It’s no secret that modern people are at risk of contracting onychomycosis on a daily basis. Toenail and nail fungus is very dangerous and can be infected anywhere. But many do not know how to recognize it and how to draw it. Infection occurs by getting fragments of skin or nail plates from a patient. Since you will see the first signs of nail fungus only after so long, identifying the source itself is not an easy task. In this situation, self -treatment is not recommended, it is better to discuss the symptoms and treatment with a dermatologist immediately, otherwise the irreversible process may begin.
Fungus under the nails and fingers is one of the most common infectious diseases, the development of which is provoked by epidermophytes (microorganisms). It can be identified by the presence of an obsessive itchy sensation, as well as deformation of the toenails. It acquires a yellowish color and special spots with scales on the surface.
Some people are scared just by thinking about the disease. At the first manifestation, they dug up a lot of literature and, in a panic, ran to the hospital for an explanation. After all, they worry:
- How to get rid of toenail fungus?
- Why is toenail fungus dangerous?
- Is it necessary to remove my toenails in case of fungus?
- What to do if toenail mold appears?
In this article we will try to answer the questions posed. The treatment of nail onychomycosis is long -term and requires a responsible and accountable approach.
Ignorance and irregular use of pharmaceutical preparations will lead to a lack of accurate results. Therefore, drug treatment of the fungus should be carried out strictly according to the course prescribed by a specialist.
The treatment regimen for nail fungus detected on your feet must include topical treatment on the affected area and taking medication orally (by swallowing).
Ways and main causes of infection
Close communication with the carrier of mycosis or contact with his shoes is a direct path to infection and subsequent treatment of toenail fungus, which is always accompanied by the question: how to beat nail fungus and what is the most effective remedy for toenail fungus. Also, similar disorders can occur in crowded places, which are ideal for a successful life and the spread of parasites, here the fungus appears quickly. These include various sports complexes, swimming pools, saunas. But often fungal colonization on the feet occurs in lovers of tight and closed shoes, as well as in people who suffer from excessive sweating. Doctors say that most types of fungi prefer moist conditions with a neutral and slightly alkaline environment.
In some cases, toenail fungus appears after a subsequent visit to a beauty salon where you perform a pedicure procedure. This can happen due to the careless attitude of the salon owners towards their duties, from which they do not follow the basic rules for processing the tools used.
The onset of fungus under the nail in childhood is a rare phenomenon; adult men and women are more susceptible to it. This fact is explained by a decrease in the body's defenses and deviation of skin pH from the norm due to increasing age. The reasons why nail fungus appears on the feet can be different. But often, toenail mycosis appears against the background of the following abnormalities:
- Problems in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Thyroid disorders;
- Endocrinological diseases;
- Adrenal dysfunction.
People who are addicted to tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are also at risk of becoming owners of nail fungus. How to identify toenail fungus? It's very simple. Signs of nail fungus are a color change towards brown, white, yellowish or other colors. Its color will be affected by certain pathogens, it can be yeast, fungus or dermatophyte.
The nail plate will become brittle and begin to crumble, then become keratinized. After a while, you will see for yourself how the nail fungus manifests itself. Growths will appear, when they are ignored, they will grow large and interfere with therapy. Unfortunately, in the first stage, many are unaware of the presence of the disease, the symptoms of fungus on the toenails are not expressed. But then, it quickly crushes the nail plate, and the neglected nail mycosis on your feet already requires complicated treatment.
Measures for the prevention of infection with onychomycosis
You should be aware that any fungus is an extracellular parasite, distinguished by its special viability. Their spores are able to withstand very low and high temperatures (-60 ° C - + 100 ° C), most of them are not afraid to use chemicals while performing disinfection actions at home. As mentioned above, a foot infection (the most common toenail fungus) can occur anywhere, but the easiest way to get it on a limb is from a family member with onychomycosis who has toenail fungus. Dermatophyte transmission occurs through sharing household items, but there are many other ways to get the fungus as well.
Toenail fungus prevention involves several simple conditions:
- Use your own shoes;
- If the shoes are wet, the shoes must be dried and then re -worn;
- Remove the porous textured floor mat from the bathroom;
- Change socks regularly to clean them;
- After bathing, wipe your feet dry, paying special attention to the area between the toes;
- Use therapeutic and prophylactic antifungal medications for toenail treatment after water procedures;
- Use personal hygiene products (scissors, files);
- Avoid conditions of increased sweating and dryness, which lead to timely treatment of various injuries to the feet (cracks, abrasions, calluses);
- Increases the body's defenses.
For public places, in order not to pick up fungus on toenails, try wearing flip flops on the beach, and cover shoes in the pool.
When someone living with you in the same apartment starts treating nail fungus that appears on their feet, to prevent the spread of infection, be sure to clean the bathroom afterwards. To deal with spores, you can use, for example, chloramine in equal proportions with detergent. After application, the mixture is left for 30 minutes, then removed.
There are many reasons for the appearance of fungus and you need to get rid of it by any means. Toenail mycosis treatment also provides special treatment of patient linens, including stockings. They can be boiled for about twenty minutes in a 2%soda and soap solution, then ironed. It is recommended to treat pedicure scissors with alcohol on a regular basis.
The main symptoms of onychomycosis in the legs
How to recognize toenail fungus? In this condition, in the early stages of the infection, a person experiences excessive dryness and characteristic exfoliation of the feet, which can be accompanied by severe itching and discoloration of the skin to redness. In practice, the symptoms of nail fungus differ in different types, specific to each particular case.
The development of the disease can begin with unobtrusive exfoliation at the folds between the fingers. If there is a lot of sweating, a diaper rash will appear. Sometimes very itchy small blisters are added on top. The color and shape of the toenails change. Parasite spores tend to penetrate deeper, forming yellowish spots with lines on the nails. You can also recognize toenail fungus by its brittle and cracked nail plates, a hollow form underneath.
It is very important to treat nail onychomycosis, because with a very severe disease, the body temperature can rise, and any movement is also difficult.
If you have itchy, cracked and dry nail fungus, start treatment immediately.
Get help from a dermatologist, he knows what a fungus is, and how to accurately determine nail fungus, and will also tell you the best comprehensive treatment. Sometimes at first it is enough to use various sprays, powders or antifungal gels for the feet, however, when you see fungus under the toenails, this is already serious.
Not everyone knows that the equivalent diseases of mycoses are eczema and psoriasis, which are more difficult to get rid of. So, if you still doubt whether it is beneficial and whether it is possible to cure nail fungus, keep in mind these two terrible diseases, the consequences of which are even more terrible.
Treatment of onychomycosis
Today, experts will tell you how to cure toenail fungus quickly and how to treat it properly at home. For this, there are a variety of modern medicines. They must be eaten in appropriate doses and frequently. Recently, pulse therapy methods have proven to be very good for the treatment of toenail fungus. Therapy of the disease occurs in a short time with the use of antifungal agents in shock doses, while side effects are minimized. It is characterized by relatively long pauses between courses. Pulse therapy is used for critical conditions, when you no longer know how and how to get rid of nail fungus.
Also, a dermatologist will advise on how to treat onychomycosis using various films, varnish coatings or special ointments, which are basically fungicide agents. He will give competent treatment, even if the nail fungus has already moved from one toe to another. But, unfortunately, medications don’t always solve the problem, and the question of how to deal with nail fungus remains relevant. In fact, to get the desired effect and make a quick nail treatment, it is necessary to initially identify the type of pathogen and the extent of its spread. The test results obtained are guaranteed to tell you how to treat toenail fungus. And only after that you should start buying expensive drugs.
Sometimes you need to remove the nail surgically. Don’t worry, the removed nail plate will grow back after a while. And this procedure is not painful at all.
Antifungal agent
To destroy fungal pathogens, you need to use special tablets and topical agents, gels and varnishes, medications to remove the affected nail plates. The most appropriate medication will be recommended by a specialist.
Folk recipes
For lovers of traditional medicine, there are also a large number of effective methods and recipes that have been proven over the years. If you are still thinking of ways to treat toenail fungus, try some of them.
Treatment with celandine
Celandine is a common ingredient with many medicinal properties. In addition to useful substances, it also contains toxic substances. They are needed for the treatment of parasitic infections, because they quickly get rid of harmful microorganisms. You can use medicinal ingredients in various ways:
- Fresh juice. After picking celandine, it is necessary to immediately treat the affected skin and nail plates with the juice. Let dry for about five minutes and repeat the procedure. This must be done at least three times.
- Butter. Treatment with celandine oil is done by applying it to the infected area 1-2 times a day until the state of complete remission. Don't be surprised if the surface of the nail is reddish - this is completely normal.
- Treatment fees. We need: oregano juice, celandine juice and calendula tincture (2: 5: 2). All this is mixed with a little boiled water and applied on the nail plate 3-4 times a day.
Now you know how to recognize nail fungus, as well as how dangerous infections begin. We sincerely hope that our article is useful to you and help you overcome this disease quickly. Remember that the sooner we address an identified disease, the more effective the expected outcome. In addition, the right approach to the treatment process will save a lot of valuable time and "not spend enough money. "
Be healthy!