If you are concerned about the condition of your nails, then most likely there is a reason for this. Changes in thickness and color, brittleness and inflammation can be the result of a fungal disease. In this case, you should definitely see a specialist and start treatment immediately.
Fungal diseases or mycoses come in different types and manifest themselves in different ways. When you have any doubts about the health of your skin and nails, you should contact a dermatologist. The doctor will prescribe all the necessary tests for you and then give you an accurate diagnosis. You may hear that you have fungal threads on your nails. If, after analyzing your scraping, threads of mycelium were found, then this can only mean one thing - you have become the owner of a fungus.
What it is? Should we sound the alarm and how quickly should treatment begin? What are the consequences of detecting mycelium?
Firstly, if the external signs of the disease are almost invisible, then this is already an encouraging factor, this means that the disease is at the earliest stage of its development and it is not difficult to cure it.
Secondly, treatment should begin immediately after the fungus is detected and not interrupted until complete recovery.
Thirdly, the fungus is easily transmitted; re-infection through shoes and hygiene items is possible, as well as the occurrence of this problem in other family members.
Infection can occur anywhere. Unfortunately, no one is safe from it. The fungus can manifest itself on the fingernails, but much more often makes itself felt on the toes. Excessive sweating and stuffy shoes create simply heavenly conditions for its reproduction. Once on the skin of the hands or feet, the mycelium of the fungus begins to actively multiply, causing various unpleasant phenomena. But more on that later, for now let’s look at the factors contributing to infection.
It is simply impossible to completely insure yourself against various types of mycoses. Strong immunity suppresses the development of fungal diseases. Dangerous contacts occur frequently and usually pass without consequences. But if you suspect mycosis, consult a doctor immediately.
There are many types of fungal diseases, and each of them has its own manifestations. Therefore, we can name only general, most common signs.
If treatment is not started in a timely manner, it may take a long time. And the advanced stage of the disease is fraught with unpleasant consequences, including the loss of the affected nail.
Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, based on the type of fungus and the degree of damage. The general scheme is a combination of performing medical procedures, using pharmaceutical drugs and folk remedies. Let's look at each point in more detail.
Modern techniques make it possible to make treatment of toenails and fingernails affected by fungus surprisingly fast, effective and completely painless. Provided that the disease is not advanced, the fungus disappears without a trace in just a few procedures. The following methods are currently practiced.
Medications are selected by the doctor individually depending on the type of fungus and the severity of the disease. The following remedies have proven themselves well.
The fungus is unlikely to go away completely from the independent use of folk remedies, but they can be used as part of complex therapy to obtain a faster and more lasting effect. The most popular means are:
You should not try to cope with the fungus on your own; this can lead to a protracted, chronic course of the disease. It is better to immediately contact specialists for help!
Nail fungus is nothing more than a chronic infection caused by parasitic fungi on human skin. Many of us consider toenail fungus to be a purely cosmetic problem. But while we remain inactive, hiding our toes under socks and closed shoes, the infection spreads throughout the body, affecting the skin in the most sensitive areas, and also spreading to the fingers.
Manifestations of nail fungus can vary depending on its type and extent of damage. Often people develop yellow spots and longitudinal stripes on their nails on the sides or in the center. This is a sign of dermatophyte proliferation on the nail plate. If your nails turn completely yellow and thin on the sides, and your nail folds become swollen and red, this could be a symptom of a yeast infection. But if the nail changes color and becomes yellow, brown, blue or even green, but its structure has not changed, this may indicate that the nail plate is damaged by mold. Be sure to consult a doctor who can accurately determine the type of fungus and explain to you how to get rid of nail fungus most effectively.
The problem of toenail fungus is quite common. And according to statistics, up to 10% of the population suffers from it. Moreover, the fungus most often occurs in older people suffering from low immunity. Doctors also say that members of the same family often become infected with the fungus from each other through common objects. Other routes of transmission of infection in public places from strangers are less common. But in the summer, when people swim in ponds, pools, and use the same sun loungers on the beaches, the likelihood of infection increases.
In addition, people often face the problem of identifying an infection in the early stages, since in the summer we periodically walk barefoot, and if the nails change, it seems to us that it is because of pebbles or dirt. If you notice alarming symptoms, but are not sure that it is an infection, do a short home test. Make a weak solution of potassium permanganate and dip your foot in it. Leave it on for a few minutes and look at the color of your nails. If they turn brown, it means they are completely healthy. If there are light spots on them, consult a doctor for a more accurate diagnosis; you may have a fungus.
There are a huge variety of drugs to treat nail fungus. In the initial stages of infection, you can try topical remedies. These include various antifungal varnishes and pencils, as well as ointments for softening nails, scrapers for cleaning them, and plasters. The course of such treatment lasts from 1 to 3 weeks.
If external remedies do not help, the doctor will prescribe you a comprehensive treatment using tablets that contain substances that can accumulate in the nail plates and destroy the fungus that has affected the deep layers of the nails. Medicine for nail fungus can remain in the growth zone for up to six months. Therefore, this method of treating fungus is effective and helps get rid of the infection 100%.
Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, since it is very important to determine exactly what type of fungus (dermatophyte, yeast or mold) we are dealing with. This will help you choose the drug that is most effective in a particular case. The dosage is also equally important. Here, on the one hand, you need to try not to harm the body, but on the other hand, you need to remember that the concentration of the medicine must be sufficient to completely kill the fungus. If you do not treat it, the fungus will adapt and become immune to the drug you are using. And next time you will have to select another medicine or increase the dosage, which will significantly complicate the treatment process.
In addition to external use and tablet preparations, hardware treatment of affected nail plates is also used in combination with them. This procedure for cleaning infected nails is completely painless. It gives the legs a neat appearance and also promotes better penetration of medications through thinner nail plates. This allows you to cure toenail fungus much faster.
In addition to traditional medicine, you can also use traditional methods. But doctors warn that the use of traditional medicine recipes should only be an addition to the course of treatment. And their use is possible only after agreement with the treating doctor.
As you know, celandine is often used to combat fungus. In this case, you can make foot baths with a decoction of celandine. To do this, pour the crushed celandine herb with water and boil for 5 minutes. Then the broth is filtered and used as baths or lotions. You can also make foot baths with soda, diluting 1 tbsp. a spoonful of soda per liter of water, or with sea salt in a similar proportion. Antibacterial liquid soap can be added to such baths.
A good remedy for nail fungus is propolis. A cotton swab soaked in alcohol tincture of propolis can be applied to infected nails daily. It is also useful to smear your nails with iodine every day. In this case, you need to apply iodine in several layers, treating not only sore fingers, but also your neighbors.
Burdock leaves and rowan berries help against fungus. You can wrap the entire foot with burdock, only the leaf must first be thoroughly kneaded and beaten with a hammer so that it releases its juice. But the rowan berries are ground, and the resulting pulp is applied to the nails, wrapping them with a bandage.
Doctors say that nail fungus can be completely eliminated. But, as experience shows, if a fungus appears, saying goodbye to it is not so easy. Strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor, and then you will definitely be able to return your nails to a healthy appearance.
Every fungal disease is infectious in nature. They are caused by parasitic fungi. Most often, some areas of the skin are affected - the skin and nails.
You can become infected in several ways:
The process of treatment and complete disposal of the infection takes a fairly long period of time, but the modern pharmaceutical industry does not stand still, but is actively gaining momentum, so an abundance of drugs will help cope with the disease without any difficulties. Various forms of medicinal substances are developed for your convenience. Do you want it to be a cream, varnish, spray, or even oral antifungals.
It is very difficult not to detect a fungus on the nail, because these symptoms will not keep you waiting.
How to identify nail fungus:
With further progression of the fungus, the nail may become keratinized and thicken, after which the effectiveness of treatment is greatly reduced. The nails of adults and elderly people are susceptible to mycosis; in children, such an infection is extremely rare. A fungal infection of any organ or tissue can form in a person when the immune system decreases very sharply, the level of acidity in the skin and nails changes with age, or some age-related chronic disease begins to progress.
Why is nail fungus dangerous? This problem not only harms the patient’s quality of life, but also disturbs those around him. Because of it, a person may develop psychological disorders. But the worst thing is when the fungus leads to complications. A fungal infection can become chronic, develop into erysipelas, worsen the condition of a diabetic, and cause allergies. It is possible that the fungus penetrates into the blood and spreads throughout the internal body with subsequent infection of organs. This is a continuous depletion of the immune system and the possibility of the appearance of other pathologies.
Fungus is a very tenacious infection. Treating shoes against fungus is a long and specific process. In order to disinfect shoes and completely kill the fungus, it will take 20
lie in a 1% formaldehyde solution for minutes. And if objects are treated with chloramine, then the required time for disinfection should be 40 minutes. Very often, after complete recovery from a fungal infection, with the slightest weakening of the immune system or the appearance of another favorable factor for the development of onychomycosis, a tiny, barely noticeable lesion is enough, which will instantly grow and the inflammatory process will occur again. Therefore, it is very important, when starting treatment for fungus, to complete the full course and systematically monitor relapses.
If you have suspicions that you have a nail fungus, which doctor can conduct an examination? Initially, you need to contact a dermatologist; in the future, he may also involve a mycologist.
How to get rid of nail fungus and all possible treatment methods will be described below.
At the moment, the pharmaceutical market has a huge selection of effective drugs that fight the annoying fungus, speed up treatment and do not cause discomfort. Regardless of the variety and advertising, you should not self-medicate. Only a highly qualified doctor should prescribe this or that drug, who will take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, based on which the duration of the course will be clear.
Here are several factors that the doctor relies on when determining the necessary treatment:
Modern methods of combating fungi can not only destroy harmful microorganisms and slow down the progression of onychomycosis, but also have an accumulating function that significantly reduces treatment time. Nowadays, patients are even offered express therapy. It lasts from 2 to 4 months and completely cures the toenail phalanges from fungus. Its important feature is that there is an emphasis on complex treatment. It is mandatory to use a topical remedy and take oral tablets at the same time. Do not forget that these drugs, like any other, have many side effects and limitations. Therefore, the issue of prescribing medications and monitoring therapy should be dealt with by the attending physician. Self-medication may not lead to the results you expect. Not only will the fungi develop immunity to the drug, moreover, ineffective treatment will lead to increased inflammation.
If the disease is at an early stage, then local treatment will help cope with this situation. You can achieve good results with the help of antifungal agents, in the form of varnishes or solutions (Loceryl, Batrafen, Cyclopiroxolamine, Mikozan) and patches that provide a peeling effect. Treatment with such methods must be continued for a long time, up to one year.
The best remedy for nail fungus is Nogtevit and Nogtimycin. These cosmetics are not a medicine, they can be considered an alternative surgical method.
Thanks to their composition, mainly oils, they carefully remove dead nail particles, which can be removed later, and also provide an antifungal effect.
When the disease is already advanced, the infection is gaining momentum, the area of pathological changes is enormous, tablets for nail fungus - antimycotics - come to the rescue. These dermatological drugs are available in tablet form and actively act on the infection. However, do not forget that the selection of the necessary remedy should be carried out by an experienced doctor.
When using other medications or, for example, birth control, it is very important to talk with your doctor and decide whether the compatible use of several medications poses a risk. The most popular of them are Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Terbinafine, etc.
Similar local remedies are widely used: Lamisil, Terbinafine, Lamitel, Zalain, Batrafen, Nizoral and others.
After effective treatment, all symptoms should disappear, and the nail plate affected by the fungus should recover. In order to finally make sure of a complete recovery, do not be lazy and be sure to get tested after two weeks, and then a month after completing the course. A negative result in both cases will give you a guarantee that you have defeated the infection. It is also worth periodically conducting self-monitoring to avoid relapse.
This medicine against fungus on the feet sometimes gives minor side effects. After prolonged treatment, the skin of the legs may become noticeably red and begin to peel. There is nothing to worry about here, just an allergic reaction to the components of the medicine. At this stage, most often, the fungal infection is eliminated. A timely scraping will allow you to stop treatment in time.
Laser treatment of nail fungus is very effective and is recommended if there are no results from other therapeutic methods. It eliminates the problem at any stage of the disease and provides a high percentage of guarantee of cure. This does not happen at once, but over several procedures.
This section contains quite effective, but at the same time not advertised, products that help very well with fungal diseases: Creolin, Fucorcin or Castellani Liquid, lavender oil, tea tree oil, mouthwash - Listerine and apple cider vinegar or lemon juice , Berezhny liquid.
Traditional methods of treating nail fungus are very diverse.
Can fungus be cured with iodine? The answer to this question can be either positive or negative. It all depends on at what stage of neglect the patient realized it. It is worth remembering that iodine can cure fungus on the hands and feet, but it can also cause a serious burn. Therefore, its use should be in reasonable doses, according to general recommendations. Treatment with iodine lasts from 3 to 4 weeks. If your fingernails are affected, then you need to take into account the fact that iodine has a coloring ability, which is why the appearance of your hands will not be very aesthetic, so it is good to carry out the procedures during the holiday period. You need 2 drops of iodine per nail per day. They are applied twice and completely paint over the nail plate using a cotton swab. Do not allow the alcohol solution to come into contact with nearby skin. When itching appears, this will be a sign of an active fight against the fungus.
As you already understand, you can become infected only after skin and nails come into contact with the infection. But only a person with a strong immune system is less at risk of disease than a weakened body. Try to monitor your immune system and follow simple personal hygiene rules that will significantly reduce the risk of fungal infection:
The administration of the portal categorically does not recommend self-medication and advises consulting a doctor at the first symptoms of the disease. Our portal presents the best medical specialists with whom you can make an appointment online or by phone. You can choose a suitable doctor yourself or we will select one for you absolutely free . Also, only when you make an appointment through us, the price for a consultation will be lower than in the clinic itself. This is our little gift for our visitors. Be healthy!