Onychomycosis, or fungal defeat nails is extremely unpleasant disease, it is difficult to yield to the treatment. The disease develops in the setting of the fungus under the nail plate or skin around the nail. Pathogenic microflora feed on keratin, the result of their number has been decreasing quickly and the nail is destroyed.
The causes for the development of the disease and ways of infection
The fungus, pounding the nail plate, proliferates in the moist environment with the increase of the temperature of the air. Be infected by a fungus is possible when you visit the common places and the climate. More often that the fungus "lives" in the bathrooms, gyms and swimming pools. Often, the infection occurs when visiting the beach. Another form of infection is close contact with a carrier of the infection. The disease can also be through the use of personal items of the sick person.
However, in order to get the nail fungus, only to hit the infectious agent in the skin is not enough. Resistant immunity, effectively, suppresses pathogenic in the microbiota and does not develop defeat of nail plates. Factors predisposing to the development of nail fungus are:
- the reduction of immunity, total and local;
- violation of the circulation of the blood in the lower limbs;
- excessive sweating stop;
- wearing properly chosen, shoes, violation of blood circulation;
- damages and injuries on the skin to stop.
The rapid growth of a pathogenic microflora and is frequently observed in violation of blood circulation caused by diseases of the veins, and metabolic. Cause the disease can also incorrect shoes, while wearing which increases perspiration and has stopped the blood circulation. A good medium for the development of pathogenic microflora is the skin wet, which does not receive a sufficient amount of oxygen. This happens when the person is wearing socks of synthetic fabrics and tight shoes, manufactured from artificial "non-breathable materials.
Another reason that can cause the development of infection is the disrespect for the rules of hygiene and non-compliance with security measures. The patient can, by negligence, "receive", the fungus – trying shoes of another person, by visiting the public shower or swimming pool, without sliders, or using another person's towel for the feet.
Many times people accept a serious error when you purchase a new shoe – they experience it in their bare feet, not wearing socks. Such action may become the cause of nail fungus, because it is not known who measure the same pair of shoes earlier, and if the feet of this person infected with a pathogenic, bacterial flora.
How to recognize the disease?
When the fungus nails in the feet, the symptoms are so characteristic that to confuse this disease with other diseases, it is very difficult. At the time of identifying the pathology, it is necessary to know its main symptoms, among which:
- the formation of spots and stripes under the nail plate;
- whitish cloudy color of the nails;
- inflammation and dryness of the skin on the finger around the victim's nail;
- the emergence of an attack of mildew;
- fragility and change the structure of the nail plate.
The initial symptom of the disease is the formation of stripes or spots, painted green or yellowish color. Such strips come out deeply in the nail plate and gives the impression that they are in the skin underneath the nail.
As a rule, in the first place, it struck the toenail on the big toe, at least – to your pinky. In the initial phase of development of the disease on the fungus indicates only a change of color of the nail plate and the characteristics of the point and strips. After some time, the infection reaches the other fingers, appears redness, peeling and itching on the skin around the nail.
The treatment of the disease, at this stage, allows you to effectively and quickly get rid of the fungus, however, patients rarely seek medical help when you notice similar symptoms.
When you increase the population of pathogenic microflora, the fungus begins to destroy the surface of the nail plate. It is characterized by the fact that the nail becomes soft and with the hill, appear cracks and depressions, the structure becomes heterogeneous. This can be accompanied by the allocation of pus under the nail and the sharp odor of the feet. With time, the fingernail is destroyed, the shell becomes stronger and reaches the skin between the toes.
As it seems to defeat the nail depends on the type of fungus. The causative agent of the disease are yeast or molds and mushrooms. When infected with the yeast mushrooms nail plate, it becomes gray-color cianótica. The nail is quickly decomposed and the result comes out completely from the nail bed.
Molds fungi afflict the nail plate, in the case of violation of feeding of tissues, for example, as a result of a strong grip nails very narrow shoes. For this type of onychomycosis characteristic education whitish plaque on the nails.
Knowing how the disease, it is important to keep all that to visit your doctor. Different types of fungi have a variety of symptoms and the treatment, which is difficult to find alone, without consulting a specialist.
Principle of treatment of
Treatment of lesions of nail plates requires a comprehensive approach and takes a long time. It is important to remember that the sooner they are detected the symptoms of the fungus and start treatment, the faster it is possible to get rid of the disease.
To cope with the disease:
- antifungal ointments and solutions;
- the system of antifungal agents in tablets;
- the tool of folk medicine.
Heal the pathology in the initial phase can be with the outside antifungal funds. Such medicines include ointments, solutions, as well as luck with antifungal component in the composition.
For the treatment most commonly prescribed the ointment of broad spectrum of action, the components influence actively to a variety of fungi, including yeast. The ointment and cream is appropriate for use in the initial phase of development of the disease. In the case of a violation of a structure of the nail plate they are ineffective, as well as the components of a medicine can not penetrate in cracking of the nail.
The most effective are antifungal solutions. Such medicines are usually released in bubbles with an eye dropper. The tool is applied over the nail plate. Thanks to a liquid consistency, substance, fills minor irregularities and falls under the nail plate, thus effectively acting on the affected area.
Pharmacies are widely available medicines in the form of varnish. Characteristic of such a form antifungal is something that should not be used on a daily basis. Varnish is applied once in several days. The drug forms a protective covering over the nail plate protecting the nail and blocking the spread of a fungal infection. The active substance of a medicine penetrate deeply in the nail plate and act long term – a single application is sufficient to ensure an antifungal action over two days. Luck is also effective for the prevention of disease fungal. You can use them once per week or apply before visiting the places with high risk of infection by a fungus.
In addition to the processing of the nail plate, the need to ensure the antifungal protection of the skin around the nail and between the toes. For this, apply the ointment.
If the nails began to break down, medicines for external use is not enough, therefore, additionally, are assigned as antifungal agents in tablets. These drugs provide a systematic exposition on the entire organism in general.
If fungal defeat of the nail is accompanied by a bacterial infection, in which it is celebrated the emergence of pus, additionally prescribe an ointment with antibacterial action, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine, are used the following means against onychomycosis.
- A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water sprayed on the top pad, which is struck by a nail in 1 hour. The procedure is repeated every day for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of a lemon, and mix with two tablespoons of water. The solution should be used for the processing of the dead nail two times per day.
- In bath for the feet, add two large tablespoons of baking soda and iodized or sea salt. Of the foot put in the bath for half an hour. The procedure is carried out daily before sleeping.
More treaties with nail juice of onion or tincture of propolis. Folk remedies should be used in conjunction with antifungal medicines, which appointed the doctor.
Serious the stage of fungal defeat leads to loss of the nails, it is important, therefore, timely to consult a specialist when the first symptoms of the disease.