BEFORE STARTING TREATMENT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
In summer, we travel a lot, visit public beaches, pools, and showers. Sometimes we even embark on distant voyages to seas, where we inevitably have to use public beaches or toilets. All these are places of increased infection concentration, where nail fungus can often be contracted. Its treatment is not a simple process, but do not despair – getting rid of nail fungus is still possible!
Nail fungus is a common condition that usually begins with the appearance of a small spot under the tip of the nail. It can be white or yellow. Contrary to popular belief, fungus can occur both on the feet and under the nails on the hands. If not noticed in time, the fungal infection begins to spread deeper. Later on, the fungus can lead to discoloration, thickening, and brittleness of the nail plate. Infecting one nail can affect several adjacent ones, even if the initial infection was localized.
When the condition is mild and does not bother you much, serious treatment may not be necessary. If you experience severe pain caused by nail fungus, popular care tips for affected areas and various natural remedies may help. Pay attention to your feet, as even with successful nail fungus treatment, it often returns. Another popular name for nail fungus is onychomycosis. And the condition when the fungus affects the areas between the toes and the skin of the feet is called athlete’s foot.
Symptoms of Fungal Infection Appearance:
Even if you have never encountered nail fungus and have no idea what it looks like, you will never miss this unbearable itch. It won’t hurt to use some folk remedy for infection prevention so that the process doesn’t progress to an advanced stage. It is known that many recommend using vinegar to disinfect the area where the fungus may have entered. The main symptoms of nail and foot fungus are:
Itching in the infected area;
Changed color of the nail plate;
Peeling and brittleness of the nail;
Painful sensations on the foot.
Effective treatment should be started at the first signs of nail fungus, and special creams and ointments with antifungal action can help you. The essence of professional means to get rid of fungal infection on the feet is that they not only eliminate symptoms but also destroy the source of infection.
Fungal infection can develop in people of any age, but it is more common in older people. With age, the nail can become brittle and dry. Cracks formed on the nails allow the fungus to penetrate inside. Other factors such as decreased blood circulation in the legs and weakened immune system can also increase the likelihood of infection.
Causes of Nail Fungus:
Athlete’s foot occurs when the skin is infected with fungi of the genus Candida, dermatophytes, or onychomycosis. Infection occurs through contact with the infected skin of another person or with a surface containing fungal spores. The most common places where these pathogens accumulate are saunas, pools, and baths, because the fungus likes warm and humid environments.
The development of foot fungus is provoked by the following factors:
Inadequate foot hygiene
Wearing closed and tight shoes
Using synthetic underwear (socks, stockings, tights) and infrequent changing
Contact with foreign objects (such as slippers, towels)
Certain medical conditions (diabetes, psoriasis, weakened immune system).
Foot fungus can be moist, covering the skin of the foot with small bubbles, as well as dry, characterized by increased cornification and peeling of the skin. Often, foot fungus is localized in the interdigital space (between the fourth and fifth toes). This type of infection is called “athlete’s foot” (or interdigital mycosis), as it mostly occurs in people who regularly visit gyms, fitness clubs, and pools, wear synthetic sneakers in which the foot sweats excessively and is poorly ventilated.
Fungal infection on the feet quickly spreads from one toe to another, affecting the nail plates and the entire sole, accompanied by redness, itching, and painful cracks. Blisters filled with pus may appear where the skin is cracked.
Risk factors and complications:
Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, is a significant risk factor for fungal infection. Diabetes often causes circulatory problems in the legs and can lead to decreased sensitivity due to nerve damage. It significantly increases the risk of cellulitis, dryness of the feet, cracks, and injuries. Due to poor skin condition, blood vessels, and nerve fibers, even relatively minor foot trauma, including fungal nail infections, can lead to more serious complications. Consult a doctor if you have diabetes and suspect a fungal infection.
Factors that can increase the risk of nail fungus development:
Circulatory disorders
Excessive sweating
History of athlete’s foot
Skin or nail damage
Skin diseases (such as psoriasis)
Any type of diabetes
Weak immune system.
Do not delay treatment for fungus, as it can become very painful and lead to irreversible damage to the skin and nail plate if it progresses to a severe form. Be especially careful if you suspect a weakened immune system, as the damage caused by the fungus can be difficult to repair. That’s why it’s so important to treat the fungus as quickly as possible.
Primary methods of treatment for nails and foot:
Unfortunately, fungal infections of the nails and skin are encountered not only in adults but also in children. Our grandmothers used the oldest and fastest way to get rid of the infection – vinegar. A cup of 9% vinegar is needed for a bowl of water. Such baths can kill fungi without allowing them to spread to other parts of the body. Keep in mind that this procedure can be very painful for irritated or damaged skin.
Contrary to popular belief, spores can affect not only the skin of the feet but also easily get on the hands or other parts of the body. The sooner you take the most effective measures to care for the affected areas of the body, the faster you can cure the infection. Fungal nail infections can be difficult to treat. Be sure to consult your doctor if self-care strategies and over-the-counter products do not help. Treatment depends on the severity of your condition and the appearance of the fungus causing it. Real results may sometimes require months of systematic treatment. And even if the condition of your nails improves, recurrent infections may occur.
Antifungal drugs are available both externally and for oral administration. They are often the first choice because they eliminate the infection faster than locally acting drugs. These agents aim to accelerate nail growth and rapid shedding of the affected part. Typically, it takes 6-12 weeks for the fungus to completely disappear. The final result will be noticeable when a healthy nail grows back. Moreover, the older the patient, the less noticeable the treatment result will be. Patients over 65 may take a long time to recover, and they may also need additional topical medications.
Oral antifungal drugs are not used so often because they can cause various side effects. Therefore, if the disease is not in an advanced stage, doctors try to manage with external remedies. To determine the exact dose of drugs, blood tests are recommended. Doctors may not recommend oral medications to people with liver disease, heart failure, or those taking certain medications. Since common side effects include skin rash and liver damage.
Another means of combating the disease is antifungal nail polish. You apply it to infected nails and surrounding skin once a day. After seven days, wipe off the applied layers with alcohol, then start new applications. You may need to use this nail polish daily for a year.
Another treatment option is antifungal cream, which should be rubbed into the infected nails after soaking. To enhance the action of creams, it is better to first make the nails thinner. Thinning the nail surface will help the drugs penetrate the fungus faster and destroy it. For this procedure, the horny layer is thinned with urea, and then removed with a file or other tool.