During this time, I probably tried all kinds of folk remedies and went to the 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 special dermatophyte fungi;infection caused by molds and yeasts is less common.Dermatophytes need keratin protein to live, reproduce and grow.That is why these fungi live in nail plates, hair and the stratum corneum of the skin - where keratin is produced.
The fungus typically begins to develop from the cut side of the nail.The tip of the nail gradually changes its color: it becomes yellowish, light brown or milky.If left untreated, the infection spreads to the cuticle.The fungus can also start from the side of the nail.
White superficial onychomycosis also occurs.From the outside, it looks like white or dull spots on the surface of the nail.It extends from the center to the edges;if the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Occasionally, proximal onychomycosis occurs - this affects the nail in the area of the cuticle and root.This usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed by the fungus, this condition is called generalized dystrophic onychomycosis.Outwardly, the nail looks terrible: thick, ridged and unpleasantly dark in color.
Reasons
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 the doctors give the following ways to get infected with it.
Contact with contaminated surfaces.Fungal pathogens like moisture, so they live well in wet rooms - baths or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought as a bonus from beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: just a microcut and poorly made instruments - and that's it, the disease is there.You can also get fungus if you put shoes on your bare feet after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.The fungus is highly contagious.If one member of the household is sick, the rest of the family can become infected with onychomycosis.The risk increases if you use slippers, shared washcloths or bath mats.However, the fungus can even spread through carpets, which is why it is very important for people with nail pain to follow hygiene rules.
Poor hygiene.If someone doesn't wash their feet well, doesn't cut their nails on time, or rarely changes their socks, it's easier to pick up the fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of the disease.If we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the foot and nail roots is cut off.Onychodystrophy may develop - a condition that resembles and often accompanies nail fungus.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common among certain professions - housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, car washes.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 likes all this very much and actively grows in such conditions.
Concomitant diseasesthey increase the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.Fungus is more common in people with varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis - also contributes to the growth of fungi.
Typically, the fungus occurs in people 30 years of age and older, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: their nail plates are thinner, and the nail itself grows faster.It turned out that with shorter exposure to the drug, the effect appears faster in children.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of the feet, but is a real disease that is dangerous for the body.If the fungus on one nail is not treated, it will spread to other nails, even healthy ones.In some people, a fungal infection can cause 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.Over time, "keratin debris" begins to build up between the nail and the nail bed - this occurs when keratin breaks down due to fungus.Because of this, the nail becomes thicker and grows crooked.Even though the nail is thick, it is still very fragile - it gets caught in clothes and breaks easily.
Sometimes, with toenail fungus, your feet sweat more than usual - this causes an unpleasant smell and you need to change your socks several times a day.
If the infected nail is left untreated for too long, it will begin to separate from the nail bed.First of all, it just hurts.Secondly, at the place of the removed nail, a kind of wound is created, a moist, warm environment appears - just the kind that dermatophytes love.They will grow even faster in this.
And treating advanced toenail fungus is expensive.A person will probably have to buy medicine and change all shoes after the treatment is over.If in the initial stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected with special disinfectant solutions, then after recovery from the advanced disease, all old shoes should be thrown away to prevent re-infection.
The fungus significantly reduces the quality of life.I felt physically uncomfortable: my feet were sweaty, my nails were thick, crumbling and chipping.Even in summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.In addition, the fungus severely limited my activities: I couldn't really do sports or go to the swimming pool.I've read that some people have such a sense of shame that they sometimes even slip into severe depression.Fortunately, I didn't get there.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and feet when you get fungus.
The color of the nail changesyellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of infection and involves a buildup of keratin debris in and under the nails.The nails look dull and don't shine like before.
The structure changes:the nail thickens or begins to grow wavy.When cutting, the cut will be uneven, the nail will fall into separate pieces.
An unpleasant smell appearsfeet sweat more.
Lately, I suspected fungus.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upwards, strongly standing out from the others.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 fungus, I thought it was nonsense.I did nothing for about a year hoping it would go away on its own.Then I decided to try to get rid of it, but I still did not understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that all I had to do was paint my nails with the magic polishes and drops advertised on TV and everything would go away.
When I realized that drops and polishes didn't help, I started making foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these are miracle treatments that will 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 soda and liquid soap solutions, dripped iodine into the water, and even bathed in coffee several times.Then I learned that it is better to replace liquid soap with brown laundry soap - when I grated it, the aroma in the apartment was indescribable.I cut and scraped the steamed nails, then filled the scissors and file with vodka in a bowl.I collected the nail fragments on a paper napkin and threw them in the trash.I also apply aloe juice and propolis to my nails.These procedures took even more time, so in the end I simply gave up on the treatment.
As I realized later, self-medication was my big mistake because it lasted for more than a year.But it did not bring results: the fungus, it seems, only started to spread.This was due to my laziness and lack of understanding of the situation.
How the doctor diagnosed you
The infected nails continued to grow and thicken.I felt discomfort when I put on socks and any shoes, even walking was difficult.
Then my wife and I booked a trip to Turkey.And that was the other reason I went to the doctor - it was just embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I requested an appointment with a mycologist at the clinic for skin and venereal diseases.As soon as the nail appeared, he said that it was very similar to a fungus, but still sent it for examination.
They asked me to cut off the infected nail and send it in for examination, and a general blood test was also ordered.As the doctor explained, if the fungus is confirmed, in my case it is necessary to take pills.And some of them have contraindications that can be identified by the blood count.
How I treated nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor
Three groups of drugs are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All these drugs destroy fungal cells, which ultimately leads to a decrease in their number and the death of the pathogen.Such drugs are officially called antimycotics.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly in one course.This means that it will not be enough to take a pill and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the course.
The specific type of medicine is prescribed by the doctor depending on the type of fungus, the degree of damage to the nail, the patient's well-being, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to pills, external treatment in the form of creams, ointments, and sprays is also prescribed - this helps speed up the process.Such drugs can also help patients who cannot take systemic antifungals for various reasons.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is coated with special materials and then exposed to cold light rays, preventing the spread of infection.They may offer a laser treatment - the laser beam is believed to penetrate all layers of the nail and burn 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 me - 2 tablets twice a day for a week.
I tolerated the treatment well, I only had severe sleepiness for two weeks - after that I traveled two hours each way and slept the whole time on the train.There was no problem with digestion.
The nail itself had to be scraped off by hand.They suggested that I start making baths with laundry soap and soda, and then put urea paste on my nails.I put it on a quarter of a cotton pad with a small spatula, put it on the nail, wrapped it in a bandage and plaster, and walked like that for a day.During this time, the upper hard layer of the nail softened a little, then I scraped it off.Then he immediately reapplied the composition;there were at least five such approaches during the entire treatment period.The paste helped, my nails became noticeably thinner.It became easier to cut.
Three weeks later, the doctor made an appointment.Then he prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate - it has a local effect and, like pills, it kills fungal cells.The cream should be applied to the nails twice a day, and this time I was no longer lazy.
Now what's wrong with the nails?
I treated my nails for a year and a half.In July 2020, I started noticing white spots on them again.This time I went to the doctor right away and it turned out to be a re-infection.Now it is still the initial stage, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with disease relapse.Re-infection occurs when we get an infection from an external environment, that is, it is actually no different from the primary infection.As for relapse, the most common reason is incomplete treatment.After that, the focus of the infection remains in the nails: it cannot be noticed from the outside, but over time the growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made at the very beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations where nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.The external symptoms of both diseases are very similar in the initial stage.
How to prevent nail fungus
The prevention of fungus is directly related to the causes of its occurrence.Accept the cause, reverse the report, and ask for recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where it is humid - near gyms, showers, baths, swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Even open-toed rubber slippers can be dangerous in terms of fungal infection.Ordinary shoes should be disinfected with special solutions, for example on a skating rink or a bowling alley.When buying shoes, only try on the toe or the 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, dry and put on clean socks as quickly as possible.The shoes themselves must be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.It is not enough to pour water over them during the daily shower.It's a good idea to have separate wipes for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash all areas thoroughly, and don't rub your heels and feet just once.
Cut your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and microcuts - these will be entry points for all infections, not just fungi.Use only your own scissors and do not share with anyone in the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- this is also important for other infections.For example, I treated documents and my scissors with an alcohol spray.I told my wife that in the manicure room the master sterilizes the tools - usually this is done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To cure nail fungus, you need to consult a dermatologist - if he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.Such a doctor will be able to diagnose, assess the severity of the infection and choose treatment.Taking the pills on your own may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist with compulsory health insurance: for this you need to make an appointment at a regular specialist clinic or dermatovenerology clinic.The consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free of charge.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you will have to pay for everything.The cost of nail fungus testing depends on the analysis method.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a contagious disease that can be easily caught in public showers, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores, and nail salons.The sooner you start treating nail fungus, the better and faster the result.It is possible that we can get by only with topical remedies and not taking pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Self-prescribing pills based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a dubious tactic.It is important that you complete the treatment no matter how lazy you are.In order to prevent nail fungus, it is important to observe foot hygiene and not to wear someone else's shoes with bare feet.