Nail fungus: types, methods to get rid of it and the best remedies

A fungus that affects toenails is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today there are more than 50 pathogens, which makes classifying the disease difficult;This article discusses the most common varieties, as well as ways to get rid of this pathology.

Causes

The cause of fungal toenail infections is infection by pathogenic organisms;its penetration can occur in three main ways:

• Penetration under the free edge of the nail plate and subsequent deepening, this path is the most common.
• Penetration through the dorsal part of the nail is observed in rare cases, as it is not accessible to all mycotic organisms.In this situation, the development of pathological processes occurs much faster.
• Penetration through the proximal ridge is also quite rare and occurs more frequently in the arms rather than the legs.

Often, infection with fungal organisms occurs under the influence of the following provoking factors:

• Mechanical injuries that lead to the destruction of the nail plate.
• Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning products that contain harmful components;systematic contact with water.
• Wearing ill-fitting and uncomfortable shoes, as well as things made of synthetic materials, which creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
• Increased sweating, regardless of the cause.
• Flat feet.
• Anatomical features of the development of the foot, in particular, the presence of very narrow spaces between the toes, which disrupts natural air exchange.
• Lack of hygienic foot care and timely cutting of overgrown nails.
• Immune system dysfunctions.
• Tendency to varicose veins.
• Frequent use of warm clothing or footwear due to the region's climatic conditions.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases, since hot temperatures and high humidity are favorable factors for the reproduction of these organisms.
• Advanced age.Changes in the body of older people increase the likelihood of infection.
• Carry out work activities in unfavorable conditions, which include gas and dust environments, physically difficult work, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, malfunction of the thyroid gland.All of these health problems put a person at risk.
• Prolonged use of potent antibacterial agents and hormonal pharmacological medications.
• Visiting public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
• Use of shared shoes and personal hygiene products.
• Undergoing various cosmetic procedures during which an instrument that has not undergone adequate treatment is used.

Types and symptoms

The symptoms that occur when toenails are affected depend on the type of fungus and the causative agent of the disease.

The main types and their characteristic clinical picture are described below:

1. Normotrophic fungus.The main symptom is a change in the color of the nail plate;its thickness and structure are not subject to pathological processes.In the initial phase, visible white or yellowish stripes and spots are formed, located on the sides.If left untreated, they begin to grow and cover the entire nail.
2. Hypertrophic fungus.With this disease, not only the color changes, but also an increase in the thickness of the plate is observed, which is associated with the accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Little by little, the healthy shine is lost and the fragility of the nail increases, which begins to color even with light pressure.First, the lateral areas are destroyed, but if left untreated, a general deformation is observed, causing the nail to begin to have the appearance of a bird's claw.
3. Atrophic fungus.The first symptom of this pathology is a change in color: the nail plate acquires a characteristic grayish-brown hue.Soon its natural shine disappears and destruction gradually occurs.If left untreated, the development of the disease leads to complete exposure of the nail fold and tissue necrosis.
4. Lateral and distal fungus.Both varieties lead to the formation of transverse grooves of a yellowish hue and, in parallel with this, dulling of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the causative agent is mold, the affected areas may turn green or black.Brittleness gradually increases, the structure of the plate becomes uneven and rough.After the affected areas die, the nail becomes deformed and the nail fold is partially exposed.This pathology can bring great physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain if there is swelling and redness in the skin ridges.
5. Proximal fungus.This type of disease is extremely rare;In the initial stage, the area around the skin fold is affected.The main cause of the pathology is the side effects of removing the cuticle, after which the plate area near the growth zone acquires a characteristic white color.The location of the lesion is associated with the dissemination characteristics of the fungus spores;they gradually capture the entire nail plate.
6. Total fungusoccurs in the absence of treatment for other forms of the disease, in this case there is a change in color and increased fragility, which gradually leads to total loss of the nail.
7. White superficial fungus.The main symptom is the appearance of white spots located near the posterior pad.In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathology progresses and the lesion begins to spread to neighboring areas.Most often, a large number of small spots form, merging into a single pattern that looks like scattered powder.

Fungus stages

Regardless of the type of agent causing the disease, the nail plate is never completely affected.The development of pathology occurs gradually, which allows us to distinguish the following stages:

1. In the initial phase, the lesions are located in separate areas,most often these are the sides or the free edge.At this stage, subtle stripes or spots form, which the person often does not notice.
2. In the phase of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become noticeable,traces of fungi can be detected even with the naked eye.There is also an increase in nail fragility and a change in tone;In some forms of the disease, serous secretion may protrude under the plaque.
3. In the hypertrophic lesion phase, the pathology continues to develop in the subungual space, which leads to thickening of the plaque.Depending on the form of the disease, deformations, separation, thinning, lack of natural growth and other types of destruction may occur.

Before the initial stage, a person often has problems with the skin of the feet: severe itching, burning or cracking of the upper layers of the epidermis may be observed.Due to the lack of a clear clinical picture, diagnosis and accurate diagnosis at this stage are practically impossible.
In advanced stages, the disease develops actively;Symptoms spread not only to the toenails, but also to plaques located on the hands and skin.

How to treat at home?

In the initial stages, you can get rid of the disease with the help of traditional medicine, but such measures must be agreed with a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of harm to health.Some effective techniques are described below:

1. Iodineis the most common remedy, it is used for application on a cotton swab and subsequent treatment of the affected areas, and also as an auxiliary component in foot baths.
2. Vinegaris another highly effective remedy, as virtually all fungal pathogens die in an environment with high acidity.It can be used pure or diluted in water and then applied directly to the affected areas.
3. salicylic acideffective in treating any form of fungus, used in the same way as vinegar.
4. Eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.Both drugs have a powerful antiseptic effect, but are usually included in complex therapy.

How to get rid of foot fungus with medication?

If the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, it is recommended to immediately seek professional medical help, as only diagnostic measures can make an accurate diagnosis, and taking measures at the initial stage allows you to quickly get rid of the pathology and minimize the risk of undesirable consequences.

Specialists often prescribe pharmaceutical products, which can be produced in different ways.

Prevention

It is impossible to completely protect yourself from the fungus, but the preventive measures described below significantly reduce the risk of infection:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle, harden, ensure a balanced diet, take vitamins in case of deficiency in the body, practice sports and other measures to strengthen the immune system.
• Wear shoes when you are at the beach.
• Wear special closed rubber slippers when visiting baths or saunas.
• Wear socks made only from natural materials and change them daily.
• Only wear your own shoes.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing to ensure they are completely dry.

Reviews

1. I have been suffering from toenail fungus for a long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was temporary.Only a fungicidal medicine helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for several days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly regressing.
2. I found a fungus recently;apparently I got it when I showered after training.Therefore, only swim in flip-flops and do not go barefoot anywhere.Fungus is an infection that is difficult to get rid of.I used an antifungal, it helped.But along with that she applied vinegar to the affected areas.Everything together gave a great result.
3. And this isn't the first time I've struggled with fungus.It's very difficult to leave me.I used several medications that did their job perfectly.
4. This fungus is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in the summer!You feel embarrassed even going out somewhere, but I use an antifungal for external use, it has helped me a lot.If you catch a fungus once, the probability of it appearing a second time is 70%.Take care!