Have you noticed any cracks between your toes? Are your feet itchy and itchy? Your toenails suddenly lose color and start to deteriorate? These symptoms should not be ignored as they can signal a fungal foot infection. The disease is not uncommon, it is especially common among servicemen, professional athletes, and pool visitors. To our utmost regret, fungal lesions have been treated for a long time and difficult, and at the same time cause considerable discomfort to its "owner". What you need to do to avoid the disease, and how to deal with it after an acquisition: we'll let you know about all of this in our article.
Causal relationship: where did toenail fungus come from
Of course, the mushroom itself doesn't "cling" to healthy people's legs for no apparent reason. There are a number of fungi that are considered classical, ie they affect the largest proportion of patients. All of them are referred to by a single term, "onychomycosis". This group may include candida spores, dermatophytes or trichophytos which, in turn, have several subspecies, which are localized on different parts of the feet and nails.
At first glance, such difficult names characterize an extremely nasty infection that gets under the nail or "settles" in the area between the fingers or under the nail, at the very root. The best environment for fungal spores are the warm moist folds of the human leg, where they feel truly comfortable and constantly grow, causing the diseased area to expand.
So, what causes nail fungus?
- In the absence of proper cleaning, fungus will multiply and can affect large areas of the skin of the feet. At the same time, their spores are capable of penetrating the surface of any shoe, "settling" there and infecting a person multiple times, and in addition to him, who may wear shoes. this. Slippers and rubber sandals are a common breeding ground for disputes.
- Due to excessive sweating of the legs, this is called hyperkeratosis. Military, miner or athlete's shoes often get damp on the inside. This occurs due to increased load and "airless" material from which the boot or boot is sewn. This environment is a fungal spore paradise.
- Occasionally, fungus can get under your nails during a manicure at any beauty salon. If you do not properly disinfect your pedicure tools, the mechanic runs the risk of bringing you a fungus, a fungus that is quite difficult to remove. This can happen to anyone while cutting a toenail with tweezers without special disinfectant treatment.
- Onychomycosis is a frequent companion of those who are taking antibacterial drugs or have impaired immunity. In addition, one factor that provokes the appearance of fungus on the nail may be impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities, varicose veins or diabetes.
- Chronic diseases in the body can affect fungal infections. There is no need to initiate the inflammatory process that has become chronic. Must be treated.
Because fungal spores are very warm and moist, they often "live" in public baths, showers and saunas. That is why in places with standing water, humidity and high temperature, you need to obey the rules of hygiene. Make sure to only wear your own shoes brought from home in the sauna, public showers and tubs. Remember: if someone has worn slippers in the sauna several times before you, chances are that the fungal spores have settled inside the spongy structure of the rubber and you could also get a fungal nail infection.
How to self-diagnose toenail fungus
It is not difficult to self-diagnose, because with only the smallest signs you can recognize the fungus and consult a doctor at an early stage. All you need to do is regularly check your feet in the area between your toes, their roots, as well as your nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of your feet after going to swimming pools, saunas, baths or after wearing someone else's shoes.
The most common symptoms of a fungal infection of the feet and nails are:
- Cracked skin on the tip of your toes. At the same time, the wounds do not dry again, but are constantly wet and swollen.
- Unusually shaped nails. Any detachment of natural marigolds from the skin, their deformation, or discoloration should warn you. In patients with onychomycosis, nails become very thick, become too brittle and may even break. At the same time, the color scale is potentially variable: yellow, white, gray or even black marigold is not uncommon for such a disease.
- Also look for itchy, flaky, and rashes on the surface of your feet. If they do not go away in 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
- You should also be wary of the sudden appearance of bubbles on the skin of your feet. They usually lie in small clumps and contain a clear liquid inside.
- A very important symptom is that the feet have an unpleasant odor. If your feet have never exuded the scent of fungus before, do not ignore this factor, as it may indicate that you have a fungal disease.
Due to such symptoms, you can diagnose yourself with fungal skin diseases. If you have any doubts, you should see a doctor who will conduct a special examination and confirm or deny the presence of onychomycosis.
How is nail fungus disease diagnosed at a medical clinic
Chances are, you will be asked for a general blood and urine test to find out if there is an inflammatory process in the body. Your doctor will ask you for details about the medicines you are taking and whether you have specific medical conditions, such as diabetes. Because increased blood glucose levels, as well as excess weight, are often accompanied by endocrine disorders, so-called diabetic feet often appear. The disease is characterized by calluses, calluses, cracks and fungal cracks.
Laboratory analysis for the presence of fungal spores is required. Usually, a few days before you start to notice the illness, you don't need to wash your feet, and loose nails must be covered with adhesive plaster. On the boundary of the healthy skin and the affected area a special scraping method will be performed to determine the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when the disease recurs, the damaged marigold seeds will be collected for analysis. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. In a similar way, the lab assistants, together with the doctors, identify the type of fungus and can then decide on the next treatment.
Diseases of this type are handled by dermatologists and doctors of a narrower specialty - muscle physicians.
How to cure toenail fungus
Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never pass by itself. Dispute is resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: it is the fungus considered one of the most stubborn microorganisms on the planet. Just like molds, fungal spores can outlive all of us.
Mycoses should be strictly treated, as they can spread on the skin's surface, involve all large areas in the pathological process and even deposition in the respiratory tract, causing disease. asthma.
There are medicines called antipyretics. Like antibacterial drugs, they eliminate the problem from the inside out, as they are usually taken by mouth. Only a doctor can prescribe fever-reducing medicines because some can have many side effects. Some classes of drugs are effective against only one or several types of fungus, but there are also broad spectrum anti-infectious drugs.
For an effective treatment of onychomycosis, it is suitable for drugs with the following active ingredients:
- Terbinafine,
- Clotrimazole,
- Ketoconazole,
- Fluconazole,
- Itraconazole.
Remember that only a doctor has the right to prescribe fever-reducing medicine. Given the potential for adverse effects, it is not possible to choose an absolutely suitable antipyretic for all onychomycosis patients.
In addition, special ointments, ointments, and creams are prescribed for the treatment of high-quality foot fungal infections. These toenail fungus remedies are used both early and in the running process. Based on the extent of damage and the site of the fungus, the doctor can prescribe. They involve applying ointment to the affected areas of the skin, which are then sealed with plaster. Such an application is usually kept overnight, and in the morning dead skin or nail particles will be carefully removed and removed.
The following treatment options also work well:
- Treatment with antifungal sprays,
- Creams or emulsions,
- Paint the toenails with a special antifungal varnish.
Treatment of complex fungal diseases, combining the use of ointments, antipyretics and other procedures, for the longest lasting effect. But we should not forget that onychomycosis is a long process. For you to know how to cure toenail fungus, it is important to repeat one fact: as usual, the nail will regrow completely in about 6 to 12 months. Until a new, healthy nail regrows completely, you should not interrupt treatment, as spores can sometimes remain at the base of the nail. If you stop treatment ahead of time, the disease can return.
Folk remedies to treat nail fungus
Home fungal treatment will not be effective if only two or three treatments are performed and when the clinical picture improves slightly, forget about treatment. The course of antifungal treatment should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes longer to defeat the unpleasant disease. Be patient or the toenail fungus will return.
The main home treatment is to remove as much of the affected skin and nails as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In terms of beauty salons, a pedicure specialist will help cope with fungal diseases. He will remove the upper affected layer of the nail with a special milling cutter with a non-coarse nozzle, which can then be applied with antifungal ointment. At home, you can't get rid of the dead cell layer completely, but you should be able to soften and remove it carefully.
Toenail Mushroom Recipe:
- Chicken eggs - 1 pc,
- 70% or 80% vinegar essence,
- Tea tree, avocado or olive oil.
Acetic acid works well against many fungi, so you can try it at home. First, you pour the essence of the chicken egg so that the solution is completely submerged. It is better to use a glass cup for this. Now you need to put it in a dark place. Observe the eggs: as soon as you notice the peel is gone, take out the container and add a little oil (in case you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops is enough). At this point, you need to grind the mixture well so that the eggs turn into a homogeneous mixture. The mixture should be covered on areas with fungus, covered with food wrap, and wrapped feet with bandages or gauze. Should be pressed for a few hours, then the steamed sticky rice should be cut off. With regular use, diseased nail can be almost completely removed, and permanently eliminated fungus.
Toenail fungus: folk remedies
If you want to defeat onychomycosis yourself, maybe a pill made from different ingredients, such as garlic, horseradish or kombucha, will help. Just make sure to steam your feet before applying them, which means having a tub of steam ready for them.
Bathing with a solution of soda or potassium permanganate is considered to be the most effective. Both these ingredients have the effect of disinfecting, cleaning and disinfecting the skin and toenails perfectly. To bathe is very simple: pour hot water into a basin and pour soda in it, at the rate of 1 tablespoon. l. soda for 3 liters of water. Purple powder must be added carefully so as not to burn the inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or purple, just a light pink color. We lowered our feet in our tub and enjoyed it for about 1 hour. Dry your feet. Now you can do other operations.
Grate horseradish or garlic on a fine blender or press through a press. Wrap the block in a gauze pad or bandage and apply it to the affected area. Leave the gauze on overnight, wrap it in plastic and put on warm socks. Kombucha has a similar effect, you will need a little - a small piece, which must also be applied to the affected area of the nail.
Preventing fungus on the feet - how to avoid fungal spore infections
To prevent onychomycosis you should follow a few simple rules:
- Use your own shoes for the swimming pool, shower, sauna or steam bath. Try not to walk barefoot in such places, especially if there is a slight damage to the skin.
- Do not lend shoes and toiletries to strangers, such as pumice stones or home pedicure brushes, to strangers.
- To never think of how to get rid of toenail fungus, change your underwear, socks or stockings more often. Your health depends on it.
- When you go for a pedicure check to see if the owner has sterilized his tools. Some stores offer a service to buy your own pedicure kit. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infection.
- Don't forget that to prevent calluses, calluses and blisters, wear loose, unrestrained shoes. Remember: if there are no wounds, cracks, or scratches on the surface of your skin, fungal spores are unlikely to attack you.