Fungal infections of the toenails (onychomycosis) — one of the most common infectious diseases, difficult to treat. According to statistics, every inhabitant of the third planet suffers from fungal infections, which are not only able to affect the skin and nails, but also cause more serious health disorders. In advanced cases from the life of pathogenic fungi are affections of the internal organs, experience a reduction in general and local immune system and often develop complications associated with the accession of a secondary bacterial infection.
Completely get rid of the fungus in the difficult process of long-term treatment, which requires careful compliance to medical recommendations. Also, if you do not bring the therapy to the end, at high risk of relapse and further progression of the disease. The pharmaceutical market has today presented a wide range of antifungals, allowing you to deal with the infection. It is not only ointments, gels, sprays, paints, but also drugs designed for ingestion. I'll tell you more on how to cure nail fungus on the legs and the best remedy according to the mycologists and dermatologists will allow more effective way to tackle the problem. But first we stop at the first symptoms of infection and modes of infection.
The nail fungus in the feet — causes of infection
Doctors have identified a number of the main causes of fungal infection:
- Direct contact with the carrier of fungal infection
- The non-observance of rules of hygiene
- Decreased immunity
- Injury to stop because of wearing shoes that are uncomfortable
- Chronic diseases
The infection by a fungus occurs in consequence of the breach of the elementary rules of hygiene or contact with the bearer. For example, getting the most possible in the family, if one of its members suffering from onychomycosis. It is sufficient to wear others ' slippers, use a towel or other objects of daily use.
Fungal infections you can easily take in public places with high temperature and high humidity (swimming pool, Turkish bath, sauna, shower, gym). There is a microclimate favorable for the development of pathogenic fungi, and creates the conditions for the contact of a barefoot with a surface infected. The fungi thrive and multiply actively, exactly, in the warm, wet environment. They can persist for a long time on all surfaces (benches, carpets on the floor). If the person in a public place, walking barefoot, the spores of the fungus fall on your foot, toes and nails.
Port-of-entry for the infection serve small cracks, abrasions, calluses, sores on the soles of the feet, appear because of wearing tight shoes, uncomfortable. But even in this case of infection can not happen, if a person has a good immune system, capable to cope with the infection. If the immune system is weakened, the infection can not avoid. The fungus often favours the excessive sweating of the feet, or concomitant chronic diseases (diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins).
The fungus first affects the skin of the feet and the area between the fingers, and then spreads on the nail plate, where in the absence of timely treatment continue to grow and multiply. The infection develops slowly, and in the early stages to detect the fungus of the toenails is difficult. In order to cope effectively with onychomycosis, the treatment should start as soon as possible, and then the first signs of infection, you need to know at all.
Symptoms and photos
The first signs of mold on the legs is a sensation of burning and itching. The skin on the leg, between the toes begins to flake, about it appear the bubbles, which bursting, form cracks and sores. If time does not begin treatment, the fungus spreads over and penetrates under the nails, choosing the place of location space under the nail, where the available nutrients necessary for its further reproduction and growth.
Guaranteed under the plate of the nail, the fungus starts to produce enzymes that destroy the tissue and the stratum corneum and encourage the proliferation of threads of mycelia. In the early stages of infection external manifestations are almost imperceptible, and then to the very little that draws the attention, but as a further progression begin to appear in the characteristic symptoms:
- Change the appearance of the nail plate. It becomes opaque, then on it appear yellow or white spots medium longitudinal or transverse strips. With time the nail more and more the colour changes, and may become completely yellow, gray or even black.
- Around the nail in the skin on the fingers may redden and inflamed. This process is accompanied by itching and pain in the inflamed stage of the skin.
- The nails also start to get thicker, crumble, deform and if not treated can have a break from the nail bed.
The forecast losses largely depends on the variety of mushrooms. Thus, during infection by dermatophytes, the characteristic symptom is the appearance of yellow spots and longitudinal stripes in the centre and at the edges of the nail plate. If the nail has hit the yeast, their malicious activity starts on the sides of the nail, which gradually becomes yellow, and starts to keep up with the nail bed. If the nail is black, similar changes, probably caused by mold and mildew.
One of the serious complications a fungal infection is an ingrown toenail. The nail affected by a fungus, by the time it thickens, and grows properly, it rolls up and crashes against the skin. As A result of ingrown nails declare a sharp pain when you walk, hurt to the skin and become reason of the accession of a bacterial infection. When the finger of the foot reddens and swells, from under the nail plate pus. The man with the patient of the nail is difficult to walk because of the pain. This complication is particularly dangerous for diabetic patients, as it may cause gangrene of the defeat of a limb.
If you do not start the treatment at the first adverse symptoms, the disease will progress and, later, the athlete's foot extends on each nail. In complex cases, by the fungus begins to suffer the whole body: allergic reactions, disorders of the digestive system and other symptoms of poisoning caused by the penetration of fungal toxins in the circulatory and the lymphatic system. When the first symptoms of anxiety recommended to consult a specialist, who will select the optimal scheme of treatment and to recommend an effective remedy against the nail fungus of the feet.
The treatment of nail fungus
At the first sign of mold on the legs they need to take active measures for its resolution, not worth to hope that all the manifestations disappear by themselves. This is not the case. Fungal infection with the progress and can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, before we started the treatment, the greater the chance to get rid of onychomycosis forever. Today in the arsenal of dermatologists and mycologists are highly effective drugs against the nail fungus on the legs general and local action.
In the initial phase of the disease, when the defeat is minimal, it is possible to restrict the use of local anti-fungal broad-spectrum drugs (ointments, creams, mortars, paints, sprays). If the process has gone too far, and the nails are completely amazed by a fungus, in the composition of integrated treatment include antifungal systemic action in the form of pills. Most of these drugs have serious contraindications and side-effects, therefore, assign them to a specialist, and the treatment is carried out under its control. Let us consider drugs designed for the treatment of the fungus.
Mortars, paints. In the initial phase, it is possible to use an antifungal solutions, and nail Polish. The range of these tools offers a great variety.
Ointments, gel, cream.
External machining nails affected by fungus, apply group-based drugs terbinafine, naftifin, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole.Capsules, tablets.
When complicated forms of fungal infections external treatment complete the intake of anti-fungal medications in the form of tablets. Without system antifungals you can not do in those cases, when the disease progresses, and the only treatment of the local media is ineffective. Drugs for the treatment of the fungus very, pick them up must a medical expert, because many of them have serious contraindications and limitations of use. These funds can not take the children, pregnant women, patients with diseases of the liver and kidneys. The effectiveness of these tools is very high, in complex with the local medicines can get results persistent and to manage onychomycosis, avoiding repeated relapses of the disease.Tools for the removal of the nail.
If the nail, amazed, completely, before starting treatment, it is better to remove. An alternative surgical technique need special cosmetic painless that allows you to remove the nail, struck by a fungus.The treatment of nail fungus in the foot folk remedies
There are many popular recipes that will help stop the spread of the fungus and to cope with it in the initial stages. We present to your attention a couple of popular recipes used for treatment of toe nail fungus in the house.
- Kombucha. Effective from fungus is a wrap with the use of discs of kombucha. Wrapped in a bandage-sterile, apply to the nail and close a patch. This wrap you can leave it for a night, in order not to slip on the foot to wear a sock. During the procedure you may feel a burning sensation, but the result is worth suffering. The morning wrap relieve, softened stratum corneum to remove the instrument, the surface of the nail is treated with an antiseptic solution.
- Creolin. It is economical veterinary tool powerful pesticide and a disinfectant. Applied, it must be very gently, avoiding contact with healthy skin, as well as you can get burned. To avoid this, a strip of skin that surrounds the nail you need to cover a patch. The nails are manicured Creolin once a day for 2 months until complete healing.
- The foot baths. To eliminate the fungus can make a foot bath with the addition of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. The duration of the procedure – no more than 15 minutes. A good effect gives the treatment of the nails with a solution of propolis, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda or epsom salts. The nails can be lubricated with the oil of tea tree, lavender, and oregano have antiseptic and antifungal. Many of the traditional recipes are based on the use of garlic, vinegar, alcohol, onion. Before you use these recipes for themselves, do not forget to consult your doctor.
The prevention of the disease
To avoid infection by a fungus, follow simple tips:
- Do not walk barefoot in the pool,Turkish bath, gym and other public places. In environments with high humidity, it is necessary to wear slippers of rubber or shale. As prevention measures apply on nails, antifungal nail Polish, protects from infections.
- Never use the shoes of someone else, slippers, socks, towels and other items of daily use. All products for personal hygiene and pedicure tools must be strictly individual.
- Wear comfortable shoes, natural materials that breathe. The shoes should not be tight, rub and injure the foot.
- The foot need to wash twice a day, morning and evening, and every day change socks and stockings. After the treatment of the water legs to wipe it with, particular attention to drying the skin between the fingers.
- The fungus was particularly active during the low immunity. So stay tuned for their health, the time it cures the diseases related to take immunomodulatory drugs. Maintain the defenses of the body correct and balanced nutrition, eat more fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamins and trace elements.
- During the treatment process shoes antiseptic solutions, this will help to prevent the recurrence of the disease. It is possible to disinfect the shoes of formalin or vinegar, carefully machined inside. After the treatment of a wad of cotton wool soaked with antiseptic solution, you need to put in toe shoes and put it in a airtight plastic bag package per day.
These simple preventive measures will help to protect yourself from fungi and maintain the health of the foot. Remember that nail fungus in the feet is been a long and difficult, so it is important to prevent the appearance of fungal infection, carefully observe the rules of hygiene and react to any negative effects, which may be the first signs of infection.