Hello, dear readers.Onychomycosis is a medical name for a very common disease, more known to us as a nail fungus.Recently, there has been a jump at the level of frequency of this disease.This unpleasant fact is related to the popularity of cheap shoes, which is not particularly quality.It is made of low -building materials that have low air bandwidth, which prevents normal foot ventilation.Under such conditions, the sweating of the feet creates ideal conditions for the productive activity of the pathogenic microflora.This problem is widespread.Its scope is so large that the number of cases exceeds 20% of all inhabitants of the planet!
As the name implies, the nail fungus is mycotic (fungal) damage to the nails.There are many varieties of pathogenic fungi that can cause this disease.
But according to doctors, in most cases, the toenails are affected by dermatophytes.Significantly less, the cause of the disease is yeast (candidiasis) and mold fungi.
Sometimes you have to deal with the deformation of the nails on the feet of black nature.
Symptoms of nail fungus - the first signs
Damage to the fungi can affect not only the nails but also the legs themselves.Symptoms of infection will differ depending on the variety of pathogen that caused the development of the disease.The degree of damage to the nails also has a value.
But despite existing differences, the common signs of fungal activity can be distinguished:
- Changing the color of the nail.
- The appearance of nail stains, stripes, thickening, inflow.
- Loosening the nail structure or their stratification.
- Redness, peeling, cracking of the skin of the feet.
- The appearance of itching, pain (including only when walking), burning in the area of damage.
- Inflammation, dryness of the affected areas of the skin.
- Often the legs emit a repulsive aroma.
A whitish plaque can be observed at the bottom of the legs.Skin peeling is replaced by the appearance of small dead skin flakes that cover its surface.
Types of fungal lesions
Normotrophic form of damage.White or yellowish spots or strips appear on the nails.As the disease progresses, they spread, gradually completely changing the color of the entire plate.
The thickness and the gloss on its surface remain unchanged.There may be a violation of the fusion of the nail with submarine fabrics, which is why it exfoliates and can be easy and painless.
Hypertrophic form of the disease.The affected nail becomes brownish-yellow or gray.Nail thickening is observed due to the growth of the submarine epithelium.The nail plate itself becomes a crumb.
The sides are particularly destroyed, so it takes shape of nails.This is a characteristic sign of this disease.The surface of the nails becomes boring.When he walks, a sick person experiences pain.
Atrophic form of damage. The nails change color, turning into brown gray, losing its transparency and shine.The nail begins to gradually collapse, starting from the outside in the direction of the nail growth area.
Growing epithelial particles fills the nail with a loose mass.Without treatment, complete loss of nails will occur.
Classification by pathogen of the disease
Dermatophytic lesion.It is found in the bigger part of the cases (about 90%).There are several varieties.In some, the infection can be applied to internal areas of the foot, on the skin of the feet and even the hands.
Defeat with yeast.This diversity can be difficult to identify, especially at the initial stage.First, the nail roll is influenced, it ignites and swells.Later, peeling in this area is noticeable, slight itching and mild soreness may be possible.The nail becomes tubers, loses its luster, it can fall apart.In advanced cases, purulent discharge occurs.
Planeally defeated.Under the influence of mold, the nails change, gaining a greenish, bluish tinge or starts to black.
Its lateral parts become rough.Over time, the affected areas die, which is why the nail is deformed.Gradually he will collapse.
Snaleal's damage is quite rare, mainly as a complication of a different form of fungal lesions, as well as HIV infection.
Location classification of the lesion
Damage to the fungi can be localized in different parts of the nail.In this regard, several types of damage are distinguished in the international classification.
- In general, when the effect of the fungus covers the entire nail.
- Far if only the top of the nail (free edge) is injured.
- Proximal, in which there is damage to the nail roller (lower part of the nails).
- Laterally, observed by the lateral parts of the nails.
Often they characterize different stages of the disease.
The lesion of the fungus of the feet
There are several varieties of fungal damage to the foot.
Interdadt form. The most common type of leg fungus.As the name can be seen, the disease affects interdigital gaps, it may later switch to other parts of the legs, including nails.
In interdigital folds, first moist cracks and specific layers of the skin appear.Later is skin erosion.The disease tends to develop in chronic.Often complicated by streptococcal infection
Hyperkeratic (squamous) form.Touches the whole leg.It differs in a rather deep tissue damage.At first the skin peels off and blushed slightly, then it becomes rough and impatient, sometimes there is a deep cracking of the keratinized layer.
The disease can spread to the nails, which at the same time thicken, darken and begin to paint.The disease is very characteristic of athletes.
A brew (vesicular) form. The vesicle (bubbles with liquid) appear on the legs, which, after drilling, leave erosion traces.The skin becomes ulcer, with peeling areas covered with purulent bark.It is often accompanied by an allergic rash (due to the action of toxins).
The disease is rare and is quite easily treated.But here the danger lies in the high likelihood of lesions of bacteria or viruses, which significantly complicates the course of the disease and actually eliminates the possibility of rapid recovery.
Deleted form.It is not easy to identify as changes in the skin and condition of the nails are weak.Nail plates can turn yellowish.The skin on the sole slightly peels, becomes loose.Itching can be observed.The disease is good to cure.
Nail fungus - the reasons for the appearance
Symptoms of nail fungus and the first signs that signal the overall level of immune resistance to the body and improper leg care.
If the protective functions are normal, even when infected, the disease will not be able to develop.Immune mechanisms will handle the aggressor themselves.
But when the immunity is weakened in connection with the connected, it causes the disease to have a beneficial, the body will not be able to resist the fungus.
To effectively combat it, you should try to remove or at least minimize (for example, chronic diseases are unlikely to be completely overcome) the impact of these factors.
The reasons for the development of fungi:
- Excessive sweating of the legs.
- Disruption of natural leg ventilation (thick shoes made of low quality material, synthetic socks).
- Reducing body protection functions.
- Disruption of the skin's protective layer (excess hygiene, excessive treatment with antibacterial agents, abuse of fluid to relieve varnish).
- Injury to the nails and damage to the soles of the legs (cracks, calluses, etc.).
- Feet characteristics that worsen its aeration (due to flat feet, obesity, etc.).
- Concomitant diseases (diabetes, varicose veins, psoriasis, metabolic disorders, digestion, circulatory in the legs, HIV).
- Antibiotics and some other medicines taken from a long course.
- Low level of leg hygiene.
- Age and sexual criteria (men and the elderly are more susceptible to disease).
- Professional factor (conditions with high temperature and humidity, powder, ionizing radiation, wearing rubber shoes; massage therapists, orthopedists, sanatorium workers, steamers, etc.) also often get sick.
- Visit to public saunas, bathrooms, pools.
- Pedicure of the salon in violation of the principles of hygiene and sterility.
- Household factor (complete use of a towel, slippers, bedding, etc.).
As studies show, people who suffer from diabetes are most affected by the fungus of the foot and nails.This disease is observed in 35% of diabetics.
The likelihood of fungal psoriasis damage is also high.Here the likelihood of increased by 55%.
The consequences of fungal lesions
Although the fungus of the legs is not a direct threat to the patient's life, you cannot contact your health irresponsibly and let everything go by yourself.
Fungus damage is not an annoying inconvenience at all and an extremely aesthetic problem.
The timely discrepancy of the disease leads to the development of a chronic form of disease with regular exacerbations.
Surprising complications are also possible.
- Disruption of the nail growth process, growth in soft tissues.
- Complete or partial loss of nails.
- Stagnant phenomena, including lymphostasis.
- Distribution of the disease in neighboring areas and deep in the tissues.
- Connection of other infections (bacterial, viral and fungal).
- Increased inflammation is an acute inflammatory infectious disease.
- Diabetic leg in diabetics is anatomical changes, which leads to an increase in the likelihood of injury, infection, soup and necrosis (necrosis) of the tissues.
- Elephantiasis is a pathological growth of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, which leads to an increase in the size of the organ.
- Eczema.
Treatment of nail fungus - cheap and effective medicines
To prescribe the correct treatment regimen, you must make an accurate diagnosis.A number of laboratory tests are carried out for this purpose.Modern pharmacology offers many different antifungal drugs.
Therefore, independent treatment is difficult and often it is ineffective.The doctor will need to detect the pathogen, the degree of neglect of the disease, the area of damage, the presence of concomitant diseases.
Only on the basis of the complex of information received, it will be able to prescribe a course of therapy.Both local medicines are used here (for external use - ointments, creams, varnishes, foams, serums) and common, taken inside (tablets, capsules).
The active substance in antifungal ointments may be cyclopirox, naphthyphine, nystatin.
If the lesions of the fungus are quite extensive, it is recommended to use tablet antifungal medicines.
Unlike external funds, tablets have a common effect on the whole body of the patient.
Purely prescribed medicines based on substances from terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole.There is often a need for surgical removal of formations, but there are cheap and effective nail fungus medicines.
Many of these funds are also indicated for preventive use.
It should be remembered that all antifungal drugs have a different side effects.Therefore, the treatment, prescription and cancellation of medicines, control of the patient's condition - all this is exclusively within the doctor's competence.
Often the recovery process can be very long until one year until the affected nail is fully updated.
During the treatment period, special attention should be paid to the hygiene of the legs.Fungal nail damage is not allowed to use decorative varnishes.
To prevent households prevent, you cannot walk barefoot at home, wear only closed shoes.It is necessary to treat twice a day with antifungal agents.After using the bathroom, careful treatment is carried out.
Joint washing things is forbidden.After treatment, you should get rid of all the objects that have contacted their feet (towels, slippers, all socks, etc.).
Recommendations
- The legs should be kept clean and dry.Wash your feet once a day, if necessary - more often.Then their surface, including interdigital gaps, diligently dried.You should only wear fresh socks now.
- The shoes should be comfortable, not too old (no more than 3 years), of breathable material.Poor or fashionable rubber models cannot be worn daily.At least the duration of carrying it during the day must be limited.For this purpose it is recommended to use a removable pair.It is extremely recommended to use other people's shoes, including slippers.
- Socks are used by cotton, wool or other non -intensive materials.It is permissible to wear synthetics only in some cases.
- The most difficult is to destroy the fungus on wooden surfaces.This should be taken into account when visiting public steamers, bathrooms, pools.It is better to be in a closed rubber shoe.
- Socks, room shoes, insoles should be regularly arranged.
- The procedure for the pedicure of the salon must be performed by a proven master, subject to sterility rules.Or at home, adhering to the same principles.It is necessary to avoid any nail injury in any possible way, timely elimination of problems characteristic of the surface of the sole (ghost forms, calluses, cracks), do not abuse pedicure, degreasing and disinfectants.
Take care of yourself, follow your health.Be healthy!