Causes, symptoms and treatment of toenail fungus.

Recognize the toenail fungus, why it appears and how to treat it, helps specialized medical literature, sites on the Internet. However, it is recommended to give preference to consultations with a mycologist. Laboratory tests performed accurately establish the type of yeast infection, making it easy to select the correct treatment regimen.

What is onychomycosis?

A subgroup of diseases caused by the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the nail plate tissue is onychomycosis. The infection is usually due to untreated skin lesions on the fingers and toes. The disease can occur at any age, but men ages 20 to 55 have it most often.

According to the International Classification of Diseases, the code for onychomycosis is B35. 1. It is mainly dermatophytes that cause pathological changes in the nails, less frequently diagnostic studies are established by pathogens of the genus Candida or mold microorganisms.

Nail fungus is transmitted, which is why it occurs in 90% of cases; this is direct contact with a person who is already ill, for example, with members of the same family, or with close communication, using common household items. It promotes infection by weakening the body's immune barriers.causes of toenail fungushave their roots in diabetes, immunodeficiency, recent serious illnesses.

The clinical picture directly depends not only on the type of mycosis pathogen, but also on the area of its penetration - the distal form of onychomycosis or the lesion of the proximal nail. The variant with the full spread of the infection is extremely rare.

Causes and symptoms of toenail fungus

Research by experts allowed us to studytoenail fungus, where does it come fromand which people are at risk for infection. Pathogenic microorganisms live not only in the tissues of the feet and hands, but also in the rest of the human body, they are able to maintain their vital activity on surrounding objects. To do this, it is enough that they are in warm and humid conditions, and for nutrition there are enough epidermal scales, which constantly crumble in humans.

The maincauses of toenail fungus:

• age criterion - anyone can face a fungal infection, but men aged 18 to 50 are susceptible to it;
• work in hazardous industries: in dusty and gas-polluted rooms with high temperature / humidity;
• constant use of tight, poorly ventilated shoes;
• frequent minor injuries to tissues: abrasions, abrasions, calluses on the feet;
• anatomical and physiological features, for example, narrow interdigital spaces;
• a tendency to excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis;
• the course of various somatic pathologies that weaken the protective barriers of the skin: diabetes, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, obesity.

Suspecttoenail fungusAllow the characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease. Very often, people go to the doctor with complaints that the nail plate has turned cloudy, with a yellowish tinge, exudes an unpleasant smell from the feet, and there is increased brittleness of the nail edge.

Fungi risk groups

In fact, onychomycosis is a public infection. After all, everyone can get infected with a fungus, especially when visiting places where the concentration of pathogens is higher. Many people are at risk:

• employees of baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms;
• cleaners of public premises;
• family members of a sick person;
• people weakened by recent illnesses;
• pregnant women - pregnancy worsens the condition of the skin of the feet;
• people who neglect personal hygiene;
• forced to be in a hot, stuffy room for the entire work shift, especially with tight-fitting shoes made of artificial materials;
• women visiting pedicure salons with an unverified reputation;
• Beach lovers: the sand is often infected with fungal microorganisms, because people walk barefoot or in dirty shoes.

If you know who has more andWhy are toenails fungus?, it is easier to protect yourself from infection. Therefore, each person is advised to assess their risk of infection and take appropriate preventive measures.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is much easier to get rid of the pathological focus of the disease, it is much easier to choose treatment when people seek early medical help. Since the clinical manifestations of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the nail plate, the mycologist will definitely prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures:

• a complete examination of the affected nail with a magnifying glass;
• compilation of complaints and anamnesis - the reasons for their penetration into the tissues, which a person can indicate for himself;
• take scratches from the surface of the plate and examine the cells under a microscope;
• take a piece of nail for sowing in a special nutrient medium - the existing colonies of fungi begin to actively multiply, but the analysis takes a long time;
• histological examination: if the process is suspected to be malignant.

After comparing all the information from the diagnostic procedures, the mycologist gives his qualified opinion - confirms the preliminary diagnosisnail fungusand then select the optimal regimen for your therapy.

Nail fungus treatment

Important information aboutnail fungusfor a mycologist, as it allows him to identify and eliminate the mechanism of human infection, as well as to select the correct treatment regimen. After all, there are many pathogens of an infectious disease and some drugs will be effective, while others only stop the growth of infectious cells, but do not eliminate them completely.

Configuringcauses of nail fungus, experts already at the first consultation give recommendations for their elimination, for example, the purchase of new shoes, careful personal hygiene, the treatment of all family members. Only after that, having estimatedWhy is there toenail fungus?, you can start drug therapy. It is customary to distinguish two main areas: a local effect on the lesion with the help of fungicidal ointments, varnishes and, depending on individual needs, courses of systemic antifungal drugs.

Traditional treatment

In the classic version,why is there a toenail fungus- Infection through contaminated shoes or walking barefoot on the tiles of the pool, it is better to start the medication on the infection with external means. On the pharmacy shelf, antifungal drugs are presented in a wide range:

• subgroup of polyenes - they are distinguished by their democratic cost and high efficiency, a variety of dosage forms;
• subgroup of azoles - cope with most of the known fungal microorganisms with the timely initiation of therapy;
• subgroup of aliamides: it is inherent in rapidly suppressing fungal infections of the nails, hair or the epithelium of the feet and body.

After discoveringWhy does the fungus appear on the nails?, the mycologist will recommend the optimal drugs for external suppression of the activity of onychomycosis - a cream / ointment with fungicidal properties. While in the case of a severe course of the disease, tablets / capsules or injections of drug solutions will be prescribed to create a systemic effect on the infection.

It is unacceptable to independently change the dose of drugs, the frequency of their administration or the duration of treatment. Such actions will aggravate the clinical picture of onychomycosis and lead to the formation of complications.

ethnoscience

A long time agonail fungus treatmentit was the prerogative of traditional healers. There are many effective recipes with medicinal plants, bee products and improvised home remedies that eliminate discomfort and suppress the activity of fungal microorganisms.

The accumulated knowledge about the causes of the disease and the symptoms, made it possible to create effective recipes for treatment at home:

1. Prepare a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate before going to bed, in which to place your feet for 15-20 minutes. Then dry the skin well and apply a mixture of propolis crushed with alcohol on the area affected by the fungus. Fix a gauze bandage on top, leave it for a day. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
2. Insist in a dark closet on 1 liter of vinegar essence, the content of 1 packet of pharmacy celandine. Filter after 3-4 weeks. Add it to foot baths along with the salt. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.
3. Lotions with tar soap. After previously steaming the tissues of the feet, lather the interdigital spaces and nails well with tar soap, pour table salt on top. Let it act overnight.

To speed up the recovery of nail fungus, you can use simple recipes: clean the affected areas in the morning with tincture of iodine or the juice of a golden mustache, Indian onion, celandine. They have bactericidal properties that suppress the activity of fungal cells.

Prevention of fungal diseases.

Preventing the primary infection, as well as the recurrence of a yeast infection, is much easier than dealing with getting rid of the foot / hand infection. Primary / secondary prevention interventions are affordable and easy to implement. After allWhat does the toenail fungus say?- on the weakening of the human body's own defenses.

Therefore, in order to return a strong and powerful immunity, it is necessary to take a number of measures:

• review the diet: the menu should contain more fresh vegetables with fruits, vitamins, light proteins, but minimize pickles and preservatives, fast food and fatty / smoked dishes;
• reject alcohol / tobacco products;
• carefully observe personal hygiene: take a hygienic shower every day, change underwear, socks;
• buy shoes made of high-quality materials, the size of your feet, never wear someone else's shoes / boots;
• do a pedicure yourself with individual tools or entrust your nails to a professional master;
• Before visiting public places with humid air - swimming pool, sauna or bathroom, wear protective equipment against fungi.

Widespread prevention of fungal infection is compliance with sanitary and epidemiological rules: wet cleaning of premises with the use of disinfectant solutions, active ventilation and, if necessary, cracking.

Reviews about toenail fungus treatment

• "Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis is not only the effect on the infection with drugs, but also the correction of a person's lifestyle. It is possible to defeat the fungus by a combination of measures, for example, the simultaneous application of ointments, the hardening of the human body and compliance with personal hygiene. In addition, it is recommended to treat all family members at once so that the disease does not relapse. There are many antifungal agents in pharmacies, you can choose the optimal therapeutic regimen foreach case ".
• "I recently found out that if there is a fungus in the nails, my diagnosis is onychomycosis, the process of early inflammation has started in the blood and tests can show it. The mycologist doctor told me in detail all the information about the fungal infectionand the best way to treat it. Now that I have undergone a course of therapy, I feel much better. Now I will better observe the prevention of such pathologies and I will also tell my friends and acquaintances so that they do not get infected with this disease. infection ".
• "Pharmaceuticals, of course, can cope with nail fungus, but at the same time they are harmful to health with their chemical components. Therefore, I prefer to use the recipes of traditional medicine first. I removed the fungus frommy husband's feet in a simple way: every night they moistened their nails with a soda bath and then applied lotions with homemade vinegar. At first, the burning itch was removed, then the healthy nails grew back. Also, they took decoctions with calendula and chamomile, echinacea to strengthen the immune system. Now my husband has completely got rid of the toenail fungus. "