Nail fungus or onychomycosis (medical name) is an illness that occurs with a damage to the nail plate with a fungal infection.Onichomycosis suffers from 5 to 15 % of people.The risk of its development increases with age, although the fungus is often determined in babies.Every 10 years of life grows around 2.5 times.If it is 3 %in children, older people already have 50 to 60 %.
Pathogens
Onichomycosis is caused by microorganisms from the kingdom of mushrooms.The world of mushrooms is diverse, and not all are as pleasant as mushrooms, Chanterelles or mushrooms that we are used to see on our table.There are microscopic parasitic species that feed on plants, animals, people.
The causal means of onychomycosis consume keratin protein, which is part of the nail plate, hair, the upper (keratized) skin layer.Around 50 representatives of parasitic mushrooms that can cause a disease are known.
You are divided into three groups:
- Dermatophytes.They make up 80 % of onychomycosis.They differ in high survival and vitality.There is in nature in the ground;
- Hefe -like mushrooms.Among them is the well -known women Candida Albicans (microorganisms of the genus Candida) caused by throttle or vaginal candidiasis.Explosion -like mushrooms that affect the nails on the hands 5 times more often than on the legs.The work of the entire organism deteriorates toxic and poisonous;
- Shape.The onychomycosis caused by shapes is rare.But it is most dangerous, progressing quickly, the nail plate can completely destroy, go to neighboring fabrics.
Onychomycosis influences the nails of the arms and legs, but the nail fungus occurs much more often on the legs.This is due to the fact that the hands are paid a lot more attention that is washed more often during the day and treated with antiseptic ingredients.They are always open and ventilated with the exception of winter when we wear gloves.And the legs are constantly closed by street shoes, homemade slippers, tights, socks and more sweating.These factors create ideal conditions for the development of the mushroom to the legs, since heat and moisture are their best “friends”.
The causal means of onychomycosis penetrate the nail from different directions.The most common way is from above, from the free edge of the nail plate.It is also possible to introduce yourself alongside the side rollers or below the cuticle and the growth zone of the nail.
The most dangerous onychomycosis is near the cuticle.In this case, the mushroom slows down or stops the division of onychoblasts - the cells of the spray stone under the lower nail roller.The nail no longer increases in length, infected areas may not recover.A pathological change in the structure, the destruction of the nail occurs.
Mushrooms are rarely inserted into the nail plate immediately.First of all, their spores fall into the skin around the nail or the interdigital gaps through microcises, cuts, abrasion, abrasion, grains.Then the growth of the colony begins, the pathogen moves into the nail plate, penetrates it and is brought to parasitization.
Why does onychomycosis appear?
Mushrooms live in warm and damp places, and wherever there are such conditions, it is easy to infect them.For example, if you go barefoot in public baths, pools, shower or gyms, the probability of infection is high.
The development of onychomycosis is facilitated by some diseases:
- Diabetes.The fungus occurs three times more often in patients with diabetes.Excess glucose in the blood creates favorable conditions for life for mushrooms.In the absence of sugar control and its storage within the norm, the blood vessels suffer.The more experience in the disease, the more the blood supply to the legs (Diabetic Foot syndrome) is impaired.Wounds heal worse, the infection is easier;
- Poor blood flow to the lower extremities caused by varicose veins, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the lumen, blocking of arteries), thrombophlebitis (the formation of blood clots in the lumen of the veins);
- Weakening of immunity, immune deficiency conditions (HIV), damage to the organs of the immune system.Reduce the body's resistance to infections;
- Psoriasis.90 % of the people suffered on psoriasis have changes in the nail plate.Land are formed that are cloudy, recesses appear, replacement of the nail plate.These factors 1.5 - 2 times increase the probability of infection with a fungus;
- Hyperhidrosis or an increased sweating of the feet often cause onychomycosis in men;
- The presence of a focus of a fungal infection in other parts of the body.
The risk group comprises older people.
The cause of onychomycosis is often associated with the characteristics of the profession and the false care of the legs:
- Poor supply of feet and nails, lack of daily hygiene methods due to the neglect of personal hygiene rules or difficulties in implementing (in bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility);
- Work in wet raw rooms (greenhouses, greenhouses, vegetable shops), frequent wearing of rubber gloves or rubber shoes;
- professional sport;
- Wear uncomfortable, cramped, narrow shoes or shoes made of artificial materials (leather falette) and create a "greenhouse effect" that prevents normal air exchange.
The disposable factors for the development of onychomycosis include injuries to the nail or tissue surrounding it, which take antibacterial or hormonal medication.
Women have a common cause of mushroom-long sect gel polish.It creates a closed space between the nail plate and the coating, in which a fungal infection develops successfully.It is not recommended to apply gel polish on the legs on the legs.It is better to use an ordinary decorative paint.In women, too, onychomycosis occurs after an unsuccessful manicure or pedicure in salons, in which no high disinfection of tools is carried out, which is not observed.
Signs of onychomycosis
Most of the time, the mushroom fingers the feet of the mushroom.
The following changes in the nail plate are given via mushroom damage:
- Mattness, yellowed, smoothness and shine;
- Itching, reddening, peeling of the skin around;
- Relaxation, fragility, loose;
- unpleasant smell;
- Violation of the structure, thickening;
If you find at least one of the listed signs, you must immediately consult a doctor and treat nail fungus.It can be a bonus, dermatologist or mycologist.
A mandatory examination of an undermining for checking onychomycosis is necessary after a violation of the nail or skin around it.If there are disposable factors (varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, weakened immunity, increased sweating, etc.), it is recommended to take a medical pedicure once a month in which the doctor carefully examines the nails and skin of the feet, reveal changes in the early level.
Is the fungus dangerous on the nails?
Onychomycosis is an illness that causes mental symptoms rather than physical illness.To understand what it is about, just take a look at the photo fungus on the legs on the Internet.It is characterized by a slow course, does not cause pain, fever and other symptoms that are urgently looking for a doctor.
People are not in a hurry to treat nail fungus.If the damage area is small, you can finally paint it with paint, socks or closed shoes with strangers.And the problem of psychological discomfort is temporarily solved.But unfortunately everything is not that easy.If you do not destroy the fungal infection, it does not disappear anywhere, but continues to hit the nail.And onychomycosis is contrast.An infected person is a danger for members of his family and others.
How can you prevent infection?
The best remedy for nail fungus is prevention.
To protect yourself from infections, you need:
- Use medical disinfectors with the inscription of Gost (you can kill onychomycosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV);
- Monitor the condition of the feet and nails, the main rule - the legs should be clean and dry;
- To look after shoes, disinfection regularly, it is convenient to use electric dryers to dry.
- Treat your legs with drying products or antiperspirants when the feet sweat hard;
- In the pool, sauna, lockers of the gyms do not go barefoot, but wear rubber shoes with closed toe.
- Wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathable materials;
- Do not use a towel, shoes or manicure from strangers.
These tips help you to warn onychomycosis, to keep your nails healthy and warmly.They are not only effective for the prevention of the mushroom, but also for other problems: a ingrown nail, grain, grain.
Features of treatment of onychomycosis
Advertising on television promises to heal nail fungus with antifungals (fungicides) creams, solutions, painters easily and quickly.We are promised that "different drugs penetrate deeply into the structure of the nail, effectively destroy the fungus, for 2 - 3. Use the earlier appearance in the nails."But then why provides such independent treatment of mushrooms on the legs in a maximum of 10 % of cases?Since these drugs are only effective in the early stages of the fungus if the symptoms are not yet obvious and almost not noticeable.
Manufacturers are often torn that medication are produced with the latest technologies and have good active substances in the composition. Most medications are simply very well notified and very expensive, while the substances required for treatment are not. You will not buy any special medication in normal pharmacies because production is very expensive.
Aggly medication are the basis for the treatment of onychomycosis.Without you we would like to defeat the infection.But they have to be used correctly and deliberately.A remedy for nail fungus should be applied to a pretreated and prepared nail so that it has the right healing effect.
The first thing you should do when onychomycosis is suspected to consult a doctor who confirms or refuted the diagnosis.Prescribe an additional examination and treatment if necessary.The choice of a nail fungus product is based on reviews from the Internet, friends or advertising on TV will lead to a loss of time and money that will spend on unnecessary drugs.The same results will receive when you try to treat onychomycosis with folk methods.Vinegar, garlic, onions, medicinal herbs cannot destroy the pathogen.
An important point in the treatment of onychomycosis is the disinfection of shoes and clothing that was contacted with an infected area.If it is not fulfilled, you can infect yourself from your own things.The clothing must be ironed at high temperature (over 60 ° C) and ironed with special disinfectants.
Which drugs and methods are effective?
In the initial phase, the treatment of onychomycosis is easier and faster than in advanced cases.How do I treat nail fungus?
To combat the pathogen, use:
- Hardware medical pedicure.Allows you to clean the nails affected by onychomycosis without blood and pain, to prepare them for the use of antifungal.
- Keratolytics.These are local medication for nail fungus that are applied to the affected nail with the aim of his painless removal.They loosen, soften and dissolve the nail plate and it is then easily removed with pedicure tools.Keratolytics make it easier to treat onychomycosis, remove the infected area and stimulate the growth of a new healthy nail plate.
- Fungicide agents.The effect of these drugs aims to destroy the fungus.For onychomycosis, they are used locally in the form of paints, solutions, ointments, creams and on the inside in the form of tablets.When used internally, the active substances of the tablets from the mushroom of nails accumulate in the skin and the nail plate.The activity of mushroom enzymes is suppressed, the permeability of cell membranes is disturbed and the pathogen is death.
The treatment methods for onychomycosis are selected on the basis of the severity of the symptoms and the area of the lesion zone.In the early stages of the disease there is sufficient hardware treatment and external fungicides.In the event of severe forms of damage, the entire nail must be infected with a mushroom, and must take tablets and remove the nail plate.The treatment of an advanced form of onychomycosis takes 3 months to 1 year and depends on the growth rate of the nail.
Local fungicide medication are safe for health, but not always effective.Tablets have a negative impact on the liver.During your administration, the body's laboratory control is required during its administration.
We heal onychomycosis, and that's the main thing!
The earlier you consult a doctor, the faster you can handle it.
Don't be afraid and be shy.This problem is very common, millions of people around the world have it.
When treating nail fungus in a professional medical center, you will receive:
- Joint observation of a under hesitation and mycologists (a doctor who is involved with fungal diseases);
- 100 % sterility in the implementation of all procedures;
- the possibility of a material fence (scratches of the skin and nail plate) to identify the type of fungus;
- Fast result (an average of 3 to 4 procedures are required);
- • Free disinfection of a couple of shoes in which they have come, the possibility of disinfection of all shoes in which they gave you during the onychomycosis;
- Recommendations for the foundation and shoes that help prevent a re -in -in function.
The most important thing is to choose a specialist competently and contact help in good time so that you are just your nails healthy and beautiful!