Toenail fungus is a widespread infection caused by infection with opportunistic and pathogenic fungi with dermatophytes. About 20% of the adult population suffers from mycosis of the nails and is practically not detected in children.
Reasons for infection
Fungi are widespread in the environment, but damage to the nails and human skin develops only under favorable conditions. With age, the acidic pH of the skin can change to alkaline, which is favorable for the growth of fungi. Infection usually occurs by contact, if the norms of personal hygiene are not followed, the source of infection can be a sick person or objects of common use. Infection can occur in public places: swimming pools, saunas, gyms. And also in everyday life with the general use of slippers, socks, manicure accessories, towels and washcloths.
The predisposing factors for onychomycosis infection are:
- decreased immunity;
- poor circulation in the legs, including when wearing tight shoes;
- excessive sweating;
- diabetes;
- obesity;
- mechanical injury to the nails;
- deformities and anatomical features of the feet.
Signs of toenail fungus
Nail fungus is a very persistent infection, the initial stage of the disease is expressed:
- discoloration of the nail plate, loss of gloss;
- increased fragility;
- itching and irritation of the skin around the affected nail;
- pain at the site of the lesion, especially when wearing tight shoes;
- detaching part of the nail from the nail bed.
As the progression and involvement of the entire nail plate in the process, new symptoms appear: the nail thickens and deforms significantly.
Depending on the degree of nail damage, three types of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Normotrophic - manifested by a distortion of the color of the nail from white to dark green. The color changes at first in spots or stripes and gradually covers the entire surface of the nail, while the thickness of the nail plate does not change and the shine remains.
- Hypertrophic - is expressed by discoloration, loss of gloss and severe thickening and deformation of the nail. The nail is heavily exfoliated and partially destroyed;
- Atrophic - reflected by discoloration, thinning and subsequent rejection of the affected area.
Which doctor treats the fungus?
You can determine the infection yourself, but only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis. If you find a change in the color of the nail, increased fragility, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor prescribes a diagnostic microscopic or cultural study to confirm the diagnosis. A part of the affected nail is taken for analysis or nearby tissues are scraped. Timely detection of nail fungus greatly facilitates treatment and prevents the development of complications. Launched onychomycosis is dangerous, as it can cause mycotic eczema, aspergillosis, decreased immunity, infection of all nails, skin and other organs.
Toenail Fungus Treatment
How to treat onychomycosis is determined by the doctor depending on the degree of change in the nail plate, clinical form, degree of hyperkeratosis and the length of the affected area. For treatment, local agents (ointments, drops, sprays, varnishes) and general action (antimycotic drugs) are used.
As a rule, with minor changes in the nail, drugs are used for topical treatment. Before treatment with antifungal solutions, ointments, varnishes, the affected area of the nail should be removed surgically or with the help of keratolytic drugs. This is necessary for better penetration of the antifungal drug deep into the damaged tissues, which allows you to get rid of the fungus much faster.
Keratolytic drugs contribute to the softening of the nail and its easy and painless removal, produced in the form of plasters, which include urea or salicylic acid:
- ureaplast;
- urea plaster with quinosol;
- quinosol-salicylic patch;
- onychoplast;
- quinosol-dimexide patch;
- mycospores (combined preparation).
Before gluing the plaster, it is necessary to scrape off the top layer of the nail, then apply a therapeutic mass and seal it with an adhesive plaster, change the bandage every 1-2 days. Before the change, the affected areas of the nail are removed with scissors and antifungal agents are applied.
Antifungal creams, ointments and drops are:
- based on ketoconazole;
- derivatives of clotrimazole;
- micanazole-based;
- oxycanazole derivatives;
- based on terbinafine;
- chloronitrophenol derivatives;
- based on naftifine.
Ointments, creams and drops should preferably be applied to the open nail bed 2-3 times a day, until the final restoration of the nail. These drugs are active against the vast majority of pathogens, but are not able to penetrate the entire depth of the nail plate.
Local antiseptics - a solution of iodine, dyes, quinosol, organic acids are often used in the treatment of nail fungus, if it is impossible to use other means. The main advantage, antiseptic is inexpensive and widely available. Local antiseptics, such as iodine, treat the affected nail up to three times a day, for one month. When applying the solution, it is advisable not to touch the surrounding skin to avoid burns. A burning sensation and tingling sensation helps to recognize the onset of exposure.
If local treatment is ineffective, antimycotic tablets are additionally prescribed, prescribed by a specialist.
Correctly selected combination therapy helps to cure advanced onychomycosis most quickly. Also, combined treatment with local and general therapy is prescribed for more than three nails affected, for persons over 50 years of age and with slow nail growth. The use of combination therapy can significantly reduce the duration of the course of treatment.
Fungus treatment with folk remedies
For the preparation of antifungal agents at home, you can use - apple cider vinegar and herbal preparations:
- mix in equal parts vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar, moisten a cotton pad in the resulting solution, and apply to the affected nail for 4 hours, for convenience, you can fix the bandage with an adhesive plaster. The procedure is carried out daily for a month;
- for the treatment of a neglected process, a mixture of 9% vinegar with celandine helps, the resulting composition should be infused for a month. Then add 50 g of salt to it. The resulting product is used for 5-10 minute foot baths before bedtime. It is important not to wipe your feet after the bath, but to let them dry on their own;
- to treat the affected nail, you can use an alcohol solution of propolis, juice or gruel of onions, garlic. A mixture of lavender and tea tree oils also works well;
- herbal decoction for foot baths: mix in equal proportions oak bark, calendula, horsetail, verbena. Pour 50 g of the resulting mixture with boiling water and keep in a water bath for about 15 minutes.
Prophylaxis
Fungus damage to nails can be easily avoided with good personal hygiene:
- It is necessary to wash your feet daily with antiseptic agents.
- Dry your feet with a personal towel.
- Use a pumice stone to slough off old skin, which is a good growth medium for fungi.
- Use drugs that reduce sweating of the feet.
- Change socks, knee-highs and tights daily.
- Wear loose, comfortable shoes. Do not wear wet shoes.
- Wear footwear when visiting pools and showers.
- Do not use other people's shoes, slippers, socks, towels, manicure accessories.
- Use pharmacological preparations for protection before visiting beaches, swimming pools, saunas.