Did you see any cracks between your toes? Are your feet itchy and itchy? Did your nails suddenly lose their color and start to deteriorate? These symptoms should not be ignored as they can signal a fungal infection of the feet. This disease is not uncommon; especially common among military personnel, professional athletes, and pool visitors. Unfortunately, fungal skin lesions are long and difficult to treat, but at the same time cause considerable inconvenience to the "owner". What to do to avoid getting this disease, as well as how to deal with it once it is acquired: we will explain all this to you in our article.
Cause links: where the nail fungus came from
Of course, the fungus itself does not "stick" to the feet of a healthy person for no reason. There are several types of fungi that are considered classic, ie they affect the largest percentage of patients. All of them are called "onychomycosis". This group may include candida fungal spores, dermatophytes, or trichophytos, the latter of which, in turn, have several subspecies localized in different parts of the feet and nails.
Such difficult, at first glance, names characterize an extremely unpleasant infection that penetrates under the nail or "located" in the area between or under the fingers. The most wonderful environment for fungal spores is the moist and warm folds of the human feet, where it feels really comfortable and constantly grows, which causes the affected area to expand.
So, what causes nail fungus?
- In the absence of proper hygiene, fungi multiply and can affect large areas of the foot. At the same time, the spores are capable of reaching the surface of any shoe, "settling" there, and repeatedly infecting a person, as well as those who can wear these shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are a common place for disputes.
- Due to excessive sweating of the legs called hyperkeratosis. The shoes of military personnel, miners or athletes are often wet inside. This is due to the increasing loads and the "non-breathable" materials from which the boots or boots are built. This environment is a fungal sports paradise.
- Sometimes in any beauty salon during a pedicure procedure, the fungus gets under the nail. Without proper sterilization of pedicure tools, the master risks bringing you a fungus, which is very difficult to get rid of. When cutting a pedicure tweezers that are not treated with a special sterilization solution, this can happen to absolutely anyone.
- Onychomycosis is a common companion of people taking antibacterial drugs or having reduced immunity. In addition, a stimulus for the formation of a fungus on the nails may be a violation of blood circulation in the lower extremities, varicose veins or diabetes mellitus.
- Chronic diseases in the body can affect fungal infections. There is no need to start a chronic inflammatory process. It is important to treat it.
Mushroom spores often "live" in baths, public showers and saunas because they love moisture and heat. For this reason, you should follow the rules of hygiene in places with stagnant water, high humidity and high temperatures. In saunas, public showers and baths, wear only your own home-made shoes. Remember: if someone has worn slippers in the sauna many times before you, it is very possible that fungal spores will settle inside the porous structure of the rubber and you can get onychomycosis.
How to identify nail fungus alone?
Self-diagnosis is not difficult, because you can recognize the fungus for the most insignificant symptoms and consult a doctor at an early stage. To do this, regularly check your feet in the area between the toes, the bottom, as well as your nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of the feet after walking in swimming pools, saunas, baths or wearing someone else's shoes.
The most common symptoms of fungal infections of the feet and nails:
- Cracked skin on the soles of the toes. At the same time, the wounds do not dry out, but get wet and constantly inflamed.
- Unusually shaped nails. Any breakage, deformation or discoloration of natural marigold from the skin should alert you. In patients with onychomycosis, the nails become very thick, very brittle and may even break. At the same time, the color can vary in size: yellow, white, gray or even darkened marigolds are generally not uncommon for such a disease.
- Also look for itchy, broken spots and rashes on the surface of your feet. If they do not last 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
- You should also avoid the sudden appearance of bubbles on the skin of your feet. They are usually located in small groups and contain a clear liquid.
- A very important symptom is an unpleasant odor coming from the feet. If your feet have never smelled fetid before, do not skip this factor, as it may indicate the presence of fungal disease.
Due to the presence of such symptoms, you can diagnose yourself with a fungal skin disease. If in doubt, you should consult a doctor, who will conduct a special examination and confirm or deny the presence of onychomycosis.
How to diagnose nail fungus in a medical clinic
Most likely, a general blood and urine test will be required to find out if there is an inflammatory process in the body. Your doctor will ask you to provide details about what medications you are taking and whether you are suffering from a specific illness, such as diabetes mellitus. Diabetic foot often occurs due to increased blood glucose levels and overweight, which is often accompanied by endocrine diseases. The disease is characterized by callus, corns, cracks and fungal lesions.
Laboratory analysis is mandatory for the presence of fungal spores. Generally, you do not need to wash your feet for a few days before the diagnosis, and the nail plate separations should be sealed with adhesive plaster. A special shave is performed on the border of healthy skin and the affected area to determine the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, in the event of a recurrence of the disease, the destroyed marigold particles are taken for analysis. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. Similarly, laboratory assistants work with physicians to determine the type of fungus and decide on further therapy.
Dermatologists and less specialized doctors - mycologists deal with diseases of this nature.
How to treat nail fungus
Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never go away on its own. The controversy is very resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: the fungus is considered one of the most stubborn microorganisms on the planet. Fungal spores, like mold, can affect all of us.
Mycoses must be treated because they can spread to the surface of the skin, cover all large areas of the pathological process, and even settle in the respiratory tract and cause asthma.
There are drugs called antifungals. Like antibacterial drugs, they often kill the problem from the inside because it is taken orally. Only a doctor can prescribe antifungals, because some of them can have many side effects. Some groups of drugs can only fight one or more types of fungi, but there are also broad-spectrum antifungals.
For the effective treatment of onychomycosis, drugs containing the following active ingredients are suitable:
- Terbinafine,
- Clotrimazole,
- Ketoconazole,
- Fluconazole,
- Itraconazole.
Remember that only a doctor has the right to prescribe antifungals. Given the possibility of side effects, it is not possible to choose an appropriate antifungal for all patients with onychomycosis.
In addition, special ointments, applications and creams are prescribed for high-quality treatment of fungal infections of the feet. For nail fungus, these tools are used both at the initial stage and during operation. Depending on the degree of damage and localization of the fungus, the doctor may prescribe applications. They involve applying an ointment to the affected areas of the skin and then sealing it with a plaster. Such an application is usually kept overnight, and in the morning the dead skin or nail particles are carefully removed and removed.
The following treatment options also give good results:
- treatment with antifungal sprays,
- Creams or emulsions,
- Coating nails with a special antifungal varnish.
Complex treatment of fungal diseases, which combines the use of ointments, antifungals and other procedures, has the most lasting effect. However, we must not forget that onychomycosis therapy is a long time. To give you an idea of how to get rid of nail fungus, it is necessary to mention one fact: as always, the nail grows completely in 6 to 12 months. You should not stop treatment until a new, healthy nail has grown completely, because sometimes spores can remain at the root of the nails. If you stop treatment prematurely, the disease may recur.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
Home treatment of a fungus will not be effective if only two or three treatment procedures are performed and if there is the slightest improvement in the clinical picture, the therapy is forgotten. The course of antifungal therapy should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes much longer to defeat an unpleasant disease. Be patient or the nail fungus will come back.
The main treatment at home is to remove the affected skin and nails as much as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In the conditions of beauty salons, a pedicurist will help to cope with mycosis. It will remove the upper affected layer of the nail with a special milling machine with a non-coarse nozzle, after which it will be possible to apply an antifungal ointment to this area. At home, you will not be able to completely remove the layer of dead cells, but it will be quite possible to soften and carefully remove.
Nail fungus recipe:
- Chicken eggs - 1 piece,
- Vinegar itself is 70% or 80%,
- Tea tree oil, butter or olive.
Acetic acid works well against many types of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, pour the essence of the chicken egg so that it is completely covered with the solution. It is better to use a glass for this. Now you have to put it in a dark place. Look at the egg: as soon as you see that the shell is completely dissolved, remove the bowl and add a little oil on it (if you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops will suffice). Now you need to grind the mixture thoroughly so that the eggs turn into a homogeneous paste. The mixture should cover the affected areas of the fungus, apply a plastic cover and cover the feet with a bandage or skin. It is recommended to leave the compress for a few hours, after which the steamed marigold should be cut. With regular use, the diseased nail can be removed almost completely and the fungus can be removed forever.
Nail fungus: treatment with folk remedies
If you want to defeat onychomycosis on your own, it is possible that compresses made from various ingredients, such as garlic, horseradish or kombucha, will help you. Just be sure to steam your feet before applying, ie prepare a steam bath for them.
Baths with soda or potassium permanganate solution are the most effective. Both substances have an antiseptic effect, perfectly clean and disinfect the skin and toenails. Making a bath is simple: pour hot water into a basin and pour soda in the ratio of 1 tbsp. l. Soda for 3 liters of water. Potassium permanganate powder should be added carefully to avoid burning inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or violet; light pink water is enough. We put our feet in the bath and enjoy for about 1 hour. Wipe your feet dry. Now you can do other manipulations.
Grate horseradish or garlic or squeeze with a press. Wrap the mass with a piece of gauze or bandage and apply to the affected area. Leave the compress on overnight, don't forget to wrap it in plastic and wear warm socks. Kombucha has the same effect, you will need a little of it - a small piece should be applied to the affected area of the nail.
Prevention of foot fungus - how to avoid infection with fungal spores
As a preventive measure against onychomycosis, you should follow some simple rules:
- Use your shoes to visit the pool, shower, sauna or steam bath. Try not to walk barefoot in such places, especially if the skin is slightly damaged.
- Do not give away your shoes and foot hygiene items such as pumice stone or home pedicure brush.
- Change your underwear, socks or tights more often to never think about how to get rid of nail fungus. Your health depends on it.
- When you come to the pedicure, check whether the master has sterilized the tools. Some salons have their own set of pedicure tools. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infections.
- Remember to wear loose shoes that do not restrict movement to prevent calluses, corns and blisters. Remember: If there are no wounds, cracks or scratches on the surface of the skin, fungal spores are less likely to attack you.