Summer has arrived, we have all been looking forward to this time as it is warmer and more comfortable outside, which means the time has finally come for light and open footwear. But what if you are ashamed to go barefoot for reasons associated with one of the most common and uncomfortable diseases -nail fungus.
In this article, we will try to explain to you as simply and as quickly as possibleHow to treatthis disease and how to get rid of it as effectively and painlessly as possible.
Nail fungus. Treatment and causes of the disease
Let's first see what nail fungus is. It is a living organism that needs food, namely moisture (sweat) in your feet. One of the most common illnesses associated with a problem such asnail fungusis onychomycosis, most often caused by dermatophyte fungi and much less often by microspores.
There are 5 types of nail plaque onychomycosis lesions:
- Distal - covering the front of the nail;
- Lateral - covering the lateral parts of the nail;
- Proximal - covering the back of the nail;
- Superficial - covering the nail with yellowish spots;
- Total - coverage of the nail plate as a whole;
All types of lesions have common visible symptoms such as discoloration, deformation, brittleness.
Foci of fungal infection
If you regularly go to the gym, swimming pool, spa or massage parlor, take good care of your personal hygiene, because in these places the fungal infection has all the conditions to spread. There is high humidity and moderate temperature, which is the best stimulant for the development of yeast infection (bacteria that causes fungal infection). You can get the fungus if you go to the shower or massage room without shoes on.
It should also be remembered that toenail fungus can be transmitted through direct contact with a carrier.
How does nail fungus develop?
- Wear uncomfortable and tight shoes, as well as shoes made of synthetic materials that compress the foot and block the flow of air. In such an environment, the mycosis grows at a rapid rate;
- Gel varnish (for women), which promotes the development of fungi between the nail plate and the applied varnish;
- Increased sweating of the feet;
- Defects or injuries to the nails;
- Flat foot;
- Slow nail growth;
- Violation of metabolic processes in the nail;
- Poor blood supply to the limbs;
- Diseases of the immune system;
- Adverse working conditions (dust, gas pollution, high humidity);
- Taking antibiotics, hormones;
To avoid infection, timely foot hygiene is necessary, which is much easier to follow than treating an already neglected case. At an advanced stage, the fungus can spread not only to nearby fingernails, but also enter other human organs with blood, which can contribute to the development of a number of other diseases associated with a weakened immune system. .
There are also categories of people more sensitive than others to this condition, given the concomitant diseases, namely:
- With diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot);
- Being overweight (obese);
- With cardiovascular disease (venous disease).
Signs of nail fungus
So how can you still recognize the fungus at the first signs, so as not to drive it deep into the nail later and prevent the spread from neighboring fingers to healthy nail plates.
There are a number of symptoms by which you can recognize toenail fungus at an early stage:
- Yellowing of the nail plate;
- Slight deformation or modification (if the nail has become very deformed);
- Crack and brittleness of the nail, which reveals the nerve endings and soft tissues of the toes (with a light touch it will bring pain and discomfort);
- unpleasant odor (associated with increased sweating).
Photo of nail fungus
Modern methods of treating nail fungus
If you find any of the above signs of the disease, you should not self-medicate. There are a large number of bloggers and traditional healers on the network who will be happy to tell you what to apply to the affected area of the nail or leg, as well as what medication to use to make it all go away. In a week. or two. Unfortunately, the process of treating fungal diseases is not as quick and easy as we all would like. It should be understood that even with a visible improvement in the overall clinical picture, it is undesirable to stop treatment, as this leads to the fact that sooner or later a relapse may occur and you will have to start treatment again. And by choosing antifungal creams, sprays, gels yourself, you run the risk of making the situation worse or spending money in vain without achieving the desired effect. Only a specialist will be able to select effective drugs that will relieve you of the infection after a thorough examination.
Modern medicine offers many treatments for fungi:
- Local treatment - treatment is carried out with the help of conventional antifungal drugs, which in most cases lead only to a healing effect, but not to full recovery;
- Medical treatment - complete recovery is guaranteed, but side effects are not excluded, since the body suffers under the influence of antimycotics and the toxicity of impulse therapy;
- Surgical intervention - this method is ineffective, since it does not always lead to full recovery, since there is a high probability of regrowth of the defective nail. Also, don't forget the long payback period;
- Laser treatment - Laser treatment for nail fungus is less effective. Due to the fact that laser treatment is based on the use of a hot beam, after such heat treatment, the nail plates slow down their growth, and as a result, the fungus is not blocked, but continues to spread. Laser treatment of fungi is an ineffective method that is hardly used today;
What's the best way to treat nail fungus?
Since the main task and goal is to relieve the patient from nail fungus quickly, effectively, without discomfort and unpleasant consequences, we recommend the method of photodynamic therapy.
This is the most recent method of treating fungi, based on the use of photosensitizers, which ensure the formation of oxygen in the cells of the fungus, while completely destroying the foci of infection. Subsequently, the cells of the immune system (phagocytes) absorb and completely eliminate the dead fungal cells from the body.
When you use light, all fungal bacteria will die off within minutes. It is also important to note that this therapy is absolutely painless and without side effects.
The method of photodynamic therapy has a number of advantages that every patient will appreciate:
- Effectiveness: a few sessions are sufficient to eliminate the source of infection. The number of procedures depends on the stage of development of the disease;
- Treatment without consequences: after the sessions of photodynamic therapy, there are no scars, scratches, microcracks, redness or irritation on the skin;
- Absence of pain: during the session, you will not feel a slight tingling, constriction or any other unpleasant sensation;
- Completely replaces antibiotic treatment;
- Recommendations from leading international experts;
- The treatment process takes a minimum of time;
ATnail fungus treatmentwas a success, trust the professionals. We will accurately determine the stage of development of the disease, the condition of the skin and nail plate, and prescribe procedures using the latest equipment with the use of effective drugs that level the fungus. In a few weeks, you will not only forget the itching, and you will be able to boast about the perfect condition of your feet.
After the end of treatment, it will be possible to carry out the procedure for prostheses of the nail plate. The prosthesis of the plaque is the right decision if you need to restore the nail plate quickly, efficiently, accurately, and to restore the legs to an unmatched appearance. In our clinic, this procedure is carried out on modern equipment using effective drugs with antifungal and anti-inflammatory action, using gel and acrylic materials containing nanoparticles of silver and platinum. The part of the nail plate that is partially lost (but if no more than 2/3 of the nail plate is lost) after treatment for a fungal infection or nail plate injuryhe nail is a prosthesis.
We draw your attention to the fact that the procedure is carried out only in the absence of contraindications, before proceeding with the prosthetic procedure it is mandatory to treat (in the presence of fungal infection and / or other) or d'a prophylactic use of a course of therapy using a complex of special antifungal and anti-infective drugs.
If you are faced with such a sensitive problem as a fungal infection, contact a specialized medical center, where experienced doctors will help you cure the disease.