Onychomycosis is a fungal disease of the skin and its appendages (nails and hair). The feet are more commonly affected in adults and the hands in children.
Treatment of onychomycosis includes the removal of non-viable areas of the nail and the destruction of remaining microorganisms with antifungal drugs (creams, varnishes, solutions).
Tissue can be removed with a nail file, surgery, or a laser. A file is suitable if the volume of the dead area of the nail is small. The surgical route is painful, long and incisive. The targeted, non-contact laser effect allows you to treat nail fungus quickly and painlessly.
Signs of nail fungus
- Dry skin;
- Itching in the interdigital fold;
- peeling of skin between fingers;
- cracks in the skin;
- Thickening of the stratum corneum (upper) epithelial layer;
- pain in the affected areas;
- redness;
- Swelling;
- get wet;
- Blistering rashes;
- Changes in the color, shape and thickness of the nail;
- crumbling of the nail plate;
- Nail detachment.
How does nail fungus develop?
Onychomycosis initially only manifests itself as dry skin and flaking: the skin initially looks powdery, then large scales come off. White or yellowish streaks and spots appear on the nail, and the corners of the free edge may crack.
The main problem that patients come to the doctor with is unbearable itching. But it may not be there for a long time, as well as the unpleasant smell. Therefore, pay attention to your feet to notice the problem in time.
How is nail fungus transmitted?
Infection with onychomycosis occurs in several ways:
- Direct skin contact with the patient (usually via the hands).
- Wear general shoes and gloves.
- Household items in public places (shower mats, washcloths, manicure supplies).
Where there is a risk of a fungal infection:
- In shared showers in dormitories, gyms, swimming pools;
- baths and saunas;
- swimming pools and hot tubs;
- nail salons;
- When massaging your feet.
How do you get rid of old nail fungus?
Using a laser, remove non-viable areas of the nail with fungus. Depending on the degree of damage and type of fungus, 3 procedures are required.
Then treat with creams and medical varnishes. Depending on the type of fungus and its type, medication and laser treatment may be necessary.
How to cure nail fungus with folk remedies?
Main methods:
- Vinegar;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- Iodine;
- celandine;
- tea tree oil;
- Tar;
- Vitriol;
- Soap;
- Propolis.
They are all not only useless but also dangerous. The use of aggressive substances only worsens the situation. A chemical burn allows the fungus to penetrate deep into the tissue. Tea oil and tar form a framework over the surface of the fungus. In this way, you create a "comfortable greenhouse" for fungi in which they begin to grow and more actively destroy skin and nails.
Do not self-medicate, go directly to the dermatovenereologist!
How to soften toenails with fungus?
Do not do anything until you have seen a doctor. Softening your nails can only be harmful.
Why is nail fungus dangerous?
- Negative consequences of onychomycosis:
- nail destruction;
- skin ulcers;
- Unpleasant smell;
- Easily transmitted to other people (especially household members);
- inflammation of the fingers;
- When fungi enter the bloodstream, they can travel to any organ. Fungal inflammation is difficult to treat, takes a long time and may not be noticed by the patient for a long time.
- Transition of onychomycosis into a chronic form;
- The condition of the blood vessels in the feet worsens;
- sleep disorder;
- Embarrassment and psychological problems.
What is the best treatment for nail fungus?
This will be decided by a dermatovenereologist. He will prescribe antifungal drugs for topical use (creams, solutions, special medical varnishes) or tablets.
A more modern solution is laser treatment of nail fungus.
The dermatologist degreases the nail, guides the laser pen to the problem area and irradiates the nail with a laser beam for 30-60 seconds. At this time the patient may feel warmth and tingling. After the procedure, the patient receives recommendations for nail care.
How to treat fungus in children?
Antimycotics for local (creams, solutions, medical varnishes) or systemic (tablets) use.
Laser treatment for nail fungus is not recommended for children. Causes:
- Thin sensitive nail plate;
- Unpleasant procedure;
- You need to sit still for a long time (20-40 minutes).
What causes fungi?
Infection with onychomycosis occurs through contact with a patient and sharing shoes, clothing, washcloths, showers, and manicure supplies.
Your risk of infection increases if you:
- Poor foot and nail care;
- Work in damp, damp areas;
- abrasions and cracks in the folds between the fingers;
- The habit of wearing gel polish longer than expected (1. 5 months or more);
- Tight, abrasive shoes;
- scrapes or calluses on the palms and feet;
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis);
- Dry skin;
- Narrow interdigital folds;
- Flat feet;
- Circulatory disorders (vascular diseases, diabetes, etc. );
- Reduced immunity (illnesses, pregnancy, taking certain medications).
Treatment of nail fungus during pregnancy
Onychomycosis itself is not dangerous for the fetus. Pregnant women are not allowed to take antifungal drugs in tablet form, but local treatment is allowed. You can use lasers, medical solutions, creams and varnishes.
Toenail fungus: why and how is it treated with laser?
Benefits of laser treatment for onychomycosis:
- point hit;
- Painless;
- Fast;
- No direct contact with skin and nails;
- No blood;
- Low risk of infection;
- Processing of the upper layers of fabric at each level;
- No side effects;
- Complete healing – in 85-90% of cases (without taking antifungal drugs! ).
The laser beam heats up to 50 °C and more. It destroys mycelium (mycelium) and fungal spores. The mycelium itself lies deep: up to 7 mm thick in the skin, so a complete surgical cure of onychomycosis is almost impossible. The laser length can be adjusted and quickly destroys all mycelia and the fungi themselves. In most cases, laser therapy is enough to get rid of nail fungus. In difficult situations, it is necessary to "switch off" microorganisms using antimicrobial drugs.
Stages of treatment of nail fungus
Stages of therapy for onychomycosis:
- Consultation with a dermatovenereologist. Assessment of the condition of skin and nails.
- Laser nail treatment.
- Reappointment after 10-14 days. Medical assessment of the result and prediction of the number of procedures for the course.
- To completely get rid of nail fungus, a total of 3 sessions are required.
- If laser treatment does not help, the doctor initiates local therapy with antifungal drugs (you can immediately start with a combination: laser + antimicrobial cream/varnish/tablets).
- After recovery, the nail may remain damaged. Regeneration takes between a month and a year, so you can have your nails lengthened by a podiatrist.
What types of fungus are there on nails?
Classification of Onychomycosis:
- Normotrophic (the shape and thickness of the nail plate remain unchanged, only yellowish-white stripes appear);
- Hypertrophic (pronounced keratosis - thickening of the nail plate, yellowing of the nail, crumbling and jagged edges of the plate are characteristic);
- Atrophic (partial or complete destruction, thinning or detachment of the nail plate).
- Depending on the localization of the lesion, the following forms of onychomycosis are distinguished:
- Distal (free edge of the plate);
- Proximal (roller);
- Lateral (Sides);
- Total (entire plate).
Hypertrophic onychomycosis: how to treat?
In the medical center, all growths on the nail are removed using a laser by a podiatrist and a dermatologist.
After recovery, the damaged nail can be restored in a specialist clinic.
Lateral onychomycosis: how to treat?
It is necessary to remove growths and all non-viable tissue. The entire procedure is uncomfortable but painless under anesthesia.
After dead tissue and fungi have been removed, the nail is gradually rebuilt with natural ingredients that stimulate the growth of its own nail plate.
Mold onychomycosis: how to treat?
The doctor aims a laser at the affected area. The difference from other forms of onychomycosis is a deeper effect and a longer course of therapy.
Black nail fungus
Mold gives nails a black color. They are the most "aggressive" and caustic.
There are several dozen known pathogens that cause onychomycosis. Mold onychomycosis is distinguished separately. Their characteristic feature is a pungent smell and a variety of colors: black, yellow, greenish, gray, etc.
Can I get a manicure and pedicure if I have nail fungus?
No. When applying varnish, the fungus remains "under the hood". For this, greenhouse conditions (warm and humid) are created. The varnish quickly peels off and the fungus begins to infect the skin and nails more actively and goes deeper.
To treat nail fungus, special medical varnishes with antifungal components are used. Most often they are transparent or flesh-colored.
Which doctor should I contact if I have nail fungus?
See a dermatovenereologist or podiatrist.
In some beauty salons, cosmetologists and dermatovenereologists are engaged in the treatment and restoration of nails.
How do you wash your feet if you have nail fungus?
Basic hygiene rules for patients with onychomycosis:
- Wash your feet and hands gently but thoroughly.
- Do not rub too hard to avoid damaging your skin.
- Use tar soap to degrease and disinfect the skin (but not more than 2 times a day, as it dries out the skin).
- Disinfect the bathtub after each wash (it is enough to pour hot or boiling water over the bottom).
- Do not use shared sponges or washcloths. Get your own or, better yet, temporarily abandon them.
- Dry your skin thoroughly after showering or bathing. Pay attention to the spaces between your fingers. Don't rub!
At what temperature does the fungus die?
From +50 °C.
Fungus after nail removal
Removal of the nail is a radical measure and is only used in advanced total onychomycosis. After removing the nail, it is not always possible to get rid of onychomycosis. This means that the mycelium (mycelium) sits very deep and not all spores are destroyed.
Depending on the extent of the damage, treatment can last up to six months. The procedure is carried out every 2 weeks. Number of procedures from 3.
Nail fungus test
Diagnosis of onychomycosis includes:
- assessment of the clinical picture of the disease;
- Microscopic examination of the affected nail plates and skin abrasions (carried out in the laboratory);
- To determine the type of pathogen, the cockroach is cultured in the laboratory (the results of the analysis must be brought to the appointment at the center).
Nail fungus in diabetes
With diabetes mellitus, small vessels suffer. Due to the fact that the capillaries do not nourish the nail well, it is more difficult for it to withstand the aggressive external environment and it is more vulnerable.
Due to impaired microcirculation, treatment of nail fungus in diabetics takes longer than in patients with healthy blood vessels.
Consequences of nail fungus
If onychomycosis is not treated, the nail plate will slowly be destroyed. The nail changes shape, the itching becomes unbearable over time, and new scratches cause the fungus to quickly spread to neighboring toes and the sole of the foot. Fungi melt the nail plate, so instead of beautiful, smooth nails you have frightening depressions with small remnants of a disfigured plate. They will hurt, itch and smell unpleasant.