Toenail fungus is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today there are more than 50 pathogens, which makes it difficult to classify diseases;This article discusses the most common varieties, as well as ways to get rid of this pathology.
Causes
The cause of fungal toenail infection is infection by pathogenic organisms;their penetration can occur in three main ways:
- Penetration under the free edge of the nail plate and subsequent deepening, this time is the most common.
- Penetration through the dorsal part of the nail is observed in rare cases, because it is not accessible to all mycotic organisms.In such a situation, the development of pathological processes occurs much faster.
- Penetration through the proximal ridge is also quite rare and occurs most often on the arms rather than the legs.
Infection with fungal organisms often occurs under the influence of the following provoking factors:
- Mechanical injuries that lead to the destruction of the nail plate.
- Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning products containing harmful components;systematic contact with water.
- Wearing uncomfortable and uncomfortable shoes, as well as things made of synthetic materials, which creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
- Increased sweating, regardless of the cause.
- Flat feet.
- Anatomical characteristics of foot development, especially the presence of too narrow spaces between the toes, which disturbs the natural exchange of air.
- Lack of hygienic foot care and timely trimming of ingrown nails.
- Immune system disorders.
- Tendency to varicose veins.
- Often wearing warm clothes or shoes due to the climatic conditions in the region.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases, as warm temperatures and high humidity are favorable factors for the reproduction of such organisms.
- Advanced age.Changes in the body of the elderly increase the likelihood of infection.
- Performing work activities in unfavorable conditions, which include stuffy and dusty rooms, physically demanding work, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, thyroid gland failure.All these health problems put a person at risk.
- Long-term use of powerful antibacterial agents and hormonal pharmacological drugs.
- Visiting public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
- Using shared footwear and personal care products.
- Undergoing various cosmetic procedures during which an instrument that has not undergone proper treatment is used.
Types and symptoms
The symptoms that occur when the toenails are affected depend on the type of fungus and the causative agent of the disease.
The main types and their characteristic clinical picture are described below:
- Normotrophic fungus.The main symptom is a change in the color of the nail plate;its thickness and structure are not susceptible to pathological processes.In the initial stage, noticeable white or yellowish stripes and spots are formed, which are localized on the sides.If left untreated, they begin to grow and cover the entire nail.
- Hypertrophic fungus.In this disease, not only the color changes, but also an increase in the thickness of the plate is observed, which is associated with the accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Gradually, there is a loss of healthy shine and the fragility of the nail increases, which begins to color even with slight pressure.First, the lateral surfaces are destroyed, but if they are not treated, a general deformation is observed, due to which the nail begins to resemble a bird's claw in appearance.
- Atrophic fungus.The first symptom of this pathology is a change in color: the nail plate takes on a characteristic brown-gray shade.Soon its natural luster disappears and destruction gradually occurs.If left untreated, the development of the disease leads to complete exposure of the nail folds and tissue necrosis.
- Lateral and distal fungi.Both variants lead to the creation of transverse grooves with a yellow tint, and in parallel, darkening of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the causative agent is mold, the affected areas may be green or black.Brittleness gradually increases, the plate structure becomes uneven and rough.After the affected areas die, the nail becomes deformed and the nail fold becomes partially exposed.This pathology can bring severe physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain if swelling and redness of the skin ridges appear.
- Proximal fungi.This type of disease is extremely rare;in the initial stage, the area around the skin fold is affected.The main cause of the pathology is the side effects of removing the cuticle, after which the area of the plate near the growth zone acquires a characteristic white color.The localization of the lesion is related to the characteristics of the spread of fungal spores;they gradually affect the entire nail plate.
- A total mushroomoccurs in the absence of treatment of other forms of the disease, in this case there is a change in color and increased brittleness, which gradually leads to the complete loss of the nail.
- White surface fungus.The main symptom is the appearance of white spots localized near the back cushion.In the absence of appropriate treatment, the pathology progresses, and the lesion begins to spread to neighboring areas.Most often, a large number of small spots are formed, which merge into a single pattern that looks like loose powder.
Fungal stages
Regardless of the type of causative agent, the nail plate is never completely affected.The development of the pathology takes place gradually, which allows us to distinguish the following stages:
- In the initial stage, the lesions are localized in separate areas,the most common are the pages or the free edge.At this stage, subtle streaks or spots are formed, which the person often does not notice.
- In the phase of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become visible,traces of fungi can be detected even with the naked eye.There is also an increased fragility of the nail and a change in its shade;in some forms of the disease, serous discharge may protrude from under the plate.
- In the hypertrophic lesion stage, the pathology continues to develop in the subungual space, which leads to a thickening of the plate.Depending on the form of the disease, deformation, separation, thinning, lack of natural growth and other types of destruction may occur.
Before the initial stage, a person often has problems with the skin of the feet: severe itching, burning or cracking of the upper layers of the epidermis can be noticed.Due to the lack of a clear clinical picture, diagnosis and making an accurate diagnosis at this stage is practically impossible.
In advanced stages, the disease is actively developing;the symptoms spread not only to the toenails, but also to the plates on the hands and skin.
How to treat at home?
In the early stages, you can get rid of the disease using traditional medicine, but such measures must be agreed with a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of harm to your health.Some effective techniques are described below:
- Iodineis the most common remedy, it is used for application on a cotton swab and subsequent treatment of the affected areas, and also as an auxiliary component for foot baths.
- Vinegaris another very effective remedy, as almost all fungal pathogens die in a highly acidic environment.It can be used neat or diluted in water and then applied directly to the affected areas.
- Salicylic acideffective in the treatment of any form of fungus, it is used in the same way as vinegar.
- Eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.Both drugs have a strong antiseptic effect, but are usually included in complex therapy.
How to get rid of foot fungus with medication?
If the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, it is recommended to immediately seek professional medical help, because only diagnostic measures can establish an accurate diagnosis, and taking measures at the initial stage allows you to quickly get rid of the pathology and reduce the risk of unwanted consequences.
Specialists usually prescribe pharmaceutical products that can be produced in different forms.
Prevention
It is impossible to completely protect yourself from fungi, but the preventive measures described below significantly reduce the risk of infection:
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, tempering, ensuring a balanced diet, taking vitamins if the body is deficient, playing sports and other measures to strengthen the immune system.
- Wearing shoes on the beach.
- Wearing special closed rubber slippers when visiting the bath or sauna.
- Wear socks only made of natural materials and change them daily.
- Wear only your own shoes.
- Dry your feet thoroughly after showering to make sure they are completely dry.
Reviews
- I have been suffering from toenail fungus for a long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was temporary.Only a fungicidal medicine helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for several days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly receding.
- I recently came across a fungus;apparently I picked it up when I showered after practice.So swim only in flip-flops and don't go anywhere barefoot.Fungus is such an infection that it is difficult to get rid of.I used an antifungal medicine, it helped.But she also applied vinegar to the affected areas.All together it gave such a great result.
- And this is not the first time I have to fight with fungus.It's very hard to leave me.I used various medicines that did their job perfectly.
- This fungus is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in summer!It's also uncomfortable for you to go out, but I use an anti-fungal agent for external use, it helped me a lot.If you catch the fungus once, the probability of it appearing again is 70%.Be careful!