During this time, I probably tried all kinds of home remedies and consulted a doctor several times.In this article I will tell you what nail fungus is, why it appears, 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;Mold and yeast infection is less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.That is why these fungi live in the nail plates, hair and stratum corneum of the skin, where keratin is produced.
Normally, 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 to the cuticle.The fungus can also appear on the lateral surface of the nail.
There is also white superficial onychomycosis.Outwardly, they look like white or opaque spots on the nail plate.It extends from the center to the edges;If the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire surface of the nail.
Occasionally, proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail in the cuticle and root area.This usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed due to a 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 to 60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I got the fungus from, but these are the ways doctors tell you to get infected.
Contact with a contaminated surface.Pathogenic fungi love moisture and therefore live well in damp rooms: bathrooms or swimming pools.Sometimes fungus is brought as a bonus from beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: just a microcut and poorly processed tools are enough, and that's it, the disease is there.You can also get a fungus if you put on shoes barefoot after a sick person.
intrafamilial infection.The fungus is very contagious.If one member of the household is sick, other family members can become infected with onychomycosis.The risks increase if you share slippers, a common washcloth, or a bath mat.However, the fungus can be transmitted even through carpets, which is why it is so important for a person with painful nails to follow hygiene rules.
Bad hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet properly, does not cut his nails on time or rarely changes his socks, it will be easier for him to get 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 and often accompanies nail fungus, may develop.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people of certain professions: housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, car wash workers.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes and gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But the fungus 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 who suffer from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignant neoplasms, the fungus is more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) also contributes to the proliferation of fungus.
The fungus usually occurs in people aged 30 or older, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: their nail plates are thinner and the nail grows faster.It turns out that with a shorter exposure to the drug, the effect in children occurs more quickly.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of the feet, but is a real and dangerous disease for the body.If the fungus in one nail is not treated, it will spread to the rest of the nails that are still healthy.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.Because of this, they become brittle, crumble and peel.Over time, “keratin debris” will begin to accumulate between the nail and the nail bed;This is formed when keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nail to become thicker and grow crooked.Although the nail is thick, it is still very fragile: it will get caught in clothing and break easily.
Sometimes, with nail fungus, the feet begin to sweat more than usual, which causes 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, instead of the removed nail, a kind of wound will appear, a moist and warm environment will appear, exactly the kind that dermatophytes love.In it they will grow even faster.
And advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to buy medicine and change all his shoes after completing the treatment.If in the initial stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected with special disinfecting solutions, then after recovering from advanced disease, all old shoes will have to be thrown away so as not to become infected again.
The fungus significantly reduces the quality of life.I felt physically uncomfortable: my feet were sweaty, my nails were thick, crumbly and broken.Even in summer I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.Furthermore, the fungus greatly limited my activity: I couldn't really play sports or go to the pool.I read that some people have such a feeling of shame that sometimes they even fall into severe depression.Fortunately I didn't get to that point.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This is what happens to your nails and feet when you get a fungus.
Nail color changesYellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This is most common in the early stages of the infection and is associated with the buildup of keratin debris inside and under the nails.Nails look dull and do not shine like before.
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 appears.Feet sweat more.
I suspected a fungus late.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upward, standing out strongly from the rest.I stopped going to the doctor for a long time and did not do any treatment, so the infection spread to my other nails and they turned yellow.
How I treated the fungus myself
When I suspected a fungus, I thought it was nonsense.I didn't do anything for about a year, hoping it would go away on its own.So 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 that are advertised on television and everything would disappear.
When I realized that drops and varnishes did not help, I started doing foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these are miraculous procedures that will eliminate the fungus forever.I don't like going to the doctor, that's why I believed this advice.
I soaked my feet in soda and liquid soap solutions, poured iodine into the water, and even took coffee baths several times.Then I learned that it is best 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 and then filled the nail clippers and file with vodka in a bowl.I collected the nail fragments on a paper napkin and threw them in the trash.I also smeared my nails with aloe juice and propolis.These procedures required even more time, so in the end I simply abandoned the treatment.
As I later realized, self-medication was my big mistake, because it took me more than a year.But this did not bring any results: the fungus, it seems, has only just begun 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 discomfort when putting on socks and any shoes, it was even a little difficult for me to walk.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Türkiye.And this was another reason I went to the doctor: it was just embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I made an appointment at the venereal and skin diseases clinic to see a mycologist.Just from the appearance of the nails, he said it was very similar to a fungus, but he still sent me for tests.
They asked me to cut the infected nail and send it for examination, and 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 by blood counts.
How I treated nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor.
Three groups of medications are used to treat fungal infections: those based on terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole.All of these drugs destroy fungal cells, which ultimately leads to a decrease in their number and the death of the pathogen.These medications are officially called antifungals.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly in a cycle.This means that it will not be enough to take a tablet and wait for the symptoms to disappear;It is important to complete the treatment.
The specific type of medication is prescribed by the doctor depending on the type of fungus, the degree of nail damage, the patient's well-being, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to tablets, external treatment in the form of creams, ointments and sprays is also prescribed, which helps speed up the process.These medications may also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antifungals.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed, when the nail is coated with special substances and then exposed to a beam of cold light and blocks the spread of infection.They may offer laser treatment;The laser beam is believed to penetrate all layers of the nail and burn off the mycelium of the fungus.But scientists still have little evidence that the laser actually works.
In more advanced cases, the nail is surgically removed completely.
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 each way and slept on the train the entire time.There were no problems with digestion.
The nail had to be scraped off by hand.I was offered to start by making baths with laundry soap and soda and then applying urea paste to the nail.With a small spatula I spread it on a quarter of cotton, put it on the nail, wrapped it with bandages and a plaster and walked like that for a day.During this time, the hard top layer of the nail softened a little and 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, the nail became noticeably thinner.It became easier to cut it.
Three weeks later, the doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment.He then prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate;It has a local effect and, like tablets, destroys fungal cells.You have to spread the cream on your nails twice a day, and this time I wasn't too lazy.
What's up with your nails now?
I had my nails treated for a year and a half.In July 2020, I started noticing white spots on them again.This time I went to the doctor immediately and found out that a reinfection had occurred.Now we are still at the initial stage, so local remedies can help - those same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with a relapse of the disease.Reinfection occurs when an infection is received from the external environment, that is, in fact, it does not differ from primary infection.As for relapse, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.Then a focus of infection remains on the nails: outwardly it may not be noticeable, but over time a growth will surely appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made from the beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there were situations when nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both diseases are very similar in terms of external symptoms in the initial stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
Prevention of fungus is directly related to the causes of its appearance.Take reason, turn the meaning around and get recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where there is humidity: gyms, showers, bathrooms, near swimming pools.
Don't wear someone else's shoes.Even open-toed rubber flip-flops can be dangerous in terms of fungal infection.It is better to disinfect ordinary shoes, for example on a skating rink or in a bowling alley, with special solutions.When shopping for shoes, try them on only the toe or heel.
Don't 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 them as quickly as possible, dry them, and put on clean socks.The shoes themselves must be dried.
Maintain good foot hygiene.It is not enough to wet them with water during your daily shower.It is advisable to have a separate washcloth for your feet and wash them with soap, and wash them well in all areas, and not rub them just once on your heels and feet.
Cut your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and microcuts: they will be entry points for any infection, not just fungus.Only use your own scissors and do not share them with anyone in the family.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- This is also important in relation to other infections.For example, I treated my files and scissors with spray alcohol.I told my wife to make sure that in the nail room the master sterilized the tools;This is usually done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To cure nail fungus, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist;If he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.This doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, evaluate the severity of the infection and select treatment.Taking pills on your own may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under a compulsory medical insurance policy: for this you need to make an appointment in a regular clinic or in a dermatovenerological dispensary.The consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you will have to pay everything.The cost of testing nails for fungus depends on the testing method.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infectious disease that can be easily contracted in public showers, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores, and nail salons.The sooner you start treating nail fungus, the better and faster the result will be.It may be possible to get by with just local remedies and without taking pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Prescribing pills yourself based on Internet reviews and recommendations 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.