The problem of fungal infection of the nails is widespread today. Advanced multiplication of fungi in the thickness of the nail plates and in the soft tissues surrounding the nail is fraught with complete loss of the nail without the possibility of even partial recovery. If you suddenly notice changes in their structure or color that are atypical for the usual type of nails, be sure to contact a specialist for treatment. They will help determine the presence of a fungal infection and, if necessary, distinguish it from bruised nails and the manifestation of systemic diseases of the body.
Causes of nail fungus
Compliance with the usual rules of hygiene and readiness for infection is the basis for preventing fungal infections. Failure to comply with these vital aspects leads to disease. Most often, the fungus gets on the skin and nail plates themselves when wearing someone else's shoes, bathing in public places such as baths, swimming pools, saunas, washing your feet rarely or not at all, not fighting overgrown nails and cracks on the rough skin of thesoles.
If the condition and disinfection of pedicure tools is poor, it is also possible to get infected with the fungus, although this is fraught with infections and more dangerous infections, such as hepatitis B and C.
All these reasons lead to the fact that it is easiest for fungal microorganisms to colonize previously healthy tissues, for this the most favorable conditions are created, which they only aggravate.
What does nail fungus look like?
Signs of toenail fungus do not appear simultaneously. Before a clear change in the nail plates on the affected toes in the area of the periungual soft tissue structures, skin tears of different sizes and depths can be observed in the interdigital zones. This is accompanied by itching, tingling in the affected areas. The skin may peel and redden with varying degrees of severity of these symptoms. The main signs of a fungal infection are changes in the nail plate. It can thicken or thin, and a change in the usual nail color is also characteristic: white, light yellow, dark yellow, brown, light green, color combinations. The edge of the nail is no longer even, in advanced cases the nail gradually loses its structure, breaks, crumbles. Ultimately, delamination of the entire board can occur.
If you take a close look at your friends, especially those who are already adults and old, you can probably easily spot the symptoms of nail fungus.
How to distinguish a bruised nail from a fungus?
First of all, bruising the nail is directly related to the fact that you recently had a toe injury. External manifestations of a bruise do not appear immediately, but after 2-3 hours. Before that, the finger swells, may turn red. In addition, the blood that has accumulated under the nail plate (and this is due to its outflow from the damaged vessels of the nail bed) becomes visible to the naked eye. At first, its cluster acquires a pinkish-scarlet color, over time it changes to dark red, dark purple and even black. In parallel, the hematoma decreases in size and at the very end of the healing process it can look like a point. The soft tissues of the finger remain swollen, and bruising may also form. The severity of the symptoms depends on the force that caused the injury to the finger and nail plate.
Thus, the symptomatology and actions of the patient before its appearance, which are characteristic of the picture of a bruised nail, are fundamentally different from the clinic of a fungal nail infection. The difference is also evident in the mechanism of development of these diseases: they become infected with a fungus, further damage to the nail is precisely associated with the activity of microorganisms, a bruise is the result of an injury, and a hematoma arises due to damage the vessels of the finger, no microorganisms are involved in the pathogenesis. Also, nail fungus is treated by a dermatovenereologist or dermatologist, while a bruise is more in line with the activities of traumatologists and surgeons.
Procedure for checking fungal infection with potassium permanganate
Such a quick and easy recipe for diagnosing a fungus can be used at home. The main substance for determination is potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), which should be diluted in pure water to achieve its faint purple color. Next, you need to put your feet in the colored water and soak for a few minutes. If your nails really do have a fungus, potassium permanganate will not stain the affected areas (they will be white). The healthy part of the nail plates turns brown. So you can easily diagnose the disease.
After you finish this experiment, don't forget to treat your nails with hydrogen peroxide for disinfection. And be sure to contact a specialist if you find a positive diagnostic result. Now you know how to identify nail fungus at home without much effort.
Nail fungus diagnostics in the hospital certainly include other more precise laboratory methods to get to the bottom of the problem.
We treat nail fungus with medication
As you know, many people prefer attempts at folk treatment of any disease to modern drug treatment by doctors. It is possible that in some cases nail fungus can be treated with folk methods, but there is no evidence base for this. Therefore, if you have a fungal infection of the nails, the main recommendation is to follow the doctor's prescriptions and adhere to treatment with pharmacological preparations.
Depending on how far the disease has progressed, the forms of medication are selected. Basically, they are divided into local (local) and general measures. These drugs contain antifungal drugs - a special group of pharmacological substances.
In the first stages of a fungal infection, the use of local remedies (ointments, creams, gels) is preferable. If the fungus has already managed to get into the general circulatory system, which is the most severe course, or the nail plate is significantly affected, the treatment is supplemented with general preparations (tablets or infusions of solutions).
The list of antifungal drugs used to treat fungal toenail infections includes: Levorin, Nystatin, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole, Amphotericin B, Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, Terbinafine. These are the names of the active ingredients that form the basis of the treatment. Such funds can be part of various drugs. That is, the last drugs are just the trade names of the substances listed first. In order not to get confused with the remedy, the form of its use and dosage, be sure to consult with specialists and follow their recommendations for treatment.
The most common treatment methods include:
- soda baths
- iodine treatment
- Therapy with vinegar or vinegar essence
- Treatment of fungi with laundry soap
Folk methods are effective only in the early stages, along with medicines.
Prevention of nail fungus infection
To protect yourself from fungal microorganisms, you do not need to follow any special rules, they are all easy if you introduce them into your daily routine. First of all, refuse to wear someone else's shoes, even in what you consider to be the most harmless cases. Also, be sure to use individual slippers and slates in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Constantly take care of your feet, remove germs well with soap, dry your skin. Avoid shoes that make your feet sweat. Pay attention to the appearance of cracks on the skin of the feet, especially near the nail plates and in the interdigital spaces. Change socks daily and when dirty. And if sweating your feet is not your very pleasant routine, then we advise you to take an interest in special baths, they can really help you.
Fungal infections are now a common disease among the country's population. Many are not even aware of its presence, perhaps referring to the symptoms of a bruised nail or banal everyday pollution. But, as you have already seen, the fungus causes quite characteristic clinical manifestations. One only needs to take a closer look at the feet and timely seek medical help for treatment, but it is better to deal with the prevention of infection.