Nail fungus, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Onychomycosis

The mushroom of nails on the legs is a disease that is very easy to infect, and it is much more difficult to heal.The mushroom of nails does not disappear and is very difficult to treat.

How can you get an infection with nail fungus?

Six to eight percent of the adult population suffer from nail fungus.
The fungal infection of nails is more common in men than in women and older people than in young people.Additional signs or factors that increase the risk of a fungal infection of nails include the following:

  • Reduction of blood flow to the legs;
  • When the nails grow slowly;
  • Family history of fungal infection (genetics);
  • increased sweating of the legs;
  • Working environment - wet or wet legs;
  • Wearing socks and shoes that prevent ventilation;
  • Go barefoot in wet public places (pools, sports halls and showers);
  • Skin or nail infections or infections;
  • Diabetes, AIDS, circulatory problems, weakened immune system;
  • Hard shoes on the fingers with pressure.

Systemic diseases, for example: to the fungus of the legs, predispose for the mushroom

  • Diabetes mellitus,
  • Obesity,
  • Anemia,
  • Hormonal disorders,
  • Gastrointestinal disorders,
  • Immune and heart cycle systems,
  • as well as long -term treatment with antibiotics,
  • Reception of steroid therapy and chemotherapy.

Heat and humidity contribute to the growth of mushrooms - if you don't wipe your feet thoroughly after washing, air -resistant shoes and wearing socks of synthetic.The fungus develops when the nail plate is damaged to a short trim on the legs.It can easily get under the nail.Wearing cramped shoes can weaken the plate of the nail such as acrylic nails and varnishes.

Onychomycosis affects the legs more often than on the hands.It can be limited by a plate or move to neighboring.Usually, mushroom infections of nails on the legs influence the thumb and little finger.Probably because the inner surface of the shoes touches it the most.

Types of nail fungus

The mushroom infections of the nails are caused by microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive.In most cases, it is a group of mushrooms called dermatophytes (e.g. Candida).However, some yeasts and molds also cause these infections.
Although trichophyton -dermatophytes are the most common cause of infections with nail fungus, trichophyton interdigital, epidermophophyton floccosum, trichophyton violaceum, microsporum gypseum, tonsuran trichophyton and trichophyton soudanese can also lead.Frequent forms of mushrooms - neoscytalidium, scopulariopsis and aspergillus.
The pathogens of the nail fungus usually fall under the skin due to tiny cuts or small cracks between the fingernail and the bed of the nail.They grow when the environment offers them a hot and moist climate.

What does the nail fungus look like - symptoms

Mushroom on the left side of the nail

In the initial phase The nail infected with a mushroom gradually changes its appearance.The strips appear - first whitish, then yellowish and finally brown.The peeling appears on the nail, it relaxes and becomes thicker, it becomes difficult to cut it.The nail smells bad because mushroom deposits accumulate under the nails.

The doctor can determine onychomycosis immediately during the examination.Sometimes, however, the image of the disease is not clear, and laboratory tests have to be carried out.Samples from nails and fragments of nail plates under a microscope can confirm that the disease is actually caused by fungi.Sometimes a mushroom is cultivated in the laboratory to determine the type and selected medicine.

Before the selection, you cannot paint your nails and smear your legs with creams or powder.

In the second stage - Nails infected with mushroom are usually thickened, fragile, break, worn, bent, stump and dark, yellowish or brown.
The patient can also suffer from onycholysis if individual areas of the nail are missing and the nail bed exposed.Sometimes mushroom nail infections can lead to pain in the fingers and cause an unpleasant smell.

Another symptom in connection with fungal infections is the damage to the skin near the nail.There can be a rash or itching that looks like an allergic reaction.

Diagnosis of nail fungus

In order to diagnose the nail fungus, the doctor usually has to examine the cut and the microorganisms under the nail.
Doctors should be careful when diagnosing fungal nail infections due to other diseases that can cause such symptoms.This includes psoriasis, red flat braids, contact dermatitis, injuries, tumors of the nail bed, eczema.The culture (sowing) of the mushroom can take several weeks.

How to determine the fungus of nails at home

It's very easy to do it:

We need potassium perpetrators (potassium perpetrators), water and a pelvis.
Take water into the pool so that it completely covered the feet of the legs.Throw a small potassium perpetrator into the water so that the water becomes bright - pink (Fuchsie color).Put your legs or arms in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Then we take out the nails and carefully examine.If they have become completely brown, everything is fine - the nails are healthy.But if there are areas that have not changed the color - they are infected with nail fungus.

Treatment of nail fungus

Treating mushroom nail infections can be a long and expensive process.
Oral medication for the treatment of the infection should usually be taken up to four months until a fully infected nail is replaced on the finger.These drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist according to certain systems.Since medicinal products have an effect on the liver and the composition of the blood, tests must be tested before and during treatment.

Local medication helps in the initial phase of the mushroom - ointments and paints help well.

Local antimictics - The most effective means of local therapy because they are most active in terms of the pathogens of onychomycosis.Among the many local drugs against the mushroom of nails can only be described 2 as medication for the treatment of onychomycosis itself, since they are available in the form of nail polish in the most suitable form.The remaining antifungals are used more often in the treatment of mushroom skin infections.

Lacquer

Special nail packs for the treatment of nail fungi enable you to better lead antimics through the nail plate into the nail bed.In addition, the paint film, which freezes on the surface of the nail, prevents the drug from the nail from nail and creates an infection barrier.

The main advantage of the modern paint used in the treatment of onychomycosis is that they can be applied to the nail plate without removing them.The remaining medication cannot penetrate the nail plate, which requires its preliminary removal or at least a significant thinning.

The current antimotics that are part of the paint are delayed long after use, and effective concentrations are preserved for at least 7 days.This enables paint 1 or 2 times a week.

The born lacquer is used every other day for the first month of treatment, 2 times a week for the 2nd month and then 1 times a week.

Before the treatment begins, a paint should be removed like many of the affected nail plates.The remaining nail plate to which the paint is applied must be sawn off with the attached file in order to create an unequal surface.The paint is applied with the attached brushes or spatula.Before each paint application, the previous layer is removed with a solvent or the attached alcohol tampon and a nail plate is treated with a file.A layer of paint can be removed by placing a nail in warm water and scraping off the paint of the scissors.

The duration of treatment depends on the speed of growing a healthy nail plate.There are enough 6 months in the hands of the treatment of onychomycosis in the legs-9-12 months.

The actual methods for the local treatment of mushrooms include nail polish like cyclopirox, along with other creams.Local ointments and creams can clean nail fungal infection, but often do not heal the infection completely.
In some extreme cases, the doctor can recommend removing the nail.
The alternative drugs for the treatment of fungal nail infections include Australian tea tree oil extract and grapefruit seeds.However, there is no scientific evidence for the use of these products.

Effective antifungals

There are 3 effective antifungals for oral administration (oral).All three medication have serious side effects and can interact with many other medication.Patients who take antifungals should regularly carry out tests to control the function of the liver and the blood cells.Octus antimycotics continue to work after treatment with the medication.

None of the oral antifungals can be taken during pregnancy.

prevention

  • Put on a new couple of socks every day.Socks should consist of natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton.These fibers enable moisture to move away from the foot and to distribute the air to distribute the thumb of the leg and foot.When your legs or socks get wet, you have to remove them as soon as possible, dry your legs with a clean towel and put on a few new socks.
  • Wearing the same couple of shoes can have a negative impact on the legs every day and they expose bacteria and mushrooms.If you keep shoes, you have to make sure that it is kept in a well -loaded room for complete drying.It is advisable to have several sneakers and to switch to the gym before walking so that these steam have the optimal drying time.And finally they wear shoes in front of the input of the shower, the sauna or the gym.This is fertile soil for mushrooms that cause onychomycosis and other bacterial infections.
  • There are ways to avoid infection and help a specialist of manicure and pedicure to prevent the nail fungus before starting.The first set, bring your paint with you.This is an easy way to prevent infection when using general paint - if the fungus falls directly into the nail bed.The second proposal is the requirement to sterilize all devices for manicure and pedicure.Each device must be disinfected and properly saved.And finally the bathtubs for the pedicure.This is a blessing for bacteria that are just waiting to infect their nails.If you are not sure whether the bathroom was cleaned after each customer with the corresponding disinfectant, try to avoid this at all costs.
  • Mushroom infections are a common sign of a suppressed immune system.The enrichment of your diet with nutrients and vitamins can of course help prevent bacteria.Eat more garlic for food.Tea tree oil is also a natural antifungal agent.Peel the nail area on the legs of tea tree oil.The black walnut black extract can also work well when preventing onychomycosis.
  • General use can lead to infections and cause a nail fungus on the finger.The fungus can be transferred from person to person.The maximum prevention is not to share towels, shoes and scissors with someone else.And as we always recommend, to treat the nail fungus with the dermatologist on the first sign of the infection.