Toenail Fungus: Detect and Treat Correctly

2 April 2024

Fungal diseases are the most common ailments on earth. We suggest considering how to treat toenail fungus, what professional preparations are used for this (tablets, ointment, cream, varnish, other drugs) and folk remedies.

Onychomycosis (also known as "dermatophytic onychomycosis" or "herpes zoster") is the most common nail infection, with one in ten people worldwide affected by the disease. Despite the fact that the disease must be treated at home, this infection is very difficult to influence from the outside and is often accompanied by relapses and inflammation.

Nail fungus: what is it?

In medical terminology, nail fungus is called onychomycosis. The nail plate becomes infected upon contact with spores, then the rapid growth of fungal bodies begins, affecting the nail in depth and width.

This pathological condition is most often observed in the elderly. The onset of the disease is influenced by the following factors:

excessive body weight;
diseases of the digestive system;
weakening of the immune system;
impaired function of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands;
improper hygiene.

Experts identify different stages and forms of fungal infection.

Types and causes of toenail diseases

Diseases of the nail plate can be divided into three types:

fungal;
non-fungal;
other diseases.

Non-fungal diseases

Here are the causes of diseases not associated with fungal infection:

illiterate care of the nail plate;
injury;
unbalanced diet;
presence of infection in the body;
to smoke;
hereditary predisposition;
the presence of dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema;
acute and chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels, nervous system, endocrine diseases.

Fungal diseases

Fungal problems occur due to infection by various types of fungi. This pathogen is very dangerous due to its rapid and easy spread. This disease must be treated. The fungus most often affects the nails of the lower extremities, since the feet are the most favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

There are factors that contribute to the onset and development of the disease:

increased sweating of the feet;
poor quality shoes: suffocating and airtight, of poor durability;
use of clothing made from synthetic materials;
neglect of personal hygiene;
visiting public places without individual shoes, for example bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas, public showers.

To recognize the onset of the disease, you need to know what a healthy nail plate should look like:

flesh pink colour;
the surface is smooth, without roughness;
it has a homogeneous structure, without compaction or thinning;
The nails are intact at the ends and do not separate.

If your nails do not meet at least one point, you need to visit a doctor for a consultation.

Mushroom shapes

Symptoms of the disease depend on the form of the fungus:

Atrophic. A gray tint appears on the nail, and the plaque becomes pale and dull. The nail begins to atrophy from the outer ends.
Hypertrophic. As a result of the active growth of skin scales, the nail plate thickens by more than 2 millimeters. The deformation of the nail depends on the severity of the pathology. Shade: gray or dark yellow. One of the signs of such a mushroom is considered to be similar to a bird's claw.
Normotrophic. The color of the nail with this type of fungus changes, but the shine and thickness remain the same. In the early stages, white to yellow spots appear. If the disease is not treated, they become larger in size. In this case the plaque does not adhere to the nail bed.
Proximal. This fungus spreads to the skin fold. Possible pain in the cuticle area.
Total. This infection develops if you ignore treatment for other types of fungi. Accompanied by loss of color and shine, crumbling and brittleness. The result is the complete destruction of the nail plate.
Shallow white mushroom. Characterized by the formation of white spots and stripes that extend across the entire nail.
Distal. The lesion is accompanied by dullness, loss of color and changes in the thickness of the nail plate. After the affected area dies, the nail deforms and crumbles.
Lateral. There is swelling of the skin ridges, their redness and thickening. Characterized by pain in the area near the nail. When a bacterial infection attacks, a purulent process begins.

Depending on the severity of the pathology, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Practical advice

Prevention of thumb and foot fungus is a very important task. Immediately after getting rid of bad luck, you will find yourself in a high-risk zone, because. . . The body will be very susceptible to this type of infection for a long time.

Drug treatment does not always bear fruit, antibiotics kill the immune system, the body becomes more susceptible to fungi and spores, try to minimize the use of such drugs;
Any burns and frostbite need timely treatment, otherwise the bacteria will reduce very quickly;
Effective treatment is only half the battle, because you will have to disinfect absolutely all surfaces you have come into contact with: bedding, floors, clothes, shoes, etc. ;
Traditional treatment is good, but it does not guarantee that relapses will not occur. It is recommended to visit a doctor before starting this fight, who will carry out an analysis and tell you exactly what form of fungus you have and how to fight it;
Don't treat yourself with drugs;
Do not try to mask damaged nails with colored varnish - this will damage them even more and slow down regeneration;
The doctor recommends regularly taking foot baths with mint and chamomile, this will significantly reduce the likelihood of contracting an infection;
A person who has already suffered from fungal diseases cannot donate blood;
The fungus is very contagious, so also consult your loved ones and take them to the doctor.

Typical clinical picture

Clinical manifestations of fungal nail infections include:

burning sensation and itching of the skin near the affected area;
fragility of nails;
swelling of the affected area;
active plaque detachment;
color changes (black, yellow, gray, green, brown tint indicates a pathological process);
painful sensation in the place where the fungus is located;
deformation of the nail.

If treatment is ignored or inappropriate therapy is observed, plaque keratinization and increased compaction are observed.Only a qualified specialist can diagnose a fungal infection.

Places at risk of infection

Infection can occur in a moist, warm place where the fungus grows rapidly. Therefore, you should be careful and comply with hygiene rules in a public environment:

sauna;
Shower box;
bath;
gym;
solarium;
public changing room;
beach;
pool.

You can get nail fungus by trying on someone else's shoes. Also, infection can occur in a beauty salon during a pedicure procedure if non-sterile tools are used or if the master has a fungus on his hands and performs manipulation without gloves.

Alternative remedies to fight nail fungus

There are numerous alternative methods to combat fungal infections. In folk medicine, popular and effective procedures that help eliminate fungi are:

compress;
foot bath;
lotions;
apply ointments from herbal products.

Effective alternative antifungal therapies include:

Garlic ointment. To prepare it, mix the butter with the grated garlic. Apply for several hours on the affected nails.
Bath with sea salt. Make a warm solution and keep your feet in it for thirty minutes. After the procedure, it is recommended to apply olive oil to the nails.
Foot bath with decoction of calendula, celandine, horsetail or milkweed.
Mint and salt compress. A spoonful of salt is mixed with the crushed plant and applied to the problem area for several hours.
Propolis lotion. A cotton ball is moistened in the tincture and applied to the affected nail.
Lubricate the diseased nail plate with celandine juice.
Mixture of eggs and honey. Honey, birch tar and sulfur are added to the egg white. Mix thoroughly and apply on nails.
Ammonia compress. A spoonful of ammonia is diluted in a glass of water. The material intended for the procedure is immersed in the liquid.
Apricot resin. An alcoholic tincture is prepared from the resin of the tree using the ingredients in equal parts. Using this remedy, make a compress.
Coffee bath. They make strong coffee and pour it into a basin. It is recommended to soak your feet in this product for twenty minutes.
Tar poultice. For this procedure, take birch tar.
Bath based on Listerine, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
Hydrogen peroxide compress. Before using it, it is recommended to take a foot bath with soda.
Apply onion pulp on the sore nail.

An effective folk remedy for fungal infections is a remedy based on baking soda and apple cider vinegar. To prepare it you need the following ingredients:

apple cider vinegar – 250 ml;
sodium bicarbonate – 150 g;
water (hot) – 3 l.

Foot baths are performed with this medicine. The peculiarity of this procedure is that first the feet are immersed in a vinegar solution for twenty minutes. Then after a while they take a bath with soda. It is recommended to carry out the procedure several times a day.

The tablets can also be prepared with the following ingredients:
chopped horseradish (root);
sunflower oil and vinegar (product ratio 1: 1);
mushroom tea;
mandarin juice;
tea tree oil;
rowan puree.

It is recommended to apply these products to the affected area at night. Herbalists recommend putting crushed medicinal herbs in socks against foot fungus:

mint;
chamomile;
nettle;
wise.

The first signs of the disease can be overcome by soaking your feet in a solution of laundry soap. It is important to remember that alternative medicines should be used only on well-washed feet. Dead layers must be removed each time using a nail file or scissors.

Other diseases

This section includes diseases that can be signs of fungal or non-fungal pathology, but in this case they are independent.

Hypertrophy

Most often, hypertrophy is hereditary.

This disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

the nail thickens;
it stretches up to several centimeters;
very long legs begin to bend, resembling a bird's claw;
the color of the nail changes from yellow to dirty yellow;
rarely, in this condition, the nail grows into the skin located on the sides;
If the internal growth is not treated, the inflammatory process begins.

To combat the disease, vitamins and physical therapy are prescribed. If inflammation is present, rinse with hydrogen peroxide and chlorhexidine.

Traditional medicine suggests using olive oil massage. In case of significant deformation, which significantly spoils the appearance of a person, they resort to cosmetic correction.

Atrophy

Toenail diseases, in which the nails are prone to atrophy, are often congenital in nature.

Already in a newborn you can see symptoms:

deformation of the nail plates on one or more fingers, they are smaller in size, fragile, distorted in shape;
the color of the nails is whitish, cloudy;
the surface has defects: roughness, microcracks;
absence of nails on one or more fingers;
the presence of membranes between the fingers;
deformation of the fingers;
low hair growth rate and they also grow poorly.

Such congenital pathologies are difficult to treat. It is recommended to take vitamins, eat substances rich in collagen and follow a balanced diet. Patients should take care of their nails and avoid injuries and contact with aggressive substances.

Peeling nails

The most common problem that people face.

Here are the reasons for its appearance:

improper manicure, use of low-quality decorative cosmetics;
This problem is faced by half of women who regularly perform the shellac procedure;
lack of vitamins;
endocrine disorders, in particular decreased thyroid function;
chronic diseases that deplete the body;
synthetic clothing and wrong shoes.

This problem can be eliminated using a number of measures:

Cosmeticsspecialized nail creams and oils.
Paraffin therapyyou need to buy paraffin and melt it until it becomes liquid, but not hot. Feet must first be washed and dried thoroughly. Dip your fingers into the paraffin, then let it harden, then lower it again. The sequence must be repeated several times until 3 to 5 layers of paraffin remain on the nails. Next, you need to wrap it in plastic and put on warm socks on top. Keep this compress for 30 minutes. Then you need to carefully remove the paraffin and apply a rich cream to your nails.

Traditional medicine recommends sea salt massage. It must be dissolved in the proportion of 2 teaspoons per 200 ml of warm water. Feet should be kept in the liquid for at least 15 minutes. Then you need to massage the skin around the nails. Next, you can apply olive oil or other unrefined vegetable oil.

Pterygium

This word refers to the thin film found on the nail in the crescent area. It is the bottom layer of the cuticle. It performs physiological protective functions and does not constitute a pathology.

It has different lengths and thicknesses for different people. When performing a professional manicure, pterygium begins to create problems. It especially interferes with coatings that harden under an ultraviolet lamp.

If a woman decides to remove it, it must be done correctly to avoid doing sohurt the cuticle and avoid introducing dirt into the delicate layers of the epidermis:

soften the pterygium in water;
carefully remove the excess with an apricot stick;
treat the area with an antiseptic: chlorhexidine or miramistin.

To ensure that the pterygium always remains soft and is easy to remove, every evening before going to bed it is necessary to treat the nail plate and cuticle with special oil from pharmacies and cosmetic stores.

Untreated nail diseases can cause serious consequences. Complications include suppuration, abscess, panaritium and malignant formations on the legs. For any changes in the appearance of your nails, you should consult a dermatologist.

General treatment regimen

Successful therapy will require several months of complex treatment. This includes drugs for local and systemic use, diet and strengthening the immune system. Treatment of fungal diseases of the toenails is carried out using the following methods:

systemic antifungal drugs;
a course of physiotherapy that improves blood flow in the feet and hands;
the affected areas are treated with local anti-infective agents (antifungal varnishes, ointments, gels), and the surrounding skin is covered for prevention;
removal of affected tissues conservatively or surgically if severe thickening or total damage is confirmed;
the use of drugs that improve blood flow to the hands and peripheral tissues of the legs.

Taking systemic antifungals

For reliable and effective treatment of fungal diseases, it is necessary to use systemic antifungal drugs. Their action is aimed at destroying the pathogen. Fungal spores can remain in the incubation period in the growth zone for a long time, while remaining viable, so it is very important to ensure their destruction.

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As the plaque grows, the spores rise and enter the active phase, continuing to cause the pathological process. For this reason, treatment with systemic antifungal drugs is carried out for a long time so that a new healthy nail plate can fully grow. This will indicate that the germinal zone has been cleared of spores.

Local treatment

This is another component of complex treatment, which is carried out while taking systemic drugs and does not replace it. Local therapy alone will not help achieve complete recovery, so there is no way to avoid the need to take antifungal drugs in the form of tablets, solutions or capsules. This is due to the ability of spores to remain viable for a long time in destroyed tissues. Topical medications are unable to penetrate these areas.

Treatment of onychomycosis with this method is aimed at treating the nail bed or nail with products that come in the form of lotion, varnish, cream, ointment or spray. Recommended at this stage.

Removal of the nail plate

There are two options for this procedure: conservative and surgical. The first method is carried out using keratolytic patches capable of softening the tissues. After using these products, you can easily and painlessly remove the affected area using a delicate scalpel or ordinary scissors. For conservative removal, patch options are currently used.

Such products can be purchased at the pharmacy or ordered at the prescription department. Before using the composition against a fungal disease, apply a regular adhesive plaster to healthy areas of the skin next to the affected areas to protect them from the action of the keratolytic. Then apply a 2 mm layer of paste and fix it with a simple plaster for 2-3 days. Then peel it off, discard the remaining product, and scrape away the softened tissue with a scalpel. The procedure is repeated until the entire surface of the nail is removed and only the bare bed remains.

The surgical method is considered more effective than the conservative one, because it not only removes the affected areas, but also allows you to free the bed from keratinized scales, where fungal spores can continue to live and cause a recurrence of the disease. Clinical studies confirm that with surgical removal the effectiveness of the treatment is significantly higher; the procedure is performed as follows:

Apply a tourniquet to the base of the finger.
Treat the surface with an antiseptic (any).
A local anesthetic is injected into the lateral surfaces of the finger.
Tweezers are inserted under the free edge from the left or right corner.
Advance the tool to the base.
The plate is separated by an overturning movement.
The bed is cleaned of accumulations of horny plaques.
The nail bed is irrigated with an absorbent powder with an antibiotic.
A sterile bandage is applied on top.

Shoe manufacturing

The issue of disinfection of shoes during the treatment of onychomycosis is very important, since they contain fungal pathogens that in the future will cause a relapse of the disease. To eliminate them it is necessary to use chemical disinfectants. This cleaning procedure should be done at least once a week. Disinfection can be carried out using the following compositions:

25% formalin solution.
Chlorhexidine bigluconate solution 1%.
Acetic acid 40%, etc.

As a preventive measure, you should regularly use special devices designed for drying shoes at home. Fungi develop in humid environments, so you shouldn't leave your shoes wet.

To eliminate the disease, you must strictly follow all the doctor's instructions. Medicines should be used exactly as directed. Home remedies can help speed up the treatment process of onychomycosis, but only when used as an adjuvant solution in combination with traditional drug treatment.

Possible complications

Pessimists who do not believe that onychomycosis is curable should keep in mind that, fortunately, they are wrong. However, if the disease is ignored or self-medicated without being sure of the correct diagnosis, problems can arise.

Possible complications include:

the appearance of mycotic eczema with a large area affected by the fungus;
burns caused by improper use of the keratolytic patch;
dysfunction of the liver and gastrointestinal organs, caused by the accumulation of toxins in the body;
the development of an allergic reaction, also due to the fact that the body is "overloaded" with substances harmful to it;
psychological problems caused by the fact that a person cannot live a normal life - for example, without hesitation, visit a bathhouse, go to the beach.

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Laser treatment

This is an additional physiotherapy technique that aims to improve blood circulation. The procedure is performed as part of complex therapy along with the use of antifungal drugs. Using laser alone does not help cure the disease, because it only improves blood flow in the tissues. This is necessary for effective delivery of the antifungal agent to hard-to-reach cells. If you do not take systemic drugs, laser therapy will not bring any therapeutic results.

Disinfection and personal hygiene

Having noticed that the nail has changed color and suspecting the initial form of the fungus, comparing the symptoms with the photo, it is necessary to undergo complex treatment. To effectively eliminate fungi, you need:

carefully disinfect socks and shoes every day;
boil bed linen and towels;
Clean the tub thoroughly after bathing.

All wardrobe items that have come into contact with the affected nails during the day should be boiled in the evening in a soapy solution. It is better to use laundry soap. Shoes should be cleaned daily with a special antiseptic or antifungal solution.

The disease of onychomycosis of the nails is often observed within the same family due to constant contact with the causative agent of the fungal infection, as well as due to general hygiene products. If a person scratches the affected areas and then touches household objects with his hands, fungal spores and pathogens spread to things at this time and the risk of infection increases.