Onychomycosis or fungal nails is a nasty disease, difficult-to-treat. The disease develops when the fungus gets under the nail plate or skin around the nail. Pathogenic microorganisms feeds on keratin, as a consequence, its number is quickly reduced and the nail is destroyed.
The causes of disease and methods of infection
The fungus affects the nail plate, is propagated in a humid environment with high temperature. Infected with fungus can, when you visit public places with air conditioning. Most often, the fungus "lives" in the public showers, gyms and swimming pools. Often the infection occurs when visiting the beach. Another route of infection is close contact with a carrier of the infection. Contracting disease is also possible with the use of the personal belongings of the sick person.
However, to get a nail fungus, the mere contact with the agent on the skin is not enough. A strong immune system effectively inhibits the pathogenic microflora and does not develop damage to the nail plate. Predisposing factors for the development of the fungus on the nails are:
- reduced, the General and local;
- violation of blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- wearing mismatched shoes that violate the bloodstream;
- damage and injury to the skin of the feet.
The rapid growth of pathogenic organisms is often observed in the circulation, which causes a number of diseases and metabolic disorders. To provoke the disease can also be the wrong shoes, wearing which increases the sweating and disturbed blood flow. A favourable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora is wet to the skin, which is not receiving enough oxygen. This is what happens when a man wears socks of synthetic fabrics and narrow shoes, made from man "not breathing" materials.
The second reason is that can trigger the development of infection is non-compliance with rules of hygiene and not following the safety measures. The patient may inadvertently "on" fungus – trying on someone else's shoes, visit a public pool or shower without Slippers, or using someone else's towel for the feet.
Often, people make a serious mistake when buying new shoes – to try on her bare feet not using socks. Such action can cause nail fungus, because it is not known who was measured the same pair of shoes before, and do not, or the legs of a man infected with pathogenic microflora.
How to recognize the disease?
When nail fungus on the feet, the symptoms are so characteristic that to confuse this disease with other diseases, is very difficult. With a view to determine the pathology, it is necessary to know its main features, including:
- the emergence of spots and stripes under the nail plate;
- a white muddy colour of the nail.
- inflammation and dryness of the skin on the finger in the vicinity of the affected nail;
- panel mold;
- fragility and changes in the structure of the nail plate.
The initial symptom of the disease is the formation of streaks or spots of green or yellowish color. These strips go deep in the thickness of the nail plate 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 stage of the disease the fungus only shows the color changes of the nail plate and the characteristic points and lines. Some time later, the infection affects the toes, redness, flaking and itching of the skin around the nail.
Treatment of the disease in this stage allows you to effectively and quickly get rid of the mold, however, patients rarely seek a doctor's help, I noticed similar symptoms.
With the increase in the population of pathogenic microflora, the fungus starts to destroy the surface of the nail plate. This is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft and wavy, cracks and depressions, the structure becomes different. This may be accompanied by pus from under the nail and a sharp unpleasant smell from feet. Eventually, the fingernail is destroyed, the peeling becomes stronger and affects the skin between the fingers.
It looks like the defeat of the nail depends on the type of fungus. The causative agent of the disease are most often yeast or fungi. During infection, fungal infections of the nail plate acquires a gray-blue color. The nail is quickly destroyed and as a result totally deviates from the nail bed.
Mold fungi affect the nail plate in the 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 whitish coating on the nails.
They do not know how the disease, so it is important 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 takes a long time. It is important to remember that the earlier the symptoms fungus treatment is started, the faster you can get rid of the disease.
For the fight against the disease, which are used:
- antifungal ointments and solutions;
- systemic antifungals tablets;
- the traditional medicines.
For the correct pathology in the initial phase with the use of external antifungals. These products include ointments, solutions, as well as lacquers with antifungal component in the composition.
For the treatment of the most commonly prescribed ointment with a broad spectrum of components that actively affect a variety of fungi, including yeast. Ointments and creams are better to use in the initial stage of the disease. In contrast to the structure of the nail plate are ineffective, because the components of the drug can not penetrate into the small cracks of the nail.
The most effective are antifungal drugs in the solutions. Such medicines are usually produced in the bubbles with the pipette. The product is used for the nail plate. Thanks to the liquid consistency of the substance, which fills into the smallest irregularities and gets under the nail plate, thereby effectively works on the affected area.
Pharmacies are often represented products in the form of nail Polish. The peculiarity of this form of antifungal drugs is that they do not need for day to day use. Polishes used every few days. Drug that forms a protective coating on the nail plate, thus protecting the nail and inhibits the spread of fungal infection. The active substance of the drug can penetrate the nail plate and act for a long time – one 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 to use it before visiting places with a high risk of becoming infected with the fungus.
In addition to the processing of the nail plate, it is necessary to provide an antifungal for the protection of the skin around the nail and between the toes. If you want to do this, use the ointment.
If the nails have started to break down, preparations for external use, is not enough, and in addition called antifungals in pill. These chemicals have a systemic effect on the entire body.
If fungal nail accompanied by a bacterial infection, in which the appearance of pus, and in addition prescribe ointments with antibacterial action, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine used the following remedies against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water, which is applied on a gauze compress, which is applied to the affected nails for 1 hour. The procedure is repeated every day for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix with two tablespoons of water. The solution is used for the treatment of the affected nails twice a day.
- In the foot bath, add two large spoons of baking soda and iodized or sea salt. The leg placed in the tub for half an hour. The procedure is carried out every day before bedtime.
Further, the treated nails with the juice of onion or propolis tincture. Folk remedies, so it is recommended to use in conjunction with antifungal medicines prescribed by the doctor.
Severe stage of the fungal infection leads to loss of the nail, so it is important to promptly contact a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease.