An unpleasant disease like nail fungus (or nail fungus) is considered to be one of the most common diseases worldwide. According to statistics, 1 in 10 inhabitants of our planet suffer from foot fungus! People of different races, of both sexes and of all ages are susceptible - from preschoolers to the elderly.
Many of us think that foot fungus can only appear in people who neglect personal hygiene, forget to monitor the condition of their feet, etc. v.
In fact, toenail fungus can appear even in a clean person, because the infection is easy to "catch" in public places - on the beach, in saunas, swimming pools, gyms, … Toenail fungus is a disease that, although Not deadly, is very insidious. In the early stages, it manifests as harmless symptoms, but later on can lead to serious consequences such as nail destruction and deformity, the nail will never have the same shape. In addition, nail fungus is very contagious, so a person who has discovered the fungus can easily infect all members of the household.
Toenail fungus: the first sign
Diagnosing the disease in the early stages is quite difficult, but you absolutely can if you closely observe the condition of the nail and surrounding skin.
The main signs to identify the fungus are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- the appearance of grooves, stripes and spots on it;
- loss of shine and elasticity of toenails;
- cut nails into the skin of the feet, which were not previously observed;
- the skin around the nail begins to itch and cause discomfort to the patient; sometimes itching begins between the fingers (these signs are characteristic of children and adolescents, since their skin is much thinner and softer than that of adults).
Then, with the growth of the fungus, other signs and symptoms appear:
- structural deformation of the toenails - they become brittle, scaly, brittle edges appear;
- color change - instead of the usual healthy, transparent white, the sheet has unnatural shades, such as purple, yellow or even black;
- the nail is deformed, becomes flat or convex, forms nodules on it.
But peeling nails are a symptom of an advanced stage of the disease. The nail separates from the skin, forming a so-called sac in which pathogenic bacteria gather and actively multiply. This usually manifests after you've been exposed to warm water - when you shower, take a bath, swim in a pool, steam bath. After the feet dry, the plaque can stick to the skin again.
Sometimes similar symptoms can occur in a person who does not have the fungus. Nails can turn black, peel, and then fall off completely due to mechanical damage. The dying process begins a week or two after you injure your toe or simply wear tight, ill-fitting shoes.
As a rule, after six months, a new, completely healthy nail will grow. To determine if it's a fungus or just the result of an injury, a qualified dermatologist or surgeon can.
These symptoms are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor, produced by pathogenic bacteria. People with toenail fungus have a bad odor in their socks and shoes, and normal hygiene procedures cannot eliminate this symptom. In this situation, complex treatment is needed, otherwise a person can lose the nail plate.
Treatment of nail fungus
A person can recognize the first symptoms of the disease on their own. But even if you are sure that you have the symptoms of toenail fungus, you should seek the advice of a qualified doctor, or the treatment may not bring the desired results. would like. A specialist will help identify the disease, determine the stage of the disease, and provide the necessary treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes with which the disease began:
- humid and warm environment. Wear only socks, tights and shoes made of natural materials. After every time you go out, you should dry your shoes, change socks, and don't leave your feet wet for a long time;
- Do not wear other people's shoes, when going to public places - swimming pools, saunas, beaches - use personal replacement shoes, which are disinfected with chlorine or alcohol after each use;
- weak immunity. Often this disease occurs against the background of weak immunity, a lack of useful nutrients in the body, frequent colds. After consulting with your doctor, you should take a vitamin and mineral complex supplement to strengthen the immune system and, therefore, help support treatment.
Traditional treatment
Local treatment of toenail fungus in its early stages involves applying antifungal creams and ointments. These funds are usually sold with a special waterproof patch.
Using a dispenser, the drug is applied to the affected part of the nail, fixed with plaster and left for 24 hours. The patch is not removed during this time.
After a day, the patch should be removed, lower the foot into a warm soap-soda solution and remove dead tissue with a toenail file.
After the affected areas of the nail plate on the foot are removed, the product must be applied to the foundation. The duration of such treatment is until healthy plaques develop.
At the initial stage of the disease, only at the onset of the first symptoms, it is possible to use special antifungal varnishes. Apply this top coat once or twice a week throughout the year.
However, if such therapy does not help and the fungus is already at a different stage, then more effective drugs should be used. In this case, a general anesthetic will be required. They can also be combined with antifungal varnishes. The course of systemic drug treatment is prescribed by the doctor individually, depending on the stage of the onychomycosis of the patient.
Such funds have a number of limitations - kidney and liver diseases, pregnancy, the period of breastfeeding. You also cannot combine them with birth control pills.
Although toenail fungus is not a life-threatening disease, but without the necessary treatment, it can lead to allergies, reduced immunity and many different skin diseases. Therefore, the treatment of this disease later cannot be postponed, you must immediately seek the help of a specialist.