Toenail fungus is a generalized infection caused by infection with opportunistic fungi and pathogens with dermatophytes. About 20% of the adult population suffer from nail fungal infections and it is practically undetectable in children.
Reasons for infection
Fungi are widespread in the environment, but damage to 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 fungal growth. Infection usually occurs by contact, if the rules of personal hygiene are not followed, the source of infection can be a sick person or objects of common use. The infection can occur in public places: swimming pools, saunas, gyms. And also in everyday life with the widespread use of slippers, socks, manicure accessories, towels and wipes.
Predisposing factors for onychomycosis infection are:
- decreased immunity;
- poor circulation in the legs, even 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 surface, loss of shine;
- greater fragility;
- itching and irritation of the skin around the affected nail;
- pain at the injury site, especially when wearing tight shoes;
- separate part of the nail from the nail bed.
As the entire nail plate progresses and becomes involved in the process, new symptoms appear: the nail thickens and becomes significantly deformed.
Depending on the degree of nail damage, three types of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Normotrophic: manifested by a distortion of the nail color from white to dark green. The color changes at first in spots or streaks and gradually covers the entire nail surface, while the thickness of the nail surface does not change and the shine remains.
- Hypertrophic: it is expressed by discoloration, loss of shine 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.
What 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 brittleness, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor prescribes a microscopic or cultural diagnostic study to confirm the diagnosis. A part of the affected nail is taken for analysis or nearby tissues are scraped off. Timely detection of nail fungus greatly facilitates treatment and prevents the development of complications. Released onychomycosis is dangerous as it can cause fungal eczema, aspergillosis, decreased immunity, infection of all nails, skin and other organs.
Toenail fungus treatment
The doctor determines how to treat onychomycosis based on the degree of change in the nail plate, the clinical form, the degree of hyperkeratosis, and the length of the affected area. For treatment, local agents (ointments, drops, sprays, varnishes) and general agents (antifungal drugs) are used.
As a general rule, with minor changes to the nail, drugs are used for topical treatment. Before treatment with antifungal solutions, ointments, varnishes, the affected area of the nail must be removed surgically or with the help of keratolytic drugs. This is necessary for better penetration of the antifungal drug into 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;
- quinosol urea plaster;
- 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 glue 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;
- Clotrimazole derivatives;
- based on micanazole;
- oxicanazole derivatives;
- based on terbinafine;
- chloronitrophenol derivatives;
- based on naphthyphin.
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 they cannot 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, the antiseptic is inexpensive and widely available. Local antiseptics, such as iodine, treat the affected nail up to three times a day for a month. When applying the solution, it is advisable not to touch the surrounding skin to avoid burns. A burning sensation and a tingling sensation help to recognize the onset of exposure.
If local treatment is not effective, antifungal tablets are additionally prescribed, prescribed by a specialist.
Properly selected combination therapy helps to cure advanced onychomycosis more quickly. Treatment combined with local and general therapy is also prescribed for more than three affected nails, for people 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.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies.
For the preparation of antifungal agents at home, you can use apple cider vinegar and herbal preparations:
- Mix vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar in equal parts, moisten a cotton ball in the resulting solution and apply it on 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 must be infused for a month. Then add 50 g of salt. The resulting product is used for foot baths 5-10 minutes before bedtime. It is important not to clean your feet after bathing, but to let them dry on their own;
- To treat the affected nail, you can use an alcoholic solution of propolis, onion juice or porridge, 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
Nail fungus damage 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 remove old skin, which is a good growth medium for fungi.
- Use medications that reduce sweaty feet.
- Change socks, knee-highs, and leggings every day.
- Wear loose, comfortable shoes. Don't wear wet shoes.
- Wear footwear when visiting pools and showers.
- Do not wear other people's shoes, slippers, socks, towels, manicure accessories.
- Use pharmacological preparations for protection before visiting beaches, swimming pools, saunas.