The miniature fungus is an infectious disease. It is manifested by a weakening of the protective functions of the body and non-compliance with hygiene measures. The fungal microorganisms infect the nail plate and travel to nearby areas.
Photo of a miniature mushroom
Causes of thumb nail fungus
Poor hygiene is one of the main causes of infection. You can often get it from another person. So, if you do not follow the preventive measures, all the people around the infected people can get a pathology. An example of toenail fungus is shown in the photo.
Thumb plaque is prone to onychomycosis due to its structural features. The mycelium filaments propagate there more quickly than in other environments. The reason is a large concentration of blood vessels and nerve endings.
Defeat can develop against the background of certain predisposing factors:
- endocrine pathologies;
- varicose veins;
- hormonal imbalance;
- slow metabolism (especially for the elderly);
- impaired blood circulation;
- psoriasis;
- dermatitis (inflammation);
- eczema;
- pathology of the immune system;
- severe conditions such as hepatitis and HIV;
- general use of hygiene articles;
- Frequent wearing of inappropriate shoes (tight, of poor quality materials).
Onychomycosis is rare in children. The main group susceptible to the disease are the elderly. This is due to changes in the body and a decrease in its protective abilities. The second group includes pregnant and lactating women, as well as postmenopausal women.
People who live in humid climates or attend sports clubs, baths, swimming pools and saunas are also at risk. About 30% of cases are contaminated by non-sterile instruments used for the pedicure.
Symptoms of miniature fungus
Despite the specific characteristics of the types of toenail fungus, the symptoms are similar in all cases. The main manifestations of infection are severe itching, burning, peeling of the skin at the site of the lesion. As the infection penetrates deeper, cracks and bubbles appear between the fingers, forming open foci.
The following stages of defeat can be distinguished:
- manifestation of whitish or yellow spots (sometimes streaks) on the nail plate, thickening of the plate, itching;
- plaque thickening and dulling in color, appearance of an unpleasant odor, redness of the surrounding skin, inflammation and swelling.
- destruction of the nail, appearance of open wounds in the surroundings, discomfort when walking.
The affected nail may start to grow inside the pad. Pus often appears in the corners of the nails. If the disease is ignored, the nail will flake off completely.
The color changes vary depending on the type of pathogen:
- dermatophyte - yellowish or whitish stripes, eventually turning into a uniform color;
- type of yeast - brownish tint, corrugated structure of the plate;
- type of mold - black or greenish color of the nail.
With fungal infection, the top layer becomes rough, and the harmful microorganisms instantly move to other areas of the body. They penetrate deep inside, infecting the rest of the skin and feet. The form of the pathology becomes chronic. Others are more likely to be infected.
Treatment of miniature fungi
How to cure a fungus on the big toe, only a doctor can know. In the hospital, the nature of the disease, the level of infection as well as the specific characteristics of the patient's body are established. Based on the data obtained, the specialist develops a set of therapeutic measures. When developing a treatment, the following are taken into account:
- affected area;
- depth of penetration of infection;
- the duration of the illness;
- character of the mushroom.
A therapy course may include:
- Varnishes and solutions. Antifungal agents. Suitable for the early stages of infection. The composition is used to cover the affected area and forget about it for a while. The drug is used 3-5 times a week. Then take a break and apply the same remedy again. The total duration of treatment varies from 6 to 12 months.
- Ointments, gels, sprays and creams. Antifungal purpose. They are applied to the affected areas and can be used at any stage of the infection.
- Internal medicine. Antimycotic drugs and tablets are prescribed at a later stage in the development of pathology. They have a number of contraindications and side effects. Must be appointed by a physician.
- Immunostimulants and vitamins. Recommended as an adjunct to external and internal antimycotic drugs. These include supplements and preparations containing magnesium and iron, B vitamins, folic acid, zinc, and selenium. They stimulate the protective functions of the body. Useful in all stages of thumb nail fungus. Laser
- . Indicated for ingrown toenails. It will not eliminate the fungus completely, however, it will prevent the growth from recurring.
Fungal pharmaceuticals are designed to completely clear infection. They destroy harmful microorganisms and prevent them from spreading quickly. As a rule, they have a cumulative effect and accelerate the course of the therapeutic course. When used correctly, relapses are prevented.
Complete cure of the fungal infection is achieved in 2 to 4 months. Sometimes therapy takes longer than six months.
If the damage to the nail tissue is severe, the nail can be removed. Removal is carried out with the help of special aggressive compounds or surgical intervention. It is this method that is the most reliable and completely eliminates the pathology.
The procedure has no side effects. The algorithm can be described as follows: a finger with an affected nail is treated with an antiseptic agent. After that, the doctor applies a tourniquet and injects anesthesia.
After the nail plate is removed using various surgical instruments, the nail bed is freed of dead tissue and the area is treated with iodine solution. At the end, an antiseptic compress is applied to the finger.
With proper therapy, the manifestations of the disease should weaken, the skin should free from lesions, and the nail plate should return to its natural healthy appearance. However, it is possible to reliably learn the departure of parasites only with the help of laboratory tests. They are carried out after 14 days and a month after treatment.
Traditional methods of treating vignette fungi
Regardless of the type of toenail fungus, treatment with traditional folk remedies is not recommended. In most cases, it is ineffective, has little effect, or makes the condition worse. Especially if the therapy is carried out exclusively by independent efforts.
However, there are many recipes that can help the disease progress. The most common tools are:
- Tea tree oil. Proven antiseptic. Partially eliminates harmful bacteria and has an antimycotic effect.
- Potato broth. Prepared from potato peelings. Foot baths are made from the composition for 20 minutes. The procedure is daily.
- Lemon. Citrus fruits are cut into slices and applied to the contaminated surface. Can be secured with cellophane bag and sterile bandage. Course duration - 8-10 days.
- A mixture of water and acid. In identical proportions, 70% acetic acid and pure water are combined. The composition is kneaded into a paste and applied to the infected area for 10-20 minutes. The duration of the course is 3 to 5 days. Helps remove the affected nail.
- Salt baths. Take 20 grams of sea salt per liter of hot water. Mix and lower your legs there. Do this every day for 14 days.
- Aspen broth. Take 100 grams of aspen bark, grind, pour half a liter of water and bring to a boil. In the composition, the affected legs are steamed. To improve efficiency, the skin can be pre-coated with a mixture of baking soda and regular laundry soap without additives. The procedure is daily.
It is important to note:It is contraindicated for women to do a foot bath. The high temperature of the water causes blood flow to the pelvic organs. This can cause early labor. Better to use propolis or tea tree oil.
Traditional methods can give results in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the fungus can disappear with local treatment with simple natural antiseptic agents.
For example, like herbal teas, brilliant green, iodine or hydrogen peroxide. If onychomycosis persists for a long time, the patient needs a well-thought-out complex therapy of system-wide and local action drugs. Without knowing it, many patients resort only to external antimycotics, limiting themselves to folk recipes, gels and ointments. However, this route does not work in the vast majority of cases.
Preventive measures
Measures for the prevention of fungus are divided into two types - primary and secondary.
The first task is to prevent infection in healthy individuals. The recommendations are as follows:
- Observe personal hygiene practices. Especially when it comes to the selection of pedicure shoes and tools.
- Don't wear other people's clothes. The shoes and socks should only be yours.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public places such as public baths or the beach.
- Avoid damaging nails and areas around the plate.
- Treat hands with antiseptics. Especially if the skin is damaged.
- If you suspect a fungal infection, go to the hospital immediately.
Secondary prevention measures are designed to prevent recurrence of the disease. In order not to get nail fungus a second time, you should follow these recommendations:
- strictly follow medical instructions;
- limit the time spent in the water;
- do not go to public places such as the beach or the sauna;
- disinfect personal manicure tools;
- to dispose of shoes and stockings that have come into contact with a body contaminated with the fungus;
- disinfect shoes using special compounds.
In addition, you should monitor the correctness of the diet, avoid prolonged stress and try not to neglect physical activity.
So, it is not difficult to acquire a fungus and trigger a disease. But the processing can take a fairly significant amount of time, effort, and waste of material. At the first symptoms of defeat, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. Early therapy is easier and faster. If the disease begins, the nail will need to be removed.