Toenail fungus: detect and treat correctly

2 April 2024

Fungal diseases are the most common ailments on earth. We suggest considering how to treat toenail fungus, what professional preparations (tablets, ointment, cream, varnish, other medications) and folk remedies are used for this.

Onychomycosis (also known as "dermatophytic onychomycosis" or "herpes zoster") is the most common nail infection, with one in ten people worldwide suffering from this disease. Despite the fact that the disease must be treated at home, this infection is very difficult to influence from outside, and the infection is often accompanied by relapses and inflammation.

Nail fungus - what is it?

In medical terminology, nail fungus is called onychomycosis. The nail plate becomes infected upon contact with spores, then rapid growth of fungal bodies begins, affecting the nail in depth and breadth.

This pathological condition is most often observed in elderly people. The occurrence of the disease is influenced by the following factors:

excessive body weight;
diseases of the digestive system;
weakening of the immune system;
impaired function of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands;
improper hygiene.

Experts identify several stages and forms of fungal infection.

Types and causes of toenail diseases

Diseases of the nail plate can be divided into three types:

fungal;
non-fungal;
other diseases.

Non-fungal diseases

Here are the causes of diseases not associated with fungal infection:

illiterate care of the nail plate;
injury;
unbalanced diet;
presence of infection in the body;
smoking;
hereditary predisposition;
the presence of dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema;
acute and chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels, nervous system, endocrine diseases.

Fungal diseases

Fungal problems occur due to infection by various types of fungi. This pathogen is very dangerous due to its rapid and easy spread. This disease must be treated. The fungus most often affects the nail plates of the lower extremities, since the feet are the most favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

There are factors that contribute to the occurrence and development of the disease:

increased sweating of the feet;
poor quality shoes: stuffy and airtight, poor lasting;
use of clothing made of synthetic materials;
neglect of personal hygiene;
visiting public places without individual shoes, for example baths, swimming pools, saunas, public showers.

To recognize the onset of the disease, you need to know what a healthy nail plate should look like:

color flesh pink;
the surface is smooth, without roughness;
has a homogeneous structure, no compactions or thinning;
The nails are intact at their ends and do not separate.

If your nails do not comply with at least one point, then you need to visit a doctor for consultation.

Forms of fungus

Symptoms of the disease depend on the form of the fungus:

Atrophic. A gray tint appears on the nail, and the plate becomes pale and dull. The nail begins to atrophy from the outer ends.
Hypertrophic. As a result of the active growth of skin scales, the nail plate thickens by more than 2 millimeters. Nail deformation depends on the severity of the pathology. Shade – gray or dark yellow. One of the signs of such a fungus is considered to be similar to a bird's claw.
Normotrophic. The color of the nail with this type of fungus changes, but the shine and thickness remain the same. In the first stages, spots from white to yellow appear. If the disease is not treated, they become larger in size. In this case, the plate does not adhere to the nail bed.
Proximal. This fungus spreads to the skin fold. Possible pain in the cuticle area.
Total. This infection develops if treatment for other types of fungi is ignored. Accompanied by loss of color and shine, crumbling and fragility. The result is complete destruction of the nail plate.
Superficial white fungus. Characterized by the formation of white spots and stripes that spread over the entire nail.
Distal. The lesion is accompanied by dullness, loss of color and changes in the thickness of the nail plate. After the affected area dies, the nail becomes deformed and crumbles.
Lateral. There is swelling of the skin ridges, their redness and thickening. Characterized by soreness in the area near the nail. When a bacterial infection attaches, a purulent process begins.

Depending on the severity of the pathology, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Practical advice

Prevention of thumb and foot fungus is a very important task. Immediately after getting rid of the misfortune, you will find yourself in a high-risk zone, because. . . The body will be very susceptible to this kind of infection for a long time.

Drug treatment does not always pay off, antibiotics kill the immune system, the body becomes more susceptible to fungi and spores, try to minimize the use of such drugs;
Any burns and frostbite need prompt treatment, otherwise the bacteria will be reduced very quickly;
Effective treatment is only half the battle, because you will need to disinfect absolutely all surfaces that you came into contact with: bedding, floors, clothes, shoes, etc. ;
Traditional treatment is good, but it does not guarantee that there will be no relapses. It is advisable to visit a doctor before starting this fight, who will conduct an analysis and tell you exactly what form of fungus you have and how to fight it;
Do not treat yourself with medications;
Do not try to disguise damaged nails with colored varnish - this will damage them even more and slow down regeneration;
The doctor advises regularly making foot baths with mint and chamomile, this will significantly reduce the likelihood of catching an infection;
A person who has already suffered from fungal diseases cannot be a blood donor;
The fungus is very contagious, so also consult your loved ones and take them to the doctor.

Typical clinical picture

Clinical manifestations of fungal nail infections include:

a burning sensation and itching of the skin near the affected area;
nail fragility;
swelling of the affected area;
active detachment of the plate;
color changes (black, yellow, gray, green, brown tint indicates a pathological process);
painful sensation in the place where the fungus is localized;
nail deformation.

If treatment is ignored or inappropriate therapy is observed, keratinization of the plate and an increase in compaction are observed.Only a qualified specialist can diagnose a fungal infection.

Places at risk of infection

Infection can occur in a damp and warm place where the fungus grows quickly. Therefore, you should be careful and adhere to the rules of hygiene in a public environment:

sauna;
shower cabin;
bath;
gym;
solarium;
public locker room;
beach;
pool.

You can catch nail fungus by trying on someone else's shoes. In addition, infection can occur in a beauty salon during a pedicure procedure if unsterile instruments are used or the master has a fungus on his hands and performs the manipulation without gloves.

Alternative remedies to combat nail fungus

There are a large number of alternative methods to combat fungal infections. In folk medicine, popular and effective procedures that help eliminate fungus are:

compress;
foot bath;
lotions;
applying ointments from herbal products.

Effective antifungal alternative therapies are:

Garlic ointment. To prepare it, butter is mixed with grated garlic. Apply for several hours to affected nails.
Bath with sea salt. Make a warm solution and keep your feet in it for thirty minutes. After the procedure, it is recommended to apply olive oil to your nails.
Foot bath with a decoction of calendula, celandine, horsetail or milkweed.
Mint and salt compress. A spoonful of salt is mixed with the crushed plant and applied to the problem area for several hours.
Propolis lotion. A cotton pad is moistened in the tincture and applied to the affected nail.
Lubricating the diseased nail plate with celandine juice.
Egg-honey mixture. Honey, birch tar and sulfur are added to the egg white. Mix thoroughly and apply to nails.
Ammonia compress. A spoonful of ammonia is diluted in a glass of water. The material intended for the procedure is soaked in the liquid.
Apricot resin. An alcohol tincture is prepared from tree resin using the ingredients in equal parts. Using this remedy, make a compress.
Coffee bath. They make strong coffee and pour it into a basin. It is recommended to soak your feet in this product for twenty minutes.
Tar compress. For this procedure, take birch tar.
Bath based on Listerine, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
Hydrogen peroxide compress. Before using it, it is recommended to make a soda foot bath.
Applying onion pulp to the sore nail.

An effective folk remedy for fungal infections is a remedy made from baking soda and apple cider vinegar. To prepare it you need the following ingredients:

apple cider vinegar – 250 ml;
baking soda – 150 g;
water (hot) – 3 l.

Foot baths are made with this medicine. The peculiarity of this procedure is that first the feet are placed in a vinegar solution for twenty minutes. Then after a while they take a bath with soda. It is recommended to do the procedure several times a day.

Compresses can also be made from the following ingredients:
chopped horseradish (root);
sunflower oil and vinegar (product ratio 1: 1);
tea mushroom;
tangerine juice;
tea tree oil;
pureed rowan.

It is recommended to apply these products to the affected area at night. Herbalists advise putting crushed medicinal herbs into your socks for foot fungus:

mint;
chamomile;
nettle;
sage.

The first signs of the disease can be overcome by soaking your feet in a solution of laundry soap. It is important to remember that alternative medicines should only be used on well-washed feet. Dead layers must be removed each time using a nail file or scissors.

Other diseases

This section includes diseases that may be signs of fungal or non-fungal pathology, but in this case are independent.

Hypertrophy

Most often, hypertrophy is inherited.

This disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

the nail thickens;
lengthens up to several centimeters;
very long legs begin to bend down, resembling a bird's claw;
the color of the nail changes from yellow to dirty yellow;
rarely, in this condition, the nail grows into the skin located on the sides;
If the ingrowth is not treated, the inflammatory process starts.

To combat the disease, vitamins and physical therapy are prescribed. If inflammation is present, rinse with peroxide and chlorhexidine.

Traditional medicine suggests using massage with olive oil. In case of significant deformation, which greatly spoils the appearance of a person, they resort to cosmetic correction.

Atrophy

Diseases of the toenails, in which the nails are subject to atrophy, are often congenital in nature.

Already in a newborn baby you can see symptoms:

deformation of the nail plates on one or several fingers, they are smaller in size, fragile, distorted in shape;
nail color is whitish, cloudy;
the surface has flaws: roughness, microcracks;
absence of nails on one or several fingers;
the presence of membranes between the fingers;
deformation of fingers;
low hair growth rate, and they also grow sparsely.

Such congenital pathologies are difficult to treat. It is recommended to take vitamins, eat substances rich in collagen, and have a balanced diet. Patients should take care of their nails and avoid injury and contact with aggressive substances.

Peeling nails

The most common problem people face.

Here are the reasons for its appearance:

improper manicure, use of low-quality decorative cosmetics;
This problem is faced by half of women who regularly perform the shellac procedure;
lack of vitamins;
endocrine disorders, in particular decreased thyroid function;
chronic diseases that deplete the body;
synthetic clothing and the wrong shoes.

This problem can be eliminated using a set of measures:

Cosmeticsspecialized nail creams and oils.
Paraffin therapyyou need to buy paraffin and melt it until liquid, but not hot. Feet must first be washed and dried thoroughly. Dip your fingers into the paraffin, then let it harden, then lower it again. The sequence must be repeated several times until there are 3 to 5 layers of paraffin on the nails. Next, you need to wrap it in plastic and put on warm socks on top. Keep this compress for 30 minutes. Afterwards, the paraffin must be carefully removed and a rich cream applied to the nails.

Traditional medicine recommends massage using sea salt. It needs to be dissolved in the proportion of 2 teaspoons per 200 ml of warm water. Feet should be kept in the liquid for at least 15 minutes. Then you need to massage the skin around the nails. Afterwards, you can apply olive or other unrefined vegetable oil.

Pterygium

This word refers to the thin film that lies on the nail in the crescent area. It is the bottom layer of the cuticle. Performs physiological protective functions and is not a pathology.

It has different lengths and thicknesses for different people. When performing a professional manicure, pterygium begins to create problems. It especially interferes with coatings that harden under an ultraviolet lamp.

If a woman decides to remove it, it must be done correctly so as not toinjure the cuticle and avoid introducing dirt into the delicate layers of the epidermis:

soften the pterygium in water;
remove excess carefully with an apricot stick;
treat the area with an antiseptic - chlorexidine or miramistin.

To ensure that the pterygium always remains soft and is easy to remove, every evening before going to bed you need to treat the nail plate and cuticle with special oil from pharmacies and cosmetic stores.

Nail diseases that are not treated can cause serious consequences. Complications include suppuration, abscess, panaritium, and malignant formations on the legs. For any change in the appearance of your nails, you should consult a dermatologist.

General treatment regimen

Successful therapy will require several months of complex treatment. This includes drugs for local and systemic use, diet, and strengthening the immune system. Treatment of fungal diseases of the toenails is carried out using the following methods:

systemic antifungal drugs;
a course of physiotherapy that improves blood flow in the feet and hands;
the affected areas are treated with local anti-infection agents (antifungal varnishes, ointments, gels), and the surrounding skin is covered for prevention;
removal of affected tissues conservatively or surgically if severe thickening or total damage is confirmed;
the use of medications that improve blood flow to the hands and peripheral tissues of the legs.

Taking systemic antimycotics

For reliable and effective treatment of fungal diseases, it is necessary to use systemic antifungal drugs. Their action is aimed at destroying the pathogen. Fungal spores can remain in the incubation period in the growth zone for a long time, while they remain viable, so it is very important to ensure their destruction.

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As the plate grows, the spores rise and enter the active phase, continuing to cause the pathological process. For this reason, treatment with systemic antifungal drugs is carried out for a long time in order for a healthy, new nail plate to fully grow. This will indicate that the germ zone is cleared of spores.

Local treatment

This is another component of complex treatment, which is carried out while taking systemic medications and does not replace it. Local therapy alone will not help achieve complete recovery, so there is no way to avoid the need to take antifungal drugs in the form of tablets, solutions or capsules. This is due to the ability of spores to remain viable for a long time in destroyed tissues. Topical medications are unable to penetrate these areas.

Treatment of onychomycosis with this method is aimed at treating the nail bed or nail with products that come in the form of lotion, varnish, cream, ointment or spray. Recommended at this stage.

Nail plate removal

There are two options for this procedure - conservative and surgical. The first method is carried out using keratolytic patches that can soften tissue. After using these products, it is possible to painlessly and easily remove the affected area using a mild scalpel or ordinary scissors. For conservative removal, patch options are currently used.

Such products can be purchased at a pharmacy or ordered from the prescription department. Before using the composition against a fungal disease, apply a regular adhesive plaster to healthy areas of the skin next to the affected areas to protect against the action of the keratolytic. Next, apply a layer of 2 mm of the mixture and secure it with a simple plaster for 2-3 days. Then peel it off, remove the remaining product and scrape off the softened tissue with a scalpel. The procedure is repeated until the entire nail surface is removed and only the bare bed remains.

The surgical method is considered more effective than the conservative one, because it not only removes the affected areas, but also allows the bed to be cleared of keratinized scales, where fungal spores can continue to live and cause a relapse of the disease. Clinical studies confirm that with surgical removal the effectiveness of treatment is significantly higher; the procedure is performed as follows:

Apply a tourniquet to the base of the finger.
Treat the surface with an antiseptic (any).
A local anesthetic is injected into the lateral surfaces of the finger.
Tweezers are inserted under the free edge from the left or right corner.
Advance the instrument to the base.
The plate is separated using an everting movement.
The bed is cleared of accumulations of horny plates.
The nail bed is irrigated with a powder sorbent with an antibiotic.
A sterile bandage is applied on top.

Shoe processing

The issue of disinfecting shoes during treatment for onychomycosis is very important, because they contain fungal pathogens, which in the future will cause a relapse of the disease. To eliminate them, you need to use chemical disinfectants. This cleansing procedure should be carried out at least once a week. Disinfection can be carried out using the following compositions:

Formalin solution 25%.
Chlorhexidine bigluconate solution 1%.
Acetic acid 40%, etc.

As a preventative measure, you should regularly use special devices designed for drying shoes at home. Fungi develop in damp environments, so you should not leave your shoes wet.

To eliminate the disease, you must strictly follow all doctor's instructions. Medicines must be used exactly as directed. Home remedies can help speed up the treatment process for onychomycosis, but only if used as an adjuvant solution in combination with traditional drug treatment.

Possible complications

Pessimists who do not believe that onychomycosis is curable should keep in mind that, fortunately, they are mistaken. However, if the disease is ignored or self-medicated without being sure of the correct diagnosis, problems may arise.

Possible complications include:

the occurrence of mycotic eczema with a large area affected by the fungus;
burns caused by improper use of keratolytic plaster;
dysfunction of the liver and gastrointestinal organs, caused by the accumulation of toxins in the body;
the development of an allergic reaction, also occurring due to the fact that the body is "overloaded" with substances harmful to it;
psychological problems caused by the fact that a person cannot live an ordinary life - for example, without hesitation, visit the bathhouse, go to the beach.

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Laser treatment

This is an additional physiotherapeutic technique that is aimed at improving blood circulation. The procedure is carried out as part of complex therapy along with the use of antifungal drugs. Using a laser alone will not help cure the disease, because it only improves blood flow in the tissues. This is necessary for effective delivery of the antifungal agent to hard-to-reach cells. If you do not take systemic medications, laser therapy will not bring any therapeutic results.

Disinfection and personal hygiene

Having noticed that the nail has changed color and suspecting the initial form of the fungus, comparing the symptoms with the photo, it is necessary to attend to complex treatment. To effectively get rid of fungus, you need to:

thoroughly disinfect socks and shoes every day;
boil bed linen and towels;
Clean the bathtub thoroughly after bathing.

All wardrobe items that came into contact with the affected nails during the day must be boiled in a soapy solution in the evening. It is better to use laundry soap. Shoes should be wiped daily with an antiseptic or a special antifungal solution.

The disease of onychomycosis of nails is often observed within the same family due to constant contact with the causative agent of a fungal infection, as well as due to general hygiene products. If a person scratches the affected areas and then touches household objects with his hands, then the fungal spores and pathogen spread to things at this time and the risk of infection increases.