Nail fungus, known among professionals as onychomycosis, is a very common pathology. The lesion affects approximately 40% of people at least once in their lives. In this case, fungi on the feet are more common than on the hands.
The disease begins with the appearance of a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of the nail. As the fungal infection penetrates deeper into the skin, the nail plate begins to discolor, thicken, and crumble at the edges. If treatment is not started early, onychomycosis begins to affect the areas between the toes and can even reach the skin of the feet. The neglected fungus is called epidermophytosis. Be sure to consult your local doctor!
How can you get nail fungus?
Since the disease is infectious, you can only become infected through contact. There are hundreds of different types of pathogens in the environment. But completely healthy people with strong immunity are not susceptible to nail fungus. For onychomycosis to develop, a combination of several factors is necessary: poor health (for example, after a recent acute respiratory viral infection), as well as small cracks in the nails and surrounding skin. Also, after the penetration of pathogenic bacteria, it is necessary to create a moist and warm environment favorable for reproduction.
Other risk factors that increase your risk of developing nail fungus include:
- microtrauma of the nail plates;
- diabetes;
- taking immunosuppressants;
- congenital thickened nail plates;
- venous insufficiency (poor blood circulation in the legs);
- peripheral arterial disease;
- elderly age;
- fungal skin infections.
People who notice lesions on their nails quite often should take certain steps to prevent recurrences. At a minimum, you need to keep your feet dry and warm. You should not walk barefoot in public places, especially in swimming pools, saunas, and spas. Professional athletes, people who do hard physical work most of the day, should also pay attention to choosing the right shoes and socks. Feet should not sweat and nails should not be squeezed.
Who should I contact if I have nail fungus?
There are many effective over-the-counter medications that can be used for treatment without a doctor's prescription. But if new growths on the nails appear for the first time, then it is necessary to consult a dermatologist or podologist. The fact is that fungi are not the only possible cause of nail problems. Many other pathologies may be similar to the manifestations of fungal infections. For example, some forms of psoriasis can mimic the symptoms that occur with nail fungus. Therefore, a medical specialist must make a diagnosis and select treatment. In the future, in case of relapse, the patient will be able to re-use already prescribed drugs.
Symptoms, diagnostic methods
Before prescribing treatment for a fungus, a good doctor should refer the patient for laboratory tests. Even an experienced specialist cannot determine the type of pathogen by eye. Most often, the patient is asked to send clippings of the affected nails to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
If the selected treatment methods do not help, then you need to consult a doctor again. Symptoms that indicate that nail fungus is progressing:
- microbleeding around the nail bed;
- swelling and pain in the affected area;
- complete deformation of the nail plate;
- the appearance of a characteristic pulsation when walking;
Only after identifying the real cause of the infection is truly effective treatment possible.
Treatment Options
There is no best or optimal treatment method. The medical prescription directly depends on the severity of the condition and the type of microorganism that provoked the disease. Most often, doctors prescribe medications that need to be applied directly to the nail or taken orally. Let's take a closer look at each option.
Oral antifungal drugs.
They are the first choice option, the most common treatment method for recurrent fungus. The tablets help the new nail grow clean and with the correct structure. You need to prepare for the fact that the results are not quick; the entire course of treatment takes 6-12 weeks. Discontinuation of oral therapy is permitted only when the nail has completely grown back clean and healthy.
As for the disadvantages, the therapy is not suitable for elderly people over 65 years of age, as well as for people who have liver problems or diagnosed congestive heart failure. Also, oral antifungal drugs can cause side effects such as rash and nausea. It is strictly forbidden to start taking such drugs without preliminary tests. Moreover, approximately 2 weeks after the start of treatment, it is recommended to take a scraping again to check how exactly the body reacts to the prescribed medications.
Healing varnish.
If the nails are affected for the first time (the onset of the disease is diagnosed) or the fungus was detected at the "point stage", then the doctor may prescribe the use of a special antifungal varnish with the main active ingredient. For best results, it is recommended to treat the affected nail plates and surrounding skin at least once a day. After seven days, it is necessary to remove the accumulated layers of varnish with medical alcohol, evaluate the result and repeat the course if necessary. The product quickly removes small patches of fungus, but if the lesion is deep enough, there is a high risk of relapse.
Antifungal cream.
If the lesion has spread under the nail, to the surrounding skin, then it is more advisable to use a cream rather than varnish. Before each use, you must thoroughly wash and dry your feet and file off the affected layer of the nail plate. Then you need to apply the cream in a thin layer. If the infection has spread to the surrounding skin, which has also become thick, then before starting treatment it is recommended to additionally apply urea cream to soften it. Antifungal nail creams are quite effective and rarely cause complications.
If the disease occurs against the background of diabetes, then not only a podologist, but also an endocrinologist is involved in developing a treatment program. Specialists will make sure that the prescribed medications do not conflict with each other. The fact is that even minor problems with the feet of diabetics can turn into full-fledged gangrene.
Do not think that a fully completed course of treatment will automatically mean that your nails will look aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, the destruction of the fungus does not mean that the nail plate will return to its natural color and shape. A complete update may take up to 18 months.
When to resort to surgery?
If the fungus constantly recurs and stops responding to the medications used, then the best option is to seek help from a surgeon. The specialist will suggest completely removing the affected nail so that the antifungal medication can be applied directly to the skin. The only, but significant, drawback of the method: sometimes the new plate grows back thin, already deformed. Surgical removal is also carried out if the nail is so deformed and damaged that podiatric sanitation will not help correct the situation. The operation is also indicated for those patients who cannot take pills or use external agents due to individual intolerance.
Prevention methods
Following all the doctor’s recommendations is the key to a successful treatment result. But sometimes the fungus returns due to weak immunity or ignorance of hygiene rules. Simple preventive measures to help avoid relapse:
- keep your feet clean and dry;
- wear slippers in public swimming pools, showers and locker rooms;
- carry out general cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces in your own bathroom;
- change socks every day;
- for those who wear shoes on bare feet, it is recommended to wash the insoles at least once a week, and after an exacerbation of the fungus, install new ones or use insoles;
- remove from your wardrobe tight shoes and hosiery that fit too tightly;
- cut your nails short, file the edges strictly at a right angle;
- wash your feet regularly, several times a day in summer;
- wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe;
After an exacerbation of the fungus, you must throw away all shoes that cannot be washed at 90 degrees or disinfected. It is also recommended to boil socks and home textiles.
Carpets should be thrown away or treated with disinfectants and antifungal laundry detergents. Tools for treating nails (scissors, files, tweezers) must be sterilized after each use. During the period of exacerbation, it is prohibited to use decorative varnishes, do extensions or attach artificial tips.
Features of the course of the fungus in children, treatment methods
Nail fungus looks really unsightly, but rarely poses a serious threat to life and health. This is why adults sometimes ignore treatment. However, fungal diseases in children have their own characteristics. Changing the appearance of nails can have a profound impact on a child's self-esteem. Children may feel ugly and worry about their own health. The rapid progression of the disease can become a great stress for the baby and even provoke problems with the perception of one’s own body and worsen self-esteem.
The parents' task is to periodically examine the child's body. After all, very often children hide fungal growths because they believe that they themselves are to blame for the disease, do not want to upset their elders, or are simply afraid of treatment. Parents who have discovered pathological changes in the feet should not show disapproval, disgust, or even scold the child. The phrases "you didn’t wash your feet well", "it’s because you rarely change your socks" are prohibited. It is necessary to calmly talk about what nail fungus is, relieve possible fears, reassure, and describe in general terms the treatment.
It is important to explain to the child that he is not to blame for the illness. But at the same time, it must be conveyed that fungal infections love dark and damp spaces, so it is necessary to regularly change socks, keep shoes clean and do not forget about daily hygiene procedures.
Treatment of fungus in children is usually carried out with oral medications. The fact is that children's nails are very thin and grow quite quickly, which means the risk of complications after using creams and gels is higher.
Fungal infections are very common. But with high-quality daily hygiene procedures and strong immunity, the risk of infection is minimized.