There is an opinion that toenail fungus is a purely aesthetic problem and should not harm human health. This position is very incorrect, because toxins produced by pathogenic fungi enter the bloodstream, cause intoxication of the body, and can lead to very serious consequences. In addition, sick people are a source of infection and can infect a large number of others.
Because of the appearance
Onychomycosis - a fungal infection of the nail plates on the feet or arms - is most often found in people who lead an active lifestyle: visiting swimming pools, gyms, spas, vacationing in seaside resorts.
Getting on the skin and nails of a person with strong immunity, fungal spores are in a latent state for some time. Their transition to development and reproduction can occur under the influence of these factors:
- weakness of the body's defenses due to viral diseases,
- diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and other endocrine diseases,
- stressful situations, excessive nervous and emotional excitement,
- varicose veins in the lower legs, interfere with normal blood circulation,
- bruises, abrasions, cracks and other injuries to the feet and nails,
- long stay in closed shoes, which leads to increased sweating,
- wear tights or synthetic socks,
- metabolic disorders, obesity,
- not adhering to the rules of personal hygiene.
The risk group includes people with chronic pathology of internal organs - kidneys, liver, bile ducts, as well as patients taking antibiotics for a long time, hormone medications, including birth control pills.
Types of onychomycosis
There are more than 500 opportunistic fungi that can parasitize human skin and nails.
The most common causes of onychomycosis are:
- Dermatophytes. These include fungi such as Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. The disease starts on the nail plate, and if left untreated, it spreads to the rest of the foot.
- Candida yeast. In most cases, the infection occurs in a place with high humidity - a sauna, bath or pool.
- Mold, the main sign of its defeat is the change in color of the nails - from dirty green to brown and black.
First of all, the fungus affects the nail of the thumb, and then moves on to others, at least on the little finger. All types of onychomycosis are accompanied by severe itching in the interdigital zone, burning and an unpleasant foul odor caused by the breakdown of fungal wastes.
Disease stage
Any type of fungus requires treatment with medications. Before making an appointment, the doctor must understand at what stage the disease is and determine the degree of damage to the nail plate.
Depending on the clinical picture, the following stages of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Normotrophic-the early stages of the disease, in which the nails gradually change color, spots and streaks appear on them. The nail plate still maintains its normal shape, thickness and healthy shine.
- Hypertrophic. Nails thicken, become dull and brittle, crumble along the edges. Patients experience pain when walking with tight shoes.
- Atropic. Perfectly true to the stage name, the nail is quickly destroyed, bent and detached from the nail bed. The plate becomes very thin, and brown spots appear beneath it - the focus of pathogen invasion. Finally, the nail was completely removed.
The more advanced the disease, the longer and harder it is to get rid of it. If in the early normotrophic stage it is possible to cure onychomycosis with the help of traditional medicine, then in the latter stage it is often necessary to resort to even with the removal of the affected nail by surgical methods.
symptoms
To begin timely treatment, it is necessary to understand how nail onychomycosis manifests itself at each stage.
In the early stages, the main signs of nail fungus are redness of the skin in the interdigital zone, accompanied by slight peeling and itching. Thereafter, the symptoms of a fungal infection develop in the following order:
- nail folds become red, swollen and become painful,
- nails begin to change color from dirty yellow to black, depending on the type of pathogen,
- spots, grooves, tubercles and streaks appear on the surface of the plate,
- nails thicken and flake off,
- a white mass accumulates in the subungual space, emitting an unpleasant odor,
- keratin nail plates begin to crumble along the edges,
- the nails were completely peeled off the bed and pushed away.
Feet affected by nail fungus can look very unpleasant to others, so patients have to hide it, which is especially difficult in the summer. In addition, running onychomycosis causes complications.
Is the disease dangerous
The reluctance of many patients to go to the doctor at an early stage or the inability to recognize the first symptoms of onychomycosis leads to its transition to a chronic form that can be lifelong pain. At the same time, with normal immunity, the fungus will "freeze" to some degree, and any of the provoking factors mentioned above can again transfer the disease into an active phase.
The following categories are included in the risk group for complications in fungal nail infections:
- children under the age of 12,
- contain,
- women while breastfeeding,
- people of the older generation.
Against the background of a decrease in the body's defenses in this individual, the disease will pass quickly, leading to a weakening of immunity and possible consequences such as:
- allergic reactions up to bronchial asthma,
- the severity of the course of chronic diseases of internal organs,
- body intoxication due to the penetration of toxins into the blood,
- dysbacteriosis,
- the appearance of new foci of inflammation on the skin,
- nervous system disorders, psychological problems.
Since nail mycosis refers to an infectious disease, not only the sick person himself, but also all of his personal belongings are a constant source of infection for others. In cases when onychomycosis is detected in women during pregnancy, there is a threat that the unborn baby will be born with a predisposition to allergies.
Diagnostics
Fungal diseases of the skin and nails are treated by a dermatologist or mycologist. For a consultation, you can contact the clinic or dermatovenerologic dispensary, where this specialist receives.
After interviewing the patient, the doctor will be able to draw a picture of the appearance and progression of the disease. The following steps will help make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the most effective treatment:
- visual inspection of the affected nail with ultraviolet light Wood,
- take pieces of skin and nails for examination,
- general blood and urine tests.
The biomaterial obtained as a result of scraping is sent to the laboratory, where it is studied under a microscope, which makes it possible to determine the fungal nature of the disease.
To elucidate the type and strain of pathogenic microorganisms, fungal cultures were placed in a nutrient medium and created optimal conditions for their development. After 10-14 days, depending on the type and shape of the colony, it is possible not only to identify the pathogen, but also to establish its reaction to the most common drugs.
The fastest and most accurate method is considered to be PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Biomaterials are processed by special enzymes that allow the study of fungi at the DNA level. As a result, the type of pathogen is determined and an accurate description is given.
Based on the above procedure, the patient is given a final diagnosis and an optimal scheme is developed to get rid of the fungus as soon as possible.
Treatment
Dermatologists promise a positive prognosis for onychomycosis only if patients strictly adhere to all their prescriptions and recommendations.
In most cases, complex treatments are carried out, including the use of external ointments, creams and varnishes, oral antifungal medications and alternative methods of therapy.
Keratolytic is used to soften and remove affected nail plates. You can also get rid of the manifestations of fungal infections with the help of special varnishes.
In cases where the fungus on the nails has passed an advanced stage or if there is a threat of developing a secondary infection, which can be caused by pathogenic bacteria that have entered the affected area, oral antifungal antibiotics are prescribed.
You can speed up the healing process by using a traditional medicine practitioner at home. The most effective, according to the patient, are the following procedures:
- take a bath with baking soda or a decoction of medicinal herbs,
- apple cider vinegar lotion,
- compress with celandine tincture,
- propolis -based ointments and other bee products.
To destroy pathogenic microorganisms, before using antifungal drugs, nails can be treated with essential oils of cinnamon, cloves, spruce, oregano or lemon.
Many dermatology centers offer to remove fungus from nails with a laser beam. This procedure, which allows you to quickly and painlessly remove the affected nail plate, is performed on an outpatient basis.
How can you get fungus
Onychomycosis is an infectious fungal disease that is easily spread from person to person through household contact.
Often it happens like this:
- when walking barefoot in public places with high humidity - sauna, spa, gym, swimming pool, on the beach,
- when trying on or wearing someone else's shoes or socks,
- through bedding, towels, wipes, brushes and other personal items.
When visiting a manicure salon, it is necessary to pay attention to the disinfection of tools, because in many cases fungal infections occur through the fault of irresponsible beauty salon employees.
prevention
To prevent pathogenic fungi from multiplying even if they are exposed to nails or skin, you need to take care of your health and strengthen your immune system by following these recommendations:
- To reject bad habits.
- Taking care of health.
- Spend more time outdoors.
- Balance the diet by including foods that contain nutrients and vitamins.
- Pay attention to personal hygiene.
- Cure all chronic diseases in a timely manner.
- Wear quality shoes and socks that don’t block or hover your feet.
- Shoes used in the pool, gym or on the beach should always be treated with disinfectant.
After discovering incomprehensible changes in the skin or nails, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist to start treatment as early as possible and get rid of the fungus as soon as possible.