The fungus of the toenails is a disease that is very easy to infect and is much more difficult to cure.The nail fungus does not disappear on its own and is very difficult to treat.
How can you get infection with nail fungus
Six to eight percent of the adult population suffer from nail fungus.
Fungal nail infection is more common in men than in women, as well as in the elderly, than in young people.The additional signs or factors that increase the risk of fungal nail infection include the following:
- reduction of blood flow to the legs;
- If the nails grow slowly;
- Family history of fungal infection (genetics);
- increased sweating of the legs;
- Work environment - wet or wet legs;
- Wearing socks and shoes that prevent ventilation;
- walking barefoot in wet public places (pools, gyms and showers);
- injuries or infections of the skin or nails;
- diabetes, AIDS, circulatory problems, weakened immune system;
- Hard finger pressure shoes.
Systemic diseases, for example: to the fungus of the legs, predispose to the sponge
- Diabetes sugar,
- obesity,
- anemia,
- Hormonal disorders,
- gastrointestinal disorders,
- Immune and cardiovascular systems,
- as well as long -term antibiotic treatment,
- Taking steroid therapy and chemotherapy.
The heat and humidity contribute to the growth of mushrooms - if you do not thoroughly wipe your feet after washing, walk in air - resistant shoes and wear socks from synthetics.The fungus develops when the nail plate is damaged to a short cut on the legs, it can easily fall under the nail.Wearing tight shoes can weaken the plate of the nail, such as acrylic nails and varnishes.
Onychomycosis more often affects the legs on the legs than on the arms.It can be limited by a single plate or move to adjacent.Usually, fungal infections of the toenails affect the thumb and the little toe.Probably because the inner surface of the shoes touches them most.
Nail fungus
Fungal nail infections are caused by microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive.In most cases, it is a group of mushrooms called dermatophyte (eg Candida).Some yeast and mildew also cause these infections.
Although Trichophyton Dermatophytes is the most common cause of infection with nail fungus, Trichophyton Interdigitale, Epidermophyton Floccosum, Trichophyton Violaceum, Microsporum GypseumTrichophyton soudanense can also lead to infection.General forms of fungi - non -scholarship, school and aspergillus.
The pathogens of the nail sponge, as a rule, fall under the skin through small cuts or small cracks between the nails and the nail bed.They grow when the environment provides them with a hot and humid climate.
What does the nail fungus look like - symptoms
At the initial stage The nail infected with a sponge gradually changing its appearance.The strips appear - first whitish, then yellowish and, finally, brown.Peeling appears on the nail, it relaxes and becomes more childish, it becomes difficult to cut it.The nail smells bad because the fungal deposits accumulate under the nails.
The doctor may immediately determine onychomycosis.However, sometimes the picture of the disease is not clear and laboratory tests must be performed.Samples taken from the nails and nail fragments under a microscope can confirm that the disease is actually caused by mushrooms.Sometimes the laboratory grows fungi from the sample to determine the type and chosen medicine.
Before selection, you cannot paint your nails, lubricate your feet with creams or powders.
In the second stage - Nails infected with fungi usually thicken, become fragile, break, worn, curved, dumb and dark, yellowish or brown.
The patient may also suffer from onycholysis when the individual areas of the nail are absent by exposing the nail.Sometimes fungal nail infections can lead to finger pain and cause an unpleasant odor.
Another symptom associated with fungal infections is damage to the skin near the nail.There may be a rash or itching that looks like an allergic reaction.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
In order to diagnose the nail sponge, as a rule, the doctor should study the cutting and microorganisms under the nail.
Doctors should be careful when diagnosing fungal nail infections due to some other conditions that can cause such symptoms.These include psoriasis, red flat lichen, contact dermatitis, injuries, nail tumors, eczema.The culture (sowing) of the sponge can take several weeks.
How to determine the nail sponge at home
It is very easy to do:
We will need potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), water and pool.
Take water in the pool so that it completely covers the legs.Throw some potassium permanganate into the water so that the water is bright - pink (Fuchsia color).Put your feet or hands in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Then we remove and carefully examine the nails.If they have become completely brown, then everything is fine - the nails are healthy.But if there are areas that have not changed the color - they are infected with nail fungus.
Treatment of nail fungus
Treatment of fungal nail infections can be a long and expensive process.
Oral drugs for the treatment of infection, as a rule, should be taken up to four months until a completely contagious nail on the finger is replaced.These drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist according to certain schemes.As the drugs act on the liver and the composition of the blood, it is necessary to take tests before and during treatment.
In the initial stage of the fungi, local medicines - ointments and varnishes help well.
Local antifungal -The most effective remedy for topical therapy as they are most active in connection with the pathogens of onychomycosis.Among the many local nail fungus medicines can be called only 2 medicines for the treatment of onychomycosis itself, as they are available in the most appropriate form - in the form of nail polish.Other antifungal drugs are more commonly used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
Lacquer
Special nail polishes designed to treat nail fungus allow you to perform better antifungal through your nails deep in the nail bed.In addition, the lacquer film freezing on the surface of the nail prevents the medicine from evaporating from the nail and creates a barrier for infection.
The main advantage of modern varnishes used in the treatment of onychomycosis is that they can be applied to the nails without removing it.Other medicines cannot penetrate the nails, which requires pre -removal or at least significant thinning.
Current antifungals, which are part of the varnishes, are delayed in the nail for a long time after administration, effective concentrations remain for at least 7 days.This allows varnishes 1 or 2 times a week.
Batrafen lacquer is applied every other day for the 1st month of treatment, 2 times a week for 2 months, then 1 time a week.
Before treatment, each varnish should be removed as many of the affected nails.The remaining nail tile on which the elbow will be applied must be removed with the attached file to create an uneven surface.The elbow is applied with the attached brush or spatula.Before each lacquer application, the previous layer is removed using a solvent or attached alcohol swab and the nail plate is treated with a file.A lacquer layer can be removed by placing a nail in warm water and scraping scissors varnishes.
The duration of treatment depends on the speed of cultivation of healthy nails.For the treatment of onychomycosis, there are enough 6 months on the hands, the legs-9-12 months.
The actual methods of topical fungus treatment include nail polish, such as cyclopirox in addition to other creams.Local ointments and creams can clean the infection with nail fungus, but often do not completely cure the infection.
In some extreme cases, the doctor may recommend removing the nail.
Alternative medicines used to treat fungal nail infections include Australian tea tree oil extract and grapefruit seeds.However, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of these products.
Effective antifungal drugs
There are 3 effective antifungal medicines for oral administration (oral).All three drugs have serious side effects and can interact with many other medicines.Patients taking antifungal drugs should periodically take tests to control the function of liver and blood cells.October antifungal agents continue to work even after treatment with the drug.
None of the oral antifungal agents can be taken during pregnancy.
Prevention
- Put a new pair of socks every day.Socks should be made of natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton.These fibers allow moisture to move away from the foot and contribute to the distribution of air around the thumb of the leg and foot.If your feet or socks get wet with sweat, you should remove them as soon as possible, dry your feet with a clean cloth and put a new pair of socks.
- Wearing the same pair of shoes, day after day, can have a negative effect on your feet and expose you to bacteria and fungi.When storing shoes, you should be sure that it is stored in a well -refurbished room for complete drying.It is advisable to have several sneakers and change them before you go to the gym so that these steams have the optimum time to dry.Finally, wear shoes in front of the entrance to the shower, sauna or fitness.It is a fertile soil for fungi that cause onychomycosis and other bacterial infections.
- There are ways to avoid infection and help a manicure and pedicure specialist to prevent nail fungus before it begins.The first sentence, bring your varnish with you.This is an easy way to prevent infection when using common lacquer - when the fungus enters directly into the nails.The second proposal is the requirement to sterilize all manicure and pedicure equipment.Each device must be disinfected and stored properly.Finally, pedicure bathtubs.This is a blessing for bacteria that only wait to infect your nails.If you are not sure that the bath is cleaned with the appropriate disinfectant after each customer, try to avoid this at all costs.
- Fungal infections are a common sign of a suppressed immune system.Enriching your diet with nutrients and vitamins, of course, can help prevent bacteria.Eat more garlic for food.Tea tree oil is also a natural antifungal agent.Peel the nail area of tea tree oil.Black nut extract can also work well to prevent onychomycosis.
- Overall use can lead to infections and cause a finger fungus of the finger.The fungus can be transmitted from person to person.The maximum prevention is not to separate towels, shoes, scissors with someone else.And as always, we recommend treating the nail sponge to the dermatologist at the first signs of infection.