Rain-soaked boots, tight, warm shoes, reduced immunity - all this increases the risk of onychomycosis.
Mushroom attack in autumn
Unpleasant cracks on the leg between the fingers and the nail turns yellow? You may have contracted a fungus. About 10% of the world's population suffers from this microscopic enemy, and in the last 10 years the number of victims of onychomycosis (or nail fungus) has more than doubled.
Men and women are victims with equal success. But the risk of getting sick increases with age. For example, after the age of 70, every second person suffers from onychomycosis.
Fortunately, children are much less susceptible to infection, since baby nails grow much faster than adult nails, and the fungus, on the contrary, grows quite slowly.
Where can you get mushrooms? Yes, most likely from their own parents.
Recent studies have shown that nail fungus is most often infected in the family, even if it consists of two people. The risk group includes people who have excessive sweating, weakened immunity, flat feet. Too narrow shoes can provoke the disease: the skin of the foot and the nails are more susceptible to injury. Stockings and socks made of synthetic fibers, poor ventilation of autumn and winter shoes creates a humid microclimate for the feet. Frequent hand contact with household washing and cleaning products injures the nails of the hands, and the fungus simply prefers weakened and damaged nail plates, a healthy nail is practically invulnerable to fungal infection. Here are the main causes of onychomycosis:
Cracks and scratches on the skin, nail injuries, constantly wet feet.
The presence of diseases: diabetes, AIDS, obesity, reduced immunity. The risk of getting sick increases if the vascular tone of the legs is disturbed, for example, with heart failure or varicose veins.
Take antibiotics, oral contraceptives.
The disease first occurs on the skin of the feet, often in the interdigital folds. A parasitic fungus that has settled on the skin can poison anyone's life.
Over time, the affected area captures nails not only on the legs, but also on the hands. Sooner or later, another person will step on the fallen skin scales and become infected.
Outwardly, the appearance of nail fungus can look like this: the color and thickness of the nails change, the nails begin to crumble or crumble.
where is the infection
You can pick up a mushroom both in common areas (the floors of gymnasium locker rooms, in public baths, swimming pools, a manicure / pedicure salon, in a hotel, on the beach) and in your home.
Shared shoes at home in the family, in the country or at a party, walking barefoot, household items and furniture (towels, rugs, blankets) - these are the factors that determine the transmission of the fungus between members ofthe same family, their relatives and friends.
The most effective way to fight nail fungus is primary prevention. It is better to avoid the infection than to treat it later. To avoid nail fungus infection, you should follow these simple rules:
- Never use someone else's shoes and don't give your shoes to other people, even close people.
- Do not use the same manicure accessories for the treatment of diseased and healthy nails.
- If possible, disinfect all objects with which the patient's legs and hands have come into contact.
- Don't go barefoot in public places, and it's better not to do it at home either. When visiting a public bath, sauna or swimming pool, use closed rubber slippers that protect against splashes. On the beach too, go only in slippers.
- After swimming, you must take a shower.
- Never visit baths and swimming pools if cracks appear on your soles.
- After visiting public places, treat the skin of the feet with boric alcohol or some kind of antifungal ointment, cream, gel or spray. For prevention, almost any antifungal agents or alcohol solutions of antiseptics are suitable.
- Do not wear rubber boots for a long time, uncomfortable shoes that rub your feet.
- Do not abuse synthetic socks or tights, change them every day.
To the doctor immediately!
At the first suspicion that you have caught a fungal infection, you should consult a mycologist or dermatologist. The doctor will not only conduct an examination, assess the thickness, structure of the nail, but also perform tissue scrapings for analysis. Only in this way can he determine the presence of the fungus, its type and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
If onychomycosis is left untreated, it can lead to loss of nails. The infection damages the whole body. The fungus releases toxic substances, causing allergic reactions and reduced immunity.
It is necessary to clearly know that in the initial stages it is quite easy to get rid of the infection. If the disease is not advanced, local treatment can be performed: cut off the affected areas of the nail, cover the remaining nail with antifungal varnish, lubricate with antifungal ointments, of which there are many today.
Remember that the longer the fungus lives on your nails, the harder it is to get rid of it. In later stages, when several years have passed after infection (and nails are affected), fungal diseases are difficult to treat.
What do you want to know
- It is necessary to sound the alarm at the first skin signs of a fungus. A fungal infection on the skin is treated more easily and quickly than on the nails. It only takes a week to lubricate the affected areas with one of the antifungal agents, which are in abundance in any pharmacy.
- The fungus can also infect the hair, although the most common are nail fungus.
- Sometimes a change in the appearance of the nails is not associated with a fungus, but is caused by the state of the internal organs: cardiovascular and pulmonary insufficiency, renal or hepatic dysfunction. Nails can turn yellow after taking strong medications. Nail damage is also caused by lichen planus, eczema, psoriasis and finally, nail injury also occurs. But most often the appearance of the nails changes after all from a fungal infection.
Folk recipes
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies is rarely effective. However, here are two recipes.
- Apply a piece of kombucha to the painful nail and bandage your finger. This will soften the nail and allow you to cut it more easily. Repeat the procedure until the nail becomes completely soft. Then spray your legs well and lubricate with this mixture: take one part vinegar essence, two parts glycerine, two parts 96% alcohol. Prepare the garlic oil: grate the garlic and pour the sunflower oil heated to sixty degrees (the oil should cover the garlic) - mix everything and leave to infuse for a few days in a tightly closed container. Dip a cotton ball in this oil, apply on the painful nail and bandage it. Put a plastic bag on top - this way you will not stain bed linen, since such treatment should be carried out before bedtime. The course of treatment is 10-15 days.
- Wash your feet well before going to bed. Dip a cotton ball in 9% vinegar and place it on the nail. Wrap your finger on it with a film and fix with a bandage. Repeat the procedure in the morning. Wash your feet one day after such treatment. Put your nails in order - where to cut, where to clean. Repeat the procedure several times on the sole.