Onychomycosis or nail fungus is a serious disease, difficult to treat. The disease develops when the fungus gets under the nail plate or the skin around the nails. Pathogenic microorganisms feeds on keratin, as a result, their number is quickly reduced and the nail is destroyed.
The causes of the disease and the ways of the infection
The fungus that affects the nail plate, is propagated in a humid environment with a high temperature. Infected with fungus can when you visit public places with this climate. Most often, the fungus of the "life" in public showers, gyms and swimming pools. Often, the infection occurs when they visit the beach. Another pathway of infection is close contact with a vehicle of the infection. Contracting the disease is also possible through the use of personal belongings of the patient.
However, in order to obtain nail fungus, the mere contact with the agent of the skin is not enough. A strong immune system effectively suppresses pathogenic microflora and does not develop lesions of the nail plates. Factors predisposing to the development of nail fungus are:
- reduce immunity, both General and local;
- violation of the circulation of the blood in the lower extremities;
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- wore mismatched shoes that violate the bloodstream;
- damages and injuries to the skin of the feet.
The rapid growth of pathogens is often observed in the circulation, caused by a number of diseases and metabolic disorders. To provoke the disease can also be the wrong shoes, which increases perspiration and has interrupted the flow of blood. Favourable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora is the skin wet, which is not receiving enough oxygen. What happens when a man takes socks of synthetic fabrics and narrow shoes, made of false "not breathing" materials.
Another reason that can cause the development of infection is the contempt for the rules of hygiene and do not follow the safety measures. The patient can, without realizing it, "to" fungus – treating in his view, the visit to the public pool or shower without Slippers or with someone else's towel by the feet.
Often people make a serious error at the time of buying new shoes – you try on her bare feet not using socks. This action can cause nail fungus because it is not known who was measured the same pair of shoes before, and not if, the feet of the man infected with pathogenic microflora.
How to recognize the disease?
When nail fungus on the feet, the symptoms are so characteristic, that of confounding this disease with other diseases is very difficult. To identify a pathology, it is necessary to know their main characteristics, including:
- the formation of spots and streaks under the nail plate;
- white fang of colour of the nails.
- inflammation and dryness of the skin on the finger around the affected nail;
- the plate of the mold;
- the fragility and the change in the structure of the nail plate.
The initial symptom of the disease is the formation of stripes or spots of greenish or yellowish color. These strips go deep in the thickness of the plate of the nail and gives the impression that they are on the skin under the nail.
Usually primarily affects the big toenail, at least – on the little finger. In the initial phase of the disease in the fungus only shows the color changes of the nail plate and the characteristic spots and stripes. Some time later, the infection affects the fingers, redness, itching and flaking of the skin around the nails.
The treatment of the disease at this stage allows you to effectively and quickly get rid of the fungus, however, patients rarely seek the help of a doctor, realize that similar symptoms.
With the increase of the population of pathogenic microflora, the fungus starts to destroy the surface of the nail plate. It is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft and undulating, is broken and the depressions, the structure becomes heterogeneous. This may be accompanied by pus from under the nail and a strong unpleasant odor of the feet. With time, the fingernail is destroyed, the flaking becomes stronger and affects the skin between the toes.
It seems that the defeat of the nail depends on the type of fungus. The causative agent of the disease are most often the yeast or fungal. During a yeast infection nail plate acquires a gray-bluish color. The nail is quickly destroyed and, as a result completely departs from the nail bed.
Moulds and fungi that affect the nail plate in case of violation of nutrition of tissues, for example, as a result of the strong compression of the nails too tight shoes. For this type of onychomycosis is characterized by the formation of layer off-white to nails.
Know that the disease, it is crucial to visit a doctor. Different types of fungus have different symptoms and treatment that is difficult to guess on your own, without consulting a specialist.
The principle of treatment
Treatment of injuries of the nail plate requires a comprehensive approach and requires a lot of time. It is important to remember that as soon as the symptoms of the fungus and the treatment is started, the faster you can get rid of the disease.
To combat the disease are:
- antifungal ointments and solutions;
- systemic antifungals tablets;
- traditional medications.
To correct the pathology in the initial phase by the external use antifungal. This kind of preparations include ointments, solutions, as well as lacquers with antifungal component in the composition.
For the treatment most often prescribed ointment, broad-spectrum components that actively affect various fungi, including the yeast. Ointments and creams are the best to use in the initial phase of the disease. In violation of the structure of the nail plate are ineffective, because the components of the drug can not penetrate in small cracks in the nail.
The most effective are drugs antifungal solutions. These medications usually are produced in the bubbles with a pipette. The product is applied to the nail plate. Thanks to the consistency of a liquid, the substance that fills the slightest irregularity, and is placed under the nail plate, which effectively act on the affected area.
Pharmacies are widely represented products in the form of graffiti. The peculiarity of this form of drug antifungals is that they do not need it for daily use. Varnish is applied every few days. The drug forms a coating shield on the nail plate, therefore, the protection of the nail and the inhibition of the spread of the fungal infection. The active substance of the drug to penetrate the nail plate and act for a long time – a single application is sufficient to provide antifungal activity throughout the two days. Coatings are also effective for the prevention of fungal diseases. You can use them once a week or apply it before visiting places with high risk of fungal infection.
In addition to the treatment of the nail plate, it is necessary to provide antifungal protection for the skin around the nails and between the toes. To do this, use the ointment.
If the nails have started to break, the preparations for external application is not enough, because in addition to appointed antifungals in pill. These chemicals have a systemic effect throughout the body.
If nail fungus is accompanied by bacterial infection, in which the appearance of pus, in addition prescribe ointments with action antibacterial, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine used the following remedies against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of Apple cider vinegar and water that is applied to a gauze compress, which is applied to the affected nails for 1 hour. The procedure is repeated daily for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix it with two tablespoons of water. The solution should be used for the treatment of the affected nails twice a day.
- In a foot bath, add two large tablespoons of baking soda and iodized or sea salt. Feet located in the tub for half an hour. The procedure is performed daily at bedtime.
In addition to treating the nails with the juice of the onion or propolis tincture. Folk remedies it is recommended to use in conjunction with antifungal medicines that are prescribed by a doctor.
Serious stage of the fungal infection leads to the loss of the nail, so it is important to immediately contact a specialist in the first symptoms of the disease.