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

Toenail fungus is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today, there are more than 50 pathogens, which complicates disease classification;This article discusses 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 mainly in three 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, since it is not accessible to all fungal organisms.In such a situation, the development of pathological processes occurs much faster.
• Penetration through the proximal ridge is also quite rare and occurs more often on the arms rather than the legs.

Often infection with fungal organisms occurs under the influence of the following provoking factors:

• Mechanical injuries leading to destruction of the nail plate.
• Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning products that contain harmful components;systematic contact with water.
• Wearing inappropriate and uncomfortable shoes, as well as objects made of synthetic materials, which create favorable conditions for the proliferation 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 interrupt the natural exchange of air.
• Lack of hygienic care of the feet and timely cutting of overgrown nails.
• Malfunctions of the immune system.
• Tendency to varicose veins.
• Frequent use of heavy clothes or shoes due to the climatic conditions of the region.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases, as warm temperatures and high humidity are favorable factors for the reproduction of these organisms.
• Advanced age.Changes in the body of older people increase the likelihood of infection.
• Performing work activities in adverse conditions, which include gaseous and dusty environments, physically difficult work, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, malfunction of the thyroid gland.All of these health problems put a person at risk.
• Long-term use of potent antibacterial agents and hormonal pharmacological drugs.
• Visit public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
• Use of shared footwear and personal care products.
• Undergoing various cosmetic procedures during which an instrument that has not undergone adequate treatment is used.

Types and symptoms

The symptoms that occur when the toenails are affected depend on the type of fungus and the causative agent of the disease.

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

1. Normotrophic mushroom.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 phase, clear white or yellowish stripes and spots are formed, located on the sides.If left untreated, they begin to grow and cover the entire nail.
2. Hypertrophic fungus.With this disease, not only the color changes, but also an increase in the thickness of the plaque is observed, which is associated with accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Little by little, a loss of healthy shine occurs and the fragility of the nail increases, which begins to color even with light pressure.First, the lateral areas are destroyed, but if left untreated, a general deformation is observed, as a result of which the nail begins to resemble a bird's claw in appearance.
3. Atrophic fungus.The first symptom of this pathology is a color change: the nail plate takes on a characteristic grey-brown tint.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 varieties lead to the formation of transverse furrows with a yellow tint, and in parallel with this, dulling of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the causative agent is mold, the affected areas may be green or black.Fragility gradually increases, the structure of the plaque becomes irregular and rough.After the affected areas die, the nail becomes deformed and the nail fold becomes partially exposed.This pathology can bring severe physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain if swelling and redness of the skin ridges occur.
5. Proximal fungus.This type of disease is extremely rare;in the initial stage, the area around the skin fold is affected.The main cause of the pathology is the side effects of removal of the cuticle, after which the plaque area near the growth zone acquires a characteristic white color.The location of the lesion is associated with the characteristics of the diffusion of fungal spores;they gradually capture the entire nail plate.
6. Total mushroomoccurs in the absence of treatment for other forms of the disease, in this case a change in color and increased fragility is observed, which gradually leads to complete loss of the nail.
7. White superficial mushroom.The main symptom is the appearance of white spots located near the back cushion.In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathology progresses and the lesion begins to spread to nearby areas.Very often a large number of small dots are formed, which merge into a single pattern resembling scattered dust.

Phases of the mushroom

Regardless of the type of causative agent of the disease, the nail plate is never completely affected.The development of the 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 they are the sides or the free edge.At this stage, thin streaks or spots form that a person often does not notice.
2. In the stage of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become evident,traces of fungi can be detected even with the naked eye.There is also increased fragility of the nail and a change in its shade;in some forms of the disease, serous secretion may leak from under the plaque.
3. At the stage of hypertrophic lesion, the pathology continues to develop in the subungual space, which leads to thickening of the plaque.Depending on the form of the disease, deformation, separation, thinning, lack of natural growth and other types of destruction may occur.

Before the initial stage, a person often has problems with the skin of the feet: severe itching, burning or cracking of the upper layers of the epidermis can be observed.Due to the lack of a clear clinical picture, diagnosis and making an accurate diagnosis at this stage is practically impossible.
In advanced stages, the disease actively develops;Symptoms spread not only to the toenails, but also to plaques located on the hands and skin.

How to treat at home?

In the initial stages, you can get rid of the disease using traditional medicine, but such measures must be agreed with a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of harm to health.Some effective techniques are described below:

1. Iodineis the most common remedy, it is used for application on a cotton pad and subsequent treatment of the affected areas, as well as as an auxiliary component for foot baths.
2. Vinegaris another very effective remedy, since practically all pathogenic fungi die in a high acid environment.It can be used pure or diluted in water and then used directly on the affected areas.
3. Salicylic acideffective in treating any form of fungus, used in the same way as vinegar.
4. Eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.Both drugs have a powerful antiseptic effect, but are usually included in complex therapy.

How to get rid of foot fungus with medications?

If the first symptoms of a fungal infection occur, it is recommended to immediately seek professional medical help, since only diagnostic measures can make an accurate diagnosis, and taking measures at the initial stage allows you to quickly eliminate the pathology and minimize the risk of undesirable consequences.

Specialists usually prescribe pharmaceutical products, which can be produced in various forms.

Prevention

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

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle, harden, ensure a balanced diet, take vitamins if they are deficient in the body, play sports and other measures to strengthen the immune system.
• Wear shoes when at the beach.
• Wear special closed rubber slippers when visiting baths or saunas.
• Wear socks made only from natural materials and change them every day.
• Just wear your shoes.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after showering to ensure they are completely dry.

Reviews

1. I have been suffering from fungus on my toenails for a long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was temporary.Only a fungicidal drug helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for several days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly regressing.
2. I recently came across a mushroom;apparently I got it while showering after a workout.Therefore, swim only in flip-flops and do not go barefoot anywhere.Fungus is such an infection that it is difficult to get rid of it.I used an antifungal drug, it helped me.But along with it he applied vinegar on the affected areas.All together it gave such a great result.
3. And this isn't the first time I've struggled with mushrooms.It's very difficult to leave me.I used various drugs that did their job perfectly.
4. This fungus is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in summer!You are also ashamed to go out somewhere, but I use an antifungal agent for external use, it helped me a lot.If you catch a mushroom once, the chance of it appearing a second time is 70%.Be careful!