To identify nail fungus, why it appeared and how to treat, help specialized medical documents, pages on the Internet. However, consultation with a mycologist should be a priority. Laboratory tests are performed to determine the exact type of fungal infection, facilitating the selection of the correct treatment regimen.
What is onychomycosis
A subtype of diseases caused by the entry of fungal microorganisms into the tissues of the nail is onychomycosis. Infection is often caused by untreated skin lesions on the fingers / toes. The disease can occur at any age, but it occurs more often in 20–55 year old men.
According to the International Classification of Diseases, the onychomycosis code is B35. 1. It is mainly dermatophytes that cause pathological changes in the nails, diagnostic studies are often less established by Candida-like pathogens or mold microorganisms.
Nail fungus is contagious, which is why it occurs in 90% of cases - this is direct contact with an already infected person, such as with members of the same family or close communication. close, use common objects in the house. Promoting infection by weakening the body's immune barriers -Causes of fungus on the toenailsstemmed from diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent severe illnesses.
The direct clinical picture depends not only on the type of fungal pathogen, but also on the area of its entry - distal onychomycosis, or proximal nail lesions. Variation with the full extent of the infection is extremely rare.
Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus
Research done by experts allows us to do researchToenail fungus, where does it come fromand who is at risk of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms not only live on the tissues of the feet and hands but also in the rest of the human body, they are capable of maintaining their live activity on surrounding objects. To do this, they must be in warm, humid and nutritious conditions with enough epidermal scales, which are constantly crumbling in humans.
MainCauses of toenail fungus:
- age criteria - anyone can face a fungal infection, but men 18 to 50 years old are more susceptible to fungal infections;
- work in hazardous industries - in the room of air pollution, dust, high temperature / humidity;
- often wear tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
- Frequent minor tissue injuries - abrasions, abrasions, calluses on the feet;
- anatomical and physiological features - for example, narrow digit gaps;
- a tendency to sweat too much - hyperhidrosis;
- process of various somatic pathologies weakens the skin's protective barrier - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, obesity.
To be in doubtToenail fungusAllows symptoms and signs characteristic of the disease. Usually, people see a doctor with complaints that their nails are opaque, yellowish, have an unpleasant odor emanating from their feet, and that the edges of the nails become more and more brittle.
Fungal risk group
In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. After all, everyone can get a fungal infection, especially when traveling to places with higher concentrations of the pathogen. Many people are at risk:
- staff of bathrooms and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
- public facility cleaners;
- family members of the sick;
- impaired due to recent illness;
- expectant mothers - pregnancy aggravates skin condition of the feet;
- those who neglect personal hygiene;
- forced to stay in hot, poorly ventilated rooms during work shifts, especially tight shoes made of artificial materials;
- women going to pedicure salons with an unproven reputation;
- Beach lovers - sand is often contaminated with fungal microorganisms, because people walk on it barefoot, or in dirty shoes.
If you know who has the most andwhy do you have toenail fungus?, the easier it will be to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, it is recommended that each person assess his or her risk of infection and take appropriate precautions.
Diagnostic
It will be much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, and it is also much easier to choose a treatment method when people see an early doctor. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to those of other nail pathologies, the mycologist will certainly prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures:
- carefully examine the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
- collection of complaints and history - reasons for its penetration into tissues, which a person can point out for himself;
- take debris from the surface of the plate and examine the cells under a microscope;
- take a nail piece to sow on a special nutrient medium - existing fungal colonies begin to actively multiply, but analysis takes a long time;
- histological examination - if the suspected process is malignant.
After comparing all the information from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirming the preliminary diagnosis.nail fungus, and then choose the optimal regimen for your therapy.
Treat nail fungus
Important information aboutnail fungusfor a mycologist in that it allows you to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as choose the correct treatment regimen. After all, there are many pathogens of infectious diseases and some drugs will be effective, while others only stop the growth of infectious cells, not eliminate them entirely.
By settingCauses of nail fungus, the experts present at the first consultation gave recommendations for their removal - for example, buying new shoes, careful personal hygiene, treating all family members. Only after that, it was estimatedWhy get nail fungusYou can start treatment with medication. It is common to distinguish two main areas - a local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicidal ointments, varnishes and, according to individual needs, systemic antifungal drugs.
Traditional treatment
In the classic version,Why is there a fungus on the toenails- Infections through contaminated shoes or barefoot on the tiles of the pool, it is better to start taking infection medication by external means. On the shelves of pharmacies, antifungal drugs are sold in many types:
- subgrouping polyenes - they are distinguished by costly democracy and high efficiency, many dosage forms;
- subgroup azoles - they deal with most known fungal microorganisms with prompt initiation of treatment;
- subgroup of alliamide - it is inherently quick to stop fungus of the nail, hair or epithelium of the feet and body.
After learnWhy does the fungus appear on the nails, the therapist will recommend optimal drugs for the external inhibition of onychomycosis - a cream / ointment with fungicidal properties. Whereas in the case of a serious illness, pills / capsules or an injection of a medicinal solution will be prescribed - to give a systemic effect on the infection.
It is not possible to independently change the dose of the drug, the frequency of drug use or the duration of treatment. Such actions will aggravate the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the formation of complications.
Ethnographic
Ages ago long agonail fungus treatmentis the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, beekeeping products and impromptu home remedies that help eliminate unpleasant sensations and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.
The accumulated knowledge of the cause of the disease and its symptoms makes it possible to create effective home remedies for:
- Make a concentrated purple medicine solution before going to bed, and leave your feet for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin completely and apply the mixture of crushed propolis with alcohol to the affected area. Fix a bandage on top, leave on for a day. Repeat the process 3-5 times.
- Bite in the dark cabinet 1 liter of pure vinegar, content of 1 pack of royal herbs. Filter after 3-4 weeks. Add to the foot bath with salt. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.
- Bath gel with tar soap. After a preliminary steaming of the foot tissues, thoroughly wash the legs and nails with tar soap, pouring table salt over it. Leave it on overnight.
To speed up recovery from nail fungus, you can use simple recipes - wipe the affected area in the morning with iodine alcohol, or with the juice of a yellow mustache, Indian onion, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that inhibit the activity of fungal cells.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Preventing an initial infection, as well as a recurrence of a fungal infection, is much easier than treating it from a foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary preventive interventions are affordable and easy to implement. After allWhat does the fungus on the toenail say- about the weakening of the defenses of the human body.
Therefore, to return strong and strong immunity, it is necessary to take a number of measures:
- modifications to the diet - the menu should be full of fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, and mild proteins, but minimize sour and preservatives, fast foods and fatty / smoked items;
- refusal of alcohol / tobacco products;
- adhere to good personal hygiene - daily hygiene and shower, changing of underwear, socks;
- buy high quality shoes that fit your feet, never wear someone else's shoes / boots;
- do your own pedicure using personal tools or hand your nails over to a professional master;
- Before going to public places with humid air - swimming pools, saunas or bathtubs, use anti-fungal protective equipment.
The prevention of widespread fungal infection is to comply with sanitary and epidemiological rules - clean up the facility using disinfectant solutions, active ventilation, and, if necessary, extinguish.
Evaluation of nail fungus treatment
- "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis is not only about influencing a drug infection but also modifying a person's lifestyle. It is possible to defeat fungus with a combination of measures - for example, using copper. ointment period, hardens the human body and adheres to personal hygiene In addition, treatment should be done at once for all family members so that the disease does not recur. In the pharmacy, you can choose the optimal treatment regimen for each case. "
- "I was recently told that if there is fungus on the nail - my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the initial inflammatory process has already begun in the blood and tests may show that. I know in detail all the information about the fungal infection and the best way to deal with it Now that I have gone through a course of treatment, I feel much better. avoid such ailments, and also tell my friends and acquaintances so they don't get infected with this bad disease. "
- "Pharmaceutical products, of course, can cure nail fungus, but at the same time they are unhealthy with their chemical ingredients. So I like to use traditional medicine formulations. I got rid of the fungus from my husband's feet with a simple way - every evening they steam their nails with soda water, then applied lotion with homemade vinegar. removed, then the healthy nails regrow. In addition, they also drink water with calendula and chamomile, chamomile to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband has completely recovered from toenail fungus.