Such an annoying disease as nail fungus (or onychomycosis) is considered to be one of the most common worldwide. According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from foot fungus! People of different races, both genders 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 skin condition of their feet, etc.
In fact, toenail fungus can occur even in a clean person, because the infection is very easy to "catch" in public places - on the beach, in the sauna, in the pool, in the gym, etc. Nail fungus is a disease, 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 severe consequences as destruction and deformation of the nail, which will never take its previous form. In addition, onychomycosis is highly contagious, so a person who has found a fungus can easily infect entire family members.
Nail fungus: the first signs
It is quite difficult to identify the pathology in the first stage, but it is possible if you look carefully at 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, lines and spots in it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- cut nails on the skin of the feet, which had not been noticed before;
- the skin around the nail plate began to itch and cause discomfort to the person; sometimes itching starts between the toes (these marks are characteristic of children and adolescents, as their skin is much thinner and softer than that of adults).
Then, with the development of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- distortion of the structure of the toenails - they become brittle, scaly, crushed edges appear;
- color change - instead of the usual transparent white color, healthy, the tile acquires unnatural shades, such as purple, yellow or even black;
- the nail is deformed, becomes flat or convex, on which tubercles are formed.
But peeling nails is a symptom of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail separates from the skin, forming a so-called pocket in which pathogenic bacteria actively collect and multiply. Often this is manifested after contact with warm water - when taking a shower, bath, swim in the pool, take a steam bath. After drying the feet, the plaque can stick to the skin again.
Sometimes similar 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 death process begins a week or two after you injured your toes or simply wore tight, inappropriate shoes.
As a rule, after six months, a new, completely healthy nail plate grows. To determine if it is a fungus or just the consequences of an injury, a qualified dermatologist or surgeon can.
These symptoms are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor, which is created by pathogenic bacteria. A person suffering from toenail fungus has a bad odor on socks and shoes and the usual hygiene procedures can not eliminate this symptom. In this situation, complex treatment is necessary, otherwise a person may lose the nail plate.
Treatment of onychomycosis
A person can recognize the first symptoms of the disease themselves. 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 diagnose the disease, determine its stage and recommend the necessary treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes due to which the disease begins:
- humid and warm 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 let your feet stay wet for a long time;
- do not wear someone else's shoes when visiting public places - swimming pool, sauna, beach - use replacement personal shoes, which after each use are disinfected with chlorine or alcohol;
- weak immunity. Often this disease appears against the background of weak immunity, 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, accordingly, help with treatment.
Traditional treatment
Local treatment of onychomycosis in the initial stage consists in the application of antifungal creams and ointments. These funds are usually sold together with a special piece of waterproof.
Using a dispenser, the medicine 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 a day, the piece should be removed, dip the feet in a warm soapy solution and remove dead tissue with a nail file for pedicure.
After removing the affected areas of the toenail plate, the product should be applied to the nail bed. The duration of such treatment is up to the growth of a healthy dish.
In the first stage of the disease, only with the appearance of the first symptoms, special antifungal varnishes can be used. Apply this spray once or twice a week throughout the year.
However, if such therapy does not help and the fungus is already in another stage, more effective medications are needed. In this case, general action antifungals will be required. 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, the period of breastfeeding the baby. You also can not combine them with oral contraceptives.
Although toenail fungus is a non-life-threatening disease, in the absence of the necessary therapy it can lead to allergic reactions, decreased immunity and the appearance of various skin diseases. This is why the treatment of this disease can not be postponed for later, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.