Toenail fungus is a widespread infection caused by infection by opportunistic and pathogenic fungi with dermatophytes. About 20% of the adult population suffers from nail fungus and is hardly detected in children.
Reasons for infection
Fungi are widespread in the environment, but damage to nails and human skin only develops under favorable conditions. With age, the acidic pH of the skin can turn alkaline, which is favorable for the growth of fungi. Infection usually occurs by contact, if personal hygiene standards are not observed, the source of infection may be a sick person or items of everyday use. Infection can occur in public places: swimming pools, saunas, gyms. And also in everyday life with the generalization of slippers, socks, manicure accessories, towels and washcloths.
The predisposing factors for onychomycosis infection are:
- decreased immunity;
- poor circulation in the legs, including when wearing tight shoes;
- excessive sweating;
- Diabetes;
- obesity;
- mechanical injury to the nails;
- deformities and anatomical features of the feet.
Signs of nail fungus
Nail fungus is a very persistent infection, the initial stage of the disease is expressed:
- discoloration of the nail plate, loss of shine;
- increased fragility;
- itching and irritation of the skin around the affected nail;
- pain at the injury site, especially when wearing tight shoes;
- detach part of the nail from the nail bed.
As the progression and involvement of the entire nail plate in the process, new symptoms appear: the nail thickens and deforms considerably.
Depending on the degree of damage to the nails, three types of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Normotrophic - manifests itself in a distortion of the color of the nail from white to dark green. The color changes first in spots or stripes and gradually covers the entire surface of the nail, while the thickness of the nail plate does not change and the shine remains.
- Hypertrophic - is expressed by discoloration, loss of shine and severe thickening and deformation of the nail. The nail is heavily exfoliated and partially destroyed;
- Atrophic - reflected by discoloration, thinning and subsequent rejection of the affected area.
Which doctor treats the fungus?
You can determine the infection yourself, but only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis. If you notice a change in the color of the nail, increased fragility, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor orders a microscopic or cultural diagnostic study to confirm the diagnosis. Part of the affected nail is removed for analysis or nearby tissue is scraped off. Timely detection of nail fungus greatly facilitates treatment and prevents the development of complications. Launched onychomycosis is dangerous, as it can cause mycotic eczema, aspergillosis, decreased immunity, infection of all nails, skin and other organs.
Treatment of nail fungus
Treatment of 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. For treatment, local agents are used (ointments, drops, sprays, varnishes) and general agents (antimycotic drugs).
As a rule, with minor changes in the nail, 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 tissue, 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 dressings, which contain urea or salicylic acid:
- ureaplast;
- urea plaster with quinosol;
- quinosol-salicylic patch;
- onychoplast;
- quinosol-dimexide patch;
- mycospores (combined preparation).
Before pasting the bandage, it is necessary to scrape the top layer of the nail, then apply a therapeutic mass and stick it with an adhesive bandage, 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;
- chloronitrophenol derivatives;
- based on naftifine.
Ointments, creams and drops should preferably be applied to the open nail bed 2-3 times a day, until the final nail restoration. These drugs are active against the vast majority of pathogens, but are not able to penetrate the full depth of the nail plate.
Local antiseptics - a solution of iodine, dyes, quinosol, organic acids are often used in the treatment of nail fungus, if it is impossible to use other means. The main advantage, the antiseptic is inexpensive 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 advisable not to touch the surrounding skin to avoid burns. A burning and tingling sensation helps recognize the onset of exposure.
If local treatment is ineffective, then antimycotic tablets are additionally prescribed, prescribed by a specialist.
Correctly selected combination therapy helps to cure advanced onychomycosis faster. In addition, treatment combined with local and general therapy is prescribed for more than three affected nails, for people over 50 years of age 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 antifungal agents at home, you can use - apple cider vinegar and herbal preparations:
- mix equal parts vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar, moisten a cotton ball in the resulting solution and apply to the affected nail for 4 hours. For convenience, you can fix the bandage with an adhesive bandage. The procedure is carried out daily for a month;
- for the treatment of a neglected process, a mixture of 9% vinegar with celandine helps, the resulting composition should be infused for a month. Then add 50 g of salt. The resulting product is used for foot baths 5-10 minutes before bedtime. It is important not to wipe your feet after bathing, but to let them dry on their own;
- to treat the affected nail, you can use an alcoholic solution of propolis, juice or porridge of onions, garlic. A mixture of lavender and tea tree oils also works well;
- Decoction of herbs for foot baths: mix in equal parts 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.
Prophylaxis
The damage caused by nail fungus can be easily avoided with good personal hygiene:
- It is necessary to wash the feet daily with antiseptic agents.
- Dry your feet with a personal towel.
- Use a pumice stone to remove the old skin, which is a good growth medium for fungi.
- Use medicines that reduce sweating in the feet.
- Change socks, knee-highs and tights daily.
- Wear loose, comfortable shoes. Do not wear wet shoes.
- Wear shoes when visiting 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.