Onychomycosis, or fungal infection in the nail is extremely unpleasant disease, it is hardly curable. The disease develops if on fungi under the nail plate or skin around the nail. Pathogenic microflora nourished by keratin, with the result that the amount decreases rapidly, and the nail is destroyed.
Causes of the disease and the course of infection
Fungus, beautiful on the surface of the nail plate, is propagated in a moist environment with increased air temperature. Infected with the fungus, it is possible, when visiting places of public use in such a climate. Often the fungus "lives" in public showers, gyms and swimming pools. Often, the infection occurs when you visit the beach. Another way infection is close contact with maternal infection. Infected with the disease, also can with the use of the personal belongings of the patient man.
However, to get the nail fungus, a single blow of the pathogen in the skin is insufficient. A strong immune system effectively suppresses pathogenic microflora and does not give to develop defeat of the slab. Factors, promotes the growth of fungus on the nails, it is:
- reduced immunity, both general and local;
- violation of blood circulation in the lower extremities?
- excessive sweating a stop sign?
- wearing the properly selected shoes, the circulation of the blood?
- injury and damage to the skin stop.
The rapid development of pathogenic microflora is observed often in violation of the circulation of the blood, using a series of diseases of the veins and disorders of metabolism. Cause the disease can also be improper footwear, when wear which increases the sweating and impaired blood circulation. A favourable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora is a liquid skin, which has not produced a sufficient quantity of oxygen. This is what happens when the person is wearing socks of synthetic fabrics and narrow shoes that are manufactured from man-made "not breathing" materials.
Another reason that can cause the development of infection is the neglect of the rules of hygiene and non-compliance with the security measures. The patient may by negligence "get" fungus – dark shoes of someone else, the visit to a public shower or pool without slippers, or using a foreign towel for the feet.
People often tolerate a serious mistake with the purchase of new shoes – trying for the bare feet, without the use of socks. Such action may cause fungus nail, because we don't know who measured the same pair of shoes in the past and it wasn't the leg of the person to be infected by pathogenic microflora.
How to recognize the disease?
When the nail fungus on the feet, the symptoms are so characteristic, that is confused with this disease from other diseases is very difficult. To identify pathology, you will need to know the main points, including:
- training spots and stripes under the nail plate?
- whitish cloudy color of nail Polish?
- the inflammation and dry skin on your finger around the affected nail?
- the appearance of the plate mold?
- brittle and change in the structure of the nail.
The initial symptom of the disease is the education of stripes or flecks, and painted in a greenish or yellowish color. The stripes deep in the thickness of the nail and created the impression that they are on the skin under the nail.
As a rule, in the first turn is affected by the nail of the big toe, at least – in her little finger. In the initial stage of the disease the fungus only indicates the change of the color of the nail and the characteristic spots and stripes. After a little infection that affects the rest of the fingers, appear redness, peeling and itching of the skin around the nails.
The treatment of the disease at this stage allows you to effectively and quickly get rid of the mildew, however, patients rarely turn for help to the doctor, noticing similar symptoms.
With the increase in the population of pathogenic microflora fungus begins to destroy the surface of the nail. It is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft and with the hill, cracks and cavities, the structure becomes a heterogeneous. This may be accompanied by pus under the nail and intense unpleasant smell of the feet. Over time a nail is destroyed, peeling becomes stronger and affects areas of the skin between your fingers.
It looks like defeat of the nail depends on the type of fungus. Grounds of the disease is most often yeast or fungi. When infected with yeast mushrooms nail plate acquires a gray-bluish color. Nail quickly destroyed and the result is a fully departs from the nail bed.
Molds fungi infect the nail plate in case of violation of nutrition of tissues, for example, as a result of the strong contraction of the nail very narrow shoes. For this type of onychomycosis is typical education of a whitish plaque on the nails.
Knowing how it looks like the disease, it is important for the timely visit to the doctor. Different species of fungi have different symptoms and treatment, it is difficult to select on your own, without the advice of a specialist.
The beginning of treatment
Treatment hit the nail plates requires an integrated approach and lasts for a long time. It is important to remember that the earlier it is detected symptoms of a fungus and begin treatment, the sooner you can get rid of the disease.
To combat the disease is used:
- antifungal ointment and solutions?
- system anti-fungal medicines in tablets?
- the tools of traditional medicine.
Heals the pathology in the primary stage with the use of external anti-fungal. Such drugs include ointments, solutions, as well as lacquers with antifungal component in the composition.
For the treatment most often prescribed ointments a wide range of ingredients which act actively in a variety of fungi, including yeast-like. Ointment and cream, it is appropriate to use in the initial stage of the development of the disease. In violation of the structure of the nail is ineffective, given that the ingredients of the drug can not penetrate in small cracks nail.
The most effective means is anti-fungal drugs in solutions. The drugs usually come in bubbles with the pipette. Tool is applied to the nail plate. Thanks to the liquid consistency, substance that fills the slightest irregularities and fall under the nail plate, the more efficiently by acting in the affected area.
The pharmacies represented drugs in the form of a varnish. Feature is the form of antifungal medication is that you don't need to use it on a daily basis. Varnish applied once in a few days. The medicine forms a protective coating on the plate of the nail, protecting the nail and preventing the spread of fungal infection. The active substance of the drug, penetrating to the depths of the nail and are long lasting – one application is enough to provide antifungal activity over the course of two day. Lucky is also effective for the prevention of fungal diseases. Can be used once a week either to apply before visiting places with an increased risk of contracting the fungus.
Apart from the treatment of the nail, you need to anti-fungal protection to the skin around the nail and between the toes. For this purpose, is used ointment.
If your nails have started to collapse, medicines for external application is not enough, therefore, in addition to appointed anti-fungal tablets. These drugs providing systemic effects on the whole body overall.
If the fungus nail is accompanied by a bacterial infection, during which is celebrated the appearance of pus, in addition to has been prescribed an ointment with antibacterial action, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine used the following tools against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water applied to gauze compression applied to the damaged nail for 1 hour. The process is repeated daily for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix with two tablespoons of water. The solution should be used for the treatment of the affected nail two times a day.
- In a basin for the feet, add two large tablespoons of baking soda and iodized or sea salt. Of the foot put in the basin for half an hour. The procedure is done daily before going to bed.
In addition is treated with nails juice of an onion or propolis tincture. Folk remedies it is recommended to use in combination with anti-fungal drugs, set by the doctor.
Heavy phase fungal defeat leads to loss of the nail, so it is important time to reach out to someone special when the first symptoms of the disease.