Such an annoying disease as nail fungus (or onychomycosis) is considered one of the most common in the world. According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from foot fungus! Susceptible to the disease are people of different races, both sexes and all ages - from preschoolers to the elderly.
Many of us believe that foot fungus can only occur in people who neglect personal hygiene, forget to monitor the condition of the skin on their feet, and so on.
In fact, toenail fungus can occur even in a clean person, as the infection is "caught" very easily in public places - on the beach, in the sauna, pool, gym, etc. Toenail fungus is a diseaseAlthough not fatal, but very insidious, it manifests itself in the form of harmless symptoms at an early stage, but later it can lead to such serious consequences as the destruction and deformation of the nail, which will never regain its previous shape. onychomycosis is highly contagious, so a person who has discovered the fungus can easily infect all members of the household.
Toenail fungus: first signs
In the first stage it is quite difficult to identify the pathology, but it is possible if you carefully examine the condition of the nails and the skin around them.
The main signs by which the fungus can be identified are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- the appearance of furrows, stripes and spots on it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- toenails cut into the skin of the feet, which has not been observed before;
- the skin around the nail plate began to itch and cause discomfort to the person; itching between the fingers sometimes begins (these signs are common in children and adolescents, as their skin is much thinner and softer than in adults).
Subsequently, with the development of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- distortion of the structure of the toenails - they become brittle, appear scaly, crumbly edges;
- color change - instead of the usual, healthy transparent white color, the plate acquires unnatural shades, such as purple, yellow or even black;
- the nail deforms, becomes flat or convex, tubercles form on it.
But peeling nails are symptoms of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail separates from the skin, forming a so-called pocket in which pathogenic bacteria collect and actively multiply. This often occurs after contact with hot water - when you take a shower, bath, swim in the pool, take a steam bath. Once the feet are dry, the plate can stick to the skin again.
Sometimes such symptoms can occur in a person who does not suffer from the fungus. The nail may turn black, peel off and then fall off completely due to mechanical damage. The process of dying begins a week or two after you have injured your toes or simply worn tight, inappropriate shoes.
As a rule, after six months a new, completely healthy nail plate grows. A qualified dermatologist or surgeon can determine if it is a fungus or just the consequences of an injury.
These symptoms are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor created by pathogenic bacteria. A person suffering from toenail fungus smells bad in socks and shoes and the usual hygienic procedures can not eliminate this symptom. In this situation, a complex treatment is needed, otherwise a person may lose the nail plate.
Treatment of onychomycosis
One can recognize the first symptoms of the disease on one's own. But even if you are sure that you have symptoms of nail fungus, you should seek the advice of a qualified doctor, otherwise the treatment may not bring the desired results. The specialist will help you identify the disease, determine its stage and recommend the necessary treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the reasons why the disease begins:
- humid and warm environment. Wear socks, tights and shoes only made of natural materials. After each visit to the street, dry your shoes, change your socks, do not allow your feet to stay wet for a long time;
- do not wear other people's shoes when visiting public places - pool, sauna, beach - use personal spare shoes that are disinfected with chlorine or alcohol after each use;
- weak immunity. Often this disease occurs against a background of weak immunity, lack of nutrients in the body, frequent colds. After consulting your doctor, you should take a complex of vitamins and minerals that will strengthen the immune system and therefore help in treatment.
Traditional treatment
Topical treatment of onychomycosis in the initial stage consists in the application of antifungal creams and ointments. These products are usually sold together with a special waterproof patch.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected nail plate, fixed with plaster and left for 24 hours. The patch should not be removed during this period.
After one day, the patch should be removed, the feet dipped in a warm solution of soap and soda, and the dead tissue removed with a pedicure nail file.
After removing the affected areas of the nail plate of the feet, the product should be applied to the nail bed. The duration of such treatment is until the growth of a healthy plate.
At the first stage of the disease, only with the appearance of the first symptoms, special antifungal varnishes can be used. Apply this varnish once or twice a week throughout the year.
However, if such therapy does not help and the fungus is already at another stage, more effective drugs are needed. In this case, general-acting antifungals will be needed. They can also be combined with antifungal varnishes. The course of treatment with systemic drugs is prescribed by the doctor individually, depending on the stage of onychomycosis of the patient.
Such funds have a number of limitations - kidney and liver disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding. You also cannot combine them with oral contraceptives.
Despite the fact that toenail fungus is a disease that is not dangerous to human life, in the absence of the necessary therapy, it can lead to allergic reactions, reduced immunity and the appearance of various skin diseases. Therefore, the treatment of this disease can not be postponed, you should immediately seek professional help.