Nail fungus or onychomycosis (medical name) is a disease that occurs when the nail plate is affected by a fungal infection. Onychomycosis affects 5 to 15% of people. The risk of its development increases with age, although the fungus is often detected in children. Every 10 years of life, the incidence increases 2. 5 times. If in children it is 3%, then in the elderly it is already 50-60%.
Pathogens
Onychomycosis is caused by microorganisms from the fungal kingdom. The world of mushrooms is diverse, and not all of them are as pleasant as champignons, chanterelles or honey mushrooms that we are used to seeing on our table. There are microscopic parasitic species that feed on the tissues of plants, animals and humans.
The causative agents of onychomycosis consume the protein keratin, which is part of the nail plate, hair and the upper (keratinized) layer of the skin. About 50 representatives of parasitic fungi that can cause disease are known.
They are divided into three groups:
- Dermatophytes. They account for 80% of onychomycosis cases. They are characterized by high survival and sustainability. It is naturally found in the soil;
- Yeast-like mushrooms. Among them is Candida albicans (microorganisms of the genus Candida), known to women, which causes thrush or vaginal candidiasis. Yeast-like fungi are 5 times more likely to affect fingernails than toenails. Toxic and impairs the functioning of the whole body;
- Mold fungi. Onychomycosis caused by mold is rare. But it is the most dangerous, it progresses quickly, it can completely destroy the nail plate and spread to neighboring tissues.
Onychomycosis affects fingernails and toenails, but toenail fungus is much more common on the feet. This is due to the fact that much more attention is paid to the hands, they are washed more often during the day and treated with antiseptics. They are always open and well ventilated except in winter when we wear gloves. And your feet are constantly covered with street shoes, house slippers, tights, socks and sweat more. These factors create ideal conditions for the development of foot fungus, because heat and moisture are its best "friends".
The causative agent of onychomycosis penetrates the nail from different directions. The most common way is from above, on the side of the free edge of the nail plate. It is also possible to introduce it from the side from the side ridges or from below from the cuticle and nail growth zone.
Onychomycosis is most dangerous near the cuticle. In this case, the fungus slows down or stops the division of the onychoblast - the cell of the growth zone under the lower fold of the nail. The nail stops growing in length, and infected areas may not recover. There is a pathological change in the structure and destruction of the nail.
Fungi rarely penetrate directly into the nail plate. First, their spores enter the skin around the nail or the spaces between the fingers through microcracks, cuts, scrapes, scratches and calluses. Then the colony begins to grow, the pathogen moves towards the nail plate, penetrates it and begins to parasitize.
Why does onychomycosis occur?
Fungi live in warm and humid places, and wherever such conditions exist, it is easy to get infected with them. For example, if you walk barefoot in public bathrooms, swimming pools, showers or gym locker rooms, chances are high that you will get infected.
Some diseases contribute to the development of onychomycosis:
- Diabetes. In patients with diabetes, the fungus is 3 times more common. Excess glucose in the blood creates favorable conditions for the functioning of fungi. In the absence of sugar control and maintenance within normal limits, the blood vessels suffer. The longer the disease lasts, the weaker the blood flow to the legs (diabetic foot syndrome). Wounds heal more poorly, infection occurs more easily;
- Weak blood circulation in the lower extremities caused by varicose veins, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the lumen, clogging of the arteries), thrombophlebitis (formation of blood clots in the lumen of the veins);
- Weakened immunity, immunodeficiency (HIV), damage to the immune system. Reduction of the body's resistance to any infections;
- Psoriasis. 90% of people with psoriasis experience changes in the nail plate. Grooves are formed on it, turbidity is present, depressions appear and separation of the nail plate appears. These factors increase the chances of fungal infection by 1. 5 - 2 times;
- Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating of the feet, often causes onychomycosis in men;
- The presence of foci of fungal infection in other parts of the body.
The risk group includes the elderly.
The cause of onychomycosis is often associated with the characteristics of the profession and improper foot care:
- poor foot and nail care, lack of daily hygiene procedures due to neglect of personal hygiene rules or difficulties in implementing them (in bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility);
- work in wet, humid areas (greenhouses, greenhouses, vegetable warehouses), often wearing rubber gloves or rubber shoes;
- professional sports;
- wearing uncomfortable, narrow, narrow shoes or shoes made of artificial materials (leatherette), which create a "greenhouse effect" and interfere with normal air exchange.
Predisposing factors for the development of onychomycosis include trauma to the nail or surrounding tissues, taking antibacterial or hormonal drugs.
In women, a common cause of fungus is long-term wearing of gel polish. It creates a closed space between the nail plate and the coating, in which a fungal infection successfully develops. It is not recommended to apply gel polish on the toenails, it is better to use ordinary decorative polish. Also, in women, onychomycosis occurs after an unsuccessful manicure or pedicure in salons where high-quality disinfection of instruments is not carried out and sterility is not maintained.
Signs of onychomycosis
The most common fungi infect the big toes.
The following changes on the nail plate indicate a fungal infection:
- dullness, yellowness, loss of smoothness and shine;
- itching, redness, peeling of the skin around;
- delamination, brittleness, brittleness;
- unpleasant smell;
- breaking the structure, thickening;
If you find yourself with at least one of the above signs, you should immediately contact a doctor who deals with the treatment of nail fungus. It can be a podiatrist, dermatologist or mycologist.
After an injury to the nail or the skin around it, an examination by a pediatrician is mandatory to check for onychomycosis. If there are predisposing factors (varicose veins, diabetes, atherosclerosis, weakened immunity, excessive sweating of the feet, etc. ), a medical pedicure is recommended once a month, during which the doctor will carefully examine the nails and skin of the feet and identify changes in the early stages.
Is nail fungus dangerous?
Onychomycosis is a disease that causes psychological discomfort more than a physical disease. To understand what we are talking about, just look at the photo of nail fungus on the Internet. It is characterized by a slow course and does not cause pain, fever or other symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
People do not rush to treat nail fungus. After all, when the affected area is small, you can paint it with varnish, wear socks or closed shoes in front of strangers. And the problem of psychological discomfort is temporarily solved. But, unfortunately, not everything is so simple. If you do not destroy the fungal infection, it will not go away, but will continue to affect the nail. And onychomycosis is contagious. An infected person poses a danger to his family and others.
How to prevent infection?
The best cure for nail fungus is prevention.
To protect yourself from infection you must:
- use a medical disinfectant labeled GOST (capable of killing onychomycosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV);
- monitor the condition of the feet and nails, the main rule is to keep the feet clean and dry;
- take care of your shoes, regularly disinfect and dry them, it is convenient to use electric dryers for drying;
- treat your feet with drying agents or antiperspirants if your feet sweat a lot;
- in the changing rooms of the swimming pool, sauna and gym, do not walk barefoot, but wear rubber flip-flops with closed toes;
- wear comfortable shoes made of natural, breathable materials;
- Do not use other people's towels, shoes or manicure accessories.
These tips will help you prevent onychomycosis and keep your nails healthy and well-groomed. They are effective not only for the prevention of fungus, but also other problems: calluses, corns.
Features of treatment of onychomycosis
Advertising on TV promises to cure nail fungus easily and quickly using antifungal (fungicidal) creams, solutions and varnishes. We were promised that "Medicines Lamesil, Exaderil, Mikazan, Mecoderil and others penetrate deep into the structure of the nail, effectively destroy the fungus and return the nails to their former appearance in 2-3 applications. "But then why does this self-treatment of toenail fungus give good results in a maximum of 10% of cases? Because these drugs are effective by themselves only in the early stages of the fungus, when the symptoms are not yet obvious and almost invisible.
Manufacturers often lie, saying that the drugs are made in Europe and that they contain good active ingredients. In practice, the most effective drug for nail fungus (onychomycosis) is the one containing the substance clotrimazole. Most drugs are simply very well advertised and expensive, but do not contain the necessary substance. You cannot buy specialized drugs in regular pharmacies, even if the desired name is written on it, the chemical composition will not contain it, because the production is very expensive.
This medication is used in podiatry centers and on properly prepared nails. We do not have the right to write the name of the medicine, but you can ask us any question here.
Antifungal drugs are the mainstay in the treatment of onychomycosis. Without them, as much as we want to, we won't be able to beat the infection. But they must be used correctly and thoughtfully. The nail fungus medicine should be applied to the previously treated and prepared nail in order to have the desired therapeutic effect.
The first thing you should do if you suspect onychomycosis is to see a doctor who will confirm or deny the diagnosis. If necessary, they will prescribe additional examination and treatment. Choosing a nail fungus remedy based on internet reviews, advice from friends, or TV commercials will result in wasted time and money spent on unnecessary medications. The same results will be obtained when trying to treat onychomycosis with traditional methods. Vinegar, garlic, onions and herbs are not able to destroy the pathogen.
An important point in the treatment of onychomycosis is the disinfection of shoes and clothes that were in contact with the infected area. If you don't, you can re-infect yourself from your belongings. Clothes must be washed at high temperatures (above 60 °C), ironed, and shoes must be treated with special disinfectants.
Which drugs and methods are effective?
In the initial stages, the treatment of onychomycosis is easier and faster than in advanced cases. How to treat nail fungus?
To fight pathogens, use:
- Hardware medical pedicure. It allows you to clean the nail areas affected by onychomycosis without blood and pain, preparing them for the use of antifungal agents;
- Keratolytics. These are topical medications against nail fungus, which are applied to the affected nail in order to remove it painlessly. They loosen, soften and dissolve the nail plate and are then easily removed with pedicure tools. Keratolytics facilitate the treatment of onychomycosis, remove the infected area, stimulate the growth of a new healthy nail plate;
- Fungicides. The action of these drugs is aimed at destroying fungi. For onychomycosis, they are used locally in the form of varnishes, solutions, ointments, creams and internally in the form of tablets. When taken internally, the active ingredients of nail fungus tablets accumulate in the skin and nail plate. They suppress the activity of fungal enzymes, disturb the permeability of cell membranes and cause the death of pathogens. The most effective contain the substance clotrimazole.
Treatment methods for onychomycosis are selected based on the severity of the symptoms and the area of the affected area. In the initial stages of the disease, hardware treatment and external fungicides are sufficient. In severe forms of infection, when the entire nail is infected with fungus, you will need to take tablets and remove the nail plate. Treatment of an advanced form of onychomycosis lasts from 3 months to 1 year and depends on the speed of nail growth.
Topical fungicidal preparations are safe for health, but they are not always effective. Tablets have a negative effect on the liver, so laboratory monitoring of the organ's condition is necessary during intake.
Onychomycosis is curable, and that's the most important thing!
The sooner you see a doctor, the faster you can deal with it.
Don't be afraid or ashamed. This problem is very common and affects millions of people worldwide.
When treating nail fungus in our podiatry center, you get:
- joint observation of a podiatrist and a mycologist (a doctor who deals with fungal diseases);
- 100% sterility during all procedures;
- the possibility of collecting material (scraping skin and nail plate) to identify the type of fungus;
- fast results (3-4 procedures are required on average);
- Recommendations for foot care and footwear that will prevent re-infection.
It is important to us that the problem does not return, and that your nails are healthy and beautiful!