Such a troublesome disease as nail fungus (or onychomycosis) is considered one of the most common in the world. According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from athlete's foot! People of different races, both sexes and all ages are susceptible to the disease - from preschoolers to the elderly.
Many of us believe that athlete's foot can appear only in people who neglect personal hygiene, forget to monitor the condition of the skin of their feet, etc.
In fact, toenail fungus can occur even in a clean person, since the infection is very easy to "catch" in public places - the beach, sauna, swimming pool, gym, etc. Toenail fungus is a disease, though not deadly, but very insidious. At an early stage, it manifests itself in the form of harmless symptoms, but later it can lead to such serious consequences as destruction and deformation of the nail, which will never return to its former form. In addition, onychomycosis is very contagious, so a person whofound a fungus can easily infect all household members.
Toenail fungus: first signs
It is quite difficult to identify the pathology at the first stage, but it is possible if you carefully look at the condition of the nails and the skin around them.
The main signs by which fungi can be identified are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- the appearance of furrows, stripes and spots on it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- nails cut into the skin of the legs, which 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 signs are characteristic of children and adolescents, since their skin is much thinner and more sensitive than that of adults).
Subsequently, as the fungus develops, other signs and symptoms appear:
- distortion of the structure of the toenails - they become brittle, scaly, friable edges appear;
- Color change - instead of the usual, healthy transparent white color, the plate acquires unnatural shades of purple, yellow or even black;
- the nail is deformed, becomes flat or convex, tubercles are formed.
However, peeling nails are symptoms of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail detaches from the skin, forming a so-called pocket in which pathogenic bacteria accumulate and actively multiply. Often this manifests itself after contact with warm water - when taking a shower, bathing, swimming in the pool, taking a steam bath. After the legs are dry, the plate can stick to the skin again.
Sometimes similar symptoms can occur in a person who does not have a fungus. The nail can turn black, peel off, and then completely fall off due to mechanical damage. The dying process begins a week or two after you hurt your toes or just wear tight, ill-fitting shoes.
A new, completely healthy nail plate usually grows back after six months. To determine whether it is a fungus or just the consequences of an injury, a qualified dermatologist or surgeon can do this.
These symptoms are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor produced by disease-causing bacteria. A person suffering from toenail fungus smells badly in socks and shoes, and the usual hygiene procedures cannot eliminate this symptom. In this situation, complex treatment is required, otherwise a person can lose the nail plate.
Treatment of onychomycosis
A person can recognize the first symptoms of the disease on his own. But even if you are sure that you have symptoms of nail fungus, you should seek the advice of a qualified doctor, otherwise the treatment may not bring the desired results. 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 due to which the disease begins:
- humid and warm environment. Wear socks, tights and shoes made only from natural materials. After each visit to the street, dry your shoes, change your socks, don't let your feet stay damp for a long time;
- do not wear other people's shoes when visiting public places - a swimming pool, sauna, beach - use personal spare shoes, disinfected with chlorine or alcohol after each use;
- weak immunity. Often this disease occurs against the background of weak immunity, a lack of useful nutrients in the body and frequent colds. After consulting your doctor, you should take a complex of vitamins and minerals that will strengthen the immune system and, accordingly, help in the treatment.
Traditional treatment
Local treatment of onychomycosis in the initial stages consists in the use of antifungal creams and ointments. These funds are usually sold together with a special waterproof patch.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected nail plate, fixed with a band-aid and left for 24 hours. The patch must not be removed during this time.
After a day, the patch should be removed, the legs placed in a warm soapy solution, and dead tissue removed with a pedicure nail file.
After removing the affected areas of the nail plate on the legs, the product must be applied to the nail bed. The duration of such treatment is until the growth of a healthy plate.
At the first stage of the disease, special antifungal drugs can be used only with the appearance of the first symptoms. Apply this polish once or twice a week, year-round.
But if such therapy does not help, and the fungus is already at a different stage, then more effective drugs are needed. In this case, antifungal drugs with a general effect are required. They can also be combined with antifungal varnishes. The course of treatment with systemic drugs is prescribed by the doctor individually, depending on what stage of onychomycosis the patient suffers from.
Such funds have a number of limitations - kidney and liver diseases, pregnancy, lactation of the baby. Also, you can not combine them with oral contraceptives.
Despite the fact that the fungus of the toenails is a disease not dangerous for human life, without the necessary therapy it can lead to allergic reactions, reduced immunity and the appearance of various skin diseases. That is why the treatment of this disease cannot be postponed until later, you need to see a specialist immediately.