Did you notice cracks between your toes? Do your feet itch and do you itch endlessly? Did your toenails suddenly lose color and begin to decay? These symptoms should not be ignored as they may signal a fungal infection of the feet. This disease is not far rare; it is especially common among military personnel, professional athletes, and pool visitors. To our great regret, fungal lesions on the skin are treated long and hard, while causing "considerable discomfort" to the "owner". What you need to do to avoid infection from this disease, as well as how to deal with it after the acquisition: we will tell you about all this in our article.
Causal links: where does nail fungus come from
Naturally, the fungus itself does not stick to a healthy person's feet for no reason. There are several types of fungi that are considered classic, ie they affect the largest percentage of patients. They are all called by one term "onychomycosis". This group may include candida spores, dermatophytes, or trichophytoses, the latter having several subspecies localized to different parts of the feet and nails.
Such severe, at first glance, names are characterized by an extremely unpleasant infection that penetrates under the nail or "settles" in the area between the fingers or under them, at the very base. The most wonderful environment for fungal spores are the moist and warm folds of human feet, it is here that they feel comfortable and constantly evolving, leading to the spread of the affected area.
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, their spores are quite capable of coming to the surface of any shoe, there they "settle" and re-infect a person, and besides him, those who can wear these shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are a common litter for disputes.
- Due to excessive sweating of the feet, which is called hyperkeratosis. The shoes of military personnel, miners or athletes are often damp inside. This happens due to the increased load and "opaque" materials from which boots or boots are sewn. This environment is a paradise of slow fungi.
- Sometimes the fungus enters the nail during the pedicure procedure in any beauty salon. Without proper sterilization of pedicure instruments, the master risks bringing you a fungus, which is quite difficult to get rid of. This can happen to absolutely anyone during cuts with pedicure tweezers that have not been treated with a special sterilization solution.
- Onychomycosis is a common companion of people who take antibacterial drugs or have reduced immunity. Also, a provocative factor for the appearance of fungus on the nails can be disturbed blood circulation in the lower extremities, varicose veins or diabetes mellitus.
- Chronic diseases present in the body can affect fungal infections. It is not necessary to start the inflammatory process, which has become chronic. It is necessary to treat it.
Due to the fact that fungal spores are very fond of moisture and heat, they often "live" in bathrooms, public showers and saunas. Therefore, in places where there is standing water, high humidity and high temperatures, you must adhere to hygiene rules. Be sure to wear only your own shoes brought from home to saunas, public showers and baths. Remember: if someone before you wore slippers in the sauna several times, it is quite possible that the spores of the fungus have already settled in the porous structure of the gum and that you could get onychomycosis.
How to self-diagnose toenail fungus
It is not difficult to perform a self-diagnosis, because you can recognize the fungus by the most insignificant signs and consult a doctor in the initial phase. All you need to do is regularly inspect your feet in the area between your toes, at their base, as well as your nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of the feet after visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths or after wearing someone else's shoes.
The most common symptoms of fungal infections of the feet and nails are:
- Cracked skin on the bottom of the fingers. At the same time, the wounds do not dry out, but become moist and constantly inflamed.
- Nails of unusual shape. Any separation of natural marigold from the skin, their deformation or discoloration should alert you. In patients with onychomycosis, the nails become very thick, become too brittle and may even fall apart. At the same time, the color scale can change: yellow, white, gray or even blackened marigolds are not uncommon for such a disease.
- Also look for itching, dandruff spots and rashes on the surface of the feet. If 1-2 days do not pass, you should consult a dermatologist.
- You should also beware of sudden blisters on the skin of your feet. They are usually found in small clumps and contain clear liquid inside.
- A very important symptom is an unpleasant foot odor. If your feet have never exuded a foul odor before, do not skip this factor, as this may indicate the presence of fungal disease.
Due to the presence of such symptoms, you can self-diagnose fungal skin disease. If in doubt, visit a doctor, he will conduct a special examination and confirm or deny the presence of onychomycosis.
How to diagnose nail fungus in a medical clinic
You will most likely be asked for a general blood and urine test to find out if there is an inflammatory process in your body. Your doctor will ask you to tell us in detail what medicines you are taking and whether you suffer from certain diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus. Due to the increased level of glucose in the blood, as well as being overweight, which often accompanies endocrine disorders, the so-called diabetic foot often appears. This disease is characterized by blisters, corns, cracks and fungal lesions.
Laboratory analysis for the presence of fungal spores is mandatory. Usually, a few days before the diagnosis, you do not need to wash your feet, and the places of separation of the nail plate must be sealed with an adhesive plaster. At the border of healthy skin and the affected area, a special scraping is taken, which determines the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when a relapse of the disease occurs, particles of destroyed marigold are taken for analysis. They are located in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. In a similar way, laboratory assistants together with doctors determine the type of fungus and can later decide on further therapy.
Diseases of this nature are dealt with by dermatologists and doctors of specialization - mycologists.
How to cure toenail fungus
Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never go away on its own. Spores are quite resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: it is a fungus that is considered one of the most hardy microorganisms on the planet. Just like mold, fungal spores can outlive us.
Mycoses should be treated without defects, because they can spread to the surface of the skin, including all large areas in the pathological process, and even settle in the respiratory tract, causing asthma.
There are drugs called antifungals. Like antibacterial drugs, they kill the problem from the inside because they are often taken by mouth. Only a doctor can prescribe antifungals, given that some of them can have a lot of side effects. Certain groups of drugs can fight only one or a few types of fungi, but there are also broad-spectrum antifungals.
Drugs with the following active ingredients are suitable for the effective treatment of onychomycosis:
- Terbinafine,
- Clotrimazole,
- Ketoconazole,
- Fluconazole, Itraconazole.
Remember that only a doctor has the right to prescribe antifungals. Given the possibility of side effects, it is impossible to choose one antifungal that is suitable for absolutely all patients with onychomycosis.
Special ointments, applications and creams are also prescribed for high-quality treatment of fungal foot infections. These remedies for nail fungus are used in the initial phase and during the running process. Based on the degree of damage and the localization of the fungus, the doctor can prescribe applications. They involve applying ointment to the affected areas of the skin, which are then closed with a band-aid. Such an application is usually held overnight, and in the morning the dead particles of skin or nails are carefully removed and removed.
The following treatment options also give good results:
- Treatment with antifungal sprays,
- Creams or emulsions,
- Coating toenails with a special anti-fungal varnish.
Complex therapy of fungal diseases, combining the use of ointments, antifungals and other procedures, gives the most lasting effect. But we should not forget that the treatment of onychomycosis is a long process. To get an idea of how you can get rid of nail fungus, it is worth mentioning one fact: as usual, the nail grows completely in a period of 6 to 12 months. Until a new, healthy nail grows fully, you should not stop treatment, as spores can sometimes survive at the root of the nail. If you stop treatment prematurely, the disease can recur.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
Treating the fungus at home will not be effective if only two or three treatment procedures are performed and, with the least improvement in the clinical picture, forget about therapy. The course of antifungal therapy should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes much longer to beat the nasty disease. Be patient or the toenail fungus will return.
The mainstay of home treatment is to remove the affected skin and nails as much as possible to prevent the spread of the spores. In the conditions of beauty salons, a master of pedicure will help cope with mycosis. It will remove the upper affected layer of the nail with a special milling machine with a rough nozzle, after which it will be possible to apply antifungal ointment to this area. At home, it is unlikely that you will be able to completely remove the layer of dead cells, but it will be quite possible to soften it and carefully remove it.
Recipe for nail fungus:
- Chicken egg - 1 piece,
- Vinegar essence 70% or 80%,
- Tea tree oil, butter or olive oil.
Acetic acid works well against many types of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, pour in the hen's egg essence so that it is completely covered with the solution. It is better to use a glass for that. Now you have to put it in a dark place. Observe the egg: as soon as you notice that the shell has completely melted, take out the bowl and add a little oil to it (in case you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops will suffice). Now you need to grind the mixture thoroughly so that the egg turns into a homogeneous paste. The mixture should cover the areas affected by the fungus, apply plastic wrap to the top and wrap the feet with a bandage or gauze. It is desirable to leave the compress for a few hours, after which the marigold should be steamed. With regular use, the diseased nail can be removed almost completely, and the fungus can be removed forever.
Toenail fungus: treatment with folk remedies
If you want to beat onychomycosis on your own, it is possible that compresses made of different ingredients, such as garlic, horseradish or kombucha, will help. Just be sure to steam your feet before applying, or prepare a steam bath for them.
Baths with a solution of soda or potassium permanganate are considered the most effective. Both ingredients have an antiseptic effect, perfectly cleanse and disinfect the skin and toenails. Bathing is simple: pour hot water into the basin and pour soda there, at the rate of 1 tablespoon. l. soda for 3 liters of water. Potassium permanganate powder must be added carefully so as not to burn inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or violet; light pink water will suffice. We lower our feet into the bath and enjoy for about 1 hour. Wipe your feet dry. You can now perform other manipulations.
Grate horseradish or garlic on a fine grater or squeeze through a press. Wrap the mass in 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 put on warm socks. Kombucha has an identical effect, you will need a little - a small piece, which must also be applied to the affected area of the nail.
Prevention of fungus on the feet - how to avoid infection with fungal spores
As a preventative measure against onychomycosis infection, you should follow a few simple rules:
- Use your own shoes to visit the pool, shower, sauna or steam bath. Try not to walk barefoot in such places, especially if there is minor skin damage.
- Do not borrow shoes and foot hygiene items, such as a blues or home pedicure brush, to strangers.
- To never think about how to get rid of toenail fungus, change your underwear, socks or tights more often. Your health depends on it.
- When you get to the pedicure, make sure the master has sterilized his instruments. In some salons there is a service of buying your own set of pedicure tools. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infection.
- Remember that to prevent blisters, corns and calluses, you should wear wide shoes that do not restrict movement. Remember: if there are no wounds, cracks or scratches on the surface of the skin, the slow fungus is unlikely to attack you.