To recognize the fungus on the toenails, why they appear and how to deal with them, helps specialized medical literature, Internet sites. However, it is recommended to give preference to consultation with a mycologist. Laboratory tests accurately identify the type of fungal infection, which facilitates the choice of the correct treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis
A subset of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the nail plate tissue is onychomycosis. The infection is usually due to untreated skin lesions on the fingers and toes. The disease can occur at any age, but more often men aged 20-55 years face it.
According to the International Classification of Diseases, the code for onychomycosis is B35. 1. Dermatophytes mainly cause pathological changes in the nails, less often diagnostic tests are found by pathogens of the genus Candida or mold microorganisms.
Nail fungus is transmitted, which is why it occurs in 90% of cases - it is direct contact with an already ill person, for example with members of the same family, or through close communication using common household items. Promotes infection by weakening the body's immune barriers -causes of toenail fungusare rooted in diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent severe illness.
The clinical picture directly depends not only on the type of mycosis pathogen, but also on the area of its penetration - the distal form of onychomycosis or the proximal lesion of the nail. The variant with the general spread of the infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus
Research conducted by experts has allowed us to learntoenail fungus, where it comes fromand which people are at risk of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms live not only on the tissues of the legs and arms, but also on the rest of the human body, they are able to maintain their vital activity on the surrounding objects. For this purpose, it is enough for them to be in warm, humid conditions, and there are enough epidermal scales for feeding, which are constantly crumbling in humans.
The main thingcauses of toenail fungus:
- age criterion - anyone can face a fungal infection, but men aged 18 to 50 are susceptible to it;
- work in hazardous industries - in gas-contaminated, dusty rooms with high temperature / humidity;
- constant wearing of tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
- frequent minor tissue injuries - abrasions, abrasions, calluses on the feet;
- anatomical and physiological features - for example, narrow interdigital spaces;
- tendency to excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis;
- the course of various somatic pathologies that weaken the protective barriers of the skin - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, obesity.
I doubttoenail fungusallow the characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease. Most often, people turn to a doctor with complaints that their nail plate has become cloudy, with a yellowish tinge, the feet emit an unpleasant odor and there is increased fragility on the edge of the nail.
Risk groups of fungi
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. Eventually, anyone can become infected with the fungus, especially when visiting places where the concentration of pathogens is higher. Many people are at risk:
- employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- cleaners for public spaces;
- family members of a sick person;
- persons weakened by recent illnesses;
- expectant mothers - pregnancy worsens the condition of the skin of the feet;
- people who neglect personal hygiene;
- forced to be in a hot, poorly ventilated room throughout the work shift, especially in tight shoes made of artificial materials;
- women who visit pedicure salons with an unproven reputation;
- beach lovers - the sand is often infected with fungal microorganisms because people walk on it barefoot or with dirty shoes.
If you know who has the most andwhy is toenail fungus, it is easier to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, everyone is advised to assess the risk of infection and take appropriate preventive measures.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, it is much easier to choose the treatment when people seek medical help earlier. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the nail plate, the mycologist will definitely prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures:
- thorough examination of the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
- collection of complaints and anamnesis - the reasons for its penetration into the tissues, which a person can indicate himself;
- taking scrapings from the surface of the plate and examining cells under a microscope;
- taking a piece of nail for sowing on a special nutrient medium - existing fungal colonies begin to multiply actively, but the analysis takes a long time;
- histological examination - if the process is suspected to be malignant.
After comparing all the information from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisnail fungusand then selects the optimal mode of its therapy.
Nail fungus treatment
Important information aboutnail fungusfor a mycologist, as it allows you to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as to choose the right treatment regimen. After all, there are many pathogens of infectious disease, and some drugs will be effective, while others only stop the growth of infectious cells, but do not eliminate them completely.
By settingcauses of nail fungus, experts at the first consultation give recommendations for their removal - for example, the purchase of new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treatment of all family members. Only then, after I judgedwhy is nail fungus, you can start drug therapy. It is accepted to distinguish two main areas - local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicidal ointments, varnishes and according to individual needs courses of systemic antifungal drugs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic version,why there is fungus on the toenails- infection through dirty shoes or walking barefoot on the tiles of the pool, it is better to start treating the infection with external means. On the pharmacy shelf antifungal drugs are presented in a wide range:
- subgroup of polyenes - they are characterized by democratic price and high efficiency, a variety of dosage forms;
- subgroup of azoles - they deal with most known fungal microorganisms with timely initiation of therapy;
- subgroup aliamides - is characterized by rapid suppression of mycoses of the nails, hair or epithelium of the feet and body.
Once you find outwhy fungi appear on the nails, the mycologist will recommend the optimal drugs for external suppression of the activity of onychomycosis - cream / ointment with fungicidal properties. While in case of severe course of the disease tablets / capsules or injections with medicinal solutions will be prescribed - to create a systemic effect on the infection.
It is unacceptable to change independently the dose of drugs, the frequency of their use or the duration of treatment. Such actions will worsen the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the formation of complications.
ethnoscience
A long time agotreatment of nail funguswas the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, bee products and improvised home remedies that eliminate discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
The accumulated knowledge about the causes of the disease and the symptoms made it possible to create effective prescriptions for home treatment:
- Make a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate at bedtime in which to put your feet for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin well and apply a mixture of crushed propolis with alcohol on the affected area of the fungus. Fix a gauze bandage on top, leave for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Insist in a dark cupboard in 1 liter of vinegar essence, the contents of 1 packet of pharmacy celandine. Filter after 3-4 weeks. Add to foot baths along with salt. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.
- Lotions with tar soap. After pre-steaming the tissues of the feet, wash the intermediate spaces and nails well with tar soap, pour salt on top. Leave it overnight.
To speed up the recovery from nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - wipe the affected areas in the morning with iodine tincture or with the juice of golden mustache, onions, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that inhibit the activity of fungal cells.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Preventing the primary infection, as well as the recurrence of the fungal infection, is much easier than dealing with the removal of the foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary prophylactic interventions are affordable and easy to perform. After allwhat does toenail fungus say- on the weakening of the human body's own defenses.
Therefore, in order to restore strong and powerful immunity, a number of measures need to be taken:
- reconsider your diet - the menu should contain more fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, light proteins, but minimize pickles and preservatives, fast food and fatty / smoked dishes;
- give up alcohol / tobacco;
- carefully observe personal hygiene - take a hygienic shower every day, change underwear, socks;
- buy shoes made of high quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear foreign shoes / boots;
- do a pedicure yourself with individual tools or entrust your nails to a professional master;
- before visiting public places with humid air - swimming pool, sauna or bath, use fungicides.
Widespread prevention of fungal infection is compliance with sanitary and epidemiological rules - wet cleaning of the premises using disinfectants, active ventilation and, if necessary, quartz.
Examinations for the treatment of toenail fungus
- "The complete treatment of onychomycosis is not only the effect on the infection with drugs, but also the correction of a person's lifestyle. It is possible to defeat the fungus through a combination of measures - for example, the simultaneous application of ointments, hardening of the human body and personal hygiene. In addition, it is recommended that all family members be treated at once so that the disease does not recur. In pharmacies there are many antifungals, you can choose the optimal mode of therapy for each case. "
- "I recently learned that if there is a fungus on the nails - my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the process of early inflammation has begun in the blood and tests can show it. Mycologist told me in detail all the information about the fungal infection and how best to deal with it. Now I have undergone a course of therapy, I feel much better. Now I will better monitor the prevention of such pathologies, and I will also tell my friends and acquaintances not to get infected with this bad infection. "
- "Pharmaceutical products, of course, can deal with nail fungus, but at the same time they are harmful to health with their chemical components. That's why I prefer to use recipes from traditional medicine first. I removed the fungus from my husband's feet in a simple way - every night they boiled the nails with a soda bath, then applied lotions with homemade vinegar. Initially, the itchy burn was eliminated, then the healthy nails grew back. In addition, they took decoctions of calendula and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband has completely got rid of toenail fungus. "