Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nails is an extremely unpleasant disease that difficult to cure. The disease develops when in contact with the fungi under the nail plate or the skin around the nail. Pathogenic micro flora feeds on Keratin, which is its number declining sharply, and the nail is destroyed.
The reasons for the development of the disease and way of infection
Fungus of the nail plate, infects and multiplies in a moist environment with elevated temperature of the air. Infection by the fungus can. when visiting public institutions, with such a climate Most often the fungus "lives" in public showers, gyms and swimming pools. The infection often takes place during a visit to the beach. Another route of infection is a close contact with the carrier of the infection. By viruses, such as illness, including the use of personal things sick people can.
However, to get nail fungus, alone, the penetration of the pathogen on the skin is not enough. Strong immunity effectively suppressed pathogenic microflora and does not defeat of the nail plate develop. Factors are tendency to development of mildew on the nails:
- Lowering of immunity, both General and local;
- a disturbance of the circulation of the blood in the lower extremities;
- to stop excessive sweating;
- wearing a wrongly chosen shoes, the the flow of blood;
- Damages and injuries on the skin of the feet.
The rapid growth of the pathogenic micro-flora often occurs, if the cause of the circulation of the blood, by a number of diseases of the veins, and metabolic disorders. Provoke disease can also be the wrong shoes, when wear increases the perspiration and blood circulation disorders. Support for the development of pathogenic micro flora, a moist skin, which is not supplied sufficient oxygen is. This happens when the person is wearing socks made of synthetic fabrics and narrow shoes, made of synthetic "non-breathing" materials.
Another reason to provoke the development of infection is the neglect of the rules of Hygiene and non-compliance with safety measures. The Patient can get on imprudence"," mushroom – the attempt of a foreign shoes or a visit to a public shower or swimming pool without a reservation, or with someone else's towel for the feet.
Often people make a serious mistake when buying new shoes – you try on your bare feet, not with socks. Such an action can be the cause for nail fungus, because it is unknown, the dimension, the same pair of shoes that were not previously infected, the feet of this man pathogenic micro flora.
How to recognize the disease?
In the case of a fungal nails symptoms toes are so characteristic, that is, to confuse this disease with other diseases is very difficult. Time pathology to identify, you need to know, their main features, including:
- the formation of spots and stripes under the nail plate;
- off-white cloudy color of the nail;
- Inflammation and dryness of the skin on the Finger to the affected nail;
- the formation of Plaque Form;
- Fragility and a change in the structure of the nail plate.
The first symptoms of the disease is the formation of stripes or spots, colored in greenish or yellowish color. Such a strip to go deep into the nail plate and it gives the impression that you are on the skin under the nail.
In General, in the first line of nail affected to the great toe, and less often in the little Finger. In the initial phase of the development of the disease the fungus is only the change of the color of the nail plate and the characteristic spots and stripes shows. After some time, the infection affects the other fingers, redness, flaking and itching of the skin around the nails.
The treatment of the disease in this stage, you can get rid of effectively and quickly, mildew, however, rarely, patients seek help from a doctor, similar symptoms to notice.
With the increase in the populations of pathogenic organisms fungus begins to destroy the surface of the nail plate. It is characterized in that the nail is soft and with bumps, cracks appear and depressions, the structure is becoming more and more uneven. This may be due to pus under the nail and a sharp unpleasant smell of feet. With time the nail is destroyed, the shell is stronger, and applies to the skin between the fingers.
How does the defeat of the nails depends on the type of fungus. The causative agent of the disease are usually yeast or fungi. If you with yeast-fungi nail plate grayish-bluish color. Finger nail quickly destroyed and, in consequence, completely away from the nail bed.
Mold fungi infect the nail plate in the case of violation of the nutrition of the tissue, for example, as a result of the strong contraction of the nails to tight shoes. For this type of onychomycosis due to the formation of whitish Plaque on the nails.
To know, how does the disease, it is important to visit on a doctor. Different types of fungus have different symptoms and the treatment that is difficult to guess on your own without professional advice.
The principle of treatment
The treatment of the lesion of the nail plate requires a comprehensive approach and takes a long time. It is important to remember that the earlier the symptoms are recognized, mildew and the treatment is started, the faster you succeed, get rid of the disease.
To combat the disease:
- antifungal ointments and solutions;
- systemic antifungal drugs in tablets;
- the traditional medicine.
Heal pathology in the initial phase, with the use of external antifungals. Such medication, ointments, solutions, and lacquers with antifungal component in the composition include.
For the treatment usually ointments prescribe broad-spectrum components that actively influence various fungi, including yeast fungi. Ointments and creams, it is advisable in the initial phase of the development of the disease. In the case of violation of the structure of the nail plate are ineffective, because the components of the drug can not penetrate small cracks in the nail.
The most effective means of antifungal agents in the solutions. Such drugs are usually in bubbles with a Pipette. The agent is on the nail plate. Thanks to the liquid consistency, the substance fills the smallest of bumps and falls under the nail plate, which can effectively act on the affected area.
In pharmacies far preparations are widely used in the Form of varnish. The peculiarity of this Form of antifungals is that they do not need to be used daily. The paint wear every couple of days. The medicine forms a protective layer on the nail plate, causing the nail and the blocking of the spread of a fungal infection. The active ingredient of the medicine penetrates deep in the nail plate and act in the long term – just one application is enough to antimycotic effect, over two days. The coatings are also effective for the prevention of fungal disease. You can even apply in the week or before the visit of the places with an increased risk of infection by the fungus.
To ensure in addition to the processing of the nail plate, you need to anti-fungal protection of the skin around the nail and between the fingers. For this ointment.
If the nails crumble began, medicines for external application is not sufficient, so that in addition to ordered to antifungal drugs in tablets. These medicines provide a systemic effect on the whole body.
If the fungal infection of the nail accompanied by a bacterial infection, in which the formation of pus is explained, in addition to ointments with anti-prescribe antibacterial effect, for example, Levomekol.
In folk medicine, the following remedies against onychomycosis are.
- A mixture of Apple cider vinegar and water on the gauze compress with the affected nail for 1 hour. The procedure is repeated daily for two weeks.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix with two tablespoons of water. Solution use for the treatment of the affected nails twice a day.
- In the foot bath, add two large spoons of baking powder and either iodized sea salt. Feet in the tub, put on a half-hour. The procedure is performed daily at bedtime.
In addition, pamper your nails onion juice, tincture, or Propolis. Natural remedies will be recommended, along with Anti-fungal medication prescribed by a physician.
Severe fungal infestation of the stage leads to a loss of the nails, therefore, it is important to see a specialist, if the first symptoms of the disease.