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

A fungus that affects the nail plates of the fingers is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today, there are more than 50 pathogens, which complicates the classification of the disease;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 with pathogenic organisms;their penetration can occur in three main ways:

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

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

• Mechanical injuries that lead to the destruction of the nail plate.
• Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning products containing harmful components;systematic contact with water.
• Wearing inappropriate and uncomfortable shoes, as well as things made of synthetic materials, which creates favorable conditions for the spread of pathogenic microflora.
• Increased sweating, regardless of its cause.
• Flat feet.
• Anatomical features of foot development, in particular, the presence of very narrow spaces between the toes, which disrupts the natural exchange of air.
• Lack of hygienic foot care and timely trimming of grown nails.
• Dysfunctions of the immune system.
• Tendency to varicose veins.
• Frequent wearing of warm clothes or shoes due to the climatic conditions of the region.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases, as warm temperatures and high humidity are favorable factors for the reproduction of such organisms.
• Advanced age.Changes in the body of the elderly increase the likelihood of infection.
• Carrying out work activities in unfavorable conditions, which include gas and dust rooms, difficult physical work, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, thyroid gland dysfunction.All these health problems put a person at risk.
• Long-term use of powerful antibacterial agents and hormonal pharmacological drugs.
• Visit to public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
• Use of shared footwear and personal care products.
• Undergoing various cosmetic procedures during which an instrument is used that has not undergone proper treatment.

Types and symptoms

The symptoms that appear when the 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 fungi.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 stage, visible white or yellow lines and dots are formed, which are located on the sides.If left untreated, they begin to grow and cover the entire nail.
2. Hypertrophic fungi.With this disease, not only the color changes, but also an increase in the thickness of the plaque, which is associated with the accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Gradually, there is a loss of healthy shine and the fragility of the nail increases, which begins to color even with light pressure.First, the lateral areas are destroyed, but if not treated, a general deformation is observed, as a result of which the nail begins to resemble a bird's claw.
3. Atrophic fungi.The first symptom of this pathology is a change in color: the nail plate takes on a characteristic brown-gray shade.Soon its natural splendor disappears and destruction gradually takes place.If not treated, the development of the disease leads to the complete exposure of the nail fold and tissue necrosis.
4. Lateral and distal fungi.Both varieties lead to the formation of transverse grooves with a yellow tint, and parallel to this, the fading of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the causative agent is mold, the affected areas may be green or black.Brittleness gradually increases, the plate structure becomes uneven and rough.After the affected areas die, the nail deforms and the nail fold is partially exposed.This pathology can bring serious physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain if swelling and redness of the skin ridges appear.
5. Proximal fungi.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 area of the plaque near the growth area acquires a characteristic white color.The localization of the lesion is associated with the characteristics of the spread of fungal spores;they gradually cover the entire nail plate.
6. Total mushroomsoccurs 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 lead to complete loss of the nail.
7. White superficial fungi.The main symptom is the appearance of localized white spots near the rear pad.In the absence of proper treatment, the pathology progresses and the lesion begins to spread to neighboring areas.More often, a large number of small spots are formed, merging into a single pattern that looks like scattered dust.

Mushroom stages

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

1. In the initial stage, the lesions are localized in separate areas,more often they are the sides or the free edge.At this stage, subtle lines or spots are formed, which a person often does not notice.
2. In the stage of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become visible,traces of mushrooms can be detected even with the naked eye.There is also increased fragility of the nail and a change in its shade;in some forms of the disease, serous discharge may come out from under the plaque.
3. In the hypertrophic lesion stage, the pathology continues to develop in the subungual space, which leads to plaque thickening.Depending on the form of the disease, deformation, splitting, 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 can be observed.Due to the lack of a clear clinical overview, diagnosis and making an accurate diagnosis at this stage is practically impossible.
In the advanced stages, the disease develops actively;the symptoms spread not only to the toenails, but also to the plaques located on the hands and skin.

How to treat at home?

In the early stages, you can get rid of the disease using traditional medicine, but such measures should be agreed with a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of harming your 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 for foot baths.
2. vinegaris another very effective remedy, since practically all fungal pathogens die in a highly acidic environment.It can be used neat or diluted in water and then applied directly to the affected areas.
3. Salicylic acideffective in treating any form of mold, used in the same way as vinegar.
4. Eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.Both drugs have a powerful antiseptic effect, but they are usually included in complex therapy.

How to get rid of foot fungus with medicine?

If the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, it is recommended to immediately seek professional medical help, since 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 unwanted consequences.

Specialists usually prescribe pharmaceutical products, which can be produced in different forms.

Preventing

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

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, strengthening, ensuring a balanced diet, taking vitamins if they are deficient in the body, sports and other measures to strengthen the immune system.
• Wearing shoes when you are at the beach.
• Wearing special closed rubber slippers when visiting baths or saunas.
• Wear socks made only from natural materials and change them every day.
• Just wear your shoes.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after showering to ensure they are completely dry.

evaluations

1. I have suffered from toenail fungus for a very long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was temporary.Only a fungicide helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for a few days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly receding.
2. I recently came across a fungus;apparently i got it when i showered after a workout.Therefore, swim only with flip flops and don't go anywhere barefoot.Fungus is one such infection that is difficult to get rid of.I used an antifungal drug, it helped.But along with it she applied vinegar to the affected areas.Everything together gave such a great result.
3. And this is not the first time I have struggled with mushrooms.It's very hard to leave me.I used different medications that did their job perfectly.
4. This mushroom is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in summer!You are ashamed to even go out, but I use an antifungal agent for external use, it has helped me a lot.If you catch a mushroom once, the probability of it appearing a second time is 70%.Be careful!