An annoying disease such as nail fungus (or onychomycosis) is one of the most common diseases in the world. According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from foot fungus! People of different races, genders and all ages are susceptible to the disease - from preschoolers to the elderly.
Many of us believe that foot fungus is caused only by neglect of personal hygiene, forgetting to control the condition of the skin of the feet, and so on. can occur in humans.
In fact, toenail fungus can be seen even in a clean person, because the infection can be spread in public places - on the beach, sauna, pool, gym, etc. "catch" is very easy. Fungus on the toenails is a disease, although not fatal, but very insidious. At an early stage, this manifests itself in the form of harmless symptoms, but later it can lead to serious consequences, such as destruction and deformation of the nail, which will never take its previous shape. In addition, onychomycosis is highly contagious, so a person who finds a fungus can easily infect all members of the household.
Fungus on toenails: the first signs
It is very difficult to diagnose the pathology in the first stage, but it is possible if you look carefully at the condition of the nails and the skin around them.
The main signs that a fungus can be identified are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- appearance of furrows, stripes and spots on it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- nails cut into the skin of the feet that have not been observed before;
- the skin around the nail plate began to itch and cause discomfort to the person; sometimes itching begins between the fingers (these symptoms are characteristic of children and adolescents, because their skin is thinner and more delicate than adults).
Later, with the development of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- violation of the structure of toenails - they become brittle, scaly, broken edges are visible;
- color change - instead of the usual, healthy transparent white color, the plate acquires unnatural shades such as purple, yellow or even black;
- The nail is deformed, straight or convex, tubercles are formed on it.
But peeling nails are a sign of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail separates from the skin, forming a so-called pocket where pathogenic bacteria accumulate and actively multiply. This often manifests itself after contact with hot water - when taking a shower, taking a bath, swimming in the pool, taking a steam bath. After drying the feet, the plate can stick to the skin again.
Sometimes similar symptoms can occur in a person who does not suffer from the fungus. The nail may turn black, peel off, and then fall off completely due to mechanical damage. The death process begins a week or two after you injure your toes or simply wear narrow, inappropriate shoes.
As a rule, after six months, a new, completely healthy nail plate grows. It can be done by a qualified dermatologist or surgeon to determine if it is a fungus or just the consequences of an injury.
These symptoms are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor caused by pathogenic bacteria. A person suffering from toenail fungus has a bad odor on socks and shoes, and regular hygiene procedures cannot eliminate this symptom. This condition requires complex treatment, otherwise a person may lose the nail plate.
Treatment of onychomycosis
A person can recognize the first signs of the disease on their own. However, even if you are sure that you have symptoms of nail fungus, you should consult a qualified doctor, otherwise the treatment may not bring the desired result. The specialist will help to identify the disease, determine its stage and recommend the necessary treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of the disease:
- humid and warm environment. Wear only socks, tights and shoes made of natural materials. Dry your shoes after each trip to the street, change socks, do not allow your feet to stay wet for a long time;
- do not wear someone else's shoes, use personal replacement shoes disinfected with chlorine or alcohol after each use when visiting public places - swimming pool, sauna, beach;
- weak immunity. Often this disease occurs against the background of weak immunity, lack of nutrients in the body, often a cold. After consulting your doctor, you should take a complex of vitamins and minerals that will strengthen the immune system and help with treatment.
Traditional treatment
At the initial stage, local treatment of onychomycosis consists of the application of antifungal creams and ointments. These products are usually sold with a special waterproof patch.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected nail plate, fixed with plaster, and left for 24 hours. The patch should not be removed during this time.
After a day, the patch should be removed, the feet should be soaked in a warm soapy-soda solution, and the dead tissue should be removed with a pedicure nail file.
After removing the affected areas of the nail plate on the feet, the product should be applied to the nail bed. The duration of such treatment is until the growth of a healthy plate.
In the early stages of the disease, only with the onset 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, general effective antifungals will be required. They can also be combined with antifungal varnishes. The course of treatment with systemic drugs is determined individually by the doctor, depending on the stage of the patient's onychomycosis.
Such funds have a number of limitations - kidney and liver disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding. You cannot combine them with oral contraceptives.
Although toenail fungus is a non-life-threatening disease, it can cause allergic reactions, decreased immunity and various skin diseases if not treated properly. Therefore, treatment of this disease should not be postponed until later, you should immediately seek the help of a specialist.