At this time, I probably tried all kinds of folk remedies, and consulted a doctor several times.In this article I will tell you what nail fungus is, why it occurs, why it is dangerous and how to get rid of it.
What is nail fungus?
Officially, this disease is called onychomycosis - nail fungus infection.In 60-70% of cases it is caused by a special dermatophyte fungus;Infections from molds and yeasts are less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.That is why this fungus lives in the nail plate, hair and the stratum corneum of the skin - where keratin is produced.
Usually, the fungus starts growing from the cut part of the nail.The tip of the nail gradually changes color: it becomes yellowish, light brown or milky.If left untreated, the infection spreads towards the cuticle.The fungus can also start from the side surface of the nail.
There is also superficial white onychomycosis.Outwardly, it looks like a white or dull spot on the surface of the nail.It spreads from the center to the edges;If the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Sometimes, proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail in the area of the cuticle and root.This usually occurs in people with a weakened immune system.
When the nail is completely destroyed due to fungus, this condition is called generalized dystrophic onychomycosis.Outwardly, the nails look terrible: they are thick, ribbed and an unpleasant dark color.
Cause
Nail fungus is a very common disease.Onychomycosis accounts for 50-60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I got the fungus from, but this is how the doctor gave to get infected with it.
Contact with contaminated surfaces.Fungal pathogens love moisture, and therefore live well in damp rooms - baths or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought as a bonus from the beauty salon after a manicure or pedicure: just one microcut and a well-processed instrument is enough - and that's it, the disease is there.You can also get fungus if you put shoes on bare feet after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.Fungi are highly contagious.If one member of the household is sick, other family members can become infected with onychomycosis.The risk increases if you share slippers, common washcloths, or bath mats.However, fungus can also be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is so important for someone with nail problems to follow hygiene rules.
Poor hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet well, does not cut his nails on time, or rarely changes his socks, it is easier for him to take the fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of disease.When we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the feet and nail roots is interrupted.Onychodystrophy can develop - a condition that looks similar to nail fungus and often accompanies it.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people of certain professions - maids, cooks, cleaners, car wash workers.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes and rubber gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But fungi really like all this and grow actively in such conditions.
Concomitant diseasesIncrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people with varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignant neoplasms, fungi are more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating - Hyperhidrosis - also contributes to the proliferation of fungi.
Usually, the fungus occurs in people aged 30 and older, especially the elderly.Children less often and respond better to local treatment: their nail plates are thinner, and the nails themselves grow faster.It turns out that with a shorter exposure to the drug, the effect on children occurs faster.
Why are fungi dangerous?
Nail fungus does not just spoil the appearance of your feet, it is a real disease that is harmful to the body.If the fungus on one nail is not treated, it will spread to the nail that is still healthy.In some people, fungal infections can cause allergies - the fungi themselves become allergens.
Dermatophyte fungus eats on keratin, so it is no longer enough for nail growth.Because of this, they become fragile, crumble and splinter.Over time, "keratin debris" will begin to accumulate between the nail and the nail bed - this is formed when the keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nails to become thicker and grow crooked.Although nails are thick, they are still very fragile - they will catch on clothes and break easily.
Sometimes, with nail fungus, your feet start to sweat more than usual - this leads to an unpleasant smell, and you have to change your socks several times a day.
If the infected nail is left untreated for too long, it will begin to separate from the nail bed.First of all, it just hurts.Second, instead of the removed nail, a kind of wound will appear, a moist and warm environment will appear - just the kind that dermatophytes like.In it they will grow faster.
And advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to buy medicines and change all their shoes after completing the treatment.If in the early stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected using a special disinfectant solution, then after recovery from an advanced disease, all old shoes should be thrown away so as not to become infected again.
This fungus reduces the quality of life.I feel physically uncomfortable: my feet sweat, my nails are thick, crumbling and broken.Even in the summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.In addition, the fungus severely limited my activities: I could not play sports or go to the swimming pool.I read that some people have feelings of shame that sometimes even slip into severe depression.Luckily, I didn't get to that point.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and feet when you get fungus.
Nail color changeYellowish, white or brownish spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of infection and is associated with the accumulation of keratin debris in and under the nail.Nails look dull and don't shine like they used to.
The structure changes:The nail becomes thick or begins to grow in waves.When cutting, the cut turns out to be uneven, the nail crumbles into separate pieces.
An unpleasant smell appearsFeet sweat more.
I suspect late fungus.On the middle foot of the left foot, the nail becomes very thick and grows upwards, standing upright from the rest.I put off going to the doctor for a long time and did not do any treatment, so the infection spread to my other nails - they turned yellow.
How do I treat my own fungus?
When I suspected fungus, I thought it was ridiculous.I did nothing for about a year, hoping it would go away on its own.Then I decided that I should try to get rid of it, but I still did not understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that it would be enough just to coat my nails with the magic polish and drops advertised on TV, and everything would be gone.
When I realized that drops and varnish did not help, I started making foot baths.They write on the Internet that this is a miracle procedure that will get rid of fungus forever.I hate going to the doctor, so I believe in this tip.
I soaked my feet in a solution of soda and liquid soap, dripped iodine into the water, and even took a coffee bath several times.Then I learned that it is better to replace liquid soap with chocolate laundry soap - when I grind it, the aroma in the apartment is indescribable.I cut and scrape the steamed nails, and then fill the scissors and file with vodka in a bowl.I collect the nail bits on a paper napkin and throw them in the trash.I also crush my nails with aloe juice and propolis.This procedure took more time, so in the end I just gave up on the treatment.
As I realized, self-medication was my big mistake, because it took more than a year.But it did not bring any results: the fungus, apparently, just started to spread.The reason for this is my laziness and lack of understanding of the situation.
How the doctor diagnosed me
The infected nail continues to grow and thicken.I feel uncomfortable when I wear socks and any shoes, it also makes it quite difficult to walk.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Turkey.And this is another reason why I go to the doctor - it's just embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I made an appointment at the Skin and Venereal Disease Clinic to see a mycologist.Just by the appearance of the nail, he said that it was very similar to fungus, but he still sent me for a test.
I was asked to cut off the infected nail and submit it for examination, and they also ordered a general blood test.As the Doctor explained, if the fungus is confirmed, in my case I definitely need to take pills.And some of them have contraindications that can be identified through blood counts.
How do I treat nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor
Three groups of drugs are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All these drugs destroy the fungal cells, which ultimately leads to a decrease in their number and the death of the pathogen.The drug is officially called an antimycotic.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly in courses.This means that it will not be enough to take one tablet and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the course of treatment.
A specific type of medication is prescribed by the doctor depending on the type of fungus, the degree of damage to the nail, the patient's well-being, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to tablets, external treatments are also prescribed in the form of creams, ointments, sprays - this helps speed up the process.Such drugs can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antimycotics.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is coated with a special material, and then it is exposed to cold light rays and prevents the spread of infection.They may offer laser treatment - it is believed that the laser beam penetrates all layers of the nail and burns the mycelium of the fungus.But scientists still have little evidence that lasers actually work.
In the most advanced cases, the nail is completely removed.
The doctor prescribed me itraconazole tablets - 2 pieces 2 times a day for a week.
I tolerated the treatment well, only for two weeks I was terribly sleepy - then I went to work for two hours each way, and slept on the train all this time.No problems with digestion.
The nail itself should be scraped by hand.I was offered to start by making a bath with laundry soap and soda and then applying urea paste to the nails.With a small spatula, I spread it on a quarter of a cotton pad, put it on the nail, wrap it with a bandage and a plaster, and walk like that for a day.At this time, the hard layer on the nail softens a little, after which I scrape it off.Then he immediately used the composition again;There are at least five such approaches throughout the treatment period.Paste helps, nails become thinner.It becomes easier to cut it.
Three weeks later, the doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment.Then he prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate - it has a local effect and, like tablets, destroys fungal cells.The cream needs to be spread on the nails twice a day, and this time I am no longer lazy.
What's wrong with nails now?
I had my nails treated for a year and a half.In July 2020, I started seeing white spots on them again.This time I went to the doctor immediately and found that the infection had re-infested.Now it's still early stages, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with relapse of the disease.Reinfection occurs when you receive an infection from the external environment, that is, in fact, it is no different from a primary infection.For relapse, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.Then the focus of the infection remains on the nail: outwardly it may not be visible, but over time, growth will definitely appear.
It also happens that the wrong diagnosis is made in the beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there are situations when nail fungus is confused with nail psoriasis.Both of these diseases are very similar to the external symptoms in the early stages.
How to Prevent Nail Fungus
Prevention of fungus is directly related to the causes of its occurrence.Take the cause, spin the meaning and get recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public,Especially where it is humid - the gym, shower, bath, near the swimming pool.
Don't wear other people's shoes.Even rubber flip-flops with open feet can be dangerous in terms of fungal infections.It is better to disinfect ordinary shoes, for example at the skating rink or bowling alley, with a special solution.When buying shoes, try them only on the feet or heels.
Do not wear tight shoes.No amount of beauty is worth the health of your skin and nails.
Keep your feet dry.If your feet are wet, try to wash them as soon as possible, dry them and put on clean socks.The shoes themselves must be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.Removing them with water during your daily shower is not enough.It is advisable to have a separate washcloth for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash them thoroughly in all areas, and not just rub them once on the heels and feet.
Trim your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and micro-cuts - they will be an entry point for any infection, not just fungus.Use only your own scissors and do not share with anyone in the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- This is also important in terms of other infections.For example, I treat my files and scissors with alcohol spray.I told my wife to make sure that in the manicure room the master sterilizes the tools - usually this is done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To cure nail fungus, you need to see a dermatologist - if he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.Such a doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and choose treatment.Taking pills on your own may not bring results and may be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under a compulsory medical insurance policy: To do this, you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or dermatovenerology dispenser.Consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated at a private medical center, you have to pay for everything.The cost of nail testing for fungus depends on the method of analysis.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infectious disease that is easily contracted in public showers, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores, and nail salons.The sooner you start treating nail fungus, the better and faster the results.It is possible to get only with local medicines and not taking pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Prescribing pills yourself based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a dubious tactic.It is important to complete the treatment, no matter how lazy you are.To prevent nail fungus, it is important to keep your feet clean and not wear other people's shoes on your bare feet.