During this time, I probably tried all kinds of folk remedies and saw a doctor several times.In this article I will tell you what nail fungus is, why it occurs, why it is dangerous and how to get rid of it.
What is nail fungus
Officially, this disease is called onychomycosis - a fungal infection of the nail.In 60-70% of cases it is caused by special dermatophyte fungi;mold and yeast fungal infection is less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.That's why these fungi live in the nail plates, hair and stratum corneum of the skin - where keratin is produced.
Typically, the fungus begins to develop on the cut side of the nail.The tip of the nail gradually changes color: it becomes yellowish, light brown or milky.If left untreated, the infection spreads to the cuticle.The fungus can also start on the lateral surface of the nail.
There is also white superficial onychomycosis.Externally, they look like white or opaque spots on the surface of the nail.It spreads from the center to the edges;If the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Occasionally, proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail in the cuticle and root area.This often happens in people with weakened immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed due to the fungus, this condition is called general dystrophic onychomycosis.Externally, the nail looks horrible: it is thick, ribbed and an unpleasant dark color.
Causes
Nail fungus is a very common disease.Onychomycosis accounts for 50-60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I got the fungus from, but here are the ways doctors tell you to get infected with it.
Contact with a contaminated surface.Fungal pathogens love moisture and therefore live well in humid environments - bathtubs or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought as a bonus from beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: all it takes is a microcut and poorly processed instruments - and that's it, the disease is there.You can also get a fungus if you put on barefoot shoes after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.The fungus is very contagious.If one of the family members is sick, other family members may become infected with onychomycosis.The risks increase if you share slippers, a common towel, or a bath mat.However, the fungus can even be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is so important that anyone with painful nails follows hygiene rules.
Bad hygiene.If a person doesn't wash their feet well, doesn't cut their nails on time, or rarely changes their socks, it will be easier to catch a fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of disease.When we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the feet and nail roots is interrupted.Onychodystrophy - a condition that looks like and often accompanies nail fungus - may occur.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people of certain professions - maids, cooks, cleaners, laundresses.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes and gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But the fungus loves all this and actively grows in these conditions.
Concomitant diseasesincrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people suffering from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases or malignant neoplasms, the fungus is more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating – hyperhidrosis – also contributes to the proliferation of fungi.
Typically, the fungus occurs in people aged 30 and over, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: the nail plates are thinner and the nail itself grows faster.It turns out that with less exposure to the medication, the effect in children occurs more quickly.
Why is the fungus dangerous?
Nail fungus doesn't just harm the appearance of your feet, it's a real and dangerous disease for the body.If the fungus on one nail is left untreated, it will spread to the remaining nails that are still healthy.In some people, a fungal infection can cause allergies – the fungus itself becomes the allergen.
Dermatophyte fungi feed on keratin, which is why it is no longer sufficient for nail growth.Because of this, they become brittle, crumble and flake.Over time, “keratin debris” will begin to build up between the nail and the nail bed – this is formed when keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nail to thicken and grow crooked.Although the nail is thick, it is still very fragile - it gets caught in clothing and breaks easily.
Sometimes with nail fungus, your feet start to sweat more than usual - this causes an unpleasant odor and you need to change your socks several times a day.
If an infected nail is left untreated for too long, it will begin to separate from the nail bed.First of all, it just hurts.Secondly, in place of the removed nail a kind of wound will appear, a moist and warm environment will appear - exactly what dermatophytes love.In it they will grow even faster.
And treating advanced nail fungus is expensive.Most likely, a person will have to purchase medications and change all shoes after completing treatment.If in the initial stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected with special disinfectant solutions, then after recovery from an advanced disease, all old shoes must be thrown away so as not to become infected again.
The fungus significantly reduces the quality of life.I felt physically uncomfortable: my feet were sweaty, my nails were thick, crumbly and broken.Even in the summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.Furthermore, the fungus greatly limited my activity: I couldn't play sports or go to the pool.I read that some people have such a feeling of shame that they sometimes even fall into severe depression.Fortunately, I didn't get to that point.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and feet when you get a fungus.
Changes in nail coloryellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of the infection and is associated with the accumulation of keratin debris in and under the nails.Nails look dull and don't shine like they used to.
The structure changes:the nail becomes thick or starts to grow in waves.When cutting, the cut becomes uneven, the nail falls apart into separate pieces.
An unpleasant odor appearsfeet sweat more.
I suspected a fungus late.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upwards, standing out strongly from the rest.I put off going to the doctor for a long time and didn't get any treatment, so the infection spread to my other nails - they turned yellow.
How I treated the fungus myself
When I suspected a fungus, I thought it was nonsense.I didn't do anything for about a year, hoping it would go away on its own.So I decided that I should try to get rid of him, but I still didn't understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that all I had to do was cover my nails with the nail polish and magic drops that show on TV and everything would go away.
When I realized that drops and varnishes didn't help, I started using foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these are miraculous procedures that will eliminate the fungus forever.I don't like going to the doctor, so I believed these tips.
I dipped my feet in solutions of soda and liquid soap, dripped iodine into the water and even took a coffee bath several times.Then I learned that it is better to replace liquid soap with brown laundry soap - when I grated it, the aroma in the apartment was indescribable.I cut and shaved the steamed nails, then filled the scissors and file with vodka in a bowl.I collected the nail fragments in a paper napkin and threw them in the trash.I also applied aloe vera juice and propolis to my nails.These procedures took even longer, so in the end I simply gave up on the treatment.
As I realized later, self-medication was my big mistake, because it took more than a year.But there was no result: the fungus, it seems, only began to spread.The reason for this was my laziness and lack of understanding of the situation.
How the doctor diagnosed me
The infected nails continued to grow and thicken.I felt discomfort when wearing socks or any shoes, it even made walking a little difficult.
And so my wife and I booked a trip to Turkey.And that was another reason I went to the doctor - it was just embarrassing to show my legs to someone.
I made an appointment at the skin and venereal diseases clinic to see a mycologist.Just based on the appearance of the nails, she said it was very similar to a fungus, but she still sent me for tests.
I was asked to cut the infected nail and submit it for examination, and they also ordered a general blood test.As the doctor explained, if the fungus is confirmed, in my case it will definitely be necessary to take pills.And some of them have contraindications that can be identified through a blood count.
How I treated nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor
Three groups of medications are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All these drugs destroy fungal cells, which ultimately leads to a decrease in their number and the death of the pathogen.These medications are officially called antimycotics.Just like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly in one course.This means that it will not be enough to take a pill and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the treatment.
The specific type of medication is prescribed by the doctor depending on the type of fungus, the degree of damage to the nail, the patient's well-being, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to tablets, external treatment is also prescribed in the form of creams, ointments, sprays - this helps to speed up the process.These medications can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antimycotics.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is coated with special substances and then exposed to a beam of cold light and blocks the spread of infection.They may offer laser treatment - it is believed that the laser beam penetrates all layers of the nail and burns off the fungal mycelium.But scientists still have little evidence that the laser actually works.
In more advanced cases, the nail is completely removed surgically.
The doctor prescribed me itraconazole tablets - 2 pieces 2 times a day for a week.
I tolerated the treatment well, only for two weeks I was very drowsy - then I traveled to work two hours each way and slept on the train the whole time.There were no digestion problems.
The nail itself had to be scraped off by hand.I was offered to start by doing baths with laundry soap and soda and then apply urea paste to the nail.With a small spatula, I spread it on a quarter of cotton wool, put it on the nail, wrapped it with a bandage and plaster and walked like that for a day.During this time, the top hard layer of the nail softened a little and then I scraped it off.Then he immediately applied the composition again;there were at least five such approaches during the entire treatment period.The paste helped, the nail became visibly thinner.It was easier to cut.
Three weeks later, the doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment.Then she prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate - it has a local effect and, like tablets, destroys fungal cells.The cream needs to be spread on the nails twice a day, and this time I wasn't too lazy.
What's wrong with your nails now?
I treated my nails for a year and a half.In July 2020, I started noticing white spots on them again.This time I immediately went to the doctor and discovered that a reinfection had occurred.Now it is still the initial stage, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with disease relapse.Reinfection occurs when you receive an infection from the external environment, that is, it is no different from the primary infection.As for relapse, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.There is a focus of infection in the nails: externally it may not be noticeable, but over time growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made at the very beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations when nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both diseases are very similar in external symptoms in the initial stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
Fungus prevention is directly related to the causes of its occurrence.Understand the reason, reverse the meaning and get prevention recommendations.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where there is humidity - gyms, showers, bathtubs, near swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Even open-toed rubber flip-flops can be dangerous in terms of fungal infection.It is better to disinfect ordinary shoes, for example, at a skating rink or bowling alley, with special solutions.When buying shoes, try them on only at the toe or heel.
Don't wear tight shoes.No amount of beauty is worth the health of your skin and nails.
Keep your feet dry.If your feet get wet, try to wash them as quickly as possible, dry them and put on clean socks.The shoes themselves must be dry.
Maintain good foot hygiene.Wetting them with water during their daily bath is not enough.It is advisable to have a separate towel for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash them well in all areas, and not just rub them once on your heels and feet.
Trim your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and microcuts - they will be entry points for any infection, not just fungus.Only use your own scissors and do not share them with anyone in the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- this is also important in terms of other infections.For example, I treated my files and scissors with alcohol spray.I told my wife to make sure that in the manicure room the master sterilizes the tools - usually this is done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To cure nail fungus, you need to consult a dermatologist - if he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.This doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and select treatment.Taking pills on your own may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist through compulsory medical insurance: to do this, you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or dermatovenerological dispensary.Consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you will have to pay for everything.The cost of nail fungus testing depends on the analysis method.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infectious disease that can be easily contracted in public showers, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores and nail salons.The sooner you start treating nail fungus, the better and faster the results will be.Perhaps it will be possible to survive only with local medicine and not take pills.
Only a doctor can choose the correct treatment.Prescribing pills on your own based on Internet reviews and recommendations is a dubious tactic.It is important to complete the treatment, no matter how lazy you are.To prevent nail fungus, it is important to maintain foot hygiene and not wear someone else's shoes on bare feet.