During this time, I probably tried all sorts of folk remedies and consulted a doctor several times.In this article I will tell you what nail fungus is, why it occurs, 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 nail.In 60-70% of cases it is caused by specific dermatophyte fungi;Infections caused by mold and yeast are less common.Dermatophytes require the protein keratin to live, reproduce and grow.That's 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 from the cut side of the nail.The tip of the nail gradually changes color: it becomes yellowish, light brown or milky.If left untreated, the infection spreads towards the cuticle.The fungus can also originate from the side surface of the nail.
There is also white superficial onychomycosis.Externally 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 affect the entire nail plate.
Occasionally, proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail in the cuticle and root area.This usually happens in people with weakened immune systems.
If the nail is completely destroyed by a fungus, it is called general dystrophic onychomycosis.Externally, the nail looks terrible: it is thick, ribbed and has an unpleasant dark color.
Causes
Nail fungus is a very common disease.Onychomycosis is responsible for 50-60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I got the fungus from, but doctors here give the possibility of becoming infected with it.
Contact with a contaminated surface.Fungal pathogens love moisture and therefore live well in damp rooms - bathrooms or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought from beauty salons as a bonus after a manicure or pedicure: just a microcut and poorly made instruments are enough - and that's it, the disease is right there.You can also get a fungus if you put on barefoot shoes after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.The fungus is very contagious.If one of the household members is sick, other family members can become infected with onychomycosis.The risk increases if you share slippers, a shared washcloth, or a bath mat.However, the fungus can also be transmitted via carpets, which is why it is so important for people with sore nails to follow hygiene rules.
Poor hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet thoroughly, does not cut his nails on time, or rarely changes his socks, it is easier for him to contract a fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of disease.When we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the foot and nail roots is disrupted.Onychodystrophy can develop - a disease that is similar to nail fungus and is often associated with it.
Certain professions.Nail fungus occurs much more often in people of certain professions - housekeepers, 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 the mushroom loves all this very much and actively grows in such conditions.
Concomitant diseasesincrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.The fungus is more common in people who suffer from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignant neoplasms.Smokers and overweight people are also at risk.Excessive sweating – hyperhidrosis – also contributes to the proliferation of fungi.
Typically, the fungus occurs in people over 30 years old, especially in older people.Children are less likely to become ill 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 occurs more quickly in children.
Why is fungus dangerous?
Nail fungus not only affects the appearance of your feet, it is a real disease that is dangerous for the body.If the fungus on one nail is not treated, it spreads to the remaining, healthy nails.In some people, a fungal infection can trigger allergies - the fungus itself becomes an allergen.
Dermatophyte fungi feed on keratin, so it is no longer sufficient for nail growth.This causes them to become brittle, crumble and flake off.Over time, “keratin residues” accumulate between the nail and the nail bed - these arise when keratin breaks down due to fungal infection.This causes the nail to become thicker and grow crooked.Even though the nail is thick, it is still very fragile - it gets caught on clothes and breaks easily.
Sometimes when you have 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.Second, the site of the removed nail creates a kind of wound, a moist, warm environment - exactly the kind that dermatophytes love.They will grow even faster there.
And advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, after completing treatment, a person will have to purchase medicines and change all shoes.If onychomycosis in the initial stages can be disinfected with special disinfectant solutions, then after recovery from an advanced disease, all old shoes must be thrown away to avoid re-infection.
The fungus significantly reduces the quality of life.I felt physically unwell: my feet were sweating, my nails were thick, crumbling and breaking.Even in summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.The fungus also severely restricted my activity: I could hardly do any sports or go to the swimming pool.I've read that some people have such a feeling of shame that sometimes it even descends into severe depression.Luckily I didn't get that far.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and feet when you get a fungus.
Nail color changesYellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This occurs more often in the early stages of an infection and is associated with the accumulation of keratin residue in and under the nails.Nails look dull and no longer shine like they used to.
The structure changes:The nail becomes thick or begins to grow in waves.When cutting, the cut turns out to be uneven and the nail falls into individual pieces.
An unpleasant smell is createdFeet sweat more.
It wasn't until late that I suspected a fungus.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upwards so that it stood out clearly from the rest.I put off going to the doctor for a long time and didn't 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 didn't do anything at all 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 didn't understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that it would be enough just to coat my nails with the magical varnishes and drops that are advertised on TV and everything would disappear.
When I realized that drops and varnishes did not help, I started making foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these were miracle procedures that would get rid of the fungus forever.I don't like going to the doctor, so I believed in these tips.
I soaked my feet in solutions of soda and liquid soap, added iodine to the water, and even took coffee baths several times.Then I learned that it is better to replace liquid soap with brown laundry soap - when I rubbed it, the smell in the apartment was indescribable.I cut and scraped the steamed nails and then put the scissors and file in a bowl with vodka.I collected the nail fragments on a paper napkin and threw them in the trash.I also smeared my nails with aloe juice and propolis.These procedures took even more time, so in the end I simply gave up the treatment.
As I later realized, self-medication was my big mistake because it lasted more than a year.But it didn't 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 uncomfortable putting on socks and shoes, it even made walking a little difficult.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Turkey.And that was another reason I went to the doctor - I was just embarrassed to show my legs to anyone.
I made an appointment at the Skin and Venereal Diseases Clinic to see a mycologist.Based on the appearance of the nails alone, she said it was very similar to fungus, but still sent me for tests.
I was asked to cut off the infected nail and submit it for examination, and a general blood test was also ordered.As the doctor explained, in my case if the fungus is confirmed it will definitely be necessary to take tablets.And some of them have contraindications that can be determined using blood counts.
How I treated nail fungus under medical supervision
Three groups of drugs are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All of these drugs destroy fungal cells, which ultimately leads to a reduction in their number and the death of the pathogen.Such drugs are officially called antifungal drugs.Like antibiotics, they must be taken in courses.This means that it is not enough to take a tablet and wait for the symptoms to go away - it is important to complete the treatment.
The specific type of drug 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.
In addition to tablets, external treatment in the form of creams, ointments, sprays is often prescribed - this speeds up the process.Such drugs can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antifungal drugs.
Photodynamic therapy is sometimes prescribed, in which the nail is coated with special substances and then exposed to a cold beam of light that blocks the spread of infection.They may 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 evidence that the laser actually works.
In the most advanced cases, the nail is completely removed surgically.
The doctor prescribed itraconazole tablets for a week - 2 pieces twice a day.
I tolerated the treatment well, I only had severe sleepiness for two weeks - then I drove two hours to work and slept on the train the whole time.There were no problems with digestion.
The nail itself had to be scraped off by hand.I was offered to first do baths with laundry soap and soda, and then apply urea paste to the nail.With a small spatula I spread it on a quarter cotton pad, put it on the nail, wrapped it with bandages and a plaster and walked like that for a day.During this time, the top hard layer of the nail softened a little, after which I scraped it off.Then he immediately reapplied the composition;There were at least five such approaches throughout the treatment period.The paste helped, the nail became noticeably thinner.It became easier to cut it.
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 needs to be applied to the nails twice a day, and this time I was no longer lazy.
What's wrong with the nails now?
I had my nails treated for a year and a half.In July 2020 I noticed white spots on them again.This time I immediately went to the doctor and found that a reinfection had occurred.Now is still the initial stage, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with a relapse of the disease.Re-infection occurs when you receive an infection from the external 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 in the nails: it may not be noticeable externally, but growth will certainly appear over time.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made right from the start.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations when nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both diseases have very similar external symptoms in the early stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
Prevention of fungi is directly related to the causes of their occurrence.Understand the reason, reverse the meaning and get recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public placesespecially where it is humid – gyms, showers, bathrooms, near swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Even open-toed rubber flip-flops can be dangerous in terms of fungal infection.It is better to disinfect ordinary shoes, for example at an ice skating rink or bowling alley, with special solutions.When buying shoes, only try 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, dry them, and put on clean socks as quickly as possible.The shoes themselves need to be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.Dousing them with water during their daily shower is not enough.It is advisable to have a separate washcloth ready for your feet and wash them with soap - wash thoroughly in all areas and not just rub the heels and feet once.
Trim your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and microcuts - they are entry points for infections, not just fungi.Only use your own scissors and do not pass them on to the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- This is also important with regard to other infections.For example, I treated my files and scissors with alcohol spray.I told my wife to arrange for the master in the manicure room to sterilize 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 can make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and select treatment.Taking pills alone may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under compulsory health insurance.To do this, you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or dermatovenereological pharmacy.Advice, examination and diagnosis are free of charge.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you have to pay for everything.The cost of examining nails for fungus depends on the analysis method.
Nail fungus or onychomycosis is an infectious disease that can easily be 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 will be.It may be possible to get by with only local remedies and not take pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Prescribing pills on your own based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a dubious tactic.It is important to complete treatment no matter how lazy you are.To prevent nail fungus, it is important to pay attention to foot hygiene and not to wear strange shoes on your bare feet.