Nail fungus or onychomycosis (medical name) is a disease that occurs with damage to the nail plate with a fungal infection.Onichomycosis suffers from 5 to 15 % of people.The risk of its development increases with age, although often the fungus is detected in babies.Every 10 years of life, the incidence grows 2.5 times.If in children it is 3 %, then the elderly already has 50 - 60 %.
Pathogens of the disease
Onichomycosis is caused by microorganisms from the kingdom of mushrooms.The world of mushrooms is diverse, and not all of them are as pleasant as champignons, chanterelles or mushrooms, which we are used to seeing on our table.There are microscopic parasitic species that feed on the tissues of plants, animals, humans.
The causative agents of onychomycosis consume keratin protein, which is part of the nail plate, hair, upper (keratinized) skin layer.About 50 representatives of parasitic fungi that can cause a disease are known.
They are divided into three groups:
- Dermatophytes.They account for 80 % of cases of onychomycosis.They are distinguished by high survival and vitality.In nature are found in the soil;
- Yeast -like mushrooms.Among them is the known to women Candida albicans (microorganisms of the genus Candida), causing thrush or vaginal candidiasis.Explosion -like mushrooms 5 times more often affect the nails on the hands than on the legs.Toxic and worsen the work of the whole organism;
- Molds.Onychomycosis, caused by molds, is rare.But it is most dangerous, progressing quickly, can completely destroy the nail plate, go to neighboring fabrics.
Onychomycosis affects the nails of the arms and legs, but on the legs, the nail fungus occurs much more often.This is due to the fact that hands are paid much more attention, more often washed during the day, treat with antiseptic agents.They are always open, well ventilated with the exception of winter, when we wear gloves.And the legs are constantly closed by street shoes, homemade slippers, tights, socks, sweat more.These factors create ideal conditions for the development of the fungus on the legs, because heat and moisture are its best “friends”.
The causative agent of onychomycosis penetrates the nail from different directions.The most common way is from above, from the free edge of the nail plate.It is also possible to introduce on the side of the side rollers or from below the cuticle and the growth zone of the nail.
The most dangerous onychomycosis is near the cuticle.In this case, the fungus slows down or stops the division of onychoblasts - the cells of the sprout zone under the lower nail roller.The nail stops growing in length, infected areas may not recover.A pathological change in structure, destruction of the nail occurs.
Mushrooms are rarely introduced immediately into the nail plate.At first, their spores fall into the skin around the nail or interdigital gaps through microcracks, cuts, abrasions, scuffs, corns.Then the growth of the colony begins, the pathogen moves to the nail plate, penetrates into it and is taken to parasitize.
Why does onychomycosis appear?
Mushrooms live in warm and humid places, and wherever there are such conditions, it is easy to infect them.For example, if you go barefoot in public baths, pools, shower or segments of gyms, then the chances of infection are high.
The development of onychomycosis is facilitated by some diseases:
- Diabetes.In patients with diabetes, the fungus occurs 3 times more often.Excess glucose in the blood creates favorable conditions for life for mushrooms.In the absence of sugar control and its retention within the norm, blood vessels suffer.The more experience in the disease, the more the blood supply to the legs (diabetic foot syndrome) is more impaired.Wounds heal worse, infection is easier;
- Poor blood circulation in the lower extremities caused by varicose veins, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the lumen, blockage of arteries), thrombophlebitis (the formation of blood clots in the lumen of the veins);
- Weakening of immunity, immunodeficiency conditions (HIV), damage to the organs of the immune system.Reduce the body's resistance to any infections;
- Psoriasis.90 % of people suffering from psoriasis have changes in the nail plate.Groundings are formed on it, clouding is present, recesses appear, detachment of the nail plate.These factors 1.5 - 2 times increase the chances of infection with a fungus;
- Hyperhidrosis or increased sweating of the feet often causes onychomycosis in men;
- The presence of a focus of a fungal infection in other parts of the body.
The risk group includes elderly people.
The cause of onychomycosis is often associated with the characteristics of the profession and the wrong care of the legs:
- poor care of feet and nails, the lack of daily hygiene procedures due to neglect of personal hygiene rules or difficulties with their implementation (in bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility);
- work in wet, raw rooms (greenhouses, greenhouses, vegetable stores), frequent wearing of rubber gloves or rubber shoes;
- professional sports;
- Wearing uncomfortable, cramped, narrow shoes or shoes made of artificial materials (leatherette), creating a “greenhouse effect” that prevents normal air exchange.
The disposable factors for the development of onychomycosis include injuries of the nail or tissues surrounding it, taking antibacterial or hormonal drugs.
Women have a common cause of fungus-long-term wearing gel polish.It creates a closed space between the nail plate and the coating in which a fungal infection successfully develops.It is not recommended to apply gel polish on the legs on the legs, it is better to use ordinary decorative varnish.Also in women, onychomycosis appears after an unsuccessful manicure or pedicure in salons, where high -quality disinfection of tools is not carried out, sterility is not observed.
Signs of onychomycosis
Most often, the fungus infects the thumbs of the feet.
The following changes in the nail plate are indicated about fungal damage:
- dullness, yellowing, loss of smoothness and shine;
- itching, redness, peeling of the skin around;
- Relaxing, fragility, loose;
- unpleasant odor;
- violation of the structure, thickening;
If you find at least one of the listed signs, you need to immediately consult a doctor, treating nail fungus.It can be a premium, dermatologist or mycologist.
A mandatory inspection of a undergrack for verification for onychomycosis is required after injury to the nail or skin around it.If there are disposable factors (varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, weakened immunity, increased sweating, etc.), it is recommended to make a medical pedicure once a month, in which the doctor will carefully examine the nails and skin of the feet, reveal changes in the early stages.
Is the fungus dangerous on the nails?
Onychomycosis is a disease that is more likely to cause psychological discomfort than physical ailment.To understand what it is about, just look at the photo fungus on the legs on the Internet.It is characterized by a slow course, does not cause pain, fever and other symptoms that require urgent seeking a doctor.
People are in no hurry to treat nail fungus.After all, when the damage area is small, you can paint it with varnish, put on socks or closed shoes with strangers.And the problem of psychological discomfort is temporarily solved.But, unfortunately, everything is not so simple.If you do not destroy the fungal infection, it will not disappear anywhere, but will hit the nail further.And onychomycosis is contrast.An infected person is a danger to members of his family and others.
How to prevent infection?
The best remedy for nail fungus is prevention.
To protect yourself from infection, you need:
- use medical disinfectors with the inscription of GOST (they are able to kill onychomycosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV);
- monitor the condition of the feet and nails, the main rule - the legs should be clean and dry;
- to care for shoes, regularly disinfection, drying, it is convenient to use electric dryers for drying;
- treat your legs with drying products or antiperspirants, if the feet sweat hard;
- in the pool, sauna, lockers of gyms do not walk barefoot, but wear rubber slippers with a closed toe;
- wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathable materials;
- Do not use a towel, shoes or manicure supplies of strangers.
These tips will help you warn onychomycosis, keep your nails healthy and well -groomed.They are effective not only for the prevention of the fungus, but also of other problems: an ingrown nail, corns, corns.
Features of the treatment of onychomycosis
Advertising on TV promises to easily and quickly cure nail fungus using antifungal (fungicidal) creams, solutions, varnishes.We are promised that "different drugs penetrate deeply into the structure of the nail, effectively destroy the fungus, for 2 - 3 use they return the former appearance to the nails." But why then such an independent treatment of fungus on the legs gives good results in a maximum of 10 % of cases? Because these drugs are effective only in the early stages of the fungus, when the symptoms are not yet obvious and almost not noticeable.
Manufacturers are often cunning that drugs are produced using the latest technologies and have good active substances in the composition. Most drugs are simply very well -advertised and are very expensive, while not having the substances necessary for the treatment. You will not buy specialized drugs in ordinary pharmacies, since the production is very expensive.
Aggry drugs are the basis for the treatment of onychomycosis.Without them, no matter how much we would like to defeat the infection.But they need to be used correctly and deliberately.A cure for nail fungus should be applied to a pre -treated and prepared nail so that it has the right healing effect.
The first thing you should do if onychomycosis is suspected is to consult a doctor who will confirm or refute the diagnosis.If necessary, prescribe an additional examination and treatment.The choice of a product from nail fungus based on reviews from the Internet, friends or advertising on TV will lead to a loss of time and money that will spend on unnecessary drugs.The same results will be obtained when trying to treat onychomycosis with folk methods.Vinegar, garlic, onions, medicinal herbs are not able to destroy the pathogen.
An important point in the treatment of onychomycosis is the disinfection of shoes and clothing, which has contacted with an infected area.If it is not fulfilled, then you can get infected again from your own things.Clothing must be washed at high temperature (above 60 ° C), ironed, handling shoes with special disinfectants.
What drugs and methods are effective?
In the initial stages, the treatment of onychomycosis is easier and faster than in advanced cases.How to treat nail fungus?
To combat the pathogen, use:
- Hardware medical pedicure.Allows you to clean the areas of nails affected by onychomycosis without blood and pain, prepare them for the use of antifungal agents;
- Keratolytics.These are local drugs against nail fungus, which are applied to the affected nail with the aim of its painless removal.They loosen, soften and dissolve the nail plate, and then it is easily removed with pedicure tools.Keratolytics facilitate the treatment of onychomycosis, remove the infected area, and stimulate the growth of a new healthy nail plate;
- Fungicidal agents.The action of these drugs is aimed at destroying the fungus.For onychomycosis, they are used locally in the form of varnishes, solutions, ointments, creams and inside in the form of tablets.With internal use, the active substances of the tablets from the fungus of nails accumulate in the skin and nail plate.The activity of fungal enzymes is suppressed, the permeability of cell membranes is disturbed, and the pathogen is death.
The treatment methods for onychomycosis are selected based on the severity of the symptoms and area of the lesion zone.In the initial stages of the disease, there are sufficiently hardware treatment and external fungicidal agents.In severe forms of damage, when the entire nail is infected with a fungus, it will require taking tablets, removing the nail plate.Treatment of an advanced form of onychomycosis takes from 3 months to 1 year and depends on the growth rate of the nail.
Local fungicidal drugs are safe for health, but not always effective.Tablets negatively affect the liver, therefore, throughout their administration, laboratory control of the state of the body is required.
We cure onychomycosis, and this is the main thing!
The sooner you consult a doctor, the faster you can handle it.
Do not be afraid and be shy.This problem is very common, millions of people around the world have it.
In the treatment of nail fungus in a professional medical center, you get:
- Joint observation of a subsurrent and mycologist (a doctor who is engaged in fungal diseases);
- 100 % sterility when performing all procedures;
- the possibility of a material fence (scraping of the skin and nail plate) to identify the type of fungus;
- quick result (on average 3 - 4 procedures are needed);
- • free disinfection of a pair of shoes in which you came, the possibility of disinfection of all the shoes in which you went during the period of onychomycosis;
- Recommendations for footing and shoes that will help prevent re -infection.
The most important thing is to competently choose a specialist and turn in a timely manner for help only then your nails will be healthy and beautiful!