is the most common disease in which the nails turn yellow, become brittle and thick, are covered with cracks. In the initial stages, the symptoms of nail fungus are barely noticeable. Treatment of the disease is difficult due to impaired cellular immunity. The disease proceeds slowly, without proper treatment progresses and can accompany the patient all his life.
More often, nail fungus is detected in a man and people with weakened immunity. Patients with diabetes, obesity, faces with blood vessel pathology and skin diseases are subject to disease. With high sweating legs, there is more chances of fungal damage to the skin of the feet and nails on the legs.
The fungus can get on the nail plates from clothes, shoes, from manicure sets, carpets, floor. It enters the nails through microcracks of the skin and through the nail bed. It is a lot where it is warm and humid: in souls, baths, locker rooms and pools. In healthy people, the disease rarely develops.