Nail Fungus - a common disease that begins with the appearance of a white or yellow spot on the tip of the nail.The fungus infects the nails on the hands and on the feet.As the infection penetrates deeper, the nail plate discolors, thickens and begins to crumble at the edges.The disease can include several nails, but usually not all.
If you do not suffer from the symptoms of a fungal infection and not feel discomfort, onychomycosis (the correct medical name of the disease) can not be treated.If there is pain, and there are signs of thickening of the plate, you should pay close attention to the nail onychomycosis.Home treatment is quite safe.You can help cheap medicines, which are sold in pharmacies without a prescription.The only negative is that even with effective treatment of the fungus can return.
If the infection has spread to areas between the toes of the feet and skin, the disease is called tinea pedis (athlete's foot).
Symptoms
Onychomycosis - what is it and how to determine the presence at this disease?To get started find out there you have characteristic symptoms.Usually the illness is diagnosed in cases where one or more nails:
- thickened;
- become brittle, they began to crumble, acquired jagged edges;
- deformed;
- faded, lost luster;
- darkened.
infected nail may separate from the nail bed - this sign of the disease is called onycholysis.For this condition characterized by pain in the fingertips and a light odor.
Try yourself to eliminate onychomycosis nail.Home treatment is effective for most patients.If it does not work, it is best to consult a doctor.It should immediately see a specialist for patients who are diagnosed with diabetes.
reasons
In particular skin fungus parasite - dermatophyte causing onychomycosis.What it is?Fungus - a microscopic organism, the survival of which is independent of sunlight.Some micro-organisms of this type bring the man advantage, but most leads to diseases and infections.
Fungi:
- live in warm, moist environments, including swimming pools and showers;
- can penetrate the skin through tiny, invisible to the naked eye cuts, and as a result of a small plate separation from the nail bed;
- can cause health problems if your hands are often in the heat and humidity.
Hands and feet
onychomycosis toe nail is more common than infection of fingernails because:
- toenails are often in the dark, warm, moist environment (shoes), which provides ideal conditions for the breeding of fungus;
- to toes receives less blood than to the fingers, causing the immune system becomes difficult time to recognize and destroy the infection.
Risk Factors
you can threaten onychomycosis nail if you:
- Treat the older age groups.Over the years, the blood flow becomes less intense, while the nails are forced over the years to coexist with potentially dangerous fungi.Furthermore, in the elderly nails grow slowly.
- suffer from profuse sweating.
- Treat male sex, particularly in the cases of fungal infections in the family history.
- to work in conditions of high humidity or positions held, which implies frequent hand washing.
- Wear socks and shoes, do not miss the air to the skin and does not absorb sweat.
- Living with native fungal infection.
- go barefoot in public places with high humidity (swimming pools, gyms, showers).
- tinea pedis.
- slightly damaged nail or suffer from a skin disease (eg, psoriasis).
- suffering from diabetes or circulatory disorders or if you are diagnosed with a weakened immune system, or (in children) Down syndrome.
Complications There are several complications that can cause onychomycosis.What it is?Usually it is the other serious infections provoked by a bad case of infection by the fungus.How to determine the severity of the disease?If you hurt your fingers, deformed nails, you should seek medical advice, or symptoms may remain for a lifetime.Other infections affect the body when the immune system is weakened drugs, diabetes or other diseases.
In diabetes, the risk of circulatory disorders and nerve supply legs.Great is the danger of getting infected with a bacterial skin infection.If you have diabetes, and you suspect that a change in the appearance of the nail caused by a fungus, as soon as possible, consult a specialist.
Diagnostics
First the doctor examines the affected nails.It may take a sample of plaque from under the nail and send material to laboratory analysis to determine the specific kind of fungal infection.
other ailments such as psoriasis, often have the same outward signs that onychomycosis nail.The infection can be triggered, and microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria.Knowledge of the exact cause of the disease will enable finalize the optimal course of therapy.
onychomycosis: treatment (drugs)
If home treatment and conventional pharmaceutical antifungal agents have not coped with the infection, you should see a doctor and begin a new course of therapy.Preparations from onychomycosis are divided into the following groups:
- antifungal agent for oral administration.According to the results of scientific studies have shown that the most effective medicines for fungus are "Terbinafine" and "Itraconazole".They promote the growth of healthy nails and the gradual replacement of the infected portion of the nail plate normal.Drugs of this type take courses lasting six to twelve weeks, but the end result will be evident only when healthy nail grows back completely.The final disposal of infection often takes four months, and even longer, since the spread of the disease becomes more difficult to win onychomycosis.
treatment at home, even drugs recommended by doctors, is less effective if the patient is older than 65 years, so the elderly to combine medications of this group with the ointment for topical application.It should also be borne in mind that the funds for ingestion can cause side effects - from skin rashes to liver problems.You may need periodic blood tests to monitor the body's response to medication.You do not appoint such drugs, if you are diagnosed liver disease or heart failure congestive, but also in case of the need for regular adoption of specific drugs.
- Nail polish containing an antifungal agent.If you have found onychomycosis drugs to fight infection may include special nail polish - "ciclopirox."It is applied on a nail plate and surrounding skin once a day.After a week of use to erase the accumulated layers of varnish alcohol and re-start the application.You may need to use the tool every day throughout the year.
- medicinal cream polish.Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream (ointment), which must be rubbed into the infected nails after pre-steaming.You can increase the effectiveness of the drug by thinning the nail plate - the so-cream quickly gets through to the nail fungus.To make thinner nails, you can use the drug without prescription - any lotion with a high content of urea.Sometimes these purposes using special tools.
Other treatments
patients diagnosed with onychomycosis nail treatment (drugs, people's money) is necessary.But what if non-invasive methods just do not work?
In severe lesions of nail fungal infection the doctor will propose to remove the nail.At the site of removal is usually grow new healthy nail, but this process can take more than a year.Sometimes surgery is combined with the use of "ciclopirox" cures nail bed.
There are other types of therapy, allowing to cure onychomycosis.What it is?This effect laser and light medical purposes.The effect of these procedures are not yet fully understood, but they do contribute to the improvement of patients with onychomycosis, and require little or no additional use of drugs.
What can be done independently
If you find yourself onychomycosis nail treatment (drugs and procedures) can be carried out and the relative safety of home, no trips to clinics and health centers.
Try the following procedures:
- Use antifungal creams and ointments for nails that are sold in pharmacies without a prescription.Typically, there will always have some means of various manufacturers.If you notice that the surface of the nail appeared white specks, scrape them, soak your nails in water, pat dry and apply a medicinal cream or lotion.If your complicates tinea pedis, onychomycosis nail products should be chosen complex: cream nail plates, powder or spray for the skin of feet.Do not forget about the need to keep the feet clean and dry.
- Remember Rule regular manicure and pedicure.Buff, trim, adjust and reduce the thickness of the nail.These simple procedures will help alleviate the pain.Nail care immediately before applying antifungal agent promotes deeper penetration of the medication.
useful tips before piecing
thick layers can be made simple procedure to soften the nail.Before going to bed, apply the cream with urea to infected nails and apply a bandage.In the morning rinse agent with soap and water.Repeat every day until the nails do not soften.The skin of the fingers should be in this process Vaseline.
Folk remedies
particularly effective against fungus following means of alternative medicine:
- extract feverweed.In one of the research the effectiveness of the extract feverweed was equated with efficiency "ciclopirox."The substance is applied to the affected nails once in three days in the first month, and twice a week during the second month of treatment.
- Tea tree oil.It is applied to the nails twice a day, but the effectiveness of the oil has not been proved scientifically.Nevertheless, many recommend it as the best folk remedy the treatment of onychomycosis.
