The problem of fungal infection of the nail plates of the legs is familiar to many. According to medical statistics, this disease worries about 20% of the world's population. Only on the territory of our country more than 15 million people suffer from the fungus. Therefore, the problem of how to treat nail fungus is extremely relevant today. This disease in the medical community is also called onychomycosis. The disease is more common in the stronger sex. This is because they are more likely to wear closed shoes. And this, in turn, impedes the flow of air to the feet, which contributes to the emergence 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. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you need to contact a specialist.
Disease symptoms
There are about 50 different types of fungi that can infect the human body. Therefore, in order to determine how to treat nail fungus, you need to know the exact type of infection. Symptoms of the disease also vary depending on the pathogen that caused it. In the event of a normotrophic fungal infection in a patient:
- there is a change in the color of the nail;
- spots and stripes appear on it;
- observed onycholysis.
With the atrophic type of the disease, the patient finds that his nail is slowly being destroyed. The damage occurs at the outer end and moves towards the nail crease. At first, only a change in the color of the plate indicates discomfort. She becomes:
- grey;
- dull;
- mast.
In the future, there is a complete loss of the nail. With hypertrophic fungus, a thickening of the plaque is observed. This happens due to the increased growth of skin scales. As a result, the nail can thicken up to two millimeters and seriously deform. The following symptoms indicate the onset of this disease:
- change in the shape of the nail (the side parts are destroyed);
- loss of plaque gloss;
- yellowing of the nail.
Treatment of nail fungus should be started urgently when signs of lateral and distal lesions appear. These two types of diseases often occur in combination. This condition will be signaled by:
- the appearance of transverse grooves on the nail;
- plate color change (from blue-green to black);
- roughness of the affected areas.
The disease ends with 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 fungus patient:
- itching in the affected area;
- plaque detachment;
- crumbling and loss of the nail.
causes
The fungus occurs due to tissue damage caused by mycotic bacteria. In almost 90% of cases, the disease is caused by dermatomycetes. In rarer cases, fungi of the genus Candida, as well as mold microorganisms, become pathogens. Pathogens can penetrate deep into the nail:
- through the dorsal part of the nail;
- below distal edge;
- through the proximal fold.
In the first case, the fungi penetrate deep into the nail. This route of infection is characteristic of dermatomycetes. In the second case, the lesion occurs directly under the plaque. This greatly complicates the treatment of nail fungus, since it is difficult to act with drugs directly on the site of infection due to its inaccessibility. Through the proximal roller, the infection rarely penetrates. In order for the fungus to penetrate the nail, certain conditions are necessary. Increase the risk of infection:
- mechanical damage to the nail area;
- wearing narrow, uncomfortable shoes;
- constant contact with water;
- increased sweating;
- exposure to chemicals on the feet;
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
You can catch a fungus from a sick person. The causative agents of the disease are perfectly preserved in damp 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 items:
- towels
- washcloths;
- slippers;
- the 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 on your own, there is a high probability of infecting all relatives, as well as provoking the development of complications. Better to trust the professionals. Treatment and diagnosis of nail fungus is carried out by: dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist, podiatrist.
At the first appointment, the patient will be examined. The doctor should study the condition of the nail plate, determine the nature and prevalence of the disease. The patient should tell as much as possible about all complaints, indicate his assumptions about the causes of the onset of the disease. In order to decide how to cure nail fungus, it is important that a doctor conducts an investigation. The specialist will ask the patient:
- Have there been similar issues in the past?
- Are there any other health issues?
- Have you visited any saunas, baths or swimming pools recently?
- Do relatives suffer from nail fungus?
- Are there chronic diseases?
- How did you try to fix the problem yourself?
It is very important for the doctor to understand what kind of fungus has affected the nail. Diagnostic tests help to find out. The patient will be scraped from the affected part, which will be sent for laboratory study. The study will allow to determine the type of pathogen, as well as to study its sensitivity to drugs.
Effective treatment for nail fungus
You can cope with the disease quickly enough if you strictly follow all the recommendations of a specialist. The doctor will draw up an individual treatment plan for the patient, select drugs and indicate their maximum allowable dose. For the treatment of nail fungus, drugs are used in the form of:
- varnish;
- solutions;
- plasters;
- creams.
They must be applied regularly. It is important not to mix several products, as their effect is reduced. It is impossible to independently acquire 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 the presence of liver diseases;
- in childhood.
It is very important to follow the rules for applying 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 the leg;
- degrease the surface of the nail.
The drug is applied in a single layer. Remove it weekly with a simple nail polish remover. Then apply it again. Some types of these products can be coated with regular nail polish. The duration of treatment 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 go to the hospital immediately 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 reaches an advanced stage. In this case, it will not be possible to cure it quickly. The patient will need a long and serious therapy, during which he will have to:
- take antifungal tablets;
- use funds for topical application;
- wear patches all the time.
The doctor will determine how to treat advanced nail fungus depending on the extent of the damage. If the plaque is completely affected, its removal is prescribed. Surgical methods can be used for this. However, most often it is possible to remove the nail with the help of special preparations. The way to use them is as follows:
- On a steamed and well-dried leg, a thick layer is applied.
- From above, the nail is fixed with a plaster.
- After 4 days, it is removed, and the affected nail is scraped off with manicure tools.
In this way, the fungus can be completely eliminated. Over time, in place of the affected nail, a new, completely healthy nail will grow. If the therapy was carried out correctly and to the end, then 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 nail fungus will have to start again. Re-infection can be avoided by strictly observing the following prevention methods:
- Keep your feet dry, don't walk in wet shoes.
- Don't wear other people's shoes.
- Use closed disposable slippers in saunas and baths.
- Do not walk barefoot on the beach.
- Wear only natural fabric socks.
It is important to abandon uncomfortable and too narrow shoes in which the feet sweat a lot. Also, disease prevention includes strengthening the immune system. If the body's defenses are fully functioning, even if the fungus penetrates the nail plate, they will solve the problem on their own. It is therefore very important:
- eat properly and nutritious;
- avoid hypothermia;
- play sports;
- observe the regime of work and rest;
- 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.