Nail fungus is a disease caused by various groups of pathogens. To destroy it, you will need to undergo a diagnosis in order to identify all the features of the disease. What are the causes of its appearance? There are many reasons for the appearance of a fungal infection, the prerequisites for its appearance.
<1_img_centerxx>Genetic causes of the disease
Fungal spores can be found on various surfaces for years. A person often encounters pathogenic microorganisms, but infection does not always occur. For nail fungus to appear, there must be adaptive factors. The infection must have the conditions for development. Scientists have conducted a lot of research into the mechanism of the onset of the disease.
It turned out that one of the factors for the appearance of a fungal infection is a genetic predisposition. According to research, yeast infection most often occurs in people whose loved ones suffer from a similar disease. The progression of the disease affects the genetic level.
Interesting cases of infection while living together. With close contact, it is easier to get a yeast infection. However, it often develops in one household, but does not affect the other. And the disease usually starts in the person who has the genes most similar to the person who initially developed a yeast infection. Based on all of these data, proximity to contact is less important for infection than proximity to genetic links.
Symptoms of yeast infection
Nail fungus manifests itself in different ways at different stages. Typically, mycotic infection begins with the interdigital spaces. At the moment there are:
- The appearance of bubbles;
- Redness of the skin;
- Itching.
If treatment is not carried out at this stage, the disease begins to affect the nails. In this case, the following signs are detected:
- Dullness of the nail plate, loss of transparency by it;
- The appearance of white stripes, spots;
- Unpleasant sensations.
It is better to carry out the treatment at this stage, as it will reduce the cost of the treatment. To destroy microorganisms, external preparations will be enough: ointments, varnishes. If you don't take action, the nail fungus will progress. This results in the following symptoms:
- Thinning or thickening of the nail;
- Exfoliation of the nail plate;
- Departure from the nail bed;
- The plaque acquires an abnormal color: becomes white, yellow or black;
- In the final stages, the nail literally crumbles, collapses, and an unpleasant smell may appear.
The fungus exerts its pathological activity not only on the toenails. Inflammatory processes invade the entire foot.
She begins to blush, peels off. The patient feels itching, which intensifies during periods of exacerbation. The presence of characteristic signs allows you to determine the disease during the initial examination.
Types of fungal infections
Nail fungus is divided into types based on the group of microorganisms by which it is caused. There are three main groups:
- Dermatophytes.The most common case. This group is the cause of mycosis in 95% of cases;
- Candidiasis.These yeast-like microorganisms contribute to the thinning of the nail plate. She's starting to turn yellow and drag behind her bed. The lesion begins with the crease of the nail. With the development of the disease, swelling occurs. In some cases, a discharge of pus may occur. The skin of the plaque stops growing and therefore turns brown. The nail crumbles. These groups of microorganisms usually thrive in women. There are risk groups - housewives who constantly deal with household chemicals. It aggressively affects the skin, which opens the "doors" to infections;
- Moldy species.These groups of microorganisms cannot penetrate deep into the nail plate. This does not allow it to be completely destroyed, but the disease is fraught with other effects. The nail changes color a lot. It can take on a black, blue, green tint.
Treatment is carried out depending on the group of microorganisms, since different pathogenic microbes respond to drugs differently. Sometimes when diagnosing three types of fungi are detected. In this case, complex therapy will be necessary.
Mushroom shapes
There are different stages of the disease, which differ in the type of lesions:
- Normotrophic.The color of the nail plate changes. It may turn yellow, lose transparency. White and yellow streaks or dots appear. The difference between the disease is that the nail does not undergo significant deformities. Sometimes it can even retain its former glory;
- Atrophic.The nail becomes thinner, completely loses its shine. There are pronounced white and yellow stripes, points representing special foci of infection;
- Hypertrophic.The plate changes considerably. Thickening, signs of crumbling are observed. It becomes porous. A pronounced pain syndrome is also possible, aggravated when moving, wearing tight shoes. Illness can limit a person's activity.
The prescribed treatment regimen depends on the stage, as well as the type of microorganisms. In the early stages, external agents have proven to be effective. In the later stages, the treatment regimen is usually a combination of topical and oral medications.
Where can you get a mushroom?
Nail fungus is usually spread from person to person. Spores of microorganisms can remain on surfaces. When you touch them, the fungus will stay on the feet and start to grow. You can get yeast infection from the following places:
- Public institutions: saunas, swimming pools, showers of sports clubs. This is the most likely way to catch the fungus, as it multiplies most actively in hot, humid conditions. To prevent it, it is necessary, before going to an establishment, to carry out preventive treatment of the feet with drugs. You must have your own slippers with you;
- If the yeast infection occurs in a household, a likely route for the disease to appear in other family members is to take a bath. Spores of the fungus remain on its walls, causing a yeast infection. To protect yourself, it is mandatory to treat surfaces with disinfectants after each visit to the toilet;
- Sometimes the reason for this is a manicure or pedicure performed with instruments that have not been disinfected after the last use. These are the procedures performed in beauty salons;
- Disputes can lurk in the shoes of the store, as they are often judged by different people. For protection, you can measure the shoes only on the toe;
- Public beaches are a less likely source of infection, as nail fungus does not survive well in salt sand.
To prevent disease, one should not forget about the importance of personal slippers and use prophylactic means.
Possible complications with prolonged treatment
For fungal infection, the speed of development and spread is characteristic. If you are late in treatment, the symptoms of the disease will become more and more pronounced. At first, a person is worried about the aesthetic factor, since thickening, white dots appear on the toenails. But, if you do not fight the problem, more serious consequences will arise - pain during movement, itching and burning. Consider the most likely consequences of prolonged treatment:
- Other infections are likely as the body weakens;
- Exacerbation of diabetes mellitus. The appearance, against the background of an infectious process, of gangrene or infection of bone tissue. All of this can lead to the need for a limb amputation;
- If nail fungus is left untreated for a long time, the body may respond to it with hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. Against their background, allergic dermatitis, skin diseases, bronchial asthma are aggravated;
- The extreme stage of mycosis is damage to internal organs. The infection begins to spread throughout the body. It can be fatal.
Another important consequence of not starting treatment on time is the significant financial costs. In the later stages, the disease is not only more difficult to treat, but also more expensive. We will have to spend money on local procedures, pills. Truly effective drugs are more expensive. In some cases, even surgery may be prescribed.
Preventive measures
Nail fungus can be prevented, which is the goal of preventive measures. They allow you to prevent the penetration of a pathogenic microorganism and its further spread. Prevention is quite simple, and it consists of observing the following tips:
- Elimination of tight shoes, poorly selected last. All this leads to the appearance of corns and other deformities, through which the infection gets inside;
- Avoid wearing synthetic socks and tights as your feet will sweat. Sweat and a humid environment are the best conditions for the growth of the fungus;
- It is necessary to observe personal hygiene, wear slippers in indoor public places, carry out preliminary treatment of the feet with prophylactic agents;
- After each washing of the feet, the interdigitated areas are carefully dried;
- Replacing socks and stockings should be done every day;
- You cannot wear someone else's shoes;
- The house should be kept clean, for which periodic disinfection is carried out.
Prevention has two goals: to prevent the infection from entering and to stop its development if spores can get inside. To achieve the second goal, you will need to take care of your immune system: exercise, eat well.
Processing methods
Nail fungus usually takes a long time to heal. The duration of treatment, regardless of the cause of the disease, will be from 6 months to a year. The advantage is that most drugs are able to manage symptoms quickly. But, despite the disappearance of symptoms, it is necessary to continue treatment until the complete destruction of microorganisms.
For treatment in the early stages, external drugs are used. These include:
- Special varnishes;
- Creams and gels;
- Solutions and tinctures.
At later stages, oral drugs are added to external drugs:
- pills;
- Antibiotics
The varnishes are particularly appreciated. They have two effects at the same time: they destroy existing microorganisms and create a film that prevents the entry of new infections. The tool is able to penetrate deep into the nail. It is colorless and odorless, so it can be used by men. It is recommended to remove the nail plate before use to ensure deeper penetration.
Ointments and gels are gentle. They are easy to use. Quickly relieve symptoms. With the help of drugs, you can treat not only the nails, but also the skin around them. The downside is that the product can wear off the skin quickly. To avoid this, compresses can be made: a cotton ball is placed on the layer of ointment, fixed with a bandage.
Tablets are prescribed in severe cases. This remedy has a strong effect, it is poisonous and has contraindications. For this reason, therapy is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
If the case is completely overlooked, surgery comes to the rescue. During the operation, the affected nail is removed. Its removal can be done without surgery. For this, special means are used. The last option is painless.
Nail fungus is an extremely common problem. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that in the early stages the signs of the disease are insignificant. The patient can constantly postpone treatment, since he does not feel discomfort. All this leads to the fact that the problem becomes overlooked. To solve it you will need a lot of funds and drugs. The yeast spreads quickly, resulting in pain, plaque loosening, unpleasant odors, and nail changes.