Onychomycosis or fungal nails is a nasty disease, difficult to treat. The disease develops when the fungus under the nail plate or skin around the nail. Pathogenic micro-organisms feed on keratin, as a result, the number rapidly decreased, and the nail is destroyed.
The causes of the disease, the infection way
The fungus affects the nail plate, is propagated in a humid environment with high temperature. Infected mushroom, when you visit public places, such the climate. Most often, the fungus "lives" in the public showers, gyms, pools. Often, the infection occurs when visiting the beach. Another route of infection is close contact with the carrier of the infection. Contracting disease is also possible through the use of personal items of the sick person.
However, in order that the nail fungus, the mere contact with the agent, the skin is not enough. A strong immune system is effective in reducing the pathogenic microflora and does not develop lesions in the nail plate. Predisposing factors for the development of fungus on the nails:
- decreased immunity, both general and local;
- violation of the circulation of the lower limbs;
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- I'm wearing two different shoes, that violate the bloodstream;
- damage, injuries to the skin of the feet.
The rapid growth of the pathogenic organisms is often observed in the circulation caused by a number of diseases and metabolic diseases. To provoke disease can also be the wrong shoes, which will increase the sweating and disturbed blood flow. Favorable environment for development of pathogenic micro-flora of the wet skin, which is not getting enough oxygen. This is what happens when a man wears socks of synthetic fabrics, tight shoes, the work is "not breathing" materials.
The other reason that can trigger the infection in the formation of the disregard of the hygiene rules, and not following the safety measures. The patient may have accidentally "to the" mushroom – tried someone else's shoes, visit the pool or shower without Slippers, or use someone else's towel to the feet.
Often people make a serious mistake, if buying a new pair of shoes – trying to her bare feet not using socks. Such a measure could be, because the nail fungus, because you don't know who that was measured in the same shoes earlier, if the feet of the man infected with pathogenic microflora.
How to recognize the disease?
When the nail fungus of the feet, the symptoms are so typical to confuse this disease with other diseases is very difficult. In order to identify a pathology, it is necessary that the main features, including:
- the formation of spots, streaks under the nail plate;
- white muddy color of the nail.
- inflammation, dry the skin of the finger around the affected nails;
- the plaque mold;
- fragile, changing the structure of your nail plate.
Initial symptoms of the disease is the formation of stripes or spots on a greenish or yellowish color. These strips deep in the thickness of the nail plate and gives the impression that the skin under the nail.
Usually primarily affects the big toenail, at least – the little finger. In the initial stages of the disease the fungus only shows color changes of the nail plate, and the distinctive spots, stripes. Some time later, the infection affects the fingers, redness, flaking, itching of the skin around the nails.
The treatment of the disease at this stage allows you to effectively, quickly get rid of the fungus, however, patients rarely ask for help from the doctor, noticed similar symptoms.
The growth of the population of the pathogenic microflora, the fungus begins to destroy the surface of the nail plate. It is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft, wavy, cracks, crisis, the structure becomes heterogeneous. This may be accompanied by pus under the nail, and then a sharp, unpleasant smell of the feet. Over time, the nail has been destroyed, the peeling becomes stronger, affecting the skin between the toes.
Apparently, the defeat of the nail depends on the type of fungus. The pathogen of the disease is the most commonly the yeast or the fungi. During infection a fungal nail plate acquires a grayish-bluish color. The nail is quickly destroyed, as a result completely different from the nail bed.
Mold fungi can affect the nail plate in case of violation of the nutrition of the tissues, for example, due to strong compression, the nails are too tight shoes. This type of onychomycosis is characterized by the formation of whitish coating on the nails.
Knowing that the disease, consult your doctor. Different types of fungus have different symptoms, treatment, what is hard to figure out on your own, without consulting a specialist.
The principle of treatment
Treatment of lesions of the nail plate requires a comprehensive approach, takes a long time. It is important to note that the earlier the symptoms of the fungus, and the treatment is started, the faster you can get rid of the disease.
The fight against this disease are used:
- antifungal ointments, solutions;
- systemic antifungals tablets;
- the traditional medicines.
To correct the pathology at the initial stage by using external anti-fungal agents. These preparations include ointments, solutions, as well as the varnishes of the antifungal component composition.
The treatment most commonly prescribed ointment broad-spectrum components which are actively influenced by the various fungi, including fungal. Ointments, creams, or better, the initial stage of the disease. Violations of the structure of the nail plate is not effective, because the ingredients of the drug can not penetrate the small cracks in the nail.
Most of the antifungal drugs, the solutions. Such drugs are usually produced in the bubbles with a pipette. The product is applied to the nail plate. Thanks to the liquid consistency of the material filled in the smallest irregularity will be under the nail plate, which is actually acting on the affected area.
Pharmacies are widely represented products in the form of a varnish. The peculiarity of this form, antifungal medication, is not to be used daily. Lacquered every few days. The drug form a protective coating on the nail plate, it protects the nail, as well as prevent the fungal infection from spreading. The active substance of the drug into the nail plate, for a long time – one application is sufficient antifungal activity throughout the two days. Coatings are also efficient in the prevention of fungal diseases. You can use them once a week, or apply it before the visitor, where the risk of infection of the fungus.
In addition to the processing of the nail plate, provide antifungal protection to the skin around the nail, between the toes. To do this, use the ointment.
If the nails have started to break down, preparations for external application is not enough, also called anti-fungal tablets. These chemicals have systemic effects on the whole body.
If fungal nail is accompanied by bacterial infection, which is the appearance of pus and prescribe ointments, anti bacterial, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine used for the following remedies against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water applied on a gauze compress, which is applied to the affected nail 1 hour. The procedure is repeated daily for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of a lemon, then mix with two tablespoons of water. Solution should be applied to the treatment of the affected nail twice a day.
- The foot bath, add two large spoons of baking soda, iodized or sea salt. Feet in the tub for half an hour. The procedure is performed daily before going to bed.
Further, the nails, the soup, the onion or propolis tincture. Folk medicine recommended together with anti-fungal medications, which are prescribed by the doctor.
Severe stages of the fungal infection leads to loss of the nail, so it's important to immediately contact a specialist, the first symptoms of the disease.