During this time, I probably tried all kinds 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 particular dermatophyte fungi;mold and yeast infection are less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.That's why these fungi live in nails, hair and the stratum corneum of the skin, where keratin is produced.
Typically, the fungus begins to develop on 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 start from the lateral surface of the nail.
There is also white superficial onychomycosis.Externally, white or dull spots appear on the surface of the nail.It extends from the center towards the edges;if the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Proximal onychomycosis occasionally occurs: it affects the nail in the cuticle and root area.This usually happens in people with weakened immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed due to the fungus, this condition is called general dystrophic onychomycosis.Externally the nail looks terrible: it is thick, ribbed and of an unpleasant dark color.
Causes
Nail fungus is a very common disease.Onychomycosis accounts for 50-60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I contracted the fungus from, but here are the methods doctors recommend for contracting the infection.
Contact with a contaminated surface.Fungal pathogens love moisture and therefore do well in humid environments: bathrooms or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought as a bonus from beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: just one microcut and poorly processed tools are enough - and that's it, the disease is right there.You can also get a fungus if you wear shoes barefoot after a sick person.
Intrafamilial infection.The fungus is very contagious.If one family member is ill, other family members may contract onychomycosis.The risks increase if you share slippers, a common towel or a bath mat.However, the fungus can also be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is so important for a person with sore nails to follow hygiene rules.
Poor hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet well, does not cut his nails on time or rarely changes socks, it will be 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 interrupted.Onychodystrophy, a condition that resembles nail fungus and often accompanies it, may develop.
Some professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people in certain professions: housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, car washers.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes and gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But the mushroom loves all this very much and actively grows in such conditions.
Concomitant diseasesthey increase the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people suffering from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignant neoplasms, the fungus is more common.Smokers and the obese are also at risk.Excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis - also contributes to the proliferation of fungi.
Typically, the fungus occurs in people aged 30 and older, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: their nails are thinner, and the nail itself grows faster.It turns out that with shorter exposure to the drug, the effect in children occurs more quickly.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus doesn't just ruin the appearance of your feet, it's a real dangerous disease for the body.If the fungus on one nail is left untreated, it will spread to the remaining healthy nails.In some people, a fungal infection can cause allergies: the fungus itself becomes the allergen.
Dermatophyte fungi feed on keratin, so it is no longer sufficient for nail growth.For this reason they become brittle, crumble and fall apart.Over time, "keratin debris" will begin to accumulate between the nail and the nail bed: it forms when keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nail to become thicker and grow crooked.Even though the nail is thick, it is still very fragile: it will catch on clothing and break easily.
Sometimes, with nail fungus, your feet start to sweat more than usual - this leads to an unpleasant odor 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.Secondly, in the place of the removed nail, some kind of wound will appear, a moist and warm environment will appear, just what dermatophytes love.In it they will grow even faster.
And advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to purchase medications and change all shoes after completing treatment.If in the initial stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected using special disinfectant solutions, then after recovery from an advanced disease, all old shoes will have to be thrown away so as not to get infected again.
The fungus significantly reduces the quality of life.I felt physically uncomfortable: my feet were sweating, my nails were thick, crumbling and breaking.Even in the summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.Furthermore, the fungus limited my activity a lot: I couldn't really play sports or go to the pool.I've read that some people feel such a sense of shame that they sometimes even slip into severe depression.Luckily I didn't get to that point.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and toes when you get fungus.
Nail color changesyellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of the infection and is associated with the buildup of keratin debris in and under the nails.Nails appear 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, the nail crumbles into separate pieces.
An unpleasant odor appearsyour feet sweat more.
I late suspected a fungus.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upwards, strongly standing out from the rest.I postponed the visit to the doctor for a long time and did not do any treatment, then the infection spread to the other nails which turned yellow.
How I treated the fungus myself
When I suspected a fungus, I thought it was nonsense.I did nothing for about a year, hoping that everything would pass by itself.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 to cover my nails with the magic nail polishes and drops advertised on TV, and everything will pass.
When I realized that drops and paints didn't help I started taking foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these are miraculous procedures that will eliminate the fungus forever.I don't like going to doctors, so I believed in these suggestions.
I soaked my feet in solutions of soda and liquid soap, dripped iodine into 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 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 towel and threw them in the trash.I also smeared my nails with aloe juice and propolis.These procedures took even longer, so in the end I simply gave up on the treatment.
As I later understood, my big mistake was self-medication, because it took more than a year.But it did not 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 wearing socks and shoes, it even made it a little difficult to walk.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Türkiye.And that was another reason I went to the doctor: it was just embarrassing to show anyone my legs.
I made an appointment at the venereal and skin disease clinic to see a mycologist.Just from the look of the nails, he said it was very similar to a fungus, but he still sent me for tests.
I was asked to cut the infected nail and have it examined, and they also ordered a general blood test.As the doctor explained, if the fungus is confirmed, in my case it will definitely be necessary to take pills.And some of them have contraindications that can be identified through a complete 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 antifungals.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly during the course.This means that it will not be enough to take one tablet and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the course of treatment.
The specific type of medicine is prescribed by the doctor based 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 tablets, external treatment in the form of creams, ointments, sprays is also prescribed - this helps to speed up the process.Such drugs can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antifungals.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed, when the nail is coated with special substances, then it is exposed to a ray of cold light and blocks the spread of the infection.They can offer 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 more advanced cases, the nail is completely removed surgically.
The doctor prescribed me itraconazole tablets - 2 pieces 2 times a day for a week.
I tolerated the course of treatment well, only for two weeks I had severe drowsiness, then I traveled to work for two hours in each direction and slept on the train all this time.There were no problems with digestion.
The nail itself had to be scraped off by hand.I was offered to start by taking baths with laundry soap and soda, and then applying urea paste to the nail.With a spatula I spread it on a quarter of a 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 upper hard layer of the nail softened a little, after which I scraped it off.Then he immediately applied the composition again;there were at least five such approaches during the entire 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 he prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate: it has a local effect and, like tablets, destroys fungal cells.The cream should be spread on the nails twice a day, and this time I wasn't lazy anymore.
What's wrong with your nails now?
I had my nails done for a year and a half.In July 2020 I started noticing white spots on them again.This time I immediately went to the doctor and found out that a reinfection had occurred.Now it is still the initial stage, so local remedies can help: those same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with disease relapse.Reinfection occurs when you receive an infection from the external environment, that is, it is really no different from the primary infection.As for relapses, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.Then the focus of the infection remains in the nails: externally it may not be noticeable, but over time a growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made at the beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations when nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both of these diseases are very similar in external symptoms in the early stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
Prevention of the fungus is directly related to the causes of its appearance.Understand the reason, reverse the meaning and get prevention tips.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where it is humid: gyms, showers, bathrooms, near swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Rubber flip flops with open toes can also be dangerous in terms of fungal infections.It is best to disinfect common shoes, for example in a skating rink or bowling alley, with special solutions.When purchasing shoes, try them on only on the toe or heel.
Don't wear tight shoes.No beauty is worth the health of your skin and nails.
Keep your feet dry.If your feet get wet, try to wash them as quickly as possible, dry them and wear clean socks.The shoes themselves need to be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.Wetting them with water during your daily shower is not enough.It is advisable to have a separate washcloth for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash them thoroughly in all areas and do not rub them just once on your heels and feet.
Trim your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and microcuts: they will be entry points for any infections, not just fungi.Use only your own scissors and do not share them with anyone in the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize the tools.- this is also important in terms of other infections.For example, I treated my files and scissors with alcohol spray.I told my wife to make sure 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 treat 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 make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and select treatment.Taking the pills alone may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist within the framework of a compulsory medical insurance policy: to do this you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or a dermatovenerological dispensary.Consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you will have to pay for everything.The cost of nail testing for fungus depends on the method of analysis.
Nail mycosis, or onychomycosis, is an infectious disease that can easily be contracted in public showers, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores and beauty 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 yourself based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a dubious tactic.It is important to complete the treatment no matter how lazy you are.To prevent nail fungus, it is important to maintain foot hygiene and not wear someone else's shoes with bare feet.