Onychomycosis or fungal infection of the defeat of the nail is a very unpleasant disease, it is difficult to assign to a treatment. The disease develops at the contact of the fungus under the nail plate or skin around the nail. The microflora pathogen feeds on the keratin, because of its amount decreases rapidly, and the nail is destroyed.
The causes of the evolution of the disease and infection
Fungus infects the nail plate, it spreads in a wet environment with temperatures of the air. Be infected by the fungus, you can during the visit to public places with such a climate. Most often the fungus "lives" in the showers, gyms and swimming pools. Often, the infection occurs when visiting the beach. Another route of transmission is through contact with the carrier of the infection. Contracting a disease is also possible through the use of personal items of the sick person.
However, in order to obtain nail fungus, only the penetration of the pathogenic agent on the skin is not enough. A strong immunity will effectively inhibit the microflora pathogenic and does not develop the defeat of the nail plate. The factors predisposing to the development of nail fungus are the following:
- decreased immunity, general and local;
- the violation of blood circulation in the lower limbs;
- the excessive sweating stop;
- the port of a poorly chosen shoes, in violation of the circulation of the blood;
- damages and injuries on the skin of the feet.
The rapid growth of the microflora pathogen is often observed when the violation of the circulation of the blood, caused by certain diseases of the veins, and metabolic disorders. Cause the disease can also be bad shoes, in case of wear increases perspiration and disrupted blood circulation. A favourable environment for the development of the microflora pathogen is a skin moist, which does not receive enough oxygen. This happens when a person is wearing socks of synthetic fabrics and narrow shoes made from "not breathable".
Another reason that can cause the development of infection is the non-observance of rules of hygiene and non-compliance of safety measures. The patient may, inadvertently, to "get" the fungus – try shoes of someone else, visiting public, or the shower of swimming pool near to or using someone else's towel for the feet.
Often, people make a serious mistake when buying new shoes – they are trying his bare feet, not using socks. Such an action may become the cause of nail fungus, because it is unknown, who have followed this same pair of shoes earlier, and has not been the stand of the man infected by the microflora pathogenic.
How to recognize the disease?
When the nail fungus on the feet, the symptoms are so characteristic, as to confuse this disease with other diseases that are very difficult. For the time to reveal a pathology, you must be aware of the signs, among which:
- the formation of stripes and spots under the nail;
- whitish muddy colour of the nail;
- inflammation and dryness of the skin on the finger around the victim of the nail;
- the appearance of the plate mold;
- the fragility and the change of the structure of the nail plate.
Initial symptom of the disease is the formation of stripes or spots, complexion a greenish or yellowish color. These bands are deeply recessed in the thickness of the nail plate and the impression that they are on the skin under the nail.
Generally, in the first place is affected by a nail of thumb, more rarely on the small finger. At a stage of development of the disease the fungus is evidence of a change in the color of the plaque and stains, and scratches. After some time, the infection affects the rest of the fingers, appears a redness, flaking and itching of the skin around the nails.
The treatment of the disease at this stage can respond effectively and quickly get rid of the mold, however, patients rarely have to seek the help of your doctor, noticing similar symptoms.
During the increase of the population of the microflora pathogenic fungus starts to destroy the surface of the plate. This is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft and with the mounds, there are cracks and cavities, the structure is heterogeneous. It can be accompanied by a selection of pus under the nail, and a strong unpleasant odour of legs. With time, the nail is destroyed, the hair becomes stronger and affects areas of the skin between the fingers.
What looks like the defeat of the nail depends on the type of fungus. The causative agent of the disease are most often yeast or mould fungi. During the infection by the yeast fungi of the nail plate acquires a grey-blue color. The nail collapses quickly, and so completely to the drift of the nail.
The mold hit the nail plate in cases of violation of nutrition of tissues, for example, due to the strong compression of the nail too close to the shoe. For this type of onychomycosis is characteristic of the formation whitish plaque on the nails.
Knowing what looks like the disease, it is essential to consult a doctor. The different types of downy mildew has different symptoms and a treatment that is difficult to pick yourself, without the advice of a specialist.
The principle of treatment
The treatment of the defeat of the nail plate have an integrated approach and takes a lot of time. It is important to remember that the earlier found the symptoms of the yeast infection and began treatment more quickly manages to get rid of the disease.
The fight against the disease apply:
- an antifungal ointment and solutions;
- system the anti-fungal tablets;
- traditional medicine.
Heal the pathology on the initial phase, you can using the outside the fungicides are. These medicines include ointments, solutions, as well as the lacquer with an antifungal agent element in the composition.
For the treatment is most often prescribed ointments broad spectrum of components that influence actively on various fungi, including yeast such as. Ointments and creams it is advisable to use at a stage of development of the disease. When the violation of the structure of the nail plate, they are ineffective, because the components of the drug can not penetrate into the small cracks of the nail.
The most effective way are the anti-fungal solutions. These drugs are generally published in the bubbles with a pipette. The tool is applied on the nail plate. Thanks to the liquid consistency, the substance meets the lower edge and under the nail plate, so efficient in working on the affected area.
Pharmacies widely represented by agents in the form of varnish. The peculiarity of these forms of anti-fungal, is that you don't have to use every day. Lacquer wear in a few days. The drug is a protective coating on the nail plate, which protects the nail and the blocking of the spread of the fungal infection. The active substances of the drug to penetrate into the depth of the nail plate and act on streaming – an application enough to provide an antifungal action for two days. Varnishes are also effective for the prevention of fungal disease. You can use it once per week or apply before visiting the premises at high risk of infection by the fungus.
In addition to the treatment of the nail plate, you need to provide a anti-fungal protection of the skin around the nail and between the toes. To do this, use ointments.
If the nails have started to collapse, medications for external use is not enough, therefore, also named the anti-fungal tablets. These medicines provide an impact on the whole body in general.
If fungal of the defeat of the nail is accompanied by a bacterial infection, which is celebrated the appearance of pus, advanced prescribed ointments to the antibacterial action, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine, the following tools are used against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of cider vinegar and water is applied on a gauze pad, which is attached to the affected nail over 1 hour. The procedure is repeated every day for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix with two tablespoons of water. The solution to be used for the treatment of nails affected twice per day.
- In a foot bath, add two large spoons of baking soda and iodized or sea salt. The judgments of the place in a bath of half an hour. The procedure is performed daily before going to bed.
Advanced treat the nails of onion juice or the tincture of propolis. Folk remedies, it is recommended to use in conjunction with antifungal drugs, which has appointed a doctor.
Heavy phase fungal defeat leads to the loss of the nails, which is why it is essential to consult a specialist at the onset of the first symptoms of the disease.