Onychomycosis is an unpleasant disease that becomes noticeable when it develops quite strongly and requires active treatment. For whom is the fungus the most dangerous and what mistakes should be avoided in its removal? Let's talk.
Damage to the toenails is caused by different types of fungi (molds, fungi, trichophytes). The nail plates of the feet are most often affected. The danger of this disease is that it does not appear from the outside immediately, visible changes occur already when it is more difficult to influence the cause of the disease. In this case, the infection can easily spread from the feet to the hands, and also penetrate the organs, which negatively affects health in general.
This is a very common disease, and with age, the chances of getting an infection increase.
Self-medication, despite the large number of drugs in pharmacies, is unacceptable, it simply will not lead to the desired effect or may worsen the condition. We tell you why, as well as how to protect yourself from this unpleasant pathology and which treatment methods can be used and which may not help.
Types of toenail fungus
Onychomycosis can be distinguished by the type of fungus itself, the form of infection and the stage.
Types of mushrooms
- Yeast.Yeast doesn't just live outside, it's part of our microflora. It usually consists of "good" and "bad" bacteria in an optimal combination. With normal immunity and health, yeast does not show its negative properties, and if they are disturbed, they become dangerous.
- Dermatophytes.This is the most common cause of the disease (more than 80% of cases). You can find them in the ground, dust, and you can also catch them from cats and dogs. This species is also the cause of ringworm.
- Mould.Mold develops in moisture and heat (which is why it is important to ventilate the premises regularly). Such mushrooms are very widespread, literally everywhere, some species can also be found on food. In addition to mycosis, they can cause lung diseases.
Depending on the type of fungus, some treatments may vary. To determine the type, a mycological culture is taken from the nails, where the type of fungus is determined, as well as its sensitivity to antifungal drugs. Based on these results, the medicine is selected.
Without an accurate diagnosis, self-medication may simply not work.
Types according to the shape of the lesion
- Area- damage to the nail plates themselves.
- Distal- The front part of the foot is affected.
- Lateral- side parts.
- Proximal- rear part.
- In total- The whole foot is affected.
Stages of development
- Early.The most difficult phase, because at this moment external manifestations can be a little noticeable. At the same time, it is advisable to start treatment on it.
- Progressive.The appearance of the nails has already changed noticeably.
- Launched.The nail plates are destroyed. Secondary infections can occur, which will only worsen the symptoms.
The sooner treatment begins, the more successful it will be. It is important to remember that the disease progresses faster in people with a weakened immune system.
Toenail fungus - symptoms
The first signs of a fungal infection can begin with damage to the skin of the feet, which is manifested by redness, peeling and itching. Also, the disease can begin only with a change in the appearance of the nails. At the beginning of the disease, the nail plate is most often affected by the edge in the form of a yellowish or whitish spot. After that, the color of the entire panel changes and its thickness changes. The infection can affect one nail or all.
From the outside, there is nothing attractive about this disease - this is proven by photos of toenail fungus.
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Causes
The causes of toenail fungus are most often associated with direct contact with a person infected with the infection, or with objects he used (shoes, clothes, bath mats, washcloths, manicure tools). Infection often occurs when visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths and gyms. Factors that contribute to infection are cracks in the interdigital folds, increased sweating of the feet, dry skin, plate injuries.
People with reduced immunity, as well as those who have pathologies such as diabetes, venous insufficiency, varicose veins, flat feet, immunological diseases, as well as those who take steroids and cytostatics (anti-tumor) are at risk of this disease. ) drugs, drugs.
Prevention and treatment
To prevent infection, it is very important to follow hygiene rules:
- wear only slates in swimming pools, saunas, bathrooms;
- regularly ventilate and dry shoes;
- change your socks regularly;
- after the pool, take a shower and let your feet dry;
- do not try on other people's shoes, especially bare feet;
- increase immunity.
In addition, if you know that there is an infection carrier next to you, it is important not to use their hygiene items or shoes.
How to get rid of foot fungus
At the first signs of infection (we've already told and shown what toenail fungus looks like), you need to start treatment right away, without starting. First of all, the infection can reach neighboring plates, and in addition, it can enter organs with blood, which can cause intoxication, allergic reactions or diseases related to the immune system.
Treatment of toenail fungus includes external methods (antifungal solutions, creams, ointments), as well as oral administration of tablet antifungal drugs. In the initial stage of infection, if the duration of the disease is not longer than a month, and the plaque damage is not greater than 1/3, then only external antifungal therapy is possible. If the process is long, then tablets are needed for complete recovery.
There are also surgical and laser treatment methods, but they may not be effective enough on their own; the plate may still grow defective.
Self-medication is also not allowed. It's very dangerous. A doctor should choose any remedy and then help monitor the healing process. With this disease, it is not fast (from 3 months or longer). At the first visible improvements, you should not stop taking the medication, because a relapse may occur - the infection remains inside the nail, you need to wait for the plate to grow completely, without damage. It is necessary to complete the entire course, and always under supervision.
The most common mistakes in treatment
- Simply dry your shoes and socks without treatment.If you have fungus on your feet, it's important not only to wash or dry your shoes or socks. Shoes should be treated with an antifungal agent, and socks should be ironed to kill harmful spores.
- Use only your hygiene instruments, but do not treat them in any way.Regardless of who has the infection - you or a relative, you not only need to start using only individual hygiene items and tools, but also need to treat them with special means. Where possible, it is best to use disposable instruments.
- Use folk remedies.You can find many such recipes on the Internet. Some can help, but experimenting on your own can be very dangerous. Everything should be agreed with your doctor.