Nail fungus, known among experts as onychomycosis, is a very common pathology. The lesion affects about 40% of people at least once in their life. In this case, there are more fungi on the legs than on the hands.
The disease begins with the appearance of a white or yellow-brown spot under the nail tip. As the fungal infection penetrates deep into the skin, the nail plate begins to discolor, thicken, and collapse at the edges. If treatment is not started early, onychomycosis begins to affect the areas between the toes and can even reach the skin of the feet. A neglected fungus is called epidermophytosis. Be sure to consult your local doctor!
How to get nail fungus?
Since the disease is contagious, you can only get it through contact. There are hundreds of different types of pathogens in the environment. But completely healthy people with strong immunity are not susceptible to nail fungus. A combination of several factors is necessary for the development of onychomycosis: poor health (for example, after a recent acute respiratory viral infection), as well as small cracks in the nails and the surrounding skin. Also, after the penetration of pathogenic bacteria, it is necessary to create a moist and warm environment suitable for reproduction.
Other risk factors that increase the risk of developing nail fungus include:
- microtrauma of nail plates;
- diabetes;
- taking immunosuppressants;
- congenitally thickened nail plates;
- venous insufficiency (poor blood circulation in the legs);
- peripheral artery disease;
- old age;
- fungal skin infections.
People who frequently notice lesions on their nails should take certain steps to prevent recurrence. At the very least, you need to keep your feet dry and warm. You should not walk barefoot in public places, especially in swimming pools, saunas, spa centers. Professional athletes, people who spend most of the day doing heavy physical work should also pay attention to choosing the right shoes and socks. The feet should not sweat and the nails should not be pinched.
Who should I contact if I have nail fungus?
There are many effective over-the-counter medications that can be used for treatment without a doctor's prescription. However, if new growths appear on the nails for the first time, you should consult a dermatologist or podiatrist. The fact is that fungi are not the only possible cause of nail problems. Many other pathologies can be similar to the manifestations of fungal infections. For example, some forms of psoriasis can mimic the symptoms of nail fungus. Therefore, the doctor must make a diagnosis and choose the treatment. In the future, in case of relapse, the patient will be able to use the already prescribed drugs again.
Symptoms, diagnostic methods
Before prescribing treatment for a fungus, a good doctor should send the patient to laboratory tests. Even an experienced specialist cannot determine the type of pathogen by eye. Often, the patient is asked to send a section of the affected nail to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.
If the selected treatment methods do not help, you should consult a doctor again. Symptoms that indicate the development of nail fungus:
- micro-bleeding around the nail bed;
- swelling and pain in the affected area;
- complete deformation of the nail plate;
- a characteristic pulsation appearance during walking;
Only after determining the true cause of the infection, truly effective treatment is possible.
Treatment Options
There is no best or optimal treatment method. The medical prescription directly depends on the severity of the condition and the type of microorganism that causes the disease. Often, doctors prescribe drugs that must be applied directly to the nail or taken orally. Let's consider each option in more detail.
Oral antifungal drugs.
They are the first choice option, the most common treatment for recurrent fungus. The tablets help the new nail to grow in a clean and proper structure. It is necessary to prepare that the results are not quick, the whole course of treatment takes 6-12 weeks. Discontinuation of oral therapy is allowed only when the nail has grown completely clean and healthy.
As for the disadvantages, the therapy is not suitable for people older than 65 years, as well as for people with liver problems or diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Also, oral antifungal medications can cause side effects such as rash and nausea. It is strictly forbidden to start taking such drugs without preliminary tests. Moreover, about 2 weeks after the start of treatment, it is recommended to do a scratch again to check how the body reacts to the prescribed drugs.
Healing varnish.
If the nails are affected for the first time (the beginning of the disease is diagnosed) or if the fungus is detected in the "point stage", the doctor can prescribe the use of a special antifungal varnish with the main active ingredient. For best results, it is recommended to treat the affected nail plates and surrounding skin at least once a day. After seven days, it is necessary to remove the accumulated varnish layers with medical alcohol, evaluate the result and, if necessary, repeat the course. The product quickly removes small patches of fungus, but if the lesion is deep enough, there is a high risk of recurrence.
Antifungal cream.
If the damage has spread under the nail, to the surrounding skin, then it is more appropriate to use a cream rather than a varnish. Before each use, you should wash and dry your feet thoroughly and remove the affected layer of the nail plate. Then you need to apply the cream with a thin layer. If the infection has spread to the surrounding skin, which has thickened, it is recommended to additionally apply urea cream to soften it before starting treatment. Antifungal nail creams are quite effective and rarely cause complications.
If the disease occurs against the background of diabetes, not only a podiatrist, but also an endocrinologist is involved in the preparation of the treatment program. Specialists will make sure that the prescribed drugs do not conflict with each other. The fact is that even small problems with the feet of diabetics can turn into full-fledged gangrene.
Don't think that a fully completed course of treatment will automatically mean that your nails will look aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, the destruction of the fungus does not mean that the nail plate will return to its natural color and shape. A full update can take up to 18 months.
When to apply for surgery?
If the fungus is constantly recurring and does not respond to the drugs used, then the best option is to seek help from a surgeon. The specialist will suggest removing the affected nail completely so that the antifungal medication can be applied directly to the skin. The only, but significant drawback of the method: sometimes the new plate becomes thinner, already deformed. If the nail is so deformed and damaged that podiatric sanitation will not help correct the condition, surgical removal is also performed. The operation is also indicated for patients who cannot take pills or use external agents due to individual intolerance.
Prevention methods
Following all the doctor's recommendations is the key to a successful treatment outcome. But sometimes the fungus returns due to poor immunity or ignorance of hygiene rules. Simple preventive measures to prevent relapse:
- keep your feet clean and dry;
- wear slippers in public pools, showers and locker rooms;
- general cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces in your own bathroom;
- change socks every day;
- for those who wear shoes on bare feet, it is recommended to wash the insoles at least once a week and install new ones or use insoles after the fungus has worsened;
- remove narrow shoes and tight-fitting socks from your wardrobe;
- cut your nails short, bend the edges strictly at the right angle;
- wash your feet regularly, several times a day in the summer;
- wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe;
After the exacerbation of the fungus, you should throw away all shoes that cannot be washed or disinfected at 90 degrees. It is also recommended to boil socks and home textiles.
Carpets should be thrown away or treated with disinfectant and antifungal laundry detergents. Tools for treating nails (scissors, files, tweezers) must be sterilized after each use. During the sharpening period, it is forbidden to use decorative varnishes, make extensions or add artificial tips.
Features of the course of fungus in children, methods of treatment
Nail fungus looks really unsightly, but rarely poses a serious threat to life and health. Because of this, adults sometimes ignore treatment. But fungal diseases in children have their own characteristics. Changing the appearance of nails can have a huge impact on a child's self-esteem. Children may feel ugly and worry about their health. The rapid development of the disease can be a great stress for the baby and can even cause problems with the perception of his own body and worsen his self-esteem.
Parents' duty is to periodically check the child's body. After all, children often hide fungal growth because they consider themselves guilty of the disease, do not want to offend adults, or are simply afraid of treatment. Parents who discover pathological changes in their feet should not dislike, dislike, or even scold the child. Expressions such as "you haven't washed your feet well", "because you rarely change your socks" are prohibited. It is necessary to calmly talk about what nail fungus is, remove possible fears, calm down and describe the treatment in general.
It is important to explain to the child that he is not to blame for the illness. But at the same time, it is necessary to convey that fungal infections love dark and damp places, so it is necessary to regularly change socks, keep shoes clean and do not forget about daily hygiene procedures.
Fungus in children is usually treated with oral medications. The fact is that children's nails are very thin and grow quite quickly, which means that the risk of complications after using creams and gels is higher.
Fungal infections are very common. However, with high-quality daily hygiene procedures and strong immunity, the risk of infection is minimized.