Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is one of the most common infectious diseases, which are difficult to handle. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet suffers from fungal infections that not only affect the skin, the nail, but because of more serious health problems. In advanced cases, the presence of fungi, the internal organs suffer, there is a decrease in the general and local immunity and often develop complications associated with the accession of secondary bacterial infection.
To completely get rid of the fungus is difficult, the treatment process is long, requires careful compliance with medical recommendations. And, if you don't bring at the end of treatment, high risk of relapse and further progression of the disease. The pharmaceutical market, a huge assortment of antifungal medications in order to cope with the infection. Not just ointments, gels, spray, varnish, and systemic agents intended for oral administration. Tell me, how to heal fungus on the fingernails, or which medicine has in the opinion of the doctors, mycologists and dermatologists most effectively deal with the problem. But first stop, the first symptoms of infection, and the traffic transmission.
Nail fungus infection causes
The doctors found that some of the main causes of yeast infection:
- Direct connection to the carrier of the fungal infection
- Failure to observe the rules of hygiene
- Decreased immunity
- Damage to the feet because of wearing uncomfortable shoes
- Chronic diseases
The fungus infection occurs due to the violation of elementary sanitary-hygienic norms, or contact with the media. For example, you can become infected with the family, if one of the representatives of suffering from onychomycosis. It's enough to wear different Slippers, with a common towel, or other household items.
Fungal infection, easily picked up in public places, where high temperature and humidity (in the pool, bath, sauna, public showers, gym). This is where there is a favourable micro-climate for the development of pathogenic fungi and create the conditions for the connection to barefoot on the infected surface. Mushroom breeding, they will thrive in the moist, warm environment. Long live surfaces (benches, mats on the floor). If the people in a public place, barefoot, the fungal spores on the legs, toes and nails.
Gateway infection or minor cracks, abrasions, blisters, wounds to the feet caused by wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes. But even in this case the infection can occur if a person has a good immune system, able to cope with the infection. If the immune system is weakened, the infection can not be avoided. The appearance of the fungus often contributes to excessive sweating of the feet or underlying chronic diseases (diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins).
The fungus first affects the skin of the feet and the areas between the toes and spreads to the nail plate, where in the absence of timely treatment, continue to, with increasing frequency. The infection develops slowly, so in the early stages to recognize the fungus, the nail is difficult. In order to effectively treat onychomycosis, the treatment can begin as early as possible, so the first sign of the infection is necessary to know everyone.
Symptoms, photos
The first signs of the fungus on the feet, burning sensation, and itching. The skin of the feet, between the toes begins to peel off, it seems that the bubbles, which are filled, form, cracks, or wounds. If the time does not begin treatment, the fungus spreads and penetrates under the nails, choosing the localization of the space under the nail where the necessary nutrients for further reproduction or growth.
Insured under the nail plate, the fungus starts to produce special enzymes that destroy the tissue, the stratum corneum, as well as contribute to the growth of the threads of the mycelium. In the early stages the infection symptoms are practically invisible, so few people watching, but the further progression begin to appear the typical symptoms:
- Change the appearance of the nail plate. It's boring, it seems like yellow or white spots of a specific longitudinal or transverse stripes. Over time, the more the nail changes color can become completely yellow, gray or black.
- Around the nail the skin on the toes may be red, inflamed. This process is accompanied by itching, pain, inflamed area of skin.
- Nail getting thicker, crumble, deform, and if untreated can become loose in the nail bed.
The nature of the lesions depends largely on the species of fungus. So, if you are infected with dermatophytes, a common symptom is the appearance of yellow spots or longitudinal stripes in the center and the edges of the nail plate. If the nail is yeast fungi, the destructive activities that begin on the sides of the angle, which is gradually converted to yellow begins below the nail bed. If the nail is black, then these changes are probably caused by the mold fungi.
One of the serious complications of fungal infection in an ingrown toenail. Nail plate to affect the fungus, thickens the time, a woman in the wrong direction, twisted, and reduces the skin. The result of the ingrown nail to say about myself severe pain when walking, pain in the skin, because the secondary bacterial infection. The toe is red, swollen, according to the nail plate pus. The man is a sick nail can be difficult to walk because of the pain. This complication is especially dangerous for diabetics, as it can cause necrotic lesions of the extremities.
If you don't start treatment at the first symptoms, the progression of the disease, as well as additional fungal growth spreading to the nails. In complex cases, the fungal infection begins to suffer from the entire body: do you have allergic reactions, symptoms, the digestive system and other symptoms of poisoning caused by the penetration of fungal toxins from the circulatory and lymphatic system. The first disturbing symptoms, you should consult a professional who will select the best treatment plan, and recommend an effective remedy for fungal nail.
Treatment of nail fungus
The first signs of the foot fungus to active measures to eliminate, it is not necessary to hope that all the symptoms disappear by themselves. It's not going to happen. Fungal infection and with time will progress and can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, the earlier treatment is started, the more chances you have to get rid of onychomycosis forever. Today in the Arsenal of dermatologists, mycologists highly effective cure for fungus of the nail the general and local action.
In the initial stages of the disease, when the affected area is minimal, we can restrict the application of local antifungal medication broad-spectrum action (ointments, creams, solutions, varnishes, sprays). If the process is too far gone completely nails affected by fungus, as part of a comprehensive treatment includes antifungal drugs systemic effects tablets. Most of these drugs have serious contraindications, side effects, and therefore assigns them a specialist and the treatment is carried out under its control. The emphasis is more on the products intended for the treatment of fungus.
Solutions, coatings. In the initial stage, then a anti-fungal solution, nail Polish. The series of installations are very diverse.
Ointments, gels, ointments.
The external treatment of nails affected by fungus, used group of drugs on the basis of terbinafin, naftifin, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole.Capsules, tablets.
The complicated forms of fungal infections external treatment, supplemented with the antifungal drugs in tablet form. Without the systemic antifungal agents are necessary in those cases where the disease progresses and the treatment of the local media is ineffective. Drugs for treating fungus much experience a doctor, because many of them have serious contraindications and limitations of use. Such funds may not be taken by children, pregnant women, patients with abnormalities of the liver or the kidney. The effectiveness of these products is very high, in combination with topical agents fails to achieve lasting results to cope with onychomycosis, to prevent the repeated relapse of the disease.Means that the removal of the nail.
If the nail is completely before treatment started, the better remove. Alternative surgical methods for special cosmetic means to safely remove the nail affected by the fungus.Treatment of nail fungus of the feet folk remedy
A lot of folk recipes, helping to stop the spread of mold and deal with the initial stage. Present to your attention some of the popular recipes used to treat toenail fungus at home.
- The Kombucha. Effective cure for fungal compress printing plates Kombucha. Is wrapped in a sterile bandage is applied to the nail, fixed the band-aid. This compress can be left for the night, so you don't slip on your feet with your socks on. During the procedure you may feel a burning sensation, but for the sake of the patient. In the morning, the packing is removed, the soft stratum corneum removed with a tool, the nail surface is treated with antiseptic solution.
- Creol on. This is a cheap medicine against parasites of veterinary, as well as a strong antiseptic effect. It should be used carefully, avoiding contact with healthy skin, as it is possible to burn. To avoid this, a strip of skin around the nail to seal the plaster. The affected nail treated creol the once daily for 2 months, until complete healing.
- For a foot bath. To eliminate the fungus can foot bath, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice. The procedure should take no longer than 15 minutes. Good effect gives nails the solution, propolis, baking soda or epsom salts. The nails are also coated with tea tree oil, lavender, oregano, they are antiseptic and antifungal activity. A lot of folk recipes use garlic, vinegar, alcohol, onions. Before you can use these recipes yourself, don't forget to consult with your doctor.
Prevention of the disease
To avoid infection of the fungus, follow these simple recommendations:
- I don't go barefoot in the pool,the spa, the gym and other public places. In areas where high humidity, you need to wear rubber Slippers or shale. As measures of prevention applied to the nails, an antifungal lacquer, it will protect you from the infection.
- Never use someone else's shoes, Slippers, socks, towels, and other household items. All the beauty products and pedicure tools is strictly individual.
- Wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathable material. Shoes should not be hard to RUB and hurt my feet.
- Feet should be washed twice a day, morning, night, daily, change socks, stockings. The water after the treatment, wipe the feet dry, gently dry the skin between the toes.
- The fungus is particularly active in the decreased immunity. So take care of your health, it's time to treat comorbidities, take immunomodulatory drugs. To maintain the body's defense proper, balanced nutrition, eat more vegetables, fruits rich in vitamins, trace elements.
- During the treatment process, shoes, disinfectant solution, this helps to prevent the recurrence of the disease. You can disinfect shoes with a solution of formalin, or acetic, carefully processed in. After the treatment, a cotton swab moistened with an antiseptic solution, should be to the toe of the Shoe, and place it in a airtight plastic bag for a day.
These simple preventive measures will help you in the mold, and keep your feet healthy. Remember that the fungi on the nail-handle, long, hard, therefore, it is important to prevent athlete's foot, carefully observe hygiene standards and to respond to any adverse changes, which may be the first sign of infection.