The fungus of nails on the legs is a disease that is very easy to get infected, and it is much more difficult to cure.The fungus of nails does not disappear in itself and is very difficult to treat.
How can you get an infection with nail fungus
Six to eight percent of the adult population suffer from nail fungus.
The fungal infection of nails is more common in men than in women, as well as in older people than in young people.Additional signs or factors that increase the risk of fungal infection of nails include the following:
- reduction of blood flow to the legs;
- if the nails grow slowly;
- family history of fungal infection (genetics);
- increased sweating of the legs;
- working environment - wet or wet legs;
- wearing socks and shoes that prevent ventilation;
- walking barefoot in wet public places (pools, sports halls and showers);
- injuries or infections of the skin or nails;
- diabetes, AIDS, circulatory problems, weakened immune system;
- Hard shoes with pressure on the fingers.
Systemic diseases, for example: to the fungus of the legs, predispose to the fungus
- diabetes mellitus,
- obesity,
- anemia,
- Hormonal disorders,
- gastrointestinal disorders,
- immune and cardiovascular systems,
- as well as long -term treatment with antibiotics,
- Reception of steroid therapy and chemotherapy.
Heat and humidity contribute to the growth of mushrooms - if you do not wipe your feet thoroughly after washing, walk in air -resistant shoes and wear socks from synthetics.The fungus develops when the nail plate is damaged-due to too short trimming on the legs, it can easily get under the nail.Wearing cramped shoes can weaken the plate of the nail, like acrylic nails and varnishes.
Onychomycosis more often affects the legs on the legs than on the hands.It can be limited by one plate or move to neighboring ones.Usually, fungal infections of nails on the legs affect the thumb and little finger.Probably because the inner surface of the shoes touches them most of all.
Types of nail fungus
The fungal infections of the nails are caused by microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive.In most cases, it is a group of mushrooms called dermatophyte (for example, Candida).However, some yeast and mold also cause these infections.
Although Trichophyton dermatophytes is the most common cause of infection with nail fungus, Trichophyton Interdigitale, Epidermophyton Floccosum, Trichophyton Violaceum, Microsporum Gypseum, TonsuransTrichophyton and Trichophyton Soudanense can also lead to infection.Common forms of fungi - Neoscytalidium, Scopulariopsis and Aspergillus.
The pathogens of the nail fungus, as a rule, fall under the skin through tiny cuts or small cracks between the fingernail and the bed of the nail.They grow when the environment provides them with a hot and humid climate.
What does the nail fungus look like - symptoms
At the initial stage The nail infected with a fungus gradually changes its appearance.The strips appear - first whitish, then yellowish, and, finally, brown.Peeling appears on the nail, it relaxes and becomes thicker, it becomes difficult to cut it.The nail smells bad, because fungal deposits accumulate under the nails.
The doctor, upon examination, can immediately determine onychomycosis.Sometimes, however, the picture of the disease is not clear, and laboratory tests need to be carried out.Samples taken from nails and fragments of nail plates under a microscope can confirm that the disease is actually caused by mushrooms.Sometimes in the laboratory a fungus is cultivated from the sample to determine the species and the chosen medicine.
Before selection, you can not paint your nails, lubricate your legs with creams or powders.
In the second stage - Nails infected with fungus are usually thickened, become fragile, break, worn, curved, dull and dark, yellowish or brown.
The patient can also suffer from onycholysis, when individual areas of the nail are absent, exposing the nail bed.Sometimes fungal nail infections can lead to pain in the fingers and cause an unpleasant odor.
Another symptom associated with fungal infections is damage to the skin near the nail.There may be a rash or itching that looks like an allergic reaction.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
To diagnose the nail fungus, as a rule, the doctor must study the cut and microorganisms under the nail.
Doctors should be careful when diagnosing fungal nail infections due to some other conditions that can cause such symptoms.These include psoriasis, red flat lichen, contact dermatitis, injuries, tumors of the nail bed, eczema.The culture (sowing) of the fungus can take several weeks.
How to determine the fungus of nails at home
It is very simple to do it:
We will need potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), water and a basin.
Take water into the basin so that it completely covers the feet of the legs.Throw a little potassium permanganate into the water so that the water becomes bright - pink (fuchsia color).Put your legs or arms in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Then we take out and carefully examine the nails.If they have become completely brown, then everything is fine - the nails are healthy.But if there are areas that have not changed the color - they are infected with nail fungus.
Treatment of nail fungus
Treatment of fungal nail infections can be a long and expensive process.
Oral drugs for the treatment of infection, as a rule, should be taken up to four months until the replacement of a fully infected nail on the finger.These drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist according to certain schemes.Since drugs act on the liver and composition of the blood, it is necessary to take tests before and during treatment.
In the initial stage of the fungus, local drugs - ointments and varnishes help well.
Local antimicotics - The most effective means of local therapy, as they are most active in relation to the pathogens of onychomycosis.Among the many local drugs against the fungus of nails, only 2 can be called drugs for the treatment of onychomycosis itself, since they are available in the most suitable form for this - in the form of nail polish.The remaining antifungal drugs are more often used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
Failure varnish
Special nail polishes designed to treat nail fungus allow you to better conduct antimicotics through the nail plate deep into the bed of the nail.In addition, the varnish film, freezing on the surface of the nail, prevents the evaporation of the drug from the nail and creates a barrier for infection.
The main advantage of modern varnishes used in the treatment of onychomycosis is that they can be applied to the nail plate without removing it.The remaining drugs cannot penetrate the nail plate, which requires its preliminary removal or at least significant thinning.
The current antimicotics, which are part of the varnishes, are delayed in the nail for a long time after application, effective concentrations are preserved for at least 7 days.This allows varnishes 1 or 2 times a week.
Batrafen varnish is applied every other day for the 1st month of treatment, 2 times a week for the 2nd month, and then 1 time per week.
Before starting treatment, any varnish should be removed as many of the affected nail plate.The remaining nail plate on which the varnish will be applied must be sawed down with the attached file to create an uneven surface.The varnish is applied with the attached brush or spatula.Before each varnish application, the previous layer is removed using a solvent or the attached alcohol tampon and a nail plate is treated with a file.A layer of varnish can be removed by placing a nail in warm water and scraping the lacquers of scissors.
The duration of treatment depends on the speed of growing a healthy nail plate.For the treatment of onychomycosis, there are enough 6 months on the hands, on the legs-9-12 months.
Actual methods of local treatment of the fungus include nail polish, such as cyclopirox in addition to other creams.Local ointments and creams can clean the nail fungal infection, but often do not cure the infection completely.
In some extreme cases, the doctor may recommend removing the nail.
Alternative drugs used to treat fungal nail infections include Australian tea tree oil extract and grapefruit seeds.However, there is no scientific evidence in support of the use of these products.
Effective antifungal drugs
There are 3 effective antifungal drugs for oral administration (orally).All three drugs have serious side effects and can interact with many other medicines.Patients who take antifungal drugs should periodically take tests to control the function of the liver and blood cells.Octus antifungal agents continue to work even after treatment with the drug.
None of the oral antifungal agents can be taken during pregnancy.
Prevention
- Put on a new pair of socks every day.Socks should be made of natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton.These fibers allow moisture to move away from the foot and contribute to the distribution of air around the thumb of the leg and foot.If your legs or socks become wet from sweat, you need to remove them as soon as possible, dry your legs with a clean towel and put on a new couple of socks.
- Wearing the same pair of shoes, day after day, can have a negative effect on the legs and expose you to bacteria and fungi.When storing shoes, you need to make sure that it is stored in a well -ventilated room for complete drying.It is advisable to have several sneakers and change them before going to the gym, so that these steam have the optimal drying time.And finally, wear shoes in front of the entrance to the shower, sauna or gym.This is fertile soil for fungi that cause onychomycosis and other bacterial infections.
- There are ways to avoid infection and help a specialist of manicure and pedicures to prevent the nail fungus before it begins.The first sentence, bring your varnish with you.This is an easy way to prevent infection when using general varnish - when the fungus falls directly into the nail bed.The second proposal is the requirement to sterilize all equipment for manicure and pedicure.Each device must be disinfected and stored properly.And finally, the bathtubs for the pedicure.This is a blessing for bacteria, which are only waiting to infect your nails.If you are not sure that the bath was cleaned with the corresponding disinfectant after each client, try to avoid this at all costs.
- Fungal infections are a common sign of a suppressed immune system.The enrichment of your diet with nutrients and vitamins, of course, can help prevent bacteria.Eat more garlic for food.Tea tree oil is also a natural antifungal agent.Peel the nail area on the legs of tea tree oil.The black walnut black extract can also work well in the prevention of onychomycosis.
- General use can lead to infections and cause a nail fungus on the finger.The fungus can be transmitted from person to person.Maximum prevention is not to divide towels, shoes, scissors with someone else.And, as we always recommend, to treat the nail fungus to the dermatologist at the first signs of the infection.