Healthy nails indicate good health and satisfactory health. They have a peach or soft pink color, even and smooth. If a sudden change in the color of the nail occurs, this may be a sign of a disease both in the nails themselves and in the entire body as a whole. They can change their color only on the hands or only on the feet, and as a result of some diseases, the color of the nails on both the hands and feet changes.
A change in nail color is called dyschromia. Nails can change color as a result of various diseases. In this case, both the shape and relief of the nail, as well as its color throughout the nail plate or in its individual areas, may suffer.
The reasons for this may be:
The nail may completely change its color, or it may have stripes, specks, spots from white to almost black. In parallel with the change in color, there may be deformation of the nails.
A black or dark cherry tint usually occurs after an injury when bleeding occurs under the nail. If the entire nail is injured, it may separate from the nail bed. Nails become blue due to hemochromatosis, circulatory disorders, Wilson's disease, taking silver preparations, and antibiotics.
Red or brown dots are the result of infective endocarditis or minor nail injuries.
White spots on the nails are a sign of a lack of calcium or zinc, fungal infection, especially in combination with cloudiness and dullness of the nails.
Changing the color of the nail in the lower part is a problem with the kidneys.
Yellow or yellow-green color of nails is a pathology of the lymphatic system, damage to the respiratory system or a sign of oncology, a diseased liver, or diabetes.
An examination by a dermatologist or nail specialist is necessary. An inspection and examination for fungal damage is carried out. If pathology of internal organs is suspected, consultation with specialized specialists is necessary. Bacteriological culture of the nails and microscopy of a nail fragment are performed.
The basis of treatment is to eliminate the cause of nail damage. Typically, a new nail will grow in 12 to 20 months.
It is important to know! Foot and nail fungus can be cured in 7 days! A doctor of the highest medical category tells Read more.
Treatment of fungus on the big toe, even in mild cases of the disease, is recommended to be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist. This recommendation is based on the fact that therapy for onychomycosis (this is the medical name of this disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and on the type of pathogen.
When self-medicating, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.
The fungus is afraid of ordinary cheap stuff like fire.
Dermatologists consider eliminating fungus on the nail of the big toe to be more difficult compared to other fingers of the lower limb. This is due to the fact that it is large in size and has a large nail bed.
Due to the structural features of the finger lesions, they are distinguished by the following characteristics:
These distinctive features increase the duration of the treatment process. Dermatologists note that when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis, the greatest difficulty is in eliminating lesions of the thumb.
The folk method kills the fungus at the root. You just need to start once a day.
The doctor’s recommendation on how to cure toenail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:
A dermatologist can advise you on how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the symptoms and signs of the severity of the infection.
A nail fungus has appeared on my big toe, treatment is constantly being carried out, but there is no result. This can be heard from some patients who were treated independently with the help of antifungal agents purchased from pharmacies.
As a rule, patients begin to blame drug manufacturers for failures, but in reality the main reason why the fungus is not cured is the patient’s mistakes:
Preparations for toenail fungus and, according to the form of release, are divided into the following groups:
You come home after a long day at work, take off your new tight shoes, throw your feet up on the bed, and then notice that your toenail has somehow changed. Namely, a void formed under it. It is almost unnoticeable, and you decide that it will go away on its own. Only every day the disease progresses, the color changes, irritation and itching appear. You experience pain and discomfort when wearing shoes. And the longer you delay and delay treatment, the more likely it is that the nail will peel off completely.
There is a void under the nail
Fingernail coming off
careless in handling household chemicals . Caustic substances can cause irritation and inflammation, which leads to delamination of the plate.
A void may form under the nail due to a disease such as onycholysis . It is characterized by pain and inflammation. Depending on which part of the plate it affects, there are several types of disease. With onychoschisis, a part peels off across the finger. A void is formed in the middle when koilonchinia occurs . It happens that the nail comes off completely. This happens especially often with various injuries to the toes. Onychomycosis is considered a separate type of disease - when the cause of the changes is a fungus.
What do changes on the nail plates indicate?
What type of disease you have can be determined by the color of the affected areas. The plate turns yellow if you wear uncomfortable, tight shoes. This may also indicate that you are using low-quality varnish. After a bruise, a blue discoloration appears, and this is also accompanied by pain. You are missing minerals and vitamins when the plate becomes whiter than usual. With fungus there is no pain, but you feel itching and burning. There is a special way to check for the presence of fungus. To do this, you should make a solution of potassium permanganate and keep your fingers in it for five to ten minutes. If the entire nail plate is an even brown color, there is no fungus. The presence of light areas indicates that an infection is present.
In any case, it is impossible to ignore the formation, especially on the thumb. Typically, detachment begins in the advanced stage of the disease.
If emptiness occurs, you should consult a podiatrist . He will be able to select the necessary treatment for leg disease. Special soothing baths and therapeutic pedicures will help. The prosthetic procedure will also return your nails to their former strength. It will accelerate growth and protect your toes from inflammatory infections. Those tissues that are damaged by the fungus cannot be treated. Therefore, the main thing is to prevent the spread of infection and speed up the regeneration of the plate. If you do not want to contact a specialist, you can carry out the treatment yourself.
But here you need to be careful. If the color of the plate has changed, a doctor's help is necessary. Otherwise, you risk being left without a nail at all. And it’s not a fact that it will grow again.
At home, you can apply an antifungal agent if you determine that this particular infection has affected your fingers. The course of treatment depends on how long it takes for the void to heal. But the minimum period is three months. Treatment may take up to a year.
A remedy such as iodine helps against fungus. It must be applied to the affected area twice a day.
The fungus can be poisoned with celandine juice, which is easy to buy at the pharmacy. It is also possible to purchase propolis tincture there. It is worth moistening a cotton pad with it and applying it to the affected area. You can bandage the lotion for a while to speed up the healing effect.
Podologist at work
When the void is only at the tip of the nail, it is allowed to cut it off. To do this, disinfect the scissors with alcohol and carefully cut off the damaged area. The affected area should be treated with hydrogen peroxide or iodine to prevent infections from entering the wound. Also use a restorative cream or burn spray. A bath with oils and herbs soothes damaged skin well. Chamomile decoction and tea tree essential oil are suitable. You can even dissolve sea salt in water for a calming effect. Keep your toes in the bath for at least twenty minutes.
You should not bandage a sore finger - oxygen will not be able to penetrate under the bandage, which will make recovery longer. Under no circumstances should you apply varnish, permanent coating or extensions to the affected area. You risk that your real nail will come off along with the polish or artificial nail.
Nail fungus on the thumb is one of the common forms of fungal infection. The thumbs and little fingers of the hands and toes often become the first source of infection. These areas should be given special attention during personal hygiene. It is impossible to recognize an infection immediately, but identifying the first signs of the disease with sufficient care is quite possible.
Treatment of nail fungus on the thumb in the initial stages takes about 2 weeks . Damage to the nail plate is usually secondary; the fungus primarily affects the skin around the nail or between the fingers. Fungus on the thumb indicates serious problems. You will have to treat not only your finger, but also your arms and legs. The whole family will definitely have to be treated with an antifungal agent.
When affected by a fungal infection, the nails look sloppy, as if bitten. Public aversion to unsightly nail shapes is quite understandable - fungus on the hands is extremely contagious. Try not to shake hands with sloppy nails and you will protect yourself from becoming infected with fungus.
Treatment for a fungal infection on the thumb should be prescribed by a doctor. It is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the degree of damage in order to choose the right treatment.
Most often, a lesion of the thumb signals the initial stage of the lesion. But, given the special nature of the fungal infection, which can fade and appear again, have hidden forms of development, only a doctor can accurately determine the extent of the damage.
External manifestations of fungus on the hands are treated with ointments. Nizoral gel, Lamisil, Terbizil, Terbix or other medications are used as prescribed by a doctor. If the fungus is classified as candidiasis, that is, it does not have widespread roots, laser treatment is possible.
If the disease has become systemic and widespread, external ointments are supplemented with special tablets. This could be Mycozoral, Diflucan, Orungal, Nizoral in pills.
There are several types of fungal infections that can develop on the human body, each of them has characteristic symptoms that are obvious to specialists after diagnosis. To treat fungus on the thumbs, you need to see a doctor as early as possible, take the necessary tests and follow all instructions.
Most often, the fungus first affects the main hand - the right hand for right-handers and the left for left-handers. Feet are infected with fungus more often than hands and infection occurs during foot care procedures. The thumbnail is most often affected by injuries and handshakes.
Candidiasis is somewhat easier to treat than other types of fungus, but the form of infection can only be determined by a doctor. Like any fungal culture, hand fungus feels best and multiplies in a moist and warm environment, on steamed and loose soft skin.
One of the most common sites for fungal infection is the big toe. The infection process itself is carried out through the use of general hygiene products, and you can also get a problem from using someone else's clothes. Fungus on the big toe nail is very important to notice as early as possible. This will help you choose the optimal, most suitable and adequate treatment to prevent the subsequent spread of the pathology.
You can become infected with a fungal infection in various public places where there is an accumulation of viruses and high humidity levels. These could be gyms, swimming pools, fitness clubs, saunas and so on. People with flat feet who wear poor-quality shoes and neglect personal hygiene products are also at a certain risk.
When the first signs of the disease appear, it is important to immediately sound the alarm, since nail fungus on the big toe does not tolerate neglect at all. You should immediately contact a specialist, this should be a dermatologist. This is an important rule, since ignoring the fungus sooner or later can lead not only to the proliferation of pathology, but to severe poisoning of the body. The spread occurs quite quickly; if the fungus settles on one nail, it will quickly spread to nearby ones. Knowledge of the main symptoms of this pathology will help to identify the disease in a timely manner. The active spread of fungus on the big toe is determined by the following symptoms:
If these signs appear, you should immediately contact a specialist. He will conduct a thorough medical examination and then prescribe the most effective treatment.
To achieve a positive result in the prescribed treatment process, not only professional consultation with a doctor and following instructions are important. It is important to carefully follow the following rules:
In the process of solving such a question as how to cure toenail fungus, experts recommend following a diet with a slight restriction of sweets and white flour products.
The overall success of the treatment directly depends on how timely the patient sought help. Before starting effective treatment, a specialist will definitely conduct an examination, prescribe blood, urine and ultrasound. If a fungus is detected in a woman, it is important to take a pregnancy test before treatment, since most drugs aimed at treating fungus are completely contraindicated during this period. In the process of high-quality treatment of fungal infections of the big toes, medications, both external and internal, must be used.
Treatment of fungal infection of the big toe is characterized by its own characteristics. To significantly improve the penetration of ointments, doctors quite often prescribe removal of the nail plate on the thumb. This helps eliminate the fungus much faster. The removal process is completely painless, since the nail is dissolved using a special patch.
For high-quality and effective treatment of fungal diseases, professionals prescribe a variety of oral antifungal drugs, external agents - ointments and creams. In addition, doctors strongly recommend combining conventional therapy with the use of folk remedies. The most effective medications include:
Internal preparations are used according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor, and external ones are subject to one important condition - pre-treatment and softening of the nail plate. The application of external preparations should be carried out not only on the affected areas, but also on nearby healthy tissues. The specialist carefully monitors the progress of treatment, and if the prescribed therapy does not have the desired effect, the drugs are replaced or their dosage is revised.
Traditional medicine methods are used quite often in the treatment of fungus. Based on the experience of numerous people, one can judge without error the general appropriateness of a particular folk remedy. To achieve a positive result, you should act as thoughtfully as possible.
The treatment methods described above are quite long-term, but there is also a faster method of treatment, for example, using a laser. It is enough to simply carry out several procedures that use infrared radiation and thermal influence.
The main advantage of modern laser treatment is based on optimal safety, painlessness, and achieving the most lasting results. The treatment is carried out very quickly and comfortably. The most important thing is that it is prescribed by a professional who will exclude the presence of contraindications.
Fungus on the big toe often occurs in children. If there is a change in the general structure of the nail, its color, or if blisters or redness form on the surface of the skin, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. The sooner you visit a specialist, the faster the disease will be treated.
A professional prescribes a special treatment regimen that contains external agents. Usually these are antifungal quick-drying varnishes or special plasters. For more advanced forms, an oral medication and even injections may be prescribed. The total treatment time is on average 2-4 months.
During the treatment of the baby, parents must thoroughly disinfect the house. It is necessary to carry out a general cleaning of the room, be sure to treat all things with which the child has been in close contact - toys, clothes, shoes and books.
If a fungus on the big toe is found in a pregnant woman, it is important to start treatment as early as possible. Popular antifungal agents are not prescribed in this case, only safe agents that only a professional can select. The majority of doctors suggest that expectant mothers use special nail polishes, ointments or creams. This will help slow down the growth of germs. The main therapy can be carried out after childbirth. Among the most popular means of treating fungus during pregnancy are such safe natural preparations as:
Before applying any product, the thumbnail is treated with a special antiseptic. The already affected layer of the nail is removed with a file and only then a cream or ointment is applied, the effect of which will be enhanced after these measures.
Along with modern medications, doctors often prescribe folk remedies. In other words, effective comprehensive treatment is prescribed. this can be taking special baths, as well as applying self-prepared ointments or compresses to the surface of the nails.
You can quickly get rid of fungus on your thumb using a vinegar bath. To prepare it, you will need to pour a couple of liters of water into a special bowl and add a spoonful of 9% vinegar. The feet are immersed in the solution for about 15 minutes. After this activity, the soaked nail will simply need to be filed off. The general course of such treatment averages 2 weeks.
Soda baths are considered no less effective. A paste is also prepared from this substance and used as a compress. To prepare the solution, you will need to take a spoonful of soda per 2.5 liters of water and soak your feet there for 15-30 minutes. To get more effect, you should dilute a small amount of laundry soap in water. To prepare a soda paste, the powder is diluted in water until a paste forms and applied to the affected nail. You can enhance the effect by applying a drop of lemon. You should not stop treatment if there is a slight tingling sensation, this indicates the presence of a therapeutic effect.
A bath on potato peelings is quite effective. You will need to take a container with cleaning, fill everything with water and put it on low heat. All contents must be boiled until the peelings are completely soaked, and when finished, knead them thoroughly. After this procedure, liquid is released from the potato, into which you then need to immerse the feet with big toes damaged by the fungus.
As soon as the feet are very well steamed, you will need to carry out high-quality treatment of the nails with the remaining cleaning. To completely wash off any remaining potato residue, use warm water. At the end of the event, you need to very carefully lubricate your feet with internal pork fat and put on socks. Treatment of fungus on the big toe nail with a similar procedure must be carried out every day until the disease goes away.
Baths made from aspen bark are useful. To obtain the desired composition, you will need to mix thoroughly crushed aspen bark in an amount of 100 grams, as well as boiled water, about half a liter. The mixture needs to be boiled, cooled slightly and the feet steamed in it. After this, the feet are treated with a special medicinal composition prepared from a teaspoon of soda and the same amount of crushed laundry soap. The resulting gruel is applied to the affected areas. These activities must be daily, it is advisable to carry them out every day until the disease disappears.
Fungus can be cured quite effectively using various products and pharmaceuticals that are on hand. Experts advise using substances such as:
All of these are quite effective treatment methods, which, when used simultaneously with medications, give lasting positive results.
The process of treating fungus on the big toes is complex and takes a lot of time. A positive result can only be achieved if you carefully follow the rules of treatment and the regularity of the procedures. If you improve your immunity, you can completely protect yourself from encountering such an unpleasant disease as toenail fungus.
A person’s nails also get sick, and their diseases occur against the background of unpleasant symptoms and unsightly external manifestations. A pathology in which the nail on the big toe peels off is called onycholysis in medical practice. The nail plate changes its natural color, looks painful, and requires medication correction. The main point of therapy is to eliminate the root cause.
Exogenous factors are external negative influences, as a result of which a change in the structure, color and shape of nails is observed. They lead to delamination, thickening and splitting of the plate, which moves away from the skin.
Main exogenous factors:
For your information, chronic stress, nervous tension or prolonged depression - all these conditions can lead to peeling nails.
Scientists have long proven that many pathologies are inherited by people from mom, dad, grandfather, etc. Definitely, a person does not receive them directly “by inheritance”. Certain genes are simply transmitted, which, under the influence of a combination of negative factors, trigger pathological processes in the body.
Why does the nail come away from the toe? In addition to external factors, there are internal ones that lead to this condition:
Regarding the last point, a deficiency of ascorbic acid, vitamins A and E, leads to detachment of fingernails and toenails. You need to reconsider your diet; it is additionally recommended to take vitamin complexes.
Important: consuming minerals in their pure form will not give the desired effect. For example, calcium is absorbed in the body exclusively in combination with vitamin D.
The disease can start from any part of the nail. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed on the legs. The nail on the big toe comes off from the side or from the free edge. External signs are often interrelated with the causes of occurrence.
If a mechanical injury occurs, then swelling of the finger, hematoma, or hemorrhage under the plate is often detected. During the purulent process, an unpleasant specific odor appears.
In case of mechanical injury, symptoms:
Against the background of onycholysis, there are no discomfort sensations. The pathological process is not accompanied by pain. If the reasons lie in the fungus, then the symptoms are as follows:
Onycholysis due to fungal infection develops due to deep penetration of pathogenic microorganisms.
Onycholysis is a persistent disease; its treatment takes a long period of time and requires strict adherence to all the doctor’s recommendations and the patient’s patience. All symptoms are leveled only when a healthy nail grows completely, and all fungi are destroyed.
It’s worth knowing: the main goal of treatment is to stop the progression of detachment and eliminate all provoking factors.
Complex therapy is used for treatment. First of all, you need to visit a dermatologist, as well as doctors of other specializations - endocrinologist, etc., in order to eliminate pathologies as the causes of clinical manifestations. During treatment, be sure to follow a diet. The menu includes food that is rich in vitamins and minerals, a large amount of protein and gelling substances.
If during diagnosis it was determined that the cause lies in some disease, then local treatment will not give any therapeutic effect until the original source is eliminated.
In this option, the underlying disease is treated:
The fight against the disease must be carried out consistently and continuously; only in this case can one count on a favorable prognosis without relapses.
Non-traditional treatment methods are used as additional options for symptomatic treatment and disinfection.
Recipes to help stop nail peeling:
As a preventative measure, it is recommended to: choose socks made from natural fabrics that have a high degree of breathability; exclude uncomfortable and tight shoes from your wardrobe; After contact with water, wipe your limbs dry.
You should properly organize your diet: giving up bad eating habits, in particular, the abuse of sweet foods, salty, fatty, smoked and spicy foods. Add vegetable fiber and polyunsaturated fats to the menu.
As a conclusion, let's summarize. There are many reasons that lead to peeling fingernails and toenails. Doctors are not always able to identify the source the first time, so they will not be able to cope with the problem on their own. The best option is to visit a doctor.
Modern man is faced with a fairly wide range of diseases, the course of which can initially cause only aesthetic discomfort, and later bring pain. Among such unpleasant infections are fungal diseases of the nail plates, as well as diseases that affect the condition of the hair and skin. Official statistics indicate that the majority of people infected with a fungal infection seek professional medical help with complaints of nail fungus on the big toe, treatment of which must begin immediately.
A specific characteristic of nail infections is a high threshold of drug resistance, which necessitates long-term therapy to achieve complete cure. In some cases, you will have to use the drugs for more than one year. If this problem is left untreated, then not only the nail, but also the skin underneath it, as well as the entire body as a whole, can be destroyed. The reason is that sooner or later this disease will affect the functioning of almost all organs, which will invariably lead to a decrease in immunity.
Today, a number of fungi have been able to adapt so much that they can live for a long time on hair, skin and nails, without manifesting themselves, but at the same time parasitizing and reproducing, turning a person into a carrier of infection to healthy people. According to statistics, about 10% of the population is infected with the fungus. The saddest thing is that the number of infected carriers continues to grow, the reason for which is that, having noticed the symptoms of the disease, many resort to using advertised drugs instead of going to the doctor. As a result, the specialist has to deal with a disease whose history can reach ten years. In such a situation, treatment will be significantly longer and, of course, more expensive.
It is important to understand that fungus on the nail, skin, and hair will never go away without qualified medical diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, with a high degree of probability it can be said that not only other nails or parts of the skin will become infected, but also the people living with you.
And the point here is not only that a limb with affected nail plates does not look aesthetically pleasing. Practice shows that a person with this disease has difficulty caring for his nails, they lose their aesthetic appeal, and often begin to crumble, which causes a decrease in the level of psycho-emotional comfort.
The most common spread of this disease is a fungus on the thumb. First of all, this is due to the structural features and fairly large area of the nail plate on it. Thanks to this, nature provides a completely comfortable environment for the development of microorganisms. Infection can occur as a result of
There is a high risk of getting fungus of the big toe among those who walk barefoot. A condition that increases the risk of infection is the presence of even minimal cracks, abrasions and diaper rash, as well as calluses in combination with a weakened immune system. Again, all of the above skin damage most often occurs on the big toe, especially in cases of prolonged wearing of poorly ventilated and tight shoes. An important factor that increases the risk of fungus on the thumb is the presence of one of the following diseases:
In addition, the risk of infection increases in people suffering from excessive sweating of the feet, poor hygiene, trauma to the nail plate, and flat feet.
External symptoms of bending nails can be noticed in most cases, very problematic for a non-specialist. Gradually, discomfort, as well as symptoms, become more pronounced and noticeable. Moreover, the sooner an infected person consults a doctor, the faster and more successful the treatment will be.
Symptoms of nail fungus at the initial stage:
If at least one of these signs appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.
The negative impact of a fungal infection on the body can manifest itself not only on the nails:
Symptoms of the second stage of nail fungus:
Symptoms of advanced stages of nail fungus:
Without fail, fungus on the big toe nail requires competent and professional treatment. Its duration and cost directly depend on the degree of advanced disease at the time the infection is confirmed. Despite the fact that advertising and pharmacies offer many drugs for fungus, what to treat in each specific case should be decided only by a specialist after analyzing the scrapings.
If in the initial stages of the fungus (provided there are no other diseases), topical anti-fungal remedies can be very effective:
then in cases where the disease is advanced, complex therapy will be required, which, in addition to external treatment, involves taking vitamins and microelements and antimycotic agents. Surgery may also be necessary.
In any case, to cope with the disease and know how to treat it, you need to “know your enemy” by sight. Therefore, you should definitely do all the tests recommended by your doctor. They will allow you to get a complete picture of the condition of the nail plate.
While searching for an answer to how to cure toenail fungus, doctors quite often prescribe antimycotics, designed in such a way that the patient can deal with the causative agent of the infectious disease as carefully as possible. Most of them require a course of use, the duration of each course is on average 2.5-3 months.
For advanced forms of thumbnail fungus (as well as others), surgical intervention is recommended, which can be performed either with blood or with a laser. As a result of this operation, the nail plate is partially or completely removed under anesthesia.
Today on the Internet you can find many tips for treating fungus at home. Some of them are indeed effective, but against a specific type of fungal infection. Let's focus on the most popular ones.
In order not to rack your brains over how to get rid of the fungus, it is necessary to take preventive measures.
Treatment of fungus will only be effective if it is carried out correctly. That is, the drug is selected in accordance with the source of infection. In addition, you need to support your immune system by taking vitamins, consuming enough fresh, quality fruits and vegetables, protein, and herbal juices and teas. Compliance with personal hygiene measures is another key to successful control and prevention of fungus.