Nail mycosis is a dermatological disease that affects more than 20% of humanity and causes not only aesthetic damage, but can also cause health and human immunity problems.
It is characterized by a change in the color of the nail plate, its deformation and crumbling, in medicine this pathology is called onychomycosis. An infection occurs when a fungus from the dermatophyte class gets under a healthy nail. It multiplies quickly, damaging the soft tissues and forming white and yellow spots on the nails, which causes even more deformation and death of the nail. When a nail is affected, with premature treatment, the fungus is transferred to healthy surfaces. All this brings considerable discomfort into a person's life. In this article, we will understand the causes, symptoms, how to cure this fungus, and most importantly, how to avoid this unpleasant disease.
Causes of nail fungus
The main reason for the appearance of the fungus is a weak human immune system. When the protective functions of the body do not work well, the risk of infection from infections, viruses and bacteria increases significantly. A fungus on the toes appears more often than on the hands, due to the high humidity and lack of necessary air circulation.
Also at high risk:
- People with poor hygiene. Do not allow intense sweating of the feet, wet and dirty socks, walk barefoot without slippers;
- People with pathologies of internal organs and blood vessels, HIV carriers. Diabetes mellitus and blood clots in the veins cause poor blood circulation in the legs;
- People who ignore tight, uncomfortable shoes. Even small corns, cracks and calluses on the feet can cause a fungus infection;
- People in the period of hormonal changes in the body, the elderly;
- People trying on shoes in stores without disposable socks. After all, there is a danger that a person infected with a fungus will try on these shoes before you do.
Fungal infections love moist, warm environments, as well as open wounds and abrasions, where they can multiply instantly.
Public places like hotels, gyms, swimming pools, changing rooms, showers and saunas are favorite places for yeast infections. If a person likes to walk around there barefoot, the risk of infection is one hundred percent. It should be remembered that fungal infections are contagious and are easily transmitted by household means or by contact with a person.
Stages and symptoms of the fungus
Unfortunately, the fungus is an infection that develops quickly. Like the roots of a tree, it grows under a person's skin, destroying tissue and surfaces. Normally, the fungus starts its activity with the little finger or thumb, eventually affecting all the nails.
In general, there are early, moderate and advanced stages, but let's understand a little more about the course of the disease using medical terms:
- Infection stage - the fungus clings to the flakes of dead skin, eventually moving up to the nail plate. Not accompanied by any symptoms;
- Normotrophic stage - the natural nail color fades and turns yellow around the edges, thickening towards the corners. Small streaks or white dots may appear. There is a specific smell and a feeling of discomfort;
- Hypertrophic stage - the nail becomes completely yellow, deformed, the surface is messy and ribbed. In most cases, the entire nail plate thickens and the edge itself becomes loose and exfoliates;
- Atrophic stage - dull yellow or gray nails. Pieces of the nail fall off, the nail bed has an unhealthy appearance, a loose surface;
- Stage - onycholysis - the entire nail plate becomes very thin and later disappears. The fungus can move to neighboring still healthy nails.
The skin around the nail is often red and scaly. The patient notes itching between the fingers, cracks are observed, accompanied by pain. Often, at the last stage, the fungus, entering the nail bed, dies under the influence of immunity. But if the protective functions of the body are weakened or treatment is not carried out, blood poisoning can occur.
types of fungi
The most popular among the causative agents of onychomycosis are fungi - dermatophytes. They affect more than 85% of infections. And consequently, fungi of the Candida (yeast) class and mold fungi are much less common among pathogens. Also, sometimes there are cases of nail infection with several types at the same time.
Let's take a look at each type.
Dermatophyte Fungi
There are many types of this fungus. They are popular because they can adapt to any microclimate. Living on the ground cover of the earth, it can easily infect animals and humans through direct contact at the surface, as well as through the "carrier and infected" relationship. However, this type of infection occurs infrequently, and the disease is usually preceded by several factors.
The most famous types of dermatophytes:
- Trichophyton rubrum - first infects the tip of the nail, then gently reaches the base. The nail breaks, turns yellow, thick and lethargic. The surrounding skin is exceptionally dry, red, and scaly;
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the main lover of a humid and warm microclimate. They usually get infected in public places like showers, swimming pools and saunas. It often causes damage to the big toes and the area around them. The skin becomes inflamed, itchy and inflamed bumps form.
It is difficult to cure a fungus that has managed to reach the base of the nail plate. In that case, there will likely be a complete loss of it.
Candida fungus
Yeast or Candida is present in normal amounts in everyone's body, but under various triggers it can multiply quickly and cause illness.
Mostly familiar to women. Because most of them had to deal with a disease such as thrush during their lives, caused by this specific type of fungus of the Candida class.
In cases where Candida appeared on the nails, it can be safely assumed that the infection occurred in a domestic way, through a certain thing that the infected person had previously used (towel, cloth, shoes). And it is formed, unlike dermatophytes, initially at the base and is most often found on the fingernails.
mold mushrooms
The most dangerous type of fungus. It is able to harm not only the skin, but also quickly affect the entire body.
Infection occurs due to destruction of the nail, exposure of the nail bed. The good news is that infection with this type of fungus occurs in extremely rare cases. But if this still happened, it is very difficult to treat with conventional medicines and requires special nail mold remedies.
Diagnosis
Since the external symptoms of nail fungus can be similar to other diseases (such as lichen, psoriasis, keratoderma), to confirm the diagnosis of fungal infection and determine the pathogen, the doctor prescribes such studies:
- Microscopy of the nail plate - the laboratory assistant makes a scraper of the nail and treats it with a special substance to destroy the keratin. This procedure is necessary for easier and more accurate observation under the microscope. There is also a downside to this analysis. With its help, it is impossible to determine the type of pathogenic fungus. Based on the results obtained, broad-acting antimycotics are prescribed;
- Type of cultural study - in the laboratory, the material obtained from scraping the nail is immersed for cultivation in Sabouraud nutrient medium, where the fungus develops rapidly. The fungus is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of its colonies. Furthermore, using this method, the sensitivity of antibodies to drug treatment is determined. The downside is that the result of the analysis must be waited for 3-5 days;
- The purpose of DNA diagnosis - nail scrapings are studied for the presence of DNA cells from fungal infections of the dermatophyte or yeast class. The most dangerous type of mold fungus cannot be determined by this method. The diagnostic result is ready after 1-2 days, and the disadvantage is the high price of the method due to the use of special devices.
treatment methods
If you're wondering which doctor to contact for this ailment, there's only one answer - you need a dermatologist.
In the initial phase, if the infection can be identified immediately, external treatment will suffice. But if the infection was not detected immediately and the visit to the doctor was delayed for a long time, then a complex therapy of a more serious nature will be required. In especially severe cases of the disease, the nail plate is removed. Sometimes treatment is delayed for six months, to avoid this we recommend that you pay attention to disturbing symptoms in a timely manner and immediately seek help from specialists.
What type of treatment you need will be determined through diagnosis, as it is important to determine which fungus the infection has occurred in. Medications in the treatment of toenail fungus are divided into 2 groups:
- Locally acting preparations - this group includes therapeutic ointments, creams, varnishes and gels. They are usually used in the initial phase of treatment, when the disease has been detected in time;
- Antimycotics are antifungal drugs with a systemic effect, which are used orally. Available in the form of pills and capsules that can eliminate fungus activity. They have the ability to block the spread of ringworm, have a long-term effect, which prevents the disease from occurring again.
These groups of drugs can be prescribed individually or they can be a means of complex therapy, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Doctors also give additional recommendations:
- Use only personal hygiene products and household items (towel, towel, dishes, etc. );
- Follow a personal diet prescribed by a doctor;
- Treat and ventilate shoes so that during treatment the fungus does not create a favorable environment for reproduction;
- Be sure to take vitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system. during and after treatment.
antifungal ointments
In the treatment of nail fungus, it is important to use topical preparations, only in cases where the lesion is not serious and occupies less than half of the nail plate. Or in cases of individual intolerance to the components of systemic drugs. After all, drugs such as antifungal ointments do not penetrate tissues sufficiently and therefore do not have the ability to effectively and completely cure a person. But as an additional therapy to relieve external symptoms and prevention, they are great.
It should be remembered that to begin with, the affected part of the nail is cut, and then not only the nail, but also the soft tissues, the surrounding areas need to be treated with ointment.
Local therapy will be effective with the participation of such remedies for nail fungus:
- Hypoallergenic drug with a minimum of side effects, well tolerated by the body. The composition contains a non-toxic component such as a polyene antibiotic (a group of tetraene polyenes). The ointment is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas, usually over a course of 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the stage of the disease;
- A preparation capable of penetrating deeply into the skin has a storage effect. Also use in a thin layer, on dry affected areas. The course is at least two months.
special varnishes
Fungal nail polishes are the most convenient means to use, but they are also only suitable in the early stages of fungal infection. You only need to use them two to three times a week, applying to the affected nails. Here are some examples of proven and effective nail polishes:
- The active component of the varnish is a morpholine derivative, which can quickly destroy up to 10 types of infectious agents, destroying them at the cellular level. The drug is applied, pre-spraying the nails, in a course until complete remission;
- The active substance in the varnish is capable of killing 58 types of fungal pathogens. The course of treatment is 3 months, with a gradual decrease in the frequency of use per week (in the first month the varnish is applied every other day, then twice a week, and in the last stage only once a week).
ethnoscience
Folk remedies deal well with the symptoms of fungal infections, but they only work in combination with medication.
There are many natural components, natural remedies and treatment methods that do not require huge expenses. It can be a variety of herbs, potassium permanganate, iodine and vinegar for baths, solutions, tea tree and eucalyptus oils. But since nail fungus is a complex, long-term disease, it also requires your dermatologist's approval. After all, there is a great risk of allowing complications and later losing the nail completely and forever.
Often, to relieve symptoms, the following alternative methods are recommended:
- Rub garlic on the affected areas of the nails;
- Soak your feet in the water with soap powder;
- Lotions with bicarbonate of soda, diluted in water (to obtain a thick consistency and apply to the nail for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water);
- Invest in herbal socks like: nettle, mint, chamomile, sage, propolis (change the contents of the socks daily).
Let's get to know the rest of the popular methods in more detail below.
vinegar baths
Vinegar baths are one of the best folk remedies for toenail fungus.
Apple cider vinegar and wine vinegar are suitable for recipes. At the same time, it is important to observe the correct proportions and use only a natural product, without chemical additives.
- Recipe #1: Soak your feet once or twice with water mixed with apple cider vinegar in a one-to-one ratio. The duration of the procedure is approximately 20 minutes, and it is better to extend the course of treatment by 2 weeks with daily baths;
- Recipe number 2: Dilute 5 tablespoons of 9% wine vinegar in 2 liters of hot water. Steam your feet for at least 30 minutes, then clean the softened stratum corneum from the nail plate with a stick. After that, it is recommended to immediately apply an antifungal agent. Stretch the course of the procedure for a month, using daily baths, and preferably 2 times a day.
tea tree oil
An effective antifungal agent that is obtained by pressing the oil from the leaves of the tea plant. It is used all over the world for the treatment of other pathologies, in the form of acne, scrapes and abrasions. Recommended for use in the following ways:
- Spray the legs and lubricate the affected area of skin and nails with tea tree oil in the amount of five to ten drops, using a cotton swab. No need to rinse. The course of the procedure: 3 times a day for at least two weeks;
- Add 5-10 drops of oil to a liter of hot water and keep your feet in this bath for about half an hour. The course can last 2 months.
Tea tree oil is not recommended for pregnant women.
treatment with iodine
The most famous and cheapest method recommended by dermatologists around the world. The secret of this tool is that iodine has the ability to fold proteins. And as we know, pathogens have a protein structure, because they feed on keratin - a type of fibrillar protein.
How to treat feet with iodine?
- Method number 1:
Apply a drop of 5% iodine solution to the affected nail 2 times a day and once a day to healthy adjacent nails. After about a week, a painful sensation in the form of a burning sensation will appear, this will mean that the destruction of fungal pathogens has begun. The course of treatment may exceed one month, until complete recovery;
- Method number 2:
Steam your feet in a bath with hot water, soda and salt for 30 minutes (1 liter of water, 1 tablespoon of soda, 2 tablespoons of salt). Remove keratinized areas with scissors and dry your feet. Then apply 3 layers of iodine solution to each affected area of the nail (apply 1 layer, wait for it to dry completely and apply the next). The course of procedure: 1 time a day for a month.
Children can be exposed to nail fungus
As you might have guessed, a disease like nail fungus can develop not only in adults, but also in children.
Children can catch the fungus anywhere. Get infected through contact with an already infected person, through a domestic case of non-compliance with hygiene, which we discussed above, or when injured with dirt getting into the wound, which can later develop as an infection.
In children, nail fungus can easily affect one or more fingers and toes. The first symptoms appear as small white or yellow spots on the nail. The infection can occur slowly, eventually spreading across the entire nail and completely changing its color. In addition, there is a deformation of the nail plate and crumbling of the nail, accompanied by unbearable pain.
Symptoms of nail fungus in children
Let's take a look at the symptoms of nail fungus infection in children:
- There is thickening of the nail plate;
- Deformation of the nail, accompanied by its fragility;
- In appearance, the nails are dull, weak, without natural shine;
- If the fungus actively develops its vital activity under the nail, the nail plate may turn brown, green or dirty yellow;
- With complications from the disease, an unpleasant odor emanates from the nail.
Causes of nail fungus in children
The cause of infection, as in adults, lies mainly in the defeat of parasites - dermatophyte fungi. This type of fungus loves warm, humid environments and is found in large numbers in public places like showers, bathtubs and swimming pools, where it is easy to catch. The nail bed is a comfortable habitat for this parasite, where they can also pass through invisible cuts.
Children are at risk of infection more often because their immune systems are not strong enough and because they ignore hygiene rules.
Treatment of nail fungus in children
Treatment methods for nail fungus in children are usually not very different from treating the same fungus in adults. It is recommended to pay attention to symptoms in a timely manner and consult a doctor to obtain a prescription for medication. It is better to use topical creams, ointments and varnishes, but their effectiveness in developing the infection will be very small. Therefore, medications for oral use are often associated with treatment. These systemic remedies need to be taken for a long time, until the healthy nail completely replaces the infected one. However, these drugs have a number of secondary infections, which can manifest in the form of rashes, damage to internal organs. It is forbidden to use them for children with liver pathologies, heart problems. But all this is individual, that's why it's so important not to self-medicate and look for a qualified dermatologist.
In general, it is not as difficult to treat fungal nail disease in children as it is to prevent it. To do this, it is worth talking to children more often about hygiene rules.
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