The nail fungus - onychomycosis - is a common nail disease, from which, according to several authors, one fifth of the population suffers. Most of the time, it affects the elderly and, in age groups with a difference of 10 years, its frequency increases about 2. 5 times. This is not just an aesthetic disadvantage, since in the event of a sharp drop in immunity and the addition of a bacterial infection, serious complications can occur, for example, erysipelas and, in the absence of attention to the problem, the disease becomes chronic , threatening all family members with infection.
How to Recognize Onychomycosis: Symptoms of a Fungus
A warm, humid environment is the best place to develop fungal infections. And the weather doesn't have to be hot; for example, you can create favorable conditions for fungus by wearing shoes that sweat your feet.
The source of the infection is usually someone else who is not involved in the treatment of onychomycosis, does not monitor the condition of the nails, or someone who has not taken treatment measures to complete recovery. Approximately one third of patients who see a doctor have such a patient in their family. At the same time, according to statistics, men fall ill two to three times more often than women, but seek less medical help.
The development of fungus on the nails is facilitated, as we have already said, by the need to spend a long time wearing warm or uncomfortable shoes - onychomycosis is common among miners, metal workers and the military. The need to be barefoot in public places is also important. Thus, one of the studies revealed a higher prevalence of nail diseases (onychomycosis) among professional swimmers, and another among mosque visitors (where it is necessary to be barefoot), compared to the main population of the corresponding age.
Furthermore, the likelihood of fungal nail infection increases in people with diabetes mellitus, blood disorders, HIV, as well as in the long-term use of cytostatics, corticosteroids, antibiotics. This is due to reduced immunity in these patients and microflora imbalance (with antibiotic therapy).
In summary, the following predisposing factors for nail fungus can be distinguished:
- permanent damage to the nail plate and skin of the feet (mainly due to uncomfortable shoes);
- frequent contact with water (especially in public places);
- increased sweating, including due to the need to constantly wear warm or synthetic shoes;
- foot deformities, including flat feet;
- Reduced nail growth rate - This is precisely why onychomycosis is prevalent in the elderly: the older a person, the slower their nails grow.
At first, the fungus colonizes only part of the nail, reaching there through the foot or through the interdigital folds, but it gradually spreads throughout the entire nail plate. The fungus penetrates under the nail plate from the free edge side of the nail or under the nail roller. Depending on the location and manifestation of onychomycosis symptoms (either on the edge of the nails), dermatovenerologists distinguish between different forms of fungal infection and their stages.
- Nail discoloration.A normal nail is pale pink, translucent with a white border. Affected - completely loses transparency, becomes white, gray, brown, green or black (depending on neglect of the process and the type of fungus pathogen).
- Nail thickening.Due to the excessive growth of the stratum corneum in response to the introduction of the fungus, the nail becomes thick and irregular.
- Destruction of the nail plate (onycholysis).The nail falls apart, exfoliates partially or completely.
At first, these manifestations may be subtle, but as the fungus develops, the nail becomes less and less aesthetic. This often causes the patient to constantly hide the legs, walk with closed shoes even in the heat, which aggravates the problem.
Treatment for onychomycosis
Traditional methods of treating onychomycosis are extremely diverse. What is not suggested for lubricating the suffering nail: vinegar, soda or saline solution, iodine, coffee, apricot gum, tea tree oil and so on. Unfortunately, most of these remedies are ineffective. First, the substances proposed for treatment mostly do not have antifungal activity. Second, to infect the fungus, the drug must penetrate the thickness of the nail plate and under the nail, as this is where the fungus "lives" rather than the surface. Furthermore, the medicine must, so to speak, saturate the nail plate throughout the nail growth period, otherwise the fungus colony will spread to the new surface.
Based on the above, pharmacologists create remedies for the treatment of nail fungus. But here it must be said that drugs against onychomycosis can be both local and systemic. Systemic medications are medications taken by mouth. In general, these are the same drugs prescribed for fungal infections from other locations: thrush, extensive skin or intestinal lesions, systemic mycoses. They are quite effective but relatively toxic and adversely affect the entire body with prolonged use (and nail fungus treatment takes more than a month). Therefore, oral agents have strict indications:
- damage to more than half of the nail;
- proximal propagation of the fungus (on the side of the nail fold);
- damage to more than two nails;
- combination with skin or capillary lesions;
- unsuccessful local treatment.
Medicines for the systemic therapy of fungal infections are available only with a prescription. He also prescribes a course of treatment, as the medications must be taken several times according to a certain schedule, in order to maintain the necessary concentration of the active substance in the nail plate.
Local remedies come in various forms: varnishes, ointments, sprays, solutions. However, medicated varnishes can only be used in the early stage of the disease, so they will not be effective. And ointments and sprays are better suited to treating fungal skin infections than nails. Therefore, the best topical remedy is liquid medication. The solutions make it possible to create a higher concentration of the active substance in places where the fungal infection accumulates, rather than on the surface of the nail.
Therefore, treating nail fungus is a long process that requires precision and patience, however, modern medications and treatment regimens allow you to completely get rid of onychomycosis and prevent its recurrence. The problem should not be ignored, as in this case, the health and quality of life not only of the patient, but also of their loved ones are at risk.