Toenail fungus: types, methods to get rid of them and the best remedies.

A fungus that affects the nail plates of the toes is an infectious disease caused by fungi.Today there are more than 50 pathogens, which complicates the classification of the disease;This article discusses the most common varieties, as well as ways to get rid of this pathology.

Causes

The cause of toenail fungal infections is infection by pathogenic organisms;Its penetration can occur in three main ways:

• Penetration below the free edge of the nail plate and subsequent deepening, this path is the most common.
• Penetration through the dorsal part of the nail is observed in rare cases, 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 frequently in the arms than the legs.

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

• Mechanical injuries leading to the destruction of the nail plate.
• Excessive use of degreasers or cleaning products that contain harmful components;Systematic contact with water.
• Wearing uncomfortable and ill-fitting shoes, as well as items made of synthetic materials, which creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
• Increased sweating, regardless of its cause.
• Flat feet.
• The anatomical features of the development of the foot, in particular, the presence of too narrow spaces between the toes, which disrupts the natural air exchange.
• Lack of hygienic foot care and timely cutting of overgrown nails.
• Malfunction of the immune system.
• Tendency to varicose veins.
• Frequent use of warm clothing or footwear due to the climatic conditions of the region.Living in a subtropical climate also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases, since 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.
• Carrying out work activities in unfavorable conditions, including rooms with gases and dust, physically difficult jobs, high humidity and frequent contact with chemicals.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disorders of natural metabolism, HIV infection, malfunctioning of the thyroid gland.All of these health problems put a person at risk.
• Long-term use of powerful 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 proper treatment is used.

Types and symptoms

The symptoms that occur when 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 fungus.The main symptom is a change in the color of the nail plate;Its thickness and structure are not subject to pathological processes.At the initial stage, visible white or yellowish stripes and spots are formed, which are 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 plate is observed, which is associated with accelerated growth of the skin under the nail.Little by little, there is a loss of healthy shine 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.
3. atrophic fungus.The first symptom of this pathology is a color change: the nail plate acquires a characteristic grayish-brown tint.Soon its natural shine disappears and little by little destruction 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 grooves with a yellow tint and, in parallel, a dulling of the surface of the nail plate is observed.If the causative agent is mold, the affected areas may be green or black.Brittleness gradually increases, the plate structure becomes uneven and rough.Once the affected areas disappear, the nail becomes deformed and the nail fold is partially exposed.This pathology can cause serious physical discomfort to the patient and cause constant pain if swelling and redness of the skin ridges occurs.
5. Proximal fungus.This type of disease is extremely rare;At the initial stage, the area around the skin fold is affected.The main cause of pathology is the side effects of removing the cuticle, after which the area of the plate near the growth zone acquires a characteristic white color.The localization of the lesion is associated with the characteristics of the spread of fungal spores;they gradually capture the entire nail plate.
6. total fungusIt occurs in the absence of treatment for other forms of the disease, in this case there is a change in color and increased fragility, which gradually lead to complete loss of the nail.
7. White surface fungus.The main symptom is the appearance of white spots located near the posterior pad.In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathology progresses and the lesion begins to spread to neighboring areas.Very often, a large number of small spots form, merging into a single pattern that looks like scattered dust.

Stages of the fungus

Regardless of the type of causative agent of the disease, the nail plate is never completely affected.The development of pathology occurs gradually, which allows us to distinguish the following stages:

1. In the initial stage, the lesions are located in separate areas,most often it is the sides or free edge.At this stage, subtle streaks or spots form that the person often does not notice.
2. At the stage of normotrophic lesions, pathological changes become noticeable,Traces of fungi can be detected even with the naked eye.There is also increased fragility of the nail and a change in its tone;In some forms of the disease, serous secretion may protrude beneath the plaque.
3. In the hypertrophic lesion stage, pathology continues to develop in the subungual space., which causes a 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 usually 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;The symptoms extend not only to the toenails, but also to the plaques located on the hands and skin.

How to treat at home?

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

1. IodineIt is the most common remedy, it is used for application on a cotton swab and subsequent treatment of the affected areas, as well as as an auxiliary component for foot baths.
2. VinegarIt is another very effective remedy, since practically all pathogenic fungi die in an environment with high acidity.It can be used pure or diluted in water and then used directly on the affected areas.
3. salicylic acidEffective for 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 therapies.

How to get rid of foot fungus with medication?

If the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, 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 get rid of the pathology and minimize the risk of undesirable consequences.

Specialists often prescribe pharmaceuticals, 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 yourself, 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 on the beach.
• Wear special closed rubber slippers when visiting baths or saunas.
• Wear socks made only from natural materials and change them daily.
• Wear only your own shoes.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after showering to ensure they are completely dry.

Reviews

1. I have been suffering from toenail fungus for a long time.I tried iodine and vinegar, but the effect was temporary.Only a fungicide drug helped me.I applied the cream to my nails for several days and soon noticed that the disease was slowly subsiding.
2. I recently came across a fungus;apparently I picked it up when I showered after working out.Therefore, swim only in flip flops and do not go barefoot anywhere.Fungus is an infection that is difficult to get rid of.I used an antifungal medication, it helped.But along with it, he applied vinegar to the affected areas.Everything together gave a great result.
3. And this is not the first time I have struggled with fungus.It's very difficult to leave me.I used several medications that did their job perfectly.
4. This fungus is a very unpleasant thing.Especially in summer!You are embarrassed to even go out somewhere, but I use an antifungal agent for external use, it has helped me a lot.If you catch a mushroom once, the chance of it appearing a second time is 70%.Be careful!