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. People of different races, both genders and all ages are susceptible to the disease, from preschool children 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 on their feet, etc.
In fact, toenail fungus can appear even on 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. . Toenail fungus is a disease, although 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 return to its former shape. In addition, onychomycosis is very contagious, so a person who has found a fungus can easily spread it to all members of the household.
Toenail 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 fungi can be identified are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- the appearance of grooves, stripes and spots on it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of the toenails;
- cut nails in the skin of the legs, which had not been previously observed;
- the skin around the nail plate began to itch and cause discomfort to the person; sometimes itching begins between the fingers (these signs are characteristic of children and adolescents, since their skin is much thinner and more sensitive than that of adults).
Later, with the development of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- distortion of the structure of the nails on the feet - they become brittle, scaly and crumbly edges appear;
- color change: instead of the usual healthy transparent white color, the plaque takes on unnatural shades, such as purple, yellow, or even black;
- the nail is deformed, becomes flat or convex, tubercles are formed on it.
But peeling nails are symptoms of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail separates from the skin, forming the so-called pocket in which pathogenic bacteria accumulate and actively multiply. Often this manifests itself after contact with warm water: when taking a shower, bathing, swimming in the pool, taking a steam bath. After the legs dry out, plaque can stick back to the skin.
Sometimes similar symptoms can occur in a person who does not have a fungus. The nail can turn black, peel off, and then completely fall off due to mechanical damage. The dying process begins a week or two after you stubbed your toes or simply wore tight shoes that didn't fit well.
As a rule, after six months, a completely healthy new nail plate grows. To determine if it is a fungus or simply the consequences of an injury, a qualified dermatologist or surgeon can do it.
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 hygiene procedures cannot 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 on his 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 by which the disease begins:
- hot and humid 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 (a 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 consultation with your doctor, you need to take a complex of vitamins and minerals that will strengthen the immune system and, accordingly, help in treatment.
traditional treatment
Local treatment of onychomycosis at the initial stage consists in applying antifungal creams and ointments. These funds are usually sold together with a special waterproof patch.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected nail plate, fixed with a plaster and left for 24 hours. The patch should not be removed during this period.
After a day, the patch should be removed, the legs soaked in a warm soapy soda solution and dead tissue removed 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 such treatment is up to 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 a different stage, more effective drugs are needed. In this case, antimycotics of general action will be required. They can also be combined with antifungal varnishes. The course of treatment with systemic drugs is individually prescribed by the doctor, depending on what stage of onychomycosis the patient has.
Such funds have a number of limitations: kidney and liver diseases, pregnancy, period of lactation of the baby. You also cannot combine them with oral contraceptives.
Despite the fact that toenail fungus is a disease that is not dangerous for human life, in the absence of the necessary therapy, it can provoke allergic reactions, reduced immunity and the appearance of various skin diseases. That is why the treatment of this disease can not be postponed for later, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.