Nail fungus, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Onychomycosis

Nail fungus in the foot is a very easy -going disease, and it is more difficult to cure.Nail fungus is not lost on its own and is very difficult to treat.

How can you get an infection with nail fungus

Six to eight percent of adult population suffer from nail fungus.
Nail fungal infections are more common in men than women, as well as in older people than in young people.Additional signs or factors that increase the risk of nail fungal infections include the following:

  • reduction of blood flow to the feet;
  • If the nails grow slowly;
  • family history of fungal infections (genetic);
  • increased sweating;
  • work environment - wet or wet feet;
  • wear socks and shoes that prevent ventilation;
  • walking barefoot in wet public places (swimming pools, sports halls and rain);
  • injury or skin or nail infections;
  • diabetes, aids, blood circulation problems, weak immune system;
  • Hard shoes with pressure on your fingers.

Systemic disease, for example: to the foot fungus, exposed to fungus

  • Diabetes mellitus,
  • obesity,
  • Anemia,
  • Hormone disruption,
  • gastrointestinal disorders,
  • tanks and cardiovascular,
  • as well as long treatment with antibiotics,
  • Acceptance of steroid therapy and chemotherapy.

Heat and moisture contribute to the growth of mushrooms - if you do not carefully remove your feet after washing, walking in the air shoes and wearing a synthetic socks.The fungus develops when the nail plate is damaged for too short cutting the feet, it can easily get under the nail.Wearing narrow shoes can weaken nail dishes, such as acrylic nails and varnish.

Onychomycosis more often affects the legs in the legs than in the hands.It can be restricted by one plate or moving to a nearby one.Usually, nail nail infections in the feet affect the thumb and small fingers.Probably because the inner surface of the shoe touches them.

Type of nail fungus

Nail fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive.In most cases, it is a group of mushrooms called dermatophytes (for example, candida).However, some yeast and mold also cause this infection.
Although Trichophyton dermatophytes are the most common sources of infection with nail fungus, Trichophyton Interdigitale, Epidermophyton Floccosum, Trichophyton Violaceum, Microsporum Gypseum, Trichophyton and Trichophyton Trichophyton tonsens can lead to infection.Common forms of fungus - neoscytalidium, scopulariopsis and aspergillus.
Nail fungal pathogens, as a rule, fall under the skin through small wounds or small cracks between nails and nail beds.They grow when the environment provides them with a hot and humid climate.

Like what nail fungus - symptoms

fungus on the left side of the nails

In the early stages Nails that are infected with fungus gradually change their appearance.The strip appears - the first white, then yellow, and, finally, brown.Peeling appears on the nails, it relieves and becomes thicker, it becomes difficult to cut it.The nails smell bad, as fungal deposits accumulate under the nails.

Doctors, during the examination, can determine onychomycosis immediately.Sometimes, the picture of the disease is unclear, and laboratory tests need to be conducted.Samples taken from nails and fragments of nail plate under the microscope can confirm that the disease is actually caused by mushrooms.Sometimes in the laboratory, fungus is planted from samples to determine the species and drugs selected.

Before selection, you cannot draw your nails, lubricating your feet with cream or powder.

In the second stage - Fungus -infected nails usually thicken, fragile, broken, worn, curved, dull and dark, yellow or brown.
Patients can also experience onycholysis, when the individual area of the nail is not present, revealing the nail bed.Sometimes fungal nail infections can cause finger pain and cause unpleasant odor.

Another symptom related to fungal infection is damage to the skin near the nails.There may be rash or itching that looks like an allergic reaction.

Diagnosis of nail fungus

To diagnose nail fungus, as a rule, doctors must study cutting and microorganisms under the nails.
Doctors should be careful when diagnosing fungal nail infections due to several other conditions that can cause these symptoms.These include psoriasis, red flat lichen, contact dermatitis, injury, nail bed tumor, eczema.Culture (planting) fungus can take several weeks.

How to determine the nail fungus at home

It is very easy to do:

We will need potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), water and basin.
Take the water into the basin so that it covers the feet.Discard some potassium permanganate into the water so that the water becomes bright - pink (fuchsia color).Put your feet or arms in water for 5-10 minutes.
Then we take and carefully check the nails.If they are completely brown, then everything is fine - nails are healthy.But if there are areas that do not change the color - they are infected with nail fungus.

Nail fungal treatment

Treatment of fungal nail infections can be a long and expensive process.
Oral remedies for the treatment of infection, as a rule, should be taken for up to four months until the nail replacement is fully infected with the finger.These drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist according to a specific scheme.Because medicines act on the liver and blood composition, it is necessary to take tests before and during treatment.

In the early stages of fungus, local medicines - ointment and varnish helped well.

Local antimicrobial - The most effective local therapy, as they are most active in relation to onychomycosis pathogens.Among the many local drugs against nail fungus, only 2 can be called a remedy for the treatment of onychomycosis itself, as it is available in the most suitable form for this - in the form of polished nails.The remaining antifungal drugs are more commonly used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.

Varnis failure

Special nail polish designed to treat nail fungus allows you to do better antimicrobials through the nail plate deep into the nail bed.In addition, varnish film, freezing on the surface of the nail, prevents the evaporation of the drug from the nail and creates a barrier for infection.

The main advantage of modern varnish used in the treatment of onychomycosis is that they can be used on the nail plate without removing it.The remaining drugs cannot penetrate the nail plate, which requires early removal or at least significant thinning.

Current antimicrobials, which are part of the varnish, are delayed in nails for a long time after application, effective concentration for at least 7 days.This allows varnish 1 or 2 times a week.

Batrafen varnish is used daily for treatment 1 month, 2 times a week for the 2nd month, and then 1 time a week.

Before starting treatment, any varnish should be removed like many nail plates affected.The remaining nail plate where the varnish will be used must be lowered with attached files to create an uneven surface.Varnis is used with a brush or spatula attached.Prior to each varnish application, the previous layer was removed using the solvent or alcohol tampon attached and the nail plate was treated with a file.The varnish layer can be removed by placing nails in warm water and scraping lacquers scissors.

The duration of treatment depends on the speed of growing healthy nail plate.For the treatment of onychomycosis, there are 6 months in the hands, on the feet-9-12 months.

The true methods of local fungal treatment include polishing nails, such as cyclopirox in addition to other creams.Local ointments and creams can cleanse nail fungal infections, but often do not fully cure the infection.
In some extreme cases, doctors may recommend removing nails.
Alternative remedies used to treat fungal nail infections include Australian Tea Oil Extract and grapefruit seeds.However, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of this product.

Effective antifungal drugs

There are 3 effective antifungal drugs for oral administration (oral).Third -three of these drugs have serious side effects and can interact with many other drugs.Patients taking antifungal drugs should take regular tests to control liver and blood cell function.OCTUS antifungal agents continue to work even after treatment with drugs.

No oral antifungal agents can be taken during pregnancy.

Prevention

  • Put a pair of new socks daily.Stockings should be made from natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton.These fibers allow moisture to move from the feet and contribute to the distribution of air around the toes and feet.If your feet or socks get wet from sweat, you need to remove it as soon as possible, dry your feet with a clean towel and place it on some new socks.
  • Wearing the same pair of shoes, day by day, can have a negative effect on the feet and expose you to bacteria and fungus.When storing shoes, you need to make sure that it is kept in a good room for complete drying.It is advisable to have some shoes and change them before going to the gym, so that the steam has optimal drying time.And finally, wear shoes in front of the entrance to the bathroom, sauna or gym.This is a fertile soil for fungus that causes onychomycosis and other bacterial infections.
  • There are ways to prevent infection and help with manicures and pedicures to prevent nail fungus before they begin.First sentence, bring your varnish with you.This is an easy way to prevent infection when using general varnish - when the fungus falls straight into the nail bed.The second proposal is the need to sterilize all equipment for manicures and pedicures.Each device must be disinfected and stored properly.And finally, the bathtub for the pedicure.This is a blessing for bacteria, which is just waiting to infect your nails.If you are not sure that the bath is cleaned with a corresponding disinfectant after each customer, try avoiding this at all costs.
  • Fungal infections are a common sign of suppressed immune system.Enrichment of your diet with nutrients and vitamins, of course, can help prevent bacteria.Eat more garlic for food.Tea tree oil is also a natural antifungal agent.Peel the nail area in the foot of the tea tree oil.Black walnut black extract can also work well in the prevention of onychomycosis.
  • General use can cause infection and cause nail fungus on the fingers.Fungus can be sent from person to person.Maximum prevention is not to divide towels, shoes, scissors with others.And, as we recommend, to treat nail fungus to dermatologists at the first signs of infection.