Toenail fungus is a widespread infection caused by infection with opportunistic and pathogenic fungi with dermatophytes. About 20% of the adult population suffers from nail fungus and is virtually undetectable in children.
Causes of infection
The fungus is widespread in the environment, but damage to nails and human skin develops only under favorable conditions. With age, the acidic pH of the skin can change to alkaline, which is conducive to the growth of the fungus. Infection usually occurs through contact, if the rules of personal hygiene are not observed, the source of infection may be a sick person or objects of common use. Infection can occur in public places: swimming pools, saunas, gyms. And also in everyday life with the general use of slippers, socks, manicure accessories, towels and towels.
Predisposing factors for onychomycosis infection are:
- reduced immunity;
- poor blood circulation in the legs, including when wearing tight shoes;
- excessive sweating;
- diabetes;
- obesity;
- mechanical nail injury;
- deformations and anatomical features of the feet.
Signs of toenail fungus
Nail fungus is a very persistent infection, the initial stage of the disease is expressed:
- change in the color of the nail plate, loss of shine;
- increased fragility;
- itching and irritation of the skin around the affected nail;
- pain at the site of the lesion, especially when wearing tight shoes;
- separating part of the nail from the nail bed.
With the progression and involvement of the entire nail plate in the process, new symptoms appear: the nail thickens and deforms significantly.
Depending on the degree of damage to the nails, three types of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Normotrophic - manifested by distortion of nail color from white to dark green. The color changes initially to spots or streaks and gradually covers the entire surface of the nail until the thickness of the nail plate changes and the shine remains.
- Hypertrophic - it is expressed by discoloration, loss of shine and strong thickening and deformation of the nail. The nail is strongly exfoliated and partially destroyed;
- Atrophic - affected by discoloration, thinning and subsequent rejection of the affected area.
Which doctor treats the fungus?
You can diagnose the infection yourself, but only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis. If you find a change in nail color, increased fragility, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor prescribes a diagnostic microscopic or cultural examination to confirm the diagnosis. Part of the affected nail is taken for analysis or the nearby tissues are scraped. Timely detection of nail fungus greatly facilitates treatment and prevents the development of complications. Started onychomycosis is dangerous because it can cause fungal eczema, aspergillosis, decreased immunity, infection of all nails, skin and other organs.
Nail fungus treatment
How to treat onychomycosis is determined by the doctor depending on the degree of change in the nail plate, the clinical form, the degree of hyperkeratosis and the length of the affected area. Topical agents (ointments, drops, sprays, varnishes) and general agents (antifungal drugs) are used for treatment.
As a rule, with minor changes in the nail, the drugs are used for topical treatment. Before treatment with antifungal solutions, ointments, varnishes, the affected area of the nail should be removed surgically or with the help of keratolytic drugs. This is necessary for better penetration of the antifungal drug deep into the damaged tissues, which allows you to get rid of the fungus much faster.
Keratolytic drugs contribute to the softening of the nail and its easy and painless removal, produced in the form of patches that include urea or salicylic acid:
- ureaplast;
- urea plaster with quinozol;
- quinozole-salicylic patch;
- onychoplast;
- quinozol-dimexid patch;
- mycospores (combined preparation).
Before gluing the plaster, it is necessary to scrape the top layer of the nail, then apply a therapeutic mass and stick it with adhesive tape, change the bandage every 1-2 days. Before the change, the affected areas of the nail are removed with scissors and antifungal agents are applied.
Antifungal creams, ointments and drops are:
- based on ketoconazole;
- clotrimazole derivatives;
- based on micanazole;
- oxycanazole derivatives;
- based on terbinafine;
- chlornitrophenol derivatives;
- based on naftifine.
It is preferable to apply ointments, creams and drops on the open nail bed 2-3 times a day, until the final recovery of the nail. These drugs are active against most pathogens, but are unable to penetrate the entire depth of the nail plate.
Local antiseptics - iodine solution, dyes, quinozol, organic acids are often used in the treatment of nail fungus, if it is impossible to use other means. The main advantage is that the antiseptic is cheap and widely available. Local antiseptics, such as iodine, treat the affected nail up to three times a day for a month. When applying the solution, it is recommended that you do not touch the surrounding skin to avoid burns. The burning and tingling sensation helps to recognize the onset of exposure.
If topical treatment is ineffective, additional antifungal tablets prescribed by a specialist are prescribed.
Properly chosen combination therapy helps in the fastest treatment of advanced onychomycosis. Also, combined treatment with local and general therapy is prescribed for more than three affected nails, for persons over 50 years and with slow nail growth. The use of combination therapy can significantly reduce the duration of treatment.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies
For the preparation of antifungals at home you can use - apple cider vinegar and herbal preparations:
- mix in equal parts vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar, moisten a cotton swab in the resulting solution and apply on the affected nail for 4 hours, for convenience you can fix the bandage with adhesive tape. The procedure is performed daily for one month;
- for the treatment of a neglected process helps a mixture of 9% vinegar with celandine, the resulting composition should be infused for a month. Then add 50 g of salt to it. The resulting product is used for 5-10 minutes foot baths before bedtime. It is important not to wipe your feet after the bath, but to let them dry on their own;
- for the treatment of the affected nail you can use an alcoholic solution of propolis, onion juice or mash, garlic. A mixture of lavender and tea tree oils also works well;
- herbal decoction for foot baths: mix in equal proportions oak bark, calendula, horsetail, verbena. Pour 50 g of the resulting mixture with boiling water and keep in a water bath for about 15 minutes.
Prevention
Fungal nail damage can be easily avoided with good personal hygiene:
- You need to wash your feet daily with antiseptics.
- Dry your feet with a personal towel.
- Use pumice to peel off old skin, which is a good environment for fungal growth.
- Use medications that reduce foot sweating.
- Change knee-high socks and tights daily.
- Wear loose, comfortable shoes. Do not wear wet shoes.
- Wear shoes when visiting swimming pools and showers.
- Do not use other people's shoes, slippers, socks, towels, manicure accessories.
- Use pharmacological preparations for protection before visiting beaches, swimming pools, saunas.