The problem of fungal infection of the nail plates of the legs is known to many. According to medical statistics, this disease worries about 20% of the world's population. On the territory of our country alone, more than 15 million people suffer from the fungus. Therefore, the problem of how to treat toenail fungus is extremely relevant today. This disease is also referred to in the medical environment as onychomycosis. The disease is more common in the stronger sex. This is because they are more likely to wear closed-toe shoes. This, in turn, prevents the flow of air to the feet, which contributes to the creation of a favorable environment for the rapid reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
Important!
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. With pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact a specialist.
symptoms of the disease
There are about 50 different types of fungi that can infect the human body. Therefore, in order to determine how to treat toenail fungus, you need to know the exact nature of the infection. Symptoms of the disease also vary depending on what pathogen provoked it. When infected with a normotrophic fungus in a patient:
- there is a change in the color of the nail;
- Spots and stripes appear on it;
- Onycholysis observed.
With the atrophic form of the disease, the patient notes that his nail is slowly being destroyed. Damage occurs at the outer end and moves toward the nail fold. At first, only a change in the color of the plate indicates a disease. She will:
- Gray;
- boring;
- frosted.
In the future there is a complete loss of the nail. With hypertrophic fungus, thickening of the plate is observed. This happens due to the increased growth of skin flakes. This can thicken the nail by up to two millimeters and severely deform it. The following symptoms indicate the occurrence of this disease:
- change in the shape of the nail (the side parts are destroyed);
- loss of plate gloss;
- yellowing of the nail.
Toenail fungus treatment should be started urgently when signs of lateral and distal lesions appear. These two types of disease often occur in combination. This disease is indicated by:
- the appearance of transverse grooves on the nail;
- Plate color change (from teal to black);
- roughness of the affected areas.
The disease ends with the complete loss of the nail, as well as inflammation of the nail folds. Regardless of the type of lesion, there are symptoms that bother every patient with a fungus:
- itching in the affected area;
- plate delamination;
- Crumbling and loss of the nail.
causes
The fungus occurs due to tissue damage caused by fungal bacteria. In almost 90% of cases, the disease is caused by dermatomycetes. In rarer cases, fungi of the genus Candida and mold become pathogens. Pathogens can penetrate deep into the nail:
- through the dorsal part of the nail;
- from below the distal edge;
- through the proximal fold.
In the first case, fungi penetrate deep into the nail. This route of infection is characteristic of dermatomycetes. In the second case, the lesion occurs directly under the plate. This greatly complicates the treatment of toenail fungus, since its inaccessibility makes it difficult to apply medication directly to the site of infection. Infection rarely penetrates through the proximal roller. In order for the fungus to get into the nail, certain conditions are necessary. Increase risk of infection:
- mechanical damage to the nail area;
- wear tight and uncomfortable shoes;
- constant contact with water;
- increased sweating;
- exposure to chemicals on feet;
- Failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene.
You can get a fungus from a sick person. The causative agents of the disease are perfectly preserved in humid and warm rooms, so the infection most often occurs in showers, swimming pools, water parks and public baths. The fungus can also be transmitted when sharing such objects:
- towels
- washcloth;
- slippers;
- Scissors;
- pumice
Which doctor treats?
When the first symptoms appear, indicating the development of the disease, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication is possible, but when trying to cope with the disease yourself, there is a high probability of infecting all loved ones and provoking the development of complications. Therefore, it is better to trust professionals. Treatment and diagnosis of nail fungus are carried out by: dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist, podiatrist.
At the first appointment, the patient is examined. The doctor must examine the condition of the nail plate and determine the nature and prevalence of the disease. The patient must tell as much as possible about all the ailments and indicate his assumptions about the causes of the onset of the disease. In order to decide how to cure toenail fungus, it is important for a doctor to conduct a survey. The specialist will ask the patient:
- Have you had similar problems in the past?
- Are there other health problems?
- Have you been in a sauna, bath or swimming pool lately?
- Do family members suffer from nail fungus?
- Are there chronic diseases?
- How did you try to solve the problem yourself?
It is very important for the doctor to understand what kind of fungus has affected the nail. Diagnostic tests will help find out. The patient is scraped from the affected part, which is sent for laboratory examination. The study will determine the type of pathogen and examine its sensitivity to drugs.
Effective treatment for toenail fungus
You can cope with the disease quickly enough if you strictly follow all the recommendations of a specialist. The doctor draws up an individual therapy plan for the patient, selects the medication and specifies the maximum permissible dosage. To treat nail fungus, drugs are used in the form of:
- lacquers;
- Solutions;
- Pavement;
- creams.
They must be applied regularly. It is important not to mix several products, as their effectiveness will be reduced. It is impossible to independently purchase and use such drugs, since they have a number of contraindications. Only a doctor knows how to treat nail fungus in such cases:
- with lactation;
- during pregnancy;
- in liver diseases;
- in the childhood.
It is very important to follow the rules of using these drugs. For example, before covering the plate with a special antifungal varnish, you must:
- Remove the affected part of the nail with a nail file.
- steam out the leg;
- Degrease the nail surface.
The drug is applied in one layer. Remove it every week with a simple nail polish remover. Then apply it again. Some types of such products can be coated with ordinary nail polish. The duration of therapy depends on the type of pathogen, the prevalence of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
What is the best treatment?
The sooner a person consults a doctor, the easier and faster he will get rid of the problem. However, not all people immediately go to the hospital when the first signs of fungus appear. Many try to cope with the disease on their own, which leads to the fact that the disease progresses to an advanced stage. In this case, rapid healing is not possible. The patient needs a long and serious therapy, during which he:
- take antifungal tablets;
- use funds for topical application;
- wear patches all the time.
The doctor will determine how to treat advanced toenail fungus based on the extent of the lesions. If the plate is completely affected, its removal is mandatory. Surgical methods can be used for this. But most often it is possible to remove the nail with the help of special preparations. The way to use them is as follows:
- A thick layer is applied to a steamed and well-dried leg.
- The nail is fixed with a plaster from above.
- After 4 days, it is removed and the affected nail is scraped off with manicure tools.
In this way, the fungus can be completely removed. Instead of the affected nail, a new and completely healthy one grows over time. If the therapy was carried out correctly and to the end, you can completely get rid of the disease and not worry about relapses.
prevention of reinfection
Even after defeating the disease, there is a chance of encountering a problem again if certain rules are not followed. In this case, the treatment of toenail fungus has to start all over again. Reinfection can be prevented by strictly adhering to the following prevention methods:
- Keep your feet dry, do not walk in wet shoes.
- Don't wear other people's shoes.
- Use closed disposable slippers in saunas and baths.
- Don't go barefoot on the beach.
- Only wear socks made from natural fabric.
It is important not to wear uncomfortable and too tight shoes in which your feet sweat a lot. The prevention of the disease also includes strengthening the immune system. If the body's defenses are fully functional, they will fix the problem themselves, even if the fungus penetrates the nail plate. Therefore it is very important:
- eat right and nutritious;
- avoid hypothermia;
- To do sports;
- observe the work and rest regime;
- Treat all diseases in a timely manner.
Important!
Remember that only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the causes and nature of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.