A disease as irritating as nail fungus (or onychomycosis) is considered one of the most common worldwide. According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from foot fungus! People of different races, both sexes and all ages are susceptible to the disease – from preschoolers to the elderly.
Many of us believe that foot fungus can only appear in people who neglect personal hygiene, forget to monitor the condition of the skin of the feet, etc.
In fact, nail fungus can appear even on a clean person, because the infection is very easy to "catch" in public places - at the beach, in the sauna, in the pool, at the gym, etc. though Not fatal, but very insidious. At an early stage, it manifests itself in the form of harmless symptoms, but later it can lead to such serious consequences as the destruction and deformation of the nail, which will never assume its previous shape. Also, onychomycosis is very contagious, so a person who has found a fungus can easily infect all family members.
Nail fungus: first signs
It is quite difficult to identify the pathology at the first stage, but it is possible if you carefully observe 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 grooves, stripes and spots;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- nails cut into the skin of the legs, which was not previously observed;
- the skin around the nail plate began to itch and cause discomfort to the person; sometimes the itching starts between the fingers (these signs are characteristic of children and adolescents, as their skin is much thinner and softer than that of adults).
Later, with the development of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- distortion of the structure of the toenails - they become brittle, scaly, brittle edges appear;
- color change - instead of the usual healthy transparent white color, the plaque acquires unnatural shades such as purple, yellow or even black;
- the nail is deformed, 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 gather and actively multiply. This often manifests itself after contact with warm water - when you shower, shower, swim in the pool, take a steam bath. After the legs dry, the board can adhere to the skin again.
Similar symptoms can sometimes occur in a person who does not have a fungus. The nail may turn black, peel off and fall off completely due to mechanical damage. The dying process begins a week or two after you have injured your toes or simply wear tight, ill-fitting shoes.
As a rule, after six months, a completely healthy new nail plate grows. To determine if it's a fungus or just the aftermath of an injury, a qualified dermatologist or surgeon can.
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 usual hygiene procedures cannot eliminate this symptom. In this situation, complex treatment is required, otherwise a person may lose the nail plate.
treatment of onychomycosis
A person can recognize the first symptoms of the disease on their 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 to recognize the disease, determine its stage and recommend the necessary treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes from which the disease begins:
- humid and hot environment. Wear socks, tights and shoes made only from natural materials. After each visit to the street, dry your shoes, change your socks, do not leave your feet wet for a long time;
- not to wear someone else's shoes, when visiting public places - swimming pool, sauna, beach - wear personal replacement shoes, which after each use are disinfected with chlorine or alcohol;
- weak immunity. Often this disease occurs against the background of weak immunity, a lack of useful 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 consequently help with the treatment.
traditional treatment
The local treatment of onychomycosis in the initial phase consists of the application of antifungal creams and ointments. These funds are usually sold together with a special waterproof adhesive.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected nail plate, fixed with a plaster, and left for 24 hours. The patch must not be removed during this period.
After a day, the patch should be removed, lower your legs into a warm soapy solution and remove dead tissue with a pedicure nail file.
After removing the affected areas of the nail plate on the legs, the product should be applied to the nail bed. The duration of this treatment is until a healthy plaque grows.
At the first stage of the disease, only with the onset 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 a different stage, more effective drugs are needed. In this case, general action antimycotics will be necessary. 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 that the patient has.
These funds have a number of limitations - kidney and liver diseases, pregnancy, breastfeeding period of the baby. You also cannot combine them with oral contraceptives.
Although toenail fungus is a disease that is not dangerous for human life, in the absence of the necessary therapy, it can lead to allergic reactions, reduced immunity and the occurrence of various skin diseases. That is why the treatment of this disease cannot be postponed until later, you should immediately seek the help of a specialist.