Fungus of the toe nails (onychomycosis) — one of the most common infectious diseases, is difficult to treat. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet suffers from fungal infections, which are capable of not only hitting the skin and nails, but also lead to more serious disorders of health. In severe cases, of the means of subsistence of the pathogenic fungi affecting the internal organs, a reduction in general and local immunity and often develop complications related to the accession of a secondary bacterial infection.
Completely get rid of the mold difficult, the process of long-term treatment, requiring a rigorous adherence to medical recommendations. In addition, though, is not to take the course of the therapy until the end, a high risk of recurrence and progression of the disease. On the pharmaceutical market has introduced today a wide range of anti-fungal ways to deal with the infection. This is not only ointments, gels, sprays, lacquers, but the system of medicine designed for the reception inside. Tell you more on how to cure nail fungus of the feet and what is the remedy for the advice of doctors, mycologists and dermatologists will be the most effective means of treating the problem. But first, let us dwell on the first symptoms of infection and routes of infection.
Fungal infection of the nails of the feet — the reasons for the contamination
The doctors highlight several of the main causes of infection by a fungus:
- The direct contact with the carrier of the fungal infection
- Non-observance of rules of hygiene
- Decrease of immunity
- The personal injury judgment because of wearing uncomfortable shoes
- Chronic diseases
Infestation occurs as a result of the violation of elementary hygiene, or in contact with the carrier. For example, you can get in the circle of the family, if one of its representatives suffers from onychomycosis. It is enough to put the wrong slippers, enjoy a tea towel or other objects.
The fungal infection can easily be caught in public spaces to high temperature and humidity (in the swimming pool, the hammam, the sauna, the general soul, to the gym). It is there that provides a microclimate conducive to the development of pathogenic fungi, and to create conditions for the contact of bare feet with a surface. The mushrooms feel perfectly well and rearing it is in a place warm and moist environment. They can survive on all surfaces (benches, carpets on the ground). If a person in a public place, walking barefoot, mildew spores fall on the foot, toes and nails.
The gateway for infection are small cracks, abrasions, corns, wounds on the soles of the feet, arising from the wear tight and uncomfortable shoes. But even in this case, the infection may not occur, if a person has a good immune system, able to cope with the infection. If the same weakened immune system, the infestation is not prevented. The appearance of the fungus is often conducive to excessive sweating of the feet or chronic diseases (diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins).
The fungus first hits the skin of the feet and the area between the fingers, and then extends on to the nail plate, where, in the absence of an early treatment continues to grow and multiply. The infection develops slowly, and thus detect fungal infection of toenails is a difficult. In order to deal effectively with the onychomycosis, the treatment should start as early as possible, that is why the first signs of the infection, you need to know all of the world.
Symptoms and photos
The first signs of a fungal infection of the feet is a burning sensation and itching. The skin on the leg, between the fingers, and begins to take off, on it there are bubbles which burst, forming cracks and sores. If time does not begin treatment, the fungus spreads further and penetrates under the nails, allowing you to select the place of location of the space under the nail, where there are nutrients necessary for the continuation of its reproduction and growth.
Being fixed under the plate of the nail, the fungus starts to produce special enzymes that destroy the tissue and the stratum corneum, and which contribute to the proliferation of filaments of mycelium. In the early stages of infection, the external manifestations are practically imperceptible, so that few that attracts attention, but the pursuit of progress begin to appear characteristic symptoms:
- Change the appearance of the nail plate. It becomes dull, on it there are yellow or white spots, characteristics longitudinal or transverse bands. With time, the nail is more changes colour and can become completely yellow, gray or even black.
- Around the nail the skin on the fingers can glow and ignite. This process is accompanied by itching and pain in the inflamed phase of the skin.
- The nails will start to become thicker, crumble, distort it, and in the absence of treatment can flake off with the nail bed.
The nature of the lesions depends on a lot of varieties of mushrooms. Thus, in the case of infection of dermatophytes, a characteristic symptom is the appearance of yellow spots and longitudinal stripes in the centre and on the edges of the nail plate. If under the nail hit yeast fungi, their destructive activity starts on the sides of the nail, which gradually turns yellow and begins to lag behind the nail. If the nail becomes, of such changes, probably, are caused by fungi mold.
One of the serious complications of athlete's foot is an ingrown toenail. The nail plate, struck by a fungus, over time, thickens, develops badly, twists, and smashes into the skin. As a result, ingrown nails say with a sharp pain, walk, hurt the skin and become the cause of adherence to a bacterial infection. By doing this, the finger on the leg turns red and swells of the nail plate stands out from the pus. The sick man of the nail is often difficult to walk because of the pain. Similar to a complication particularly dangerous for diabetics, as it may cause gangrenous of the defeat of the branch.
If you do not start the treatment when the first unfavourable symptoms, the disease progresses, and in the pursuit of the fungus extends over all the nails. In complex cases of the fungal infection begins to suffer from the entire body: register of allergic reactions, disorders of the digestive system and other symptoms of poisoning caused by the penetration of fungal toxins in the blood and the lymphatic system. At the onset of the first symptoms alarming, it is necessary to consult a specialist, who will choose optimal treatment and to recommend an effective remedy against the nail fungus of the feet.
The treatment of nail fungus
When the first signs of a fungal infection of the feet need to take measures to eliminate them, it is not necessary to hope that the symptoms will disappear of themselves. This will not happen. A fungal infection, over time, will progress and can cause serious health problems. Therefore, the sooner treated, the better the chance of getting rid of a onychomycosis for always. To this day, in the arsenal of dermatologists and mycologists have a drug that is very effective against the nail fungus of the feet global and local action.
At the initial stage of the disease, when the size of the lesion is minimal, you can restrict the local application of anti-fungal broad-spectrum drugs (ointments, creams, solutions, lacquers, sprays). If the process has gone too far and the nail completely surprised by a fungus, in the overall composition of the treatment include anti-fungal systemic action in the tablets. Most of these drugs have contraindications and side effects, then appoint a specialist, and the treatment is carried out under its control. Let us dwell on the drugs designed for the treatment of yeast infection.
Solutions of varnish. At the initial stage, you can use the anti-fungal, mortars and nail varnish. The range of these funds is characterized by a great diversity.
Ointments, gels, creams.
For the external treatment of nails, contaminated by a fungus, apply a group of medicines on the basis of the terbinafine, naftifin, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole.Capsules, tablets.
When the complicated shapes of fungal infections treatment external supplement taking antifungal medicines in the form of tablets. Without the anti-fungal does not happen in these cases, when the disease progresses, and treatment by the local media turns out to be ineffective. Drugs for the treatment of athlete's foot a lot, to choose their needs to an experienced physician, because many of them have counter-indications and restrictions to the employment. These tools should not take children, pregnant women, patients with pathologies of the liver and kidneys. The effectiveness of these tools is very high, in a complex with the topical agents may not achieve the pollutant of results and deal with onychomycosis, avoiding the repetition of the recurrence of the disease.The removal tool from the nail.
If the nail is amazed completely before you begin treatment, it is best to delete it. An alternative to a surgical method use of special cosmetics, to remove without pain infected nail by a fungus.The treatment of nail fungus of the feet of the folk remedies
There are a multitude of popular recipes, to help stop the spread of the mildew and deal with it on the initial stages. We represent your attention a few recipes used in the treatment of nail fungus of the feet at home.
- The kombucha. An effective means of thrush is a compress to the aid of the plate of kombucha. Its wrapped in a sterile bandage, applied on the nail and secure the plaster. The product, you can leave a night, it does gliss, put on the foot of the sock. In the course of the procedure may feel a burning sensation, but the result is worth the fail. In the morning, the compress remove softened the stratum corneum, remove the tool, the surface of the nail treat with an antiseptic solution.
- Creolin. It is cheap veterinary a powerful tool for pest control and the disinfection action. To apply, it is necessary very carefully, avoiding contact with healthy skin so that you can get burns. To avoid this, a strip of skin from around the nail need to seal the plaster. Hit the nail deal with Creolin once a day for 2 months until the healing is complete.
- A spa for the feet. To eliminate the mold, you can do foot baths with the addition of cider vinegar or lemon juice. The duration of the procedure is not more than 15 minutes. A good effect gives the treatment of nails with a solution of propolis, baking soda or epsom salt. The nails can be lubricated with the oil of tea tree, lavender, oregano, they have an antiseptic and antifungal action. Many traditional recipes are based on the use of garlic, vinegar, alcohol, onion. Before using these recipes on himself, don't forget to consult with your doctor.
The prevention of the disease
To avoid infection by the fungus, adhere to the simple recommendations:
- Do not walk barefoot in the swimming pool,the hammam, the gym and other public places. In a humid environment, you should wear slippers with rubber or shale. As prevention measures to apply it on the nail Polish antifungal agent, it protects against infections.
- Never operate the foreign shoes, slippers, socks, towels and other objects of common use. All products for personal hygiene and pedicure tools must be strictly individual.
- Wear comfortable shoes and natural breathable materials. The shoes should not be close, rub and injure the foot.
- The feet is necessary to wash two times a day, morning and evening, and every day change socks and low. After the treatment of the water, the feet dry, especially carefully dry the skin between the toes.
- The fungus is particularly active during the lower immunity. Therefore, monitor their health, the healing co-morbidities, take autoimmune drugs. Maintain the defenses of the body correct and balanced, eat more vegetables and fruits, rich in vitamins and trace elements.
- During the treatment, treat the shoes with antiseptic solutions, this will help prevent the relapse of the disease. You can disinfect shoes with a formalin solution, or vinegar thoroughly treating the inside. After the treatment, a cotton swab moistened with an antiseptic solution, it is necessary to put in a sock and shoe and place it in a plastic bag sealed for the night.
These simple preventive measures will help to protect against mildew and maintain the health of the feet. Remember that the nail fungus of the feet is treated long and difficult, and it is therefore important to avoid the appearance of fungal infection, of care to observe standards of hygiene and time to respond to all the adverse effects which may be the first signs of the infection.