Onychomycosis or nail fungus is an infectious disease that can affect the nails of the upper and lower extremities.However, the second option is more likely for a number of reasons.Especially often the fungus affects the nail nail plate.In such cases, it is important to respond to the problem in time, not to give pathology to spread to the skin and other fingers.
For successful treatment, which eliminates the development of future complications and relactions, it is necessary to start a fight as soon as possible.For this, it is important to know the clinical appearance of the disease, understand the main causes of its occurrence and development features.Despite the need to see a doctor, it will not be superfluous to understand the principles of treating nail fungus on the big toe.
Reasons for appearing the fungus on the big toe
The most likely localization of fungal damage is the nails of the lower extremities.The fact is that the legs are more susceptible to the factors in which the fungus is easier to gain a foundation and development.In addition, the legs are many times more often in a potentially contaminated environment.
At the same time, it is important to know that in approximately 90% of cases the development of onycomycosis begins with the nail on the thumb.
There are two main causes of this scenario of the disease:
- The size of the nail plate on the thumb is much larger than on the other fingers.Based on this, by obeying the simplest theory of probability, it is over it that the most pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms provided it fall on it.Therefore, the probability of starting the pathological process in this area will always be higher.
- Due to the characteristics of the size of the thumb, as well as its physiological location, it is subjected to more trauma.With the thumb that people often hit, they often open it in transport.Due to the fact that one of the main predisposing factors in the development of nail fungus is damage to the nail plate, the model becomes proven and understandable.
If we talk about the causes of onycomycosis in general, the main one in medical practice is a decrease in body protection.Thing can provoke a weakening of immunity, from ordinary stress or hypothermia, ending with chronic illness or even a person's advanced age.
To protect yourself from the disease, it is necessary to constantly strengthen immunity.But with a variety of factors, this may not be enough.
To reduce the number of predisposing factors to a minimum, it is worth considering the most possible:
- Breathe injury - especially often this happens with people working on a construction site or engaged in other tireless work as well as athletes.
- Exposure of legs with diaper redness and excessive sweating in most cases, this is due to the wearing of inappropriate shoes in which the legs are very sweaty and successful.
- Wearing unpleasant or tight shoes - the issue of choosing shoes is particularly acute.It is recommended to buy high quality shoes, do not walk with high heels for a long time.
- Disregarding hygiene - men are especially sinful with this, believing that a wash of their legs before bedtime is enough.It is important to monitor the nails, cut them and present them in time, use special hygienic lotions and prevent diaper redness or drying of the skin.
The most common factors are given above, which are easier to influence, reducing the chance of fungal damage.In general, it is also recommended to observe the daily routine, eat completely, as little as possible nervous.
Important!Due to the fact that one of the main reasons for the appearance of fungi on the big toe is advanced age, older people should be particularly careful.To strengthen the body, it is important to constantly suffer the supporting treatment of chronic diseases, to visit a doctor regularly, it is possible to periodically pass vitamin therapy to strengthen immunity.
Clinical picture of the disease
Even the initial symptoms of nail fungus on the thumb are easier to detect than on other fingers.This is explained by all the same physiological features of the structure.
Due to the size of the finger, even the initial manifestations of the disease are easier to see in it.
At the same time, to detect the development of timely pathology and take appropriate timely measures, it is important to know the particularly clinical appearance of the early phase of onycomycosis:
- White spots, dots or stripes appear on the nail.Initially, they have a small size, in the future they grow, joining together.
- The nail loses its natural glow, becomes matte, sometimes harsh, without obvious reason.
- The nail plate gradually changes color, at first it becomes yellow or light brown
- Disordishes initial structural disorders can be invisible.The strong nail plate of the thumb becomes soft or fragile.Of the most obvious symptoms, cracks, hills and furrows appear on the surface of the nail, its outer (free) edge is slightly exfoliated.
- Already in the early stages of progressing the pathological process, a person may feel itching on the nail of the thumb.At the same time, the surrounding skin becomes rough, dry, capable of lining.
To notice the initial symptoms, it is important to be very attentive to your feet and perform hygiene procedures regularly.This applies to all clinical signs, with the exception of itching, which does not already pass unnoticed.
In the absence of timely treatment, the disease is slow, but still progresses.At the same time, clinical photography changes the most special, ignoring the problem is more difficult.
Symptoms of onychomycosis of the big toe at a later date acquire the following features:
- Itching appears in the first or improves, this symptom is persistent, as well as intensity.If the legs are successful or sweaty, the thumb is shy for shoes, itching intensifies.
- There is a change in the color of the nail, now it acquires green, brown or even black.At the same time, previously displayed white spots expand and join.
- Due to the fact that the fungi penetrate deeper, structural disorders deteriorate.Nail plate belly, tuberosity and its cracks become deeper.The increased softness is replaced by fragility, the nail literally gradually destroyed.The stratification process affects not only the outside of the nail plate, it spreads throughout the area and depth, which only exacerbates destruction.
Important!At the doctor's meeting, the doctor can visually determine the stage of progression of the disease and assume which pathogen is caused.To make an accurate diagnosis, a complete diagnosis is required.The same is true of the early stages when the symptoms are invisible to the doctor, but the complaints come from the patient.
Traditional Mushroom Damage Treatment
Like the symptoms, the traits of the treatment of the disease depend on which the fungi caused onycomycosis, and at what stage the treatment has begun.If you detect the fungus on the thumb nail in the latch, the duration of therapy is significantly reduced and most likely to do with local external medicines.
We are talking about ointments, gel, spray, spraying or drops with antifungal activity.Such drugs are applied directly to the affected nail, sometimes to the surrounding areas of the skin.In most cases, these medicines are effective in relation to a wide range of fungi.
If you cannot get rid of fungi with external medication or the patient is advised with a doctor in the late stage of progression of the disease, complex therapy is required.For local medicines for the treatment of nail fungus on the big toe, they have added systemic ones, which are taken orally and affect the pathogen from the inside.
Treatment with popular methods
In folk medicine, there are a large number of ways to treat the fungus on a large nail.These include lotions, baths, wiping and ointments based on natural ingredients or improvised tools with antifungal activity.
Among the most popular and effective recipes are highlighted:
- Use of vinegar or iodine - both substances have pronounced antiseptic properties.By moistening a cotton pad in iodine or vinegar, then wipe the nail plate 2-3 times a day, you can achieve the desired result-the death of the fungus.Such manipulations are made within 3-4 weeks a day.
- Salt baths - diluted in two liters of hot water 2 tablespoons of sea or table salt.To evaporate your feet for 15-20 minutes before bedtime, do not wash, let your feet dry.The procedure is performed daily for 2-3 weeks.
There are many similar methods, but the use of even more harmless, requires mandatory physician consultations.
Important!Traditional medicine is effective in the fight against fungal damage to nail plates only in the early stages of pathology development.In other cases, popular recipes are used only as an auxiliary treatment that complements medication therapy or as prevention.