Fungus toenails (onychomycosis) — one of the most common infectious diseases, heavily amenable to treatment. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet suffers from fungal infections, which are able to not only impress the skin and nails, but also cause other serious health disorders. In more advanced cases from the life of pathogenic fungus suffer internal organs, a decrease of the total and local immunity, and often develop complications associated with the connection of a secondary bacterial infection.
To completely get rid of the mold complex, the process of treatment is lengthy, requiring careful compliance with medical recommendations. And if not, to a course of treatment to the end, there is a high risk of relapse and further progression of the disease. The pharmaceutical market is today put forward an extensive range of anti-fungal remedies, which allow to cope with the infection. It's not just ointments, gels, sprays, lacquers, but also systemic preparations intended to be ingested. He will tell you more information about how to cure nail fungus on the feet and what medication according to the doctors-mycologists and dermatologists will allow you to effectively deal with the problem. But first we will focus on the first symptoms of infection and routes of infection.
Nail fungus on feet — causes of the disease
Doctors allocate several main reasons for fungus infection:
- Direct contact with a carrier of the fungus infection
- Failure to comply with the rules of hygiene
- Reduced immunity
- Injury to feet due to wearing uncomfortable shoes
- Chronic disease
Fungus infection happens due to a violation of elementary sanitary standards or in contact with a native speaker. For example, you can become infected in the circle of the family, if one of its representatives suffer from onychomycosis. Pretty foreign to ourselves shower, make use of common towels or other items of daily needs.
Fungal infection can easily be caught in public places with high temperature and humidity (in the pool, the sauna, the sauna, the general soul, gym). Exactly there is present a favorable microclimate for the development of mold and the conditions are created for the contact of bare feet with the infected surface. Mushrooms to feel good and actively just multiply in humid and warm environment. Can long persist on all surfaces (benches, carpet coverages, to the floor). If there is a person in a public place walking around barefoot, mold spores get on the feet, fingers, feet and nails.
It is a gateway for infection used small diverge, scuff, corns, pain in the legs, feet, appearing as a result of wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes. But even in this case, infection can occur if a person has good immunity, which separately deal with the infection. If immunity is weakened, then the infection can not be avoided. The formation of mold often contributes to excessive sweating of the feet or related chronic diseases (diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins).
The fungus first affects the skin of the feet and the space between the fingers, and then apply to the nail plate, where in the absence of timely treatment continue to grow and multiply. Infection develops slowly, so in the early stages to detect a nail fungus on my feet is difficult. In order to effectively cope with onychomycosis, the treatment should be start as soon as possible, which is why the first signs of infestation it is necessary to know each.
Symptoms and photo
The first symptoms of fungus on your feet is burning sensation and itching. The skin on the feet, between the fingers begins to peel off, there are bubbles that burst, forming cracks and sores. If time does not start treatment, the fungus spreads on and penetrates under the nails, the selection of the place of localization of the space under the nail, where are the nutrients necessary for its further multiplication and growth.
Secured under the nail plate, the fungus starts to produce special enzymes that destroy the tissue and the stratum corneum and contributes to the widening of the threads of mycelium. In the early stages of infection of the external manifestations almost unnoticeable, so it is up to them only few people pay attention, but due to further progress are beginning to discover the characteristic symptoms:
- Changes the appearance of the nail plate. It becomes boring, they appear yellow or white spots, characteristic of longitudinal or transverse strips. Over time, the nails still more changes colour and can become completely yellow, gray or even black.
- Around the nail the skin on the fingers may redden and inflamed. This process is accompanied by itching and pain of the inflamed property of the skin.
- Nails are getting thicker, crumble, distort, and, if left untreated, they can peel off from the nail bed.
The nature of the lesions depends largely on the species of mold. So, during the assault on dermatophytes, a typical symptom is the emergence of yellow spots and longitudinal stripes in the center and on the edges of the nail plate. If under the nails from getting yeast fungi, then it is their disruptive activity begins after the sides of the nail, which gradually turns yellow and begins to fall behind from the nail bed. If you have your nails black, then such changes, most likely caused by a fungus of mold.
One of the serious complications in the mold of the feet is ingrown toenails. Will the nail plate develop a yellowish, affected by mold, time thickens, grows sick, twisted and cuts into the skin. Due to overgrown nails say about myself severe pain when walking, injure the skin and are the cause of the entry of bacterial infection. When the toe is red and swells, from under the nail plate stands out the pus. Man ill nail it becomes difficult to walk due to painful feelings. Similar to the complications are particularly dangerous for diabetics, as it may become a cause of gangrenous lesions of the extremities.
If not to start treatment at the first adverse symptoms, the disease will progress, and furthermore thrush is spreading to all the nails. In complicated cases, from the fungal infection begins to suffer from the whole organism: they are allergic reactions, disorders of the gastrointestinal system and other symptoms of intoxication, caused by the infiltration of fungal toxins into the blood and the lymphatic system. Upon the occurrence of the first alarming symptoms should consult with a specialist, which selects the optimal mode of treatment and recommend effective cure for nail fungus on the feet.
Treatment of nail fungus
At the first sign of fungus on the feet, it is necessary to take active measures to remedy it, don't look at it that all the manifestations disappear by themselves. It won't happen again. A fungal infection will over time worsen and can lead to serious health problems. So the sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance to get rid of onychomycosis forever. To date, in the arsenal of dermatologists and mycologists are available effective remedies against nail fungus on the feet, the overall and local events.
In the initial stage of the disease, when the size of the lesion is minimal, it is possible to restrict the use of local anti-fungal drugs with a broad spectrum of action (ointments, creams, solutions, varnishes, sprays). If the process went too far and the nail completely amazed by the fungus, part of a comprehensive treatment include antifungal drugs systemic action in the form of a tablet. Most of these drugs have serious contraindications and side effects, therefore, called a specialist, and treatment is carried out under his supervision. More detail on the products intended to treat mold.
Solutions, varnishes. In the initial stage it is possible to use antifungal solutions and varnishes on nails. Range of these remedies differs a great variety.
Ointments, gels, creams.
For the outdoor processing of nails affected by fungus, applying a group of medicines on the basis of terbinafin, naftifin, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole.Capsules, tablets.
When heavy forms of fungal infections treatment of outdoor complement the intake of antifungals in sculptured form. Without systemic antifungal agents are indispensable in cases, when the disease progresses, and treatment is only local funds are showing as inefficient. Drugs for the treatment of mold, it is very much, to collect them should an experienced physician, because many of them have serious contraindications and limitations to use. These funds can not be taken children, pregnant women, patients with pathologies of the liver and kidneys. The effectiveness of these devices is very high, in combination with local medication, which can achieve lasting results and to cope with onychomycosis, is not allowing the repeated recurrence of the disease.Means for removal of the nail.
If you have your nails completely defeated, then before starting treatment, it is better to remove. An alternative to surgical methods, there are special cosmetic means, which painlessly take off the nails affected by fungus.Treatment for nail fungus on the feet of folk remedies
There are many folk recipes that help to stop the spread of mold and cope with it in the initial stages. Present to your attention a few popular recipes, used to treat nail fungus on feet at home.
- Kombucha. An effective remedy for mildew is to compress using the plates of the tea fungus. Its wrapped in a sterile bandage, we attach to the nail and repair the plaster. This compress may be left for the night, so it's not slipped, on your feet put on socks. During the procedure can be a burning sensation, but because the result is worth the wait. In the morning the poultice off, softened horny layer is removed the tool, the surface of the nail is treated with an antiseptic solution.
- Creolin. This is a cheap health remedy with a strong antiparasitic and disinfectant action. It pays to be very gently, not allowing them to enter the healthy skin, so how can you get burned. To avoid this, a strip of skin around the nail is the need to seal the plaster. Affected nails treated with Creolin once a day for 2 months until full recovery.
- Socks trays. For mold removal it is possible to do trays for feet with the addition of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Length of procedure – 15 minutes. Good effect gives the processing of nails with a solution of propolis, baking soda or epsom salts. Nails can lubricate the oil of tea tree, lavender, oregano, have disinfectant and anti-fungal properties. Many folk recipes are based on the use of garlic, vinegar, liquor, a large onion. Before you use these recipes for yourself, be sure to consult with the attending physician.
Prevention of the disease
To prevent infection with fungus, adhere to the simple recommendations:
- Don't go barefoot in the pool,the sauna, the gym and other public places. In rooms with high humidity it is necessary to wear rubber slippers or slate. As measures of prevention apply the Polish anti-varnish, this will protect from infection.
- Never use someone else's shoes, slippers, socks, towels and other household items. All means of personal hygiene and pedicure tools should be strictly individual.
- Wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathing and blood circulation of materials. Shoes should not be cramped, they rub and hurt her foot.
- Your feet need to wash twice a day, morning and evening and daily change socks and stockings. After water treatments feet wipe dry, especially carefully dry the skin between the toes.
- The fungus is particularly active in the reduced immunity. So pay attention to your health, in a timely manner to treat the related diseases, take immunomodulatory drugs. Support the body's defenses in the right and balanced nutrition, eat more vegetables and fruits, rich in vitamins and trace elements.
- During treatment to treat the shoes with antiseptic solutions, this will help prevent the recurrence of the disease. Can be sanitized shoes with a solution of formalin or vinegar, thoroughly processed it's inside. After the processing of cotton with a cotton swab moistened with a solution of an antiseptic, it is necessary to give to the tips of the shoes and place it into an airtight plastic bag for a day.
These simple preventive measures will help you to prevent from mold and mildew and maintain the health of the feet. Remember that nail fungus on your feet, it's treated long and hard, and it is therefore important to prevent the occurrence of thrush, carefully follow the hygiene standards and in a timely manner to respond to adverse changes, which may be the first symptoms of infestation.