Have you noticed a crack in your toes? Are your feet itching endlessly and itchy? Did your nails suddenly lose color and start to deteriorate? These symptoms should not be ignored as they may indicate foot fungal infection. This disease is by no means rare: it is especially common among military personnel, professional athletes, and pool visitors. Unfortunately, fungal skin lesions are treated for a long time and are difficult to treat while causing significant discomfort to the "owner". What you need to do to avoid acquiring this disease and how to deal with it after acquiring it: we’ll talk about all of this in our article.
Causal relationships: where does nail fungus come from
Of course, the fungus itself does not "stick" to the feet of a healthy person for no reason. There are several types of fungi that are considered classic, meaning they affect the largest percentage of patients. Each is called "onychomycosis" in a single term. This group may include candida fungal spores, dermatophytes, or trichophytoses, but the latter have several subspecies that are localized to different parts of the foot and nail.
Such difficult, at first glance names are characterized by an extremely unpleasant infection that penetrates under the nail or “settles” in the area between or below the fingers, at its deepest. The most wonderful environment for fungal spores is the wet and warm folds of the human legs, here they feel really comfortable and are constantly evolving, leading to the expansion of the affected area.
So what causes nail fungus?
- In the absence of proper hygiene, fungi multiply and can affect large areas of the foot. At the same time, their spores are quite capable of reaching the surface of any shoe, there to “settle down” and infect a person over and over again, and in addition to those who can wear those shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are a common breeding ground for discussion.
- Excessive sweating of the feet called hyperkeratosis. The shoes of military personnel, miners, or athletes are often wet. This is due to the increased loads and the "non-breathable" materials from which boots or boots are sewn. This environment is a mushroom spore tomato.
- The fungus sometimes gets under the nail during a pedicure in any beauty salon. Without proper sterilization of pedicure instruments, the master runs the risk of bringing you a fungus that is quite difficult to get rid of. This can happen to anyone when cutting with a pedicure forceps that has not been treated with a special sterilizing solution.
- Onichomycosis is a common companion for those taking antibacterial drugs or who have reduced immunity. Deterioration of blood circulation in the lower extremities, varicose veins or diabetes can be a provocative factor for the appearance of the fungus on the nails.
- Chronic diseases present in the body can affect fungal infections. There is no need to start the inflammatory process that has become chronic. It must be treated.
Due to the fact that mushroom spores are very fond of moisture and heat, they often "live" in baths, public showers and saunas. Therefore, in places with stagnant water, high humidity and high temperatures, you must follow hygiene rules. Be sure to wear only shoes from your own home in the sauna, public shower and bath. Remember: if someone has worn slippers in front of you several times in the sauna, it is very likely that the fungal spores have already settled within the porous structure of the rubber and can easily become infected in onychomycosis.
How to diagnose nail fungus alone
Self-diagnosis is not difficult because you can recognize the fungus based on the most insignificant signs and see a doctor in the initial stages. All you have to do is regularly examine your feet in the area between your toes, at their feet, and your nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of the feet after visiting pools, saunas, baths or wearing other shoes.
The most common symptoms of a fungal infection of the feet and nails are:
- Cracked skin at the base of the toes. At the same time, the wounds do not dry out, but become wet and constantly inflamed.
- Unusually shaped nails. Any detachment, deformation, or discoloration of natural marigolds from your skin will alert you. In patients with onchomycosis, the nails become very thick, too brittle, and may even collapse. However, the color gamut can change: yellow, white, gray, or even blackened marigold is not at all uncommon in such a disease.
- Also look for itchy, flaky spots and rashes on the surface of your feet. If they do not pass for 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
- Beware of the sudden appearance of bubbles on the skin of your feet. They are usually located in small groups and contain a clear liquid inside.
- A very important symptom is the unpleasant smell of the foot. If you have never emitted a stinky aroma from your feet, do not miss this factor as it may indicate the presence of a fungal disease.
You may be able to diagnose fungal skin disease on your own due to the presence of such symptoms. If in doubt, see your doctor, who will perform a special examination and confirm or deny the presence of onychomycosis.
How to diagnose nail fungus in a doctor's office
You will probably be asked for a general blood and urine test to find out if there is an inflammatory process in your body. Your doctor will ask you to tell in detail what medicines you are taking and whether you are suffering from certain conditions, such as diabetes. Elevated blood glucose levels, as well as being overweight, which is often accompanied by endocrine disorders, often appear in the so-called diabetic foot. This disease is characterized by calluses, corns, cracks and fungal lesions.
Laboratory analysis of the presence of fungal spores is mandatory. Usually, you do not have to wash your feet a few days before the diagnosis, and the detachment areas of the nail plate should be sealed with adhesive plaster. At the boundary between healthy skin and the affected area, a special scraping is performed to determine the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when the disease relapses, particles of destroyed calendula are taken for analysis. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can develop more actively. Similarly, laboratory assistants work with physicians to determine the type of fungus and then decide on further therapy.
These types of diseases are treated by dermatologists and mycologists.
How to cure nail fungus
Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It never goes away on its own. The controversy is resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: the fungus is one of the most persistent microorganisms on the planet. Like mold, fungal spores can survive all of us.
Mycoses should be treated without failure because they can spread to the surface of the skin, involving any large area in the pathological process, and even settle in the airways, provoking asthma.
There are medicines called antimycotics. Like antibacterial drugs, they kill the problem from the inside out, as they are often taken orally. Only one doctor can prescribe antimycotics, due to the fact that some of them can have many side effects. Certain groups of drugs can only fight one or more types of fungi, but there are also broad-spectrum antifungals.
Medicines containing the following active ingredients are effective in the treatment of onychomycosis:
- Terbinafine,
- clotrimazole,
- Ketoconazole,
- Fluconazole,
- Itraconazole.
Remember that only a doctor has the right to prescribe antifungals. Given the potential for side effects, it is impossible to choose an antimycotic that is absolutely appropriate for all patients with onichomycosis.
In addition, special ointments, applications and creams are prescribed for the high-quality treatment of fungal infections of the feet. These nail fungus medications are used both in the initial stage and during the running process. Depending on the extent and location of the fungal damage, your doctor may prescribe applications. This involves applying the ointment to the affected areas of the skin, which are then sealed with plaster. Such application is usually carried out overnight, and in the morning carefully removed and removed dead skin or nail particles.
The following treatment options also work well:
- Treatment with antifungal sprays,
- Creams or emulsions,
- Coating the nails with a special varnish against the fungus.
Complex therapy for fungal diseases, combined with ointments, antifungals and other procedures, gives the most lasting effect. But we must not forget that the therapy of onychomycosis is a long process. To get an idea of how to get rid of nail fungus, it is worth mentioning a fact: as usual, the nail will fully recover in 6-12 months. Until a new, healthy nail grows back completely, you should not interrupt treatment because sometimes spores can remain at the base of the nail. If you stop treatment prematurely, your disease may return.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
Treatment of a fungus at home will not be effective if only two or three treatments are performed and therapy is forgotten with the slightest improvement in the clinical picture. Antifungal therapy lasts for at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes much longer to overcome an unpleasant disease. Be patient, otherwise the nail fungus will return.
The main element of home treatment is to remove the affected skin and nails as much as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In the conditions of beauty salons, a pedicure master helps to cope with mycosis. It removes the top affected layer of the nail with a milling machine with a special coarse nozzle, after which antifungal ointment can be applied to this area. At home, it is unlikely to be able to completely remove the layer of dead cells, but it can be completely softened and carefully removed.
Nail Fungus Recipe:
- Chicken eggs - 1 piece,
- Vinegar essence 70% or 80%,
- Tea tree oil, butter or olive.
acetic acid works well against a wide variety of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, pour the essence of the chicken egg so that it is completely covered with the solution. It is better to use a glass for this. Now it should be placed in a dark place. Observe the egg: as soon as you notice that the shell is completely dissolved, take out the container and add a little oil (in case you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops will suffice). Now you need to grind the mixture thoroughly to make the egg a homogeneous paste. The mixture should cover the areas affected by the fungus, apply a plastic wrap on top, and wrap the legs with bandage or gauze. It is advisable to leave the compress for several hours, after which the steamed marigold should be cut off. With regular use, the diseased nail can be removed almost completely and the fungus can be removed forever.
Nail fungus: folk remedies
If you want to beat onychomycosis alone, it is possible that compresses made from various ingredients such as garlic, horseradish or kombucha will help. Just be sure to steam your feet before applying, i. e. make them a steam bath.
Baths with soda or potassium permanganate solution are most effective. Both ingredients have an antiseptic effect, perfectly cleans and disinfects the skin and nails. Preparing the bath is simple: pour hot water into a pool and pour soda there at a rate of 1 tablespoon. l. soda for 3 liters of water. Potassium permanganate powder should be added carefully to avoid burning inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or purple, slightly pink water is sufficient. The legs are lowered into our bath and enjoyed for about 1 hour. Wipe your feet dry. You can now perform other manipulations.
Grate horseradish or garlic on a fine grater or squeeze through a press. Wrap the mass in a piece of gauze or bandage and apply to the affected area. Leave the compress on overnight, don’t forget to wrap it in plastic and wear warm socks. Kombucha has the same effect, you will need a little - a small piece that must also be applied to the affected area of the nail.
Preventing Fungus on the Leg - How to Avoid Infection with Fungal Spores
There are a few simple rules to follow to prevent onychomycosis infection:
- Use your own shoes to visit the pool, shower, sauna or steam room. Do not try to walk barefoot in such places, especially if there are even minor injuries to the skin.
- Do not borrow strangers' shoes and foot care items, such as pumice or home pedicure brushes.
- To never think about how to get rid of nail fungus, change your underwear, socks or tights more often. Your health depends on it.
- When you get into a pedicure, make sure the master has sterilized your instruments. Some salons offer the purchase of your own pedicure equipment. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infection.
- Remember to wear loose shoes that do not restrict movement to prevent calluses, corns and blisters. Keep in mind that if there are no wounds, cracks, or scratches on the surface of the skin, the fungal spores are unlikely to attack.