The problem of fungal infection of the nail plates of the feet is known to many. According to medical statistics, this disease worries about 20% of the world's population. Only on the territory of our country more than 15 million people suffer from fungus. Therefore, the problem of treating nail fungus is extremely relevant today. This disease in the medical environment is also called onychomycosis. The disease is more common among the stronger sex. This is due to the fact that they are more likely to wear closed shoes. And this, in turn, prevents the flow of air to the feet, which contributes to the appearance of a favorable environment for the rapid reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
important!
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact a specialist.
Symptoms of the disease
There are about 50 different types of fungi that can infect the human body. Therefore, to determine how to treat toenail fungus, you need to know the exact type of infection. Symptoms of the disease also vary depending on which pathogen provoked it. When infected with a normotrophic fungus in a patient:
- there is a change in the color of the nail;
- spots and streaks appear on it;
- observed onycholysis.
In the atrophic type of the disease, the patient notes that his nail is slowly destroyed. The lesion occurs at the outer edge and moves towards the nail fold. At first, only a change in the color of the plate indicates a disease. She becomes:
- gray;
- dull
- matte.
In the future, there is a complete loss of the nail. In a hypertrophic fungus, a thickening of the plate is observed. This is due to the increased growth of skin scales. As a result, the nail can thicken up to two millimeters and be severely deformed. The following symptoms indicate the onset of this disease:
- change in the shape of the nail (the side parts are destroyed);
- loss of gloss on the plate;
- yellowing of the nail.
Treatment of toenail fungus should begin urgently when signs of lateral and distal lesions appear. These two types of disease often occur in combination. This disease will be indicated by:
- the appearance of transverse furrows on the nail;
- plate color change (from blue-green to black);
- roughness of the affected areas.
The disease ends with complete loss of the nail, as well as inflammation of the nail folds. Regardless of the type of lesion, there are symptoms that concern every patient with fungus:
- itching in the affected area;
- plate delamination;
- crumbling and loss of the nail.
reasons
Fungi occur due to tissue damage by mycotic bacteria. In almost 90% of cases, the disease is caused by dermatomycetes. In rarer cases, fungi of the genus Candida, as well as mold microorganisms, become pathogens. Pathogens can penetrate deep into the nail:
- through the dorsal part of the nail;
- from below the distal edge;
- through the proximal fold.
In the first case, the fungus penetrates deep into the nail. This route of infection is characteristic of dermatomycetes. In the second case, the lesion appears directly under the plaque. This greatly complicates the treatment of toenail fungus, as it is difficult to apply drugs directly to the site of infection due to its inaccessibility. Through the proximal roll, the infection rarely penetrates. Certain conditions are necessary for the fungus to enter the nail. Increase the risk of infection:
- mechanical damage to the nail area;
- wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes;
- constant contact with water;
- increased sweating;
- exposure to chemicals on the feet;
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
You can get fungus from a sick person. The causative agents of the disease are perfectly preserved in moist and warm rooms, so the infection most often occurs in showers, swimming pools, water parks and public bathrooms. Fungi can also be transmitted by sharing such items:
- towels
- towels for washing;
- slippers;
- scissors;
- pumice stone
What doctor treats?
When the first symptoms indicating the development of the disease appear, it is recommended to seek medical help immediately. Self-treatment is possible, but when you try to cope with the disease yourself, there is a high probability that you will infect everyone close to you, as well as provoke the development of complications. Therefore, it is better to trust professionals. Treatment and diagnosis of nail fungus are carried out by: dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, podiatrist.
At the first appointment, the patient will be examined. The doctor must examine the condition of the nail plate, determine the nature and spread of the disease. The patient should tell as much as possible about all complaints, indicate his assumptions about the causes of the appearance of the disease. In order to decide how to cure toenail fungus, it is important that the doctor conducts an investigation. The specialist will ask the patient:
- Have there been similar problems in the past?
- Are there other health complaints?
- Have you visited saunas, baths or swimming pools recently?
- Do relatives suffer from nail fungus?
- Are there any chronic diseases?
- How did you try to solve the problem yourself?
It is very important for the doctor to understand what kind of fungus has affected the nail. Diagnostic testing helps to understand. A scraping of the affected part is made to the patient, which is sent for laboratory examination. The study will determine the type of pathogen as well as study its sensitivity to drugs.
Effective treatment of nail fungus
You can deal with the disease quickly enough if you strictly follow all the recommendations of a specialist. The doctor will develop an individual treatment plan for the patient, select the drugs and indicate their maximum permissible dose. Medicines are used to treat nail fungus in the form of:
- varnishes;
- solutions;
- plasters;
- creams.
They should be applied regularly. It is important not to mix several products, as their effect is reduced. It is impossible to independently acquire and use such drugs, since they have a number of contraindications. Only a doctor knows how to treat nail fungus in such cases:
- with lactation;
- during pregnancy;
- in the presence of liver diseases;
- in childhood.
It is very important to follow the rules of administration of these drugs. For example, before covering the plate with a special antimycotic varnish, you should:
- remove the affected part of the nail with a nail file;
- steam your feet;
- degrease the surface of the nail.
The medicine is applied in one layer. Remove it weekly with regular nail polish remover. Then apply it again. Some types of such products can be covered on top with ordinary nail polish. The duration of therapy depends on the type of pathogen, the spread of the disease, as well as on the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
What is the best treatment?
The sooner a person goes to the doctor, the easier and faster he will get rid of the problem. However, not all people immediately go to the hospital when the first signs of fungus appear. Many try to cope with the disease on their own, which leads to the fact that the disease passes into an advanced stage. In this case, it will not be possible to quickly heal. The patient will need a long and serious therapy, during which he will have to:
- take antifungal tablets;
- use means for local application;
- wear patches at all times.
The doctor will determine how to treat advanced toenail fungus according to the extent of the lesions. If the plate is completely affected, then its removal is prescribed. Surgical methods can be used for this. However, most often it is possible to remove the nail using special preparations. The way to use them is as follows:
- A thick layer is applied to steamed and well-dried feet.
- On top, the nail is fixed with plaster.
- After 4 days, it is removed, and the affected nail is scraped with manicure tools.
In this way, the fungus can be completely eliminated. In place of the affected nail, a new and completely healthy one will grow over time. If the therapy is carried out correctly and to the end, then you can completely get rid of the disease and do not worry about relapses.
Prevention of re-infection
Even after defeating the disease, there is a chance of encountering a problem again if certain rules are not followed. In this case, the treatment of the toenail fungus must start all over again. Re-infection can be prevented by strictly following the following prevention methods:
- Keep your feet dry, don't walk in wet shoes.
- Do not wear other people's shoes.
- Use disposable closed slippers in saunas and baths.
- Do not walk barefoot on the beach.
- Wear only natural fabric socks.
It is important to abandon uncomfortable and too tight shoes in which the feet sweat a lot. Also, disease prevention includes strengthening the immune system. If the body's defenses work at full capacity, then even if the fungus penetrates the nail plate, they will solve the problem themselves. This is why it is very important:
- eat properly and nutritiously;
- avoid hypothermia;
- Do sports;
- observe the regime of work and rest;
- treat all ailments promptly.
important!
Remember that only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the causes and nature of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.