The nail fungus on the legs is a disease that is very easy to infect, and is much more difficult to cure.The fungus of the nails does not disappear in itself and is very difficult to treat.
How can you get an infection with nail fungi?
Six to eight percent of the adult population suffer from fungus on the nails.
Nail fungi infection is more common in men than in women, as well as in older people than in young people.Additional signs or factors that increase the risk of nail fungi infection include the following:
- Reduction of blood flow to the legs;
- If the nails grow slowly;
- family history of fungal infection (genetic);
- greater sweat of the legs;
- Work environment: wet or humid legs;
- Use socks and shoes that avoid ventilation;
- walk barefoot in wet public places (swimming pools, sports rooms and showers);
- lesions or infections of the skin or nails;
- diabetes, AIDS, circulatory problems, weakened immune system;
- Hard shoes with pressure on the fingers.
Systemic diseases, for example: to the fungus of the legs, predisposes to the fungus
- Diabetes mellitus,
- obesity,
- anemia,
- Hormonal disorders,
- Gastrointestinal disorders,
- immune and cardiovascular systems,
- as well as long -term treatment with antibiotics,
- Reception of steroid therapy and chemotherapy.
Heat and moisture contribute to fungi growth: if your feet are not cleaned well after washing, walk with resistant air shoes and wear synthetic socks.The fungus develops when the nail plate is damaged to a cut too short on the legs, it can easily get under the nail.Wearing narrow shoes can weaken the nail dish, such as acrylic nails and varnishes.
Onicycosis more frequently affects legs on the legs.It can be limited by a plaque or move to the neighbors.In general, fungal infections of nails on the legs affect the thumb and little finger.Probably because the internal surface of the shoes touches them above all.
Types of nail fungus
Fungal nail infections are caused by microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive.In most cases, it is a group of fungi called dermatophyte (for example, Candida).However, some yeasts and mold also cause these infections.
Although Trichophyton Dermatophytes is the most common cause of infection with nail fungus, Trichophyton Interdigitale, epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton Vioceum, Microsporum gypseum, Tonsurans trichophyton and Trichophyton Soudanense can also lead to an infection.Common fungal forms - Neoscytalidium, Scopulariosis and Aspergillus.
The pathogens of the fungus of the nail, as a rule, fall under the skin through small cuts or small cracks between the nail and the bed of the nail.They grow when the environment provides them with a warm and humid climate.
How do you see the nail fungus?
In the initial stage The nail infected with a fungus gradually changes its appearance.The strips appear: first whitish, then yellowish and, finally, brown.Pelado appears in the nail, relaxes and becomes thicker, becomes difficult to cut it.The nail smells bad, because fungal deposits accumulate under the nails.
The doctor, when examining, can immediately determine onylomycosis.Sometimes, however, the image of the disease is not clear, and laboratory tests must be carried out.Samples taken from nails and fragments of nail plates under a microscope can confirm that the disease is actually caused by fungi.Sometimes in the laboratory a sample fungus is cultivated to determine the species and the chosen medicine.
Before the selection, you cannot paint your nails, lubricate your legs with creams or powders.
In the second stage - Nails infected with fungi are usually thickened, they become fragile, break, wear out, curvan, opaque and dark, yellowish or brown.
The patient can also suffer onicolysis, when the individual areas of the nail are absent, exposing the bed of the nail.Sometimes, fungal nail infections can cause fingers and cause an unpleasant smell.
Another symptom associated with fungal infections is skin damage near the nail.There may be an eruption or itching that seems an allergic reaction.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
To diagnose nail fungus, as a rule, the doctor should study the cut and microorganisms under the nail.
Doctors should be careful when diagnosing fungal nail infections due to other conditions that can cause such symptoms.These include psoriasis, plain red lichen, contact dermatitis, lesions, nail bed tumors, eczema.Culture (sowing) of the fungus can take several weeks.
How to determine nail fungus at home
It is very simple to do it:
We will need potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), water and a basin.
Take water in the basin to complete the feet of the legs completely.Throw some of water potassium permanganate so that the water becomes bright: pink (fuchsia color).Put the legs or arms in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Then we take out and examine the nails carefully.If they have become completely brown, then everything is fine: the nails are healthy.But if there are areas that have not changed the color, they are infected with fungi on the nails.
Nail fungus treatment
The treatment of fungal nail infections can be a long and expensive process.
Oral medications for the treatment of infection, as a rule, must be taken up to four months until the replacement of a fully infected nail on the finger.A dermatologist prescribes these medications according to certain schemes.Since drugs act on the liver and blood composition, it is necessary to take tests before and during treatment.
In the initial stage of the fungus, local drugs: ointments and varnishes help well.
Local antimicotics - The most effective means of local therapy, since they are more active in relation to the pathogens of onychomycosis.Among the many local medicines against nail fungus, only 2 can be called medications for the treatment of onychomycosis itself, since they are available in the most appropriate way for this, in the form of nail polish.The remaining antifungal medications are used more frequently in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
Failure varnish
Special nail polishes designed to treat nail fungus allow you to better antimicotics through the nail plate deeply in the nail bed.In addition, the varnish film, frozen on the surface of the nail, avoids the evaporation of the clove drug and creates a barrier to infection.
The main advantage of modern varnishes used in the treatment of onychomycosis is that they can be applied to the nail plate without eliminating it.The remaining medications cannot penetrate the nail plate, which requires its preliminary elimination or at least a significant thinning.
Current antimicotics, which are part of the varnishes, are delayed in the nail for a long time after application, effective concentrations are preserved for at least 7 days.This allows varnishes 1 or 2 times a week.
The Batrafen varnish is applied every two days during the first month of treatment, 2 times a week during the second month and then 1 time per week.
Before starting the treatment, any varnish must be removed, since many of the affected nail plate.The remaining nail plate in which the varnish will be applied must be attacked with the attached file to create an unequal surface.The varnish is applied with the attached brush or spatula.Before each varnish application, the anterior layer is removed using a solvent or the attached alcohol buffer and a nail plate is treated with a file.A layer of varnish can be removed by placing a nail in warm water and scraping scissors.
The duration of treatment depends on the speed of growing a healthy nail plate.For the treatment of onychomycosis, there are enough 6 months in the hands, in the legs-9-12 months.
The real fungus treatment methods include nail polish, such as cyclopyrox, in addition to other creams.Local ointments and creams can clean nail mushroom infection, but often does not heal the infection completely.
In some extreme cases, the doctor may recommend eliminating the nail.
Alternative medications used to treat fungal nail infections include Australian tea tree extract and grapefruit seeds.However, there is no scientific evidence in support of the use of these products.
Effective antimicotic drugs
There are 3 effective antifungal drugs for oral administration (orally).The three medications have serious side effects and can interact with many other medications.Patients who take antifungal drugs should take tests periodically to control the function of the liver and blood cells.Octus antifungal agents continue to work even after drug treatment.
None of oral antifungal agents can be taken during pregnancy.
Prevention
- Put a new pair of socks every day.The socks must be made of natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton.These fibers allow moisture to move away from the foot and contribute to the distribution of air around the thumb of the leg and foot.If your legs or socks get wet by sweat, you must eliminate them as soon as possible, dry your legs with a clean towel and put on a new pair of socks.
- Using the same pair of shoes, day after day, can have a negative effect on the legs and expose it to bacteria and fungi.When storing shoes, you should make sure it storage in a well ventilated room for a complete drying.It is advisable to have several sneakers and change them before going to the gym, so that these steam have the optimal drying time.And finally, wear shoes in front of the entrance to the shower, sauna or gym.This is a fertile soil for fungi that cause onychomycosis and other bacterial infections.
- There are ways to avoid infection and help a manicure specialist and pedicures to avoid nail fungus before it begins.The first prayer, brings your varnish with you.This is an easy way to prevent infection when general varnish is used, when the fungus falls directly into the nail bed.The second proposal is the requirement to sterilize all equipment for manicure and pedicure.Each device must be disinfected and stored correctly.And finally, the bathtubs for pedicure.This is a blessing for bacteria, which are only waiting to infect the nails.If you are not sure that the bathroom has been cleaned with the corresponding disinfectant after each client, try to avoid this at all costs.
- Fungi infections are a common sign of a suppressed immune system.The enrichment of your diet with nutrients and vitamins, of course, can help prevent bacteria.Eat more garlic for food.Tea tree oil is also a natural antimicotic agent.Peel the nail area on tea tree oil legs.The black walnut extract can also work well in the prevention of onychomycosis.
- General use can lead to infections and cause nail fungus on the finger.The fungus can be transmitted from person to person.Maximum prevention is not to divide towels, shoes, scissors with another person.And, as we always recommend, to treat the fungus of the nail to the dermatologist to the first signs of the infection.