Nail fungus is a frequent and fairly common disease caused by pathogenic fungal bacteria. Many people underestimate this insidious disease, but in vain. In neglected form the fungus is able to deliver a feeling of discomfort and a lot of negative emotions. In addition, it is dangerous to human health. There are a lot of ways of infection and no one is immune from this disease. Let's try to disassemble in detail what is onychomycosis and how to deal with it.
- Types of fungus
- Signs and Symptoms
- Causes of the disease and the transmission route
- Who is at risk?
- Diagnostics
- Medication
- Treatment with folk remedies
- Coffee against fungus
- Treatment with iodine
- Treatment with vinegar
- Tea mushroom
- Juice of onion
- Garlic and alcohol
- Tar soap and salt
- Prevention
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Types of fungus
In medical practice, it is customary to use several classifications of this disease.
The development of the fungus is distinguished by the following types:
- Normotrophic. The initial stage, characterized by a change in the color of the nail plate, the appearance of canals and fungi. The shape of the nail remains unchanged.
- Hypertrophic. There is a curvature and thickening of the nail.
- Atrophic. The nail plate is deformed, and detachment occurs.
Another classification divides the onychomycosis according to the location of the focus of the disease.
- Distal fungus - starts from the edge of the nail.
- Lateral - proliferation of fungus from the sides of the nail.
- Proximal - damage to the posterior part of the nail plate.
- Total - affected the entire nail.
Signs and Symptoms
Nail fungus is characterized by 3 stages of the disease. Let us consider in more detail how the fungus begins and develops. What are its symptoms, depending on these stages.
Initial (stage of infection):
- absence of expressed signs;
- the appearance of barely noticeable grooves and spots on the nail plate.
Middle stage:
- changing the color of the nail;
- loss of brilliance;
- slight deformation of the plate shape.
Launched the stage:
- significant changes in the nail plate;
- stratification;
- removal of the plate from the body of the finger;
- thickening of the nail.
In addition, there is itching, there is an unpleasant smell and soreness of the skin around the nail. It brings moral discomfort, causes complexes and reduces the quality of life. The person hesitates to shake hands, hides his hands.
Important!The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it is easily transmitted by household means and can lead to loss of nails. If one of the family members is infected with onychomycosis, the risk of infection of the other relatives is quite high.
Causes of the disease and the transmission route
The main reason for the appearance of the fungus is infection with pathogenic fungal bacteria. The first signs are any change in the color, structure and shape of the nail.
There are a lot of ways to get this unpleasant disease. Among them the following ways of infection are distinguished:
- transfer by household means (when using shared towels, combs, slippers and other items);
- visiting public institutions (swimming pools, baths, saunas, manicure salons, hairdressers);
- infection from animals (cats and dogs are also able to spread onychomycosis).
Who is at risk?
Certain categories of people have a greater risk of infection than others, they include:
- athletes (frequent visits to gyms);
- people who visit saunas and bathhouses;
- people with increased sweating;
- workers of cosmetic and medical sphere.
Important!After visiting public places, observe the rules of hygiene, take a shower with soap, wash your hands after the street and communicate with animals.
Children are less often ill. The elderly, on the contrary, are more prone to this disease. This is due to age changes, the weakening of immunity and the body's ability to cope with many diseases independently.
Diagnostics
Many are wondering how to identify a fungus? At the initial stages, the disease can be diagnosed exclusively through laboratory tests. The most commonly examined scraping from the nail plate. Experienced laboratory assistants with the help of special equipment will determine the disease for its further treatment.
Important!Do not try to determine the diagnosis yourself and choose the treatment. This may be ineffective and lead to a worsening of the course of the disease. It is better to consult a doctor who treats the fungus.
Medication
Once a diagnosis is made, the dermatologist prescribes a treatment regimen. Preparations from the fungus are diverse and produced in different forms. The following means belong to them:
- Drops. Local therapy is carried out with the help of medicine in the form of drops. A rare form of the drug allows you to penetrate deeply into the nail tissue, thereby increasing the effectiveness of treatment. Such drops include exoderyl, terbinafine, cyclopyrox.
- Ointment from the fungus. Ointment is quite an effective remedy. In addition, ointments are easy to use and give good results. This - mycosan, kanespor, bifosin, lamizil uno.
- Pills. Drugs in the form of tablets fight the causes of the disease from the inside. This - flukanozol, lamizil, terbinafine.
- Varnish from the fungus. Means in the form of nail polishes are also widely used in the fight against this ailment. This is loceril, batrafen, demicten.
Often the fungus affects the baby's nails. This is explained by the attendance by children of public institutions (kindergartens, playgrounds). For treatment, use creams, drops, anti-fungal plasters, tablets and intramuscular injections.
It is difficult to determine the best remedy for fighting onychomycosis. The result of treatment depends on the neglect of the fungus, the individual characteristics of the organism, and the degree of susceptibility to the drugs.
Treatment with folk remedies
To enhance the drug treatment is widely used folk remedies in the treatment of nails. Let's try to understand how to treat the nail fungus on the hands with the help of traditional medicine.
Surely many were interested in the question of how to quickly and permanently cure the fungus on the nails of the hands. For millennia our ancestors collected and perfected recipes from the gifts of nature. Nowadays, their advice and knowledge are widely used in practice. Consider a few folk remedies in more detail.
Coffee against fungus
To weld strong coffee (the drink should be natural, soluble coffee will not give effect), after it has cooled down, immerse fingers in it so that the nails were covered. Hold for 15 minutes, then rinse your hands with warm water, apply a moisturizing cream. The course of treatment is 10 days.
Treatment with iodine
Iodine has an excellent disinfecting property.
- When the fungus appears, lubricate its affected nails with a solution.
- The procedure should be repeated for 7 days.
- Take a break for a week, repeat the course.
Treatment continues until the nail completely grows.
Treatment with vinegar
To prepare the product you will need in equal quantities vinegar, water and glycerin. Mix all the ingredients in a glass or porcelain container. Stir is carefully, until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Use as a lotion for the affected nails. Compress time is 15-20 minutes. Repeat 2 times a day.
Tea mushroom
To get rid of onychomycosis, it is recommended to rub the tea mushroom. To do this, remove a piece of films and veins, chop into a mash and rub into a sick nail.
Also can be used as compresses. To do this, place the mushroom in gauze and apply to the affected plate for 20 minutes daily.
Juice of onion
It is quite easy to prepare an onion-based remedy. Bulb grind, wring out the juice. Treat the affected areas 2-3 times a day.
Garlic and alcohol
Slice several cloves of garlic in a griddle or grind in a mortar. Add a tablespoon of medical alcohol. Obtain the product in the form of a compress for 20-25 minutes daily.
Tar soap and salt
The procedure is carried out before bedtime. Nails soap, sprinkle with salt and bandage. With this compress, you should sleep through the night. The course of treatment is 7 days.
Prevention
Since the fungus is very easily transmitted, it is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene and prevention of this disease. These include:
- personal hygiene;
- washing hands after the street and visiting public institutions;
- At the slightest changes of nails, consult a dermatologist;
- when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools do not use other people's towels, bathrobes and other personal care items.
- in manicure salons do not hesitate to find out if the instruments are well disinfected;
- each family member should have individual manicure accessories.
Important!If you nevertheless contracted this unpleasant disease, do not use manicure accessories at the same time for sick and healthy nails.
Onychomycosis refers to diseases that are easier to prevent than cure. Take care of your health and be happy.