During this time, I probably tried every folk remedy 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 nails.In 60-70% of cases it is caused by a special dermatophyte fungus;Mold and yeast infections are less common.To live, reproduce and grow, dermatophytes need the protein keratin.That's why these fungi live in the nail plates, hair, and stratum corneum of the skin - where keratin is produced.
Usually, the fungus begins to grow from the cut surface of the nail.The tip of the nail gradually changes color: turns yellow, light brown or milky white.If left untreated, the infection will spread to the epidermis.The fungus can also start on the lateral surface of the nail.
There is also white-appearing onychomycosis.Outwardly, it looks like white or dull spots on the surface of the nail.It spreads from the center to the edges;If the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Occasionally, proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail in the area of the cuticle and roots.This often happens in people with weak immune systems.
When the nail is completely destroyed by fungus, the condition is called generalized dystrophic onychomycosis.Outwardly, the nails look terrible: thick, ribbed and unpleasantly dark.
reason
Nail fungus is a very common disease.Onychomycosis accounts for 50-60% of nail problems.I don't know where I got this fungus from, but these are the ways the doctors gave me the fungal infection.
Contact with contaminated surfaces.Fungal pathogens love moisture so they live well in damp rooms - bathrooms or swimming pools.Sometimes the fungus is brought by beauty salons as a bonus after a manicure or pedicure: just a small cut and poorly handled tools are enough - and that's it, the disease is right there.You can also get a fungal infection if you wear shoes on your bare feet after an illness.
Infection in the family.Fungi are very contagious.If one family member is sick, other family members may get nail fungus infections.The risk increases if you share slippers, regular towels, or bath mats.However, this fungus can even be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is very important for people with painful nails to comply with hygiene rules.
Poor hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet thoroughly, does not cut his nails on time or rarely changes socks, he is more susceptible to fungus.
Tight shoes.This is another factor that increases the risk of the disease.When we wear tight shoes, the blood supply to the feet and nail roots is interrupted.Nail dystrophy can develop - a condition that looks similar to nail fungus and is often accompanied by it.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common in people from certain professions - housekeepers, chefs, cleaners, car wash workers.They often come into contact with wet surfaces, wear rubber shoes, rubber gloves, and use chemicals that soften the nail plate.But this fungus is very fond of all this and grows actively in such conditions.
Comorbiditiesincrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people with varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or malignant tumors, this fungus is more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis - also contributes to the growth of fungus.
Usually, fungus occurs in people 30 years of age and older, especially the elderly.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatment: their nail plate is thinner and the nail itself grows faster.It turned out that with shorter exposure to the drug, the effects in children occur faster.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of the feet, but is also a truly dangerous disease for the body.If the fungus on one nail is not treated, it will spread to the remaining healthy nails.In some people, fungal infections can cause allergies - the mushrooms themselves become allergens.
Dermatophyte fungi eat keratin, so there is no longer enough 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 is broken down by fungal attack.This causes the nails to become thicker and grow crooked.Even though the nail is thick, it is still very fragile - it will catch on clothes and break easily.
Sometimes, when you have nail fungus, your feet start sweating 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.Second, at the place where the nail is removed, a kind of wound will appear, a warm, moist environment will appear - just the kind that dermatophytes love.In which they will grow even faster.
And advanced nail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to buy medicine and replace all shoes after completing treatment.If in the early stages of nail fungus it can be disinfected with a special disinfectant solution, then after recovery from a serious illness, all old shoes will have to be thrown away so as not to become infected again.
Fungi significantly reduce quality of life.I felt physically uncomfortable: my feet sweated, my nails were thick, brittle and broke.Even in the summer I have to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.In addition, this fungus greatly limits my activities: I can't really play sports or go to the pool.I read that some people feel so ashamed that they sometimes fall 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 feet when you have fungus.
Change nail coloryellow, white or brown spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of infection and is associated with a buildup of keratin debris in and under the nail.Nails look dull and no longer shiny like before.
Structure changes:The nail becomes thick or begins to grow in waves.When cutting, the cut is uneven and the nail breaks into separate pieces.
An unpleasant odor appearsFeet sweat more.
I suspect late fungus.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail becomes very thick and grows upwards, standing out from the rest.I delayed going to the doctor for a long time and did not treat anything, so the infection spread to my other nails - they turned yellow.
How I treated fungus myself
When I suspected it was a fungus, I thought it was nonsense.I didn't do anything for about a year, hoping that it would go away on its own.Then I decided that I should try to get rid of him, but I still did not understand the full complexity of the situation.I decided that it was enough to cover my nails with the magic polishes and drops advertised on TV, and everything would disappear.
When I realized that drops and varnishes did not help, I began to soak my feet.They write on the Internet that these are magical procedures that will get rid of the fungus forever.I don't like going to the doctor so I trust these tips.
I soaked my feet in a solution of soda and liquid soap, put iodine in the water and even took several coffee baths.Then I learned that it is better to replace liquid soap with brown laundry soap - when I crushed it, the aroma in the apartment was indescribable.I trim and scrape the steamed nails, then fill a bowl with clippers and files with vodka.I gathered the nail pieces into a paper towel and threw them in the trash.I also apply aloe vera juice and propolis on my nails.These procedures took even longer so I eventually gave up on treatment.
Only later did I realize that self-medication was my big mistake because it took more than a year to recover.But it did not bring any results: the fungus seemed to just begin to spread.The reason was my laziness and lack of understanding of the situation.
How did the doctor diagnose me?
Infected nails continue to grow and thicken.I feel uncomfortable wearing socks and shoes, and it even makes walking a bit difficult.
Then my wife and I booked tickets to Türkiye.And this is another reason why I had to go to the doctor - it's embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I made an appointment at the dermatology and venereal disease clinic to see a mycologist.Just looking at the appearance of the nail, she said it looked very much like a fungus but still sent me for testing.
I was asked to remove the infected nail and have it examined, they also asked for a general blood test.As the doctor explained, if it is confirmed that I have a fungus, in my case I will definitely have to take medicine.And some of them have contraindications that can be determined through a blood count.
How I Treat Nail Fungus Under Doctor's Supervision
Three groups of drugs are used to treat fungal infections: terbinafine, fluconazole, and itraconazole-based groups.All of these drugs kill fungal cells, eventually leading to a reduction in their numbers and destruction of the pathogen.Such drugs are officially called antifungals.Like antibiotics, they must be used strictly as prescribed.This means that it is not enough to just take one pill and wait for the symptoms to disappear - it is important to complete the course of treatment.
The specific medication prescribed by the doctor depends on the type of fungus, the degree of nail damage, the patient's health, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to pills, external treatment is also prescribed in the form of creams, ointments, sprays - this helps to speed up the process.These medications may also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antifungal medications.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is covered with a special substance, which is then exposed to a beam of cold light and the spread of infection is stopped.They can offer laser treatment - it is believed that the laser beam penetrates all layers of the nail and burns the fungal hyphae.But scientists still have little evidence that lasers actually work.
In the most 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 treatment well, in just two weeks I was extremely sleepy - then I went to work two hours each way and slept on the train the whole time.No digestive problems.
The nail itself must be scraped by hand.I was advised to start by showering with laundry soap and fresh water, then apply urea to my nails.With a small spoon, I spread it on 1/4 of a cotton pad, put it on the nail, wrap it with a bandage and plaster and leave it like that for a day.During this time, the hard top layer of the nail softens a bit, then I scrape it off.He then immediately reapplied the composition;There are at least five such approaches during the entire period of treatment.Gluing helped, the nails became noticeably thinner.Cutting it becomes easier.
Three weeks later, the doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment.Then she prescribed a cream based on econazole nitrate - it has a local effect and, like tablets, kills fungal cells.The cream needs to be spread on the nails twice a day, and this time I am no longer lazy.
What's wrong with your nails now?
I have been getting nail treatments for a year and a half.In July 2020, I started noticing white spots on it again.This time I went to the doctor immediately and was told that the infection had returned.It's still early stages, so local remedies can help - the same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with disease recurrence.Reinfection occurs when you get an infection from the external environment, that is, in fact, it is no different from the original infection.For recurrence, the most common cause is inadequate treatment.Then the focus of the infection remains in the nails: outwardly it may be imperceptible, but over time, growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made at the very beginning.For example, my doctor said that in medical practice there have been situations where nail fungus was confused with nail psoriasis.Both diseases have very similar external symptoms in the early stages.
How to prevent nail fungus
Prevention of fungus is directly related to the cause of its appearance.Get the reason, turn the meaning around and get recommendations for prevention.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in wet places - gym, bathroom, bathhouse, near swimming pools.
Don't wear other people's shoes.Even open-toe rubber flip-flops can be dangerous because of fungal infections.It is better to disinfect ordinary shoes, for example, at a skating rink or bowling alley, with special solutions.When buying shoes, you should only try on the toe or heel.
Don't wear tight shoes.There is no beauty more valuable than 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.Dousing them with water during your daily shower is not enough.You should have a separate towel for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash every area thoroughly, not just rub once on your heels and feet.
Cut your nails carefully.Try to avoid injuries and small cuts - 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 household.
If you get manicures and pedicures, sterilize your tools.- this is also important for other infections.For example, I treat my files and scissors with an alcohol spray.I told my wife to make sure that in the nail salon the owner sterilizes the tools - usually this is done with hot steam.
How much does it cost to treat nail fungus?
To treat nail fungus, you need to see a dermatologist - if he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called a mycologist.Such a doctor will be able to diagnose, assess the severity of the infection and choose a treatment method.Self-medication may not bring results and can even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under a mandatory health insurance policy: to do this, you need to make an appointment at a regular clinic or dermatology clinic.Consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated at private medical centers, you will have to pay for everything.The cost of testing for nail fungus depends on the analysis method.
Nail fungus or onychomycosis is an infectious disease that can be easily contracted in public bathrooms, swimming pools, gyms, shoe stores, and nail salons.The sooner you start treating nail fungus, the better and faster the results will be.It may be possible to use only topical treatments and no medication is needed.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Self-prescribing medications based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a questionable 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 on your bare feet.