Toenail fungus: detect and treat correctly

2 April 2024

Fungal diseases are the most common diseases on earth. We suggest you consider how to treat nail fungus, which professional preparations (tablets, ointment, cream, varnish, other drugs) and folk remedies are used for this.

Onychomycosis (also known as "dermatophytic onychomycosis" or "herpes zoster") is the most common nail infection, affecting one in ten people worldwide. Although the disease should be treated at home, it is very difficult to influence this infection from the outside, and the infection is often accompanied by relapses and inflammation.

Nail fungus - what is it?

In medical terminology, nail fungus is called onychomycosis. The nail plate becomes infected when it comes into contact with the spores, then the rapid growth of the fungal organs begins, affecting the nail in depth and width.

This pathological condition is observed mostly in elderly people. The occurrence of the disease is affected by the following factors:

excessive body weight;
diseases of the digestive system;
weakening of the immune system;
impaired function of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands;
improper hygiene.

Experts identify several stages and forms of fungal infection.

Types and causes of toenail diseases

Diseases of the nail plate can be divided into three types:

mushrooms;
non-fungal;
other diseases.

Non-fungal diseases

Causes of diseases not related to fungal infection are:

illiterate care of the nail plate;
injury;
unbalanced diet;
presence of infection in the body;
to smoke;
hereditary tendency;
the presence of dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema;
acute and chronic diseases of heart and blood vessels, nervous system, endocrine diseases.

Fungal diseases

Fungal problems are caused by various types of fungi. This pathogen is very dangerous because it spreads quickly and easily. This disease needs to be treated. The fungus most often affects the nail plates of the lower extremities, because the feet are the most favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria.

There are factors that contribute to the occurrence and development of the disease:

increased sweating of the feet;
poor-quality shoes: airless and air-tight, poorly durable;
use of clothing made of synthetic materials;
neglect of personal hygiene;
visiting public places without individual shoes, for example, baths, swimming pools, saunas, public showers.

To recognize the beginning of the disease, you need to know what a healthy nail plate looks like:

flesh color pink;
the surface is smooth, smooth;
it has a homogeneous structure, there is no compression and thinning;
The nails are intact at the tips and do not separate.

If your nails do not match at least one point, you should consult a doctor for advice.

Mushroom forms

The symptoms of the disease depend on the form of the fungus:

Atrophic. A gray color appears on the nail, and the plate becomes pale and pale. The nail begins to atrophy from the outer ends.
Hypertrophic. As a result of the active growth of skin scales, the nail plate becomes thicker than 2 millimeters. Nail deformation depends on the severity of the pathology. Shade - gray or dark yellow. One of the signs of such a fungus looks like a bird's claw.
Normotrophic. With this type of fungus, the color of the nail changes, but the shine and thickness remain the same. In the first stages, white to yellow spots appear. If the disease is not treated, its size increases. In this case, the plate does not stick to the nail bed.
Proximal. This fungus spreads through the skin layer. Possible pain in the cuticle area.
General. This infection develops if the treatment of other types of fungus is not taken into account. It is accompanied by loss of color and brightness, collapse and brittleness. The result is the complete destruction of the nail plate.
Surface white fungus. It is characterized by the formation of white spots and stripes spread over the entire nail.
Distal. The lesion is accompanied by dullness, loss of color and changes in the thickness of the nail plate. After the affected area dies, the nail deforms and splits.
Lateral. There is swelling of skin ridges, their redness and thickening. It is characterized by pain in the area near the nail. When a bacterial infection joins, the purulent process begins.

Appropriate treatment is prescribed depending on the severity of the pathology.

Practical advice

Prevention of toe and toe fungus is a very important task. Immediately after recovering from the misfortune, you will find yourself in a high-risk zone, because. . . The body will be very susceptible to this type of infection for a long time.

Drug treatment does not always work, antibiotics kill the immune system, the body becomes more sensitive to fungi and spores, try to minimize the use of such drugs;
Any burns and frostbite require immediate treatment, otherwise the bacteria will decrease very quickly;
Effective treatment is only half the battle, because you need to completely disinfect all surfaces you come in contact with: bedding, floors, clothes, shoes, etc. ;
Conventional treatment is good, but it does not guarantee that there will be no relapses. Before starting this fight, it is advisable to consult a doctor, he will conduct an analysis and tell you exactly what form the fungus is and how to fight it;
Do not treat yourself with drugs;
Do not try to hide damaged nails with colored varnish - this will damage them more and slow down recovery;
The doctor recommends regular foot baths with mint and chamomile, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of infection;
A person who already suffers from fungal diseases cannot be a blood donor;
The fungus is highly contagious, so consult your loved ones and take them to a doctor.

Typical clinical picture

Clinical manifestations of fungal nail infections include:

burning sensation and itching of the skin near the affected area;
fragility of nails;
swelling of the affected area;
active separation of the plate;
color changes (black, yellow, gray, green, brown indicate a pathological process);
painful feeling where the fungus is localized;
nail deformity.

If treatment is neglected or inappropriate therapy is observed, keratinization of the plate and an increase in density are observed.Fungal infection can only be diagnosed by a qualified specialist.

Places at risk of infection

Infection can occur in a moist and warm place where the fungus grows rapidly. Therefore, you should be careful and follow the rules of hygiene in a public environment:

sauna;
shower cabin;
bathroom;
gym;
solarium;
public changing room;
the beach;
swimming pool.

You can catch nail fungus by trying on someone else's shoes. In addition, if non-sterile tools are used or if the master has a fungus on his hand and performs the manipulation without gloves, infection can occur in the beauty salon during the pedicure procedure.

Alternative remedies to fight nail fungus

There are many alternative methods to fight fungal infections. Popular and effective procedures that help to eliminate fungus in folk medicine are:

compress;
foot bath;
lotions;
application of ointments from herbal products.

Effective antifungal alternative treatments include:

Garlic ointment. To prepare it, butter is mixed with grated garlic. Apply to the affected nails for several hours.
Bath with sea salt. Prepare a warm solution and keep your feet for thirty minutes. After the procedure, it is recommended to apply olive oil to your nails.
Foot bath with a decoction of calendula, celandine, horsetail or milkweed.
Mint and salt compress. A spoonful of salt is mixed with a crushed plant and applied to the problem area for several hours.
Propolis lotion. A cotton pad is moistened with tincture and applied to the affected nail.
Lubricate the sick nail plate with celandine juice.
Egg-honey mixture. Honey, birch resin and sulfur are added to egg white. Mix thoroughly and apply to nails.
Ammonia compress. A spoonful of ammonia is diluted in a glass of water. The material intended for the procedure is immersed in the liquid.
Apricot resin. Using the ingredients in equal parts, alcohol tincture is made from tree resin. Compress using this tool.
Coffee bath. They make strong coffee and pour it down the sink. It is recommended to soak your feet in this product for twenty minutes.
Tar compress. For this procedure, take birch resin.
A bath based on Listerine, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
Hydrogen peroxide compress. Before use, it is recommended to make a foot bath with soda.
Application of onion pulp to painful nail.

An effective folk remedy for fungal infections is a remedy made from baking soda and apple cider vinegar. To prepare it, you need the following ingredients:

apple cider vinegar - 250 ml;
baking soda - 150 g;
water (hot) - 3 l.

Foot baths are prepared with this medicine. The peculiarity of this procedure is that the feet are first placed in vinegar solution for twenty minutes. Then after some time they take a bath with soda. It is recommended to do the procedure several times a day.

Compresses can also be made from the following ingredients:
chopped horseradish (root);
sunflower oil and vinegar (product ratio 1: 1);
river mushroom;
tangerine juice;
tea tree oil;
mashed rowan.

It is recommended to apply these products to the affected area at night. Herbalists recommend putting crushed herbs in your socks for athlete's foot:

mint;
chamomile;
nettle;
sage.

The first signs of the disease can be removed by soaking your feet in a solution of laundry soap. It is important to remember that alternative medicines should be used only on well-washed feet. Dead layers should be removed one at a time using a nail file or scissors.

Other diseases

This section includes diseases that may be symptoms of fungal or non-fungal pathology, but in this case they are independent.

Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy is often inherited.

This disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

nail thickens;
extends to several centimeters;
very long legs begin to bend down, resembling a bird's paw;
the color of the nail changes from yellow to dirty yellow;
rarely, in this case, the nail grows into the skin located on the sides;
If obesity is not treated, the inflammatory process begins.

Vitamins and physiotherapy are prescribed to fight the disease. If there is inflammation, wash with peroxide and chlorhexidine.

Traditional medicine suggests using massage with olive oil. In the case of significant deformation that greatly spoils the appearance of a person, they resort to cosmetic correction.

Atrophy

Diseases of the toenails in which the nails are atrophied are often congenital.

You can already see the symptoms in a newborn baby:

deformation of the nail plates on one or more fingers, they are smaller in size, fragile, distorted in shape;
nail color whitish, cloudy;
there are defects on the surface: roughness, microcracks;
absence of nails on one or more fingers;
the presence of membranes between the fingers;
deformation of the fingers;
low hair growth rate and they also grow sparsely.

Such congenital pathologies are difficult to treat. It is recommended to take vitamins, eat collagen-rich foods, and have a balanced diet. Patients should take care of their nails, avoid damage and contact with aggressive substances.

Peeling of nails

The most common problem people encounter.

The reasons for its appearance are:

improper manicure, use of low-quality decorative cosmetics;
Half of the women who regularly perform the Shellac procedure face this problem;
vitamin deficiency;
endocrine disorders, especially decreased thyroid function;
chronic diseases that deplete the body;
synthetic clothes and wrong shoes.

This problem can be solved using a number of measures:

Cosmeticsspecial nail creams and oils.
Paraffin therapyyou need to buy paraffin and melt it until it is liquid, but not hot. Feet should be washed first and dried well. Dip your fingers in paraffin, then let it harden, then lower it again. The sequence should be repeated several times until there are 3-5 layers of paraffin on the nails. Then, you need to wrap it with plastic and put a warm sock on it. Keep this compress for 30 minutes. After that, the paraffin should be carefully removed and a rich cream should be applied to the nails.

Traditional medicine recommends massage using sea salt. It should be dissolved at the rate of 2 teaspoons per 200 ml of hot water. Feet should be kept in the liquid for at least 15 minutes. Then you need to massage the skin around the nails. You can then apply olive or other unrefined vegetable oil.

Pterygium

This word refers to the thin film that extends over the nail in the crescent region. It is the lower layer of the cuticle. It performs physiological protective functions and is not pathological.

It has different lengths and thicknesses for different people. When doing a professional manicure, pterygium begins to cause problems. It interferes with coatings that harden under an ultraviolet lamp.

If a woman decides to remove it, it should be done correctly so as not to do itdamage the cuticle and do not introduce dirt into the delicate layers of the epidermis:

soften the pterygium in water;
carefully remove the excess with an apricot stick;
treat the area with an antiseptic - chlorhexidine or miramistin.

To ensure that the pterygium always remains soft and easy to remove, every night before going to bed, you should treat the nail plate and cuticle with a special oil purchased from pharmacies and cosmetic stores.

Untreated nail diseases can have serious consequences. Complications include pus, abscess, panaritium and malignant formations on the legs. You should see a dermatologist for any changes in the appearance of your nails.

General treatment regimen

Successful therapy will require several months of complex treatment. It is a medication for local and systemic use, diet and immune system boosters. Treatment of fungal diseases of the toenails is carried out using the following methods:

systemic antifungal drugs;
a course of physiotherapy that improves blood flow in the legs and hands;
affected areas are treated with local anti-infective agents (antifungal varnishes, ointments, gels) and the surrounding skin is covered for prevention;
if severe thickening or general damage is confirmed, conservative or surgical removal of affected tissues;
the use of drugs that improve blood flow to the peripheral tissues of the hands and feet.

Taking systemic antimycotics

For reliable and effective treatment of fungal diseases, it is necessary to use systemic antifungal drugs. Their action is aimed at destroying the pathogen. Fungal spores can remain in the growth zone for a long time during the incubation period, but at the same time they remain alive, so it is very important to ensure their destruction.

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As the plate grows, the spores rise and enter the active phase, continuing to cause the pathological process. For this reason, treatment with systemic antifungal drugs is carried out for a long time in order to fully grow a healthy, new nail plate. This will indicate that the germ zone is free of spores.

Local treatment

This is another component of the complex treatment that is carried out when taking systemic medication and does not replace it. Only local therapy will not help to achieve complete recovery, so there is no way to avoid the need to take antifungal medicine in the form of tablets, solutions or capsules. This is due to the ability of spores to remain alive for a long time in destroyed tissues. Local drugs cannot penetrate these areas.

Treatment of onychomycosis with this method is aimed at treating the nail bed or nail with products in the form of lotion, varnish, cream, ointment or spray. It is recommended at this stage.

Removing the nail plate

There are two options for this procedure - conservative and surgical. The first method is performed using keratolytic patches, which can soften the tissues. After using these products, it is possible to remove the damaged area painlessly and easily with a soft scalpel or ordinary scissors. Patch options are currently used for conservative removal.

Such products can be purchased at a pharmacy or ordered from the prescription department. Before using the composition against fungal disease, apply a regular adhesive plaster to the healthy areas of the skin next to the affected areas to protect against its keratolytic effect. Next, apply a 2 mm thick layer of the mixture and provide it with a simple plaster for 2-3 days. Then peel the skin, remove the remaining product and remove the softened tissue with a scalpel. The procedure is repeated until the entire nail surface is removed and only the bare bed remains.

The surgical method is considered more effective than the conservative one, because it not only removes the affected areas, but also allows the bed to be cleaned of keratinized scales, where fungal spores can continue to live and cause recurrence of the disease. Clinical studies confirm that the effectiveness of treatment with surgical removal is significantly higher, the procedure is carried out as follows:

Put a tourniquet under the finger.
Treat the surface with an antiseptic (any).
Local anesthetic is injected into the lateral surfaces of the finger.
Tweezers are placed under the free edge from the left or right corner.
Move the tool towards the base.
The plate is separated using a twisting motion.
The bed is cleaned from the accumulation of horn plates.
The nail bed is irrigated with a powder sorbent with an antibiotic.
A sterile dressing is placed on top.

Shoe processing

During the treatment of onychomycosis, the issue of disinfection of shoes is very important, because they contain fungal pathogens, which will lead to recurrence of the disease in the future. To eliminate them, you need to use chemical disinfectants. This cleaning procedure should be performed at least once a week. Disinfection can be carried out using the following compositions:

Formalin solution 25%.
Chlorhexidine bigluconate solution 1%.
Acetic acid 40% etc.

As a preventive measure, you should regularly use special devices designed for drying shoes at home. Fungi thrive in moist environments, so you shouldn't leave your shoes wet.

To eliminate the disease, you must strictly follow all the doctor's instructions. Medicines should be used as directed. Home remedies can help speed up the healing process for onychomycosis, but only when used as an adjunctive solution in combination with traditional drug therapy.

Possible complications

Pessimists who do not believe that onychomycosis can be cured should remember that they are fortunately wrong. But if the disease is ignored or self-medicated without being sure of the correct diagnosis, problems can arise.

Possible complications include:

the formation of mycotic eczema with a large area affected by the fungus;
burns caused by improper use of keratolytic plaster;
dysfunction of the liver and gastrointestinal organs caused by the accumulation of toxins in the body;
the development of an allergic reaction due to "overloading" of the body with harmful substances;
psychological problems caused by a person's inability to lead an ordinary life - for example, visiting the bathhouse without hesitation, going to the beach.

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Laser treatment

This is an additional physiotherapeutic technique aimed at improving blood circulation. The procedure is performed as part of complex therapy with the use of antifungal drugs. Using a laser alone will not help treat the disease, as it only improves blood flow in the tissues. This is necessary for effective delivery of the antifungal agent to hard-to-reach cells. If you do not take systemic drugs, laser therapy will not give any therapeutic results.

Disinfection and personal hygiene

Seeing that the nail has changed color and suspecting the original form of the fungus, comparing the symptoms with the photo, it is necessary to join the complex treatment. To effectively get rid of fungus, you need:

thoroughly disinfect socks and shoes every day;
bed linen and towels;
Clean the bathroom thoroughly after bathing.

All wardrobe items that come into contact with the affected nails during the day should be boiled in a soapy solution in the evening. It is better to use laundry soap. Shoes should be wiped daily with an antiseptic or special antifungal solution.

Onychomycosis of the nails is often observed in the same family due to constant contact with the causative agent of a fungal infection, as well as common hygiene products. If a person scratches the affected areas and then touches household items with his hands, then fungal spores and pathogens are spread to things and the risk of infection increases.