During this time, I probably tried all kinds of folk remedies and consulted a doctor several times.In this article I will tell you what nail fungus is, why it appears, 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 nails.In 60-70% of cases it is caused by specific dermatophyte fungi;infection by molds and yeasts is less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.This is why these fungi live in the nail plates, hair and the 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 yellow, light brown or milky.If left untreated, the infection spreads to the cuticle.The fungus can also start from the lateral surface of the nail.
There is also superficial white onychomycosis.From the outside, it looks like white or dull 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 area of the cuticle and root.This usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed by the fungus, this condition is called generalized dystrophic onychomycosis.From the outside, the nail looks terrible: 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 give to get infected with it.
Contact with a dirty surface.Fungal pathogens love moisture, and therefore live well in damp rooms - bathrooms or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought as a bonus by beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: just a microcut and poorly processed instruments are enough - and that's it, the disease is right there.You can also get a fungus if you put shoes on your bare feet after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.Mushrooms are very contagious.If one of the family members is sick, other family members can become infected with onychomycosis.The risks are increased if you share slippers, a regular washcloth or a bath mat.However, fungi can also be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is so important for a person with sore nails to follow the rules of hygiene.
Poor hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet well, does not cut his nails on time or rarely changes his socks, it will be easier for him to get a fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of the disease.When we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the foot and nail roots is disrupted.Onychodystrophy can develop - a condition that looks similar to nail fungus and often accompanies it.
Some professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people of certain professions - housewives, cooks, cleaners, car wash workers.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes and rubber gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But mushrooms love all this very much and grow actively in such conditions.
Associated diseasesincrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people suffering from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases or malignant neoplasms, mold is more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis - also contributes to the spread of fungi.
Typically, the fungus appears in people 30 years of age and older, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: their nail plates are thinner and the nail itself grows faster.It turns out that with shorter exposure to the drug, the effect on children occurs faster.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of your feet, but is a real disease that is dangerous for the body.If the fungus in one nail is not treated, it will spread to the remaining nails that are still healthy.In some people, a fungal infection can cause allergies - the fungus itself becomes an allergen.
Dermatophyte fungi feed on keratin, so it is no longer enough for nail growth.Because of this, they become brittle, crumble and crumble.Over time, "keratin debris" will begin to accumulate between the nails and the nail bed - this is formed when keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nail to become thicker and grow crooked.Although the nail is thick, it is still very fragile - it will catch on clothing and break easily.
Sometimes, with nail fungus, your feet start to sweat more than usual - this leads to an unpleasant smell, and you have 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, instead 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 advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to buy medications and change all the shoes after the treatment is over.If in the initial stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected using special disinfectant solutions, then after recovery from an advanced disease, all old shoes will have to 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 sweating, my nails were thick, crumbly and broken.Even in summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.In addition, the fungus greatly limited my activity: I couldn't really play sports or go to the pool.I've read that some people have such a sense of shame that they sometimes slip 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.
The color of the nails changesyellow, white or brown spots appear.This is most common in the initial stages of infection and is associated with the accumulation of keratin debris in and under the nail.Nails look dull and don't shine like they used to.
The structure changes:the nail becomes thick or begins to grow in waves.During cutting, the cut turns out to be uneven, the nail crumbles into separate pieces.
An unpleasant smell appearsfeet sweat more.
I suspected a fungus late.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew up, standing out strongly from the rest.I put off going to the doctor for a long time and did not do 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 did nothing for about a year, hoping it would go away on its own.Then I decided that I should try to get rid of him, but I still did not understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that it would be enough to just paint my nails with the magic polishes and spots that are advertised on TV and everything will go away.
When I realized that the drops and sprays weren't helping, I started taking foot baths.They write online that these are wonderful procedures that will get rid of fungus forever.I don't like going to doctors, so I trusted these tips.
I soaked my feet in solutions of baking soda and liquid soap, dripped iodine into the water, and even took coffee baths several times.Then I learned that liquid soap is better to replace with brown laundry soap - when I grated it, the smell in the apartment was indescribable.I clipped and scraped the steamed nails and then filled the scissors and fillet with vodka in a bowl.I collected the nail bits in a paper towel and threw them in the trash.I also painted my nails with aloe juice and propolis.These procedures took even more time, so in the end I just gave up on treatment.
As I realized later, self-medication was my big mistake, because it took more than a year.But it did not bring any results: the fungus, apparently, just 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 and any shoes, and it even made walking a little difficult.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Turkey.And that was another reason why I went to the doctor - it was just embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I made an appointment at the skin and venereal disease clinic to see a mycologist.Just by the appearance of the nails, she said that it was very similar to a fungus, but she again sent me for analysis.
They asked me to cut off the infected nail and submit it for examination and 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 blood counts.
How I treated nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor
Three groups of drugs are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All these drugs destroy fungal cells, which eventually leads to a decrease in their number and the death of the pathogen.Such drugs are officially called antifungals.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly in one course.This means that it will not be enough to take a tablet and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the course of treatment.
The specific type of medicine is prescribed by the doctor depending on the type of fungus, the degree of nail damage, 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 speed up the process.Such drugs can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antifungals.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is covered with special substances, and then exposed to a cold light beam and blocks the spread of the infection.They can offer laser treatment - it is believed that the laser beam penetrates all layers of the nail and burns the mycelium of the fungus.But scientists still have little proof that the laser actually works.
In more advanced cases, the nail is completely removed surgically.
The doctor has prescribed itraconazole tablets - 2 pieces 2 times a day for a week.
I tolerated the course of treatment well, only for two weeks I had severe drowsiness - then I traveled to work two hours each way and slept on the train all this time.There were no digestive problems.
The nail itself had to be scraped off by hand.I was offered to start by taking a bath with laundry soap and baking soda and then applying urea paste to the nail.With a small spatula I spread it on a quarter of cotton, put it on the nail, wrapped it in bandages and plaster and walked like that for a day.During this time, the hard top layer of the nail softened a little, after which I scraped it off.Then he immediately reapplied the makeup;there were at least five such approaches throughout the treatment period.The paste helped, the nail became noticeably thinner.It became 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 should be applied to the nails twice a day and this time I was no longer lazy.
What's wrong with your nails now?
I have 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 realized that a reinfection had occurred.Now it is still the initial stage, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Re-infection should not be confused with disease relapse.Re-infection occurs when you get an infection from the outside environment, that is, it is actually no different from the primary infection.As for relapse, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.Then a focus of infection remains on the nail: it may not be visible from the outside, but over time, growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that a wrong diagnosis is made at first.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations when nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both these diseases are very similar in external symptoms in the initial stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
The prevention of fungus is directly related to the causes of its occurrence.Get the reason, reverse the meaning, and get recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where there is moisture - gyms, showers, bathrooms, near swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Even open toe rubber shoes 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 on the toe or heel.
Do not 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 soon as possible, dry them and put on clean socks.The shoes themselves must be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.It is not enough to wash them with water during your daily shower.It is advisable to have a separate cloth for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash them thoroughly in all areas, and not just rub them once over the heels and feet.
Cut your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and micro-cuts - they will be entry points for any infection, not just fungi.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 rubbing alcohol.I told my wife to make sure that in the manicure room the technician sterilizes the tools - usually this is done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To cure nail fungus, you need to see a dermatologist - if he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.Such a doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and choose treatment.Taking pills on your own may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under a mandatory medical insurance policy: to do this, you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or a dermatovenerology 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 testing nails for fungus depends on the method of analysis.
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 result.It may be possible to cope with only local remedies and not take pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Prescribing pills yourself based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet 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 your bare feet.