Nail fungus - onychomycosis - is a widespread nail disease that, according to various authors, affects a fifth of the population. It affects the elderly most often, and in age groups with a difference of 10 years the incidence increases about 2. 5 times. This is not only an aesthetic disadvantage, because with a sharp decrease in immunity and the addition of a bacterial infection, there can be serious complications, for example, erysipelas, and if the problem is neglected, the disease becomes chronic, threatens all members of the family with infection.
How to recognize onychomycosis: symptoms of a fungus
A warm and humid environment is the best place for yeast infections to develop. And the climate doesn't have to be hot; for example, you can create favorable conditions for mushrooms by wearing shoes that sweat on your feet.
The source of infection is usually another person who is not involved in the treatment of onychomycosis, has not monitored the condition of the nails, or has not taken treatment measures to ensure full recovery. About a third of patients who see a doctor have such a patient in their family. At the same time, according to statistics, men get sick two to three times more often than women, but seek medical help less often.
The development of nail fungus, as already mentioned, is facilitated by wearing warm or uncomfortable shoes for a long time - onychomycosis is common among miners, ironworkers, and military personnel. The need to be barefoot in public places also plays a role. One of the studies showed a higher prevalence of nail diseases (onychomycosis) among professional swimmers and another among mosque visitors (who do not wear shoes) compared to the main population of the corresponding age.
In addition, people with diabetes mellitus, blood diseases, HIV and long-term use of cytostatics, corticosteroids and antibiotics are more likely to get fungal nail infections. This is due to decreased immunity in such patients and an imbalance in microflora (in the case of antibiotic therapy).
In summary, the following predisposing factors for nail fungus can be distinguished:
- permanent injuries to the nail plate and skin of the feet (mainly from uncomfortable shoes);
- frequent contact with water (especially in public places);
- increased sweating, also due to the need to constantly be in warm or synthetic shoes;
- Deformities of the foot, including flat feet;
- Reduced nail growth - this is precisely why onychomycosis predominates in older people: the older a person is, the slower their nails grow.
The fungus initially colonizes only part of the nail, gets there from the foot or from the interdigital folds, but gradually spreads to the entire nail plate. The fungus penetrates under the nail plate from the side of the free edge of the nail or under the nail roller. Depending on the localization and manifestation of the symptoms of onychomycosis (from one or the other edge of the nail), dermatovenerologists distinguish different forms of fungal infection and their stages.
- Discoloration of the nails.A normal nail is pale pink, translucent with a white border. Affected - completely loses its transparency, turns white, gray, brown, green or black (depending on the neglect of the process and the type of fungal pathogen).
- Thickening of the nail.Due to the overgrowth of the stratum corneum in response to the introduction of the fungus, the nail becomes thick and uneven.
- Destruction of the nail plate (onycholysis).The nail crumbles, partially or completely peeled off.
At first, these manifestations can be subtle, but as the fungus develops, the nail becomes less and less aesthetic. This often results in the patient constantly hiding their legs, even walking in closed shoes in the heat, which makes the problem worse.
Treatment of onychomycosis
Traditional methods of treating onychomycosis are extremely diverse. What is not recommended to lubricate the long-suffering nail: vinegar, soda or saline solution, iodine, coffee, apricot gum, tea tree oil and so on. Unfortunately, most of these remedies are ineffective. First, the substances suggested for treatment usually have no antifungal effect. Second, in order to infect the fungus, the drug must penetrate the thickness of the nail plate and under the nail, since the fungus "lives" there and not on the surface. In addition, the drug should, so to speak, saturate the nail plate throughout the entire nail growth, otherwise the colony of fungi will spread to the new surface.
Based on the above, pharmacologists create remedies for treating nail fungus. But here it must be said that drugs for onychomycosis can be both local and systemic. Systemic drugs are drugs that are taken orally. By and large, these are the same drugs that are prescribed for fungal infections of other localizations: thrush, extensive skin or intestinal lesions, systemic mycoses. They are quite effective, but relatively toxic, and with prolonged use, have a detrimental effect on the entire body (and treatment for nail fungus takes more than a month). Therefore, oral means have strict indications:
- Damage to more than half of the nail;
- proximal spread of the fungus (from the side of the nail fold);
- Damage to more than two nails;
- Combination with skin or hair lesions;
- unsuccessful local treatment.
Medicines for the systemic therapy of fungal infections are only sold with a doctor's prescription. He also prescribes a regimen, since drugs must be taken several times according to a certain scheme in order to maintain the required concentration of the active ingredient in the nail plate.
Local remedies are offered in various forms: varnishes, ointments, sprays, solutions. However, medical varnishes can only be used in the initial stages of the disease, then they will not be effective. And ointments and sprays are more suitable for treating fungal infections of the skin than for nails. So the best topical remedy is liquid medication. The solutions allow you to create a higher concentration of the active ingredient in the areas where the fungal infection accumulates, rather than on the surface of the nail.
So treating nail fungus is a long process that requires accuracy and patience. However, modern drugs and treatment regimens allow you to get rid of onychomycosis completely and prevent its recurrence. You should not ignore the problem, because in this case the health and quality of life will be at risk not only of the sick person, but also of his loved ones.