Fungal infections of the nails are common. You can get sick, infected by contact with a sick person, as well as the contacts of this kind in our lives is usually enough, and catch fungal disease is possible. But the main thing - it is right to adopt the necessary measures, that is to consult a doctor.

Causes of fungal nail infections

Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is caused by fungi that called dermatophytes (most often), as well as yeast and molds. In order for the fungus began to grow, it requires certain conditions: wearing tight or not breathable shoe, wet environment damage Nail.

Infection by contact the fungus is not always needed for this and other conditions, e.g., reducing the overall resilience of the body (e.g., in diabetes diabetes).

How do you get a fungal disease

The fungus enters the nail tissue usually at defeat skin (secondary infection). To catch this infection may be hit by fungal infection of the skin of the patient with the skin of a healthy person in a swimming pool, sauna, on the beach, in the gym, through the instruments for manicure and pedicure, through shoes, etc.

What happens when a nail fungal infections

Fungus, getting to the nail, can hit it at the free edge, at the side edges, from the nail bed or completely full. Infected nails lose their shape, fade, turn yellow, thickened, then crumble.

Changes in the color of nails is gradual: first on the nail there are spots and stripes, then the entire nail changes color, getting the color from white to brown-black, it becomes opaque.

Gradually Nail loses luster, becoming dull, thickens and changes its form. It is caused by increased keratinization begins the destruction of the nail bed nail, particularly laterally. The fungus gradually leads to separation and shrinkage (dystrophy) of the nail.

It starts with the defeat of the fungus is usually a nail, and then spreads further. But it also happens that one defeat Nail is kept for several years, does not spread further.

How to recognize a nail fungus?

Himself can not do this. Accurate diagnosis can be only be made after laboratory tests - to detect fungi scrapes with the changed portions of the nail and separation culture of the fungus. This is very important as the correct diagnosis will depend directly on the efficiency treatment.

There is also a method of direct DNA diagnosis, when the presence of the pathogen disease detected by laboratory within 24 hours.

Treatment of fungal nail infections

Treatment of fungal nail infections should be comprehensive, consisting of a total treatment to strengthen the immune system, the use of antifungal drugs, drugs improves blood circulation and local treatment, which helps to improve the condition of the Nail. Comprehensive treatment also provides for treatment of the skin, as the fungus nails almost always occurs on the background of fungal infections of the skin.

Current antifungal agents (terbinafine griseofulvin, etc.) are able to completely rid the body of a fungus, with They not only kill the fungus, but also stimulate the growth of the nail plates, and are retained for some time in the nails, which is prevention of disease recurrence. Take these drugs usually within 2-4 months. These drugs have very specific indications and contraindications, so they use without a prescription is impossible.

For topical (external) treatment is now also there are a number of effective drugs. This is all possible antifungal ointments, creams, lacquers (nails can be applied to only 1-2 times a week), means softening horny masses and provide access to the affected tissues, apparatus for processing hardware with nail special cutters polish that painlessly scraped excessive thickening of the horny layers and nail with place fungal diseases.

In the period of treatment must be in accordance with the by your doctor on a regular basis to handle contaminated items, including shoes, floors, as well as all the items in the house, which could survive the infection. Houses for it using 40% solution of acetic acid or 25% formalin solution: Dampen a clean cloth and put in toe shoes, pretreated insole, then put the shoes in a plastic bag, tie it and leave for 24 hours. This treatment must be repeated shoes once a month throughout the treatment period.

General treatment to strengthen the immune system - a healthy way life, a vitamin, if necessary - drugs that stimulate protective functions.

Prevention of fungal nail diseases

For the prevention of fungal nail diseases need to wear loose shoes, personal hygiene, Nail Care Nail care - can be a sensible man, and think about the beauty of nails   skin and feet. It should be individually shoes steam baths, saunas and swimming pools.

Nail fungus is very unpleasant disease, but to get rid of it can and should be, it is worth spending time and money.

Galina Romanenko

Related Articles

Nail Treatment - how to avoid problems?

Ingrown nail - not as harmless as it seems

Nail Treatment "little things" - attention!