Toenail fungus: types, methods to eliminate it and the best remedies

A fungus that affects the nail plates of the toes is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today there are more than 50 pathogens, making disease classification difficult;This article describes the most common varieties, as well as ways to eliminate 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 the most common.
• In rare cases, penetration through the dorsal part of the nail is observed, as this is not accessible to all mycotic organisms.In such a situation, the development of pathological processes occurs much faster.
• Penetration through the proximal alveolar ridge is also quite rare and occurs most commonly in the arms rather than the legs.

Infection with fungal organisms often occurs under the influence of the following provoking factors:

• Mechanical injuries leading to destruction of the nail plate.
• Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning agents that contain harmful components;systematic contact with water.
• Wearing ill-fitting and uncomfortable shoes, as well as items made of synthetic materials, creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
• Increased sweating, regardless of the cause.
• Flat feet.
• Anatomical features of foot development, in particular the presence of too narrow spaces between the toes, which disrupts the natural exchange of air.
• Lack of hygienic foot care and timely trimming of overgrown nails.
• Immune system malfunctions.
• Tendency to varicose veins.
• Frequently wearing warm clothing or shoes due to the climatic conditions in the region.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of contracting fungal diseases, as warm temperatures and high humidity are favorable factors for the proliferation of such organisms.
• Advanced age.Changes in the body of older people increase the likelihood of infection.
• Carrying out work activities in adverse conditions, which include gaseous and dusty rooms, physically demanding work, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, thyroid dysfunction.All of these health problems pose a danger to humans.
• Long-term use of effective antibacterial agents and hormonal pharmacological drugs.
• Visiting public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
• Use of shared shoes and personal care products.
• Undergoing various cosmetic procedures that involve using an instrument that has not undergone appropriate treatment.

Types and symptoms

The symptoms that occur when the toenails are infected depend on the type of fungus and the pathogen causing the disease.

The main types and their characteristic clinical picture are described below:

1. Normotrophic fungus.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 stages, noticeable white or yellowish stripes and spots are formed, localized on the sides.If left untreated, they begin to grow and cover the entire nail.
2. Hypertrophic fungus.With this disease, there are not only color changes, but also an increase in the thickness of the plate, which is accompanied by the accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Gradually, the healthy shine is lost and the nail becomes brittle and begins to change color even with slight pressure.Initially, the lateral areas are destroyed, but if left untreated, general deformation occurs, causing the nail to resemble a bird's claw in appearance.
3. Atrophic fungus.The first symptom of this pathology is a change in color: the nail plate acquires a characteristic brown-gray shade.Soon its natural shine disappears and destruction gradually occurs.If left untreated, the development of the disease leads to complete exposure of the nail fold and tissue necrosis.
4. Lateral and distal fungus.Both variants lead to the formation of transverse grooves with a yellow tint and, in parallel, matting of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the pathogen is mold, the affected areas can be green or black.The fragility gradually increases, the structure of the plate becomes uneven and rough.After the affected areas die, the nail deforms and the nail fold becomes partially exposed.This pathology can cause severe physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain when swelling and redness of the skin ridges appear.
5. Proximal fungus.This type of disease is extremely rare;In the early stages, the area around the skin fold is affected.The main cause of the pathology is the side effects of cuticle removal, after which the area of the plate near the growth zone acquires a characteristic white color.The localization of the lesion is associated with the features of the spread of fungal spores;They gradually capture the entire nail plate.
6. Total mushroomoccurs when other forms of the disease are not treated.In this case, there is a change in color and increased brittleness, which gradually leads to complete loss of the nail.
7. White superficial fungus.The main symptom is the appearance of white spots near the back cushion.Without adequate treatment, the pathology progresses and the lesion begins to spread to neighboring areas.Most often, many small spots form that merge into a single pattern that looks like scattered powder.

Stages of the fungus

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

1. In the initial stage, the lesions are localized in separate areas,most often it is the sides or the free edge.At this stage, subtle streaks or spots form that people often do not notice.
2. In the stage of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become noticeable,Traces of fungi can be seen with the naked eye.In addition, there is increased brittleness of the nail and a change in its color;In some forms of the disease, serous discharge may appear under the plate.
3. At the stage of hypertrophic lesion, the pathology continues to develop in the subungual space, which leads to a thickening of the plate.Depending on the form of the disease, deformation, detachment, thinning, lack of natural growth and other types of destruction may occur.

Before the initial stage, a person often experiences problems with the skin of the feet: there may be severe itching, burning or cracking in the upper layers of the epidermis.Due to the lack of a clear clinical picture, diagnosis and establishing an accurate diagnosis at this stage are practically impossible.
In advanced stages, the disease develops actively;Symptoms spread not only to the toenails, but also to the plates on the hands and skin.

How to treat at home?

In the early stages, you can eliminate the disease using conventional medicine, but such measures must be coordinated with a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of harm to health.Some effective techniques are described below:

1. iodineis the most common remedy and is used for application to a cotton swab and subsequent treatment of the affected areas, as well as as an additional component for foot baths.
2. Vinegaris another highly effective remedy, as virtually all fungal pathogens die in a high acid environment.It can be used pure or diluted in water and then applied directly to the affected areas.
3. Salicylic acidEffective in treating any form of fungus, is used like vinegar.
4. Eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.Both drugs have a strong antiseptic effect, but are usually included in complex therapy.

How to get rid of athlete's foot with medication?

When the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, it is recommended to immediately seek professional medical help, since only diagnostic measures can establish an accurate diagnosis, and measures at the initial stages can quickly eliminate the pathology and minimize the risk of undesirable consequences.

Specialists usually prescribe medicines that can be prepared in different forms.

Prevention

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

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, hardening, ensuring a balanced diet, taking vitamins if there is a deficiency in the body, playing sports and other measures to strengthen the immune system.
• Wear shoes when you are at the beach.
• When visiting baths or saunas, wear special closed rubber slippers.
• Only wear socks made from natural materials and change them daily.
• Only wear your own shoes.
• After showering, dry your feet thoroughly to ensure they are completely dry.

Reviews

1. I have been suffering from fungus on my toenails for a very long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was only temporary.Only a fungicide helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for several days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly receding.
2. I recently came across a mushroom;Apparently I picked it up while showering after training.Therefore, swim only in flip-flops and do not go anywhere barefoot.Fungus is such an infection that it is difficult to get rid of it.I used an antifungal, it helped.At the same time, she applied vinegar to the affected areas.Everything together resulted in such a great result.
3. And this isn't the first time I've struggled with fungus.It's very hard to leave me.I used various medications that did their job perfectly.
4. This fungus is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in summer!You are embarrassed to go anywhere at all, but I use an antifungal for external use, it helped me a lot.If you catch a fungus once, there is a 70% chance of it occurring a second time.Be careful!