Rain-soaked boots, tight and warm shoes, reduced immunity - all this increases the risk of onychomycosis.
Mushrooms attack in autumn
Unpleasant cracks on the leg between the fingers and the nail turned yellow? You may have contracted a fungus. About 10% of the world's population suffers from this microscopic enemy, and over the past 10 years, the number of victims of onychomycosis (or nail fungus) has more than doubled.
Both men and women fall prey to it with equal success. But the risk of getting sick increases with age. For example, after 70 years, every second person suffers from onychomycosis.
Fortunately, children are much less likely to become infected, since the nails of babies grow much faster than those of an adult, and the fungus, on the contrary, develops rather slowly.
Where can you get fungus? Yes, most likely from their own relatives.
Recent studies have found that nail fungus is most often infected in the family, even if it consists of two people. The risk group includes people who have excessive sweating, weakened immunity, flat feet. Too narrow shoes can provoke the disease: in it the skin of the foot and nails are more susceptible to injury. Stockings and socks made of synthetic fibers, poor ventilation in autumn and winter shoes creates a humid microclimate for the feet. Frequent contact of hands with washing and cleaning household products injures the nails on the hands, and the fungus just prefers weakened and damaged nail plates, a healthy nail is practically invulnerable to a fungal infection. Here are the main causes of onychomycosis:
Cracks and scratches on the skin, nail injury, constantly wet feet.
The presence of diseases: diabetes, AIDS, obesity, reduced immunity. The risk of getting sick increases if the vascular tone of the legs is disturbed, for example, with heart failure or varicose veins.
Taking antibiotics, oral contraceptives.
The disease occurs first on the skin of the feet, often in the interdigital folds. A parasitic fungus that has settled on the skin can poison the life of anyone.
Over time, the affected area captures the nails not only on the legs, but also on the hands. Sooner or later, another person will step on the fallen off skin scales and become infected.
Outwardly, the appearance of nail fungus may look like this: the color and thickness of the nails change, the nails begin to crumble or collapse.
Where is the infection
You can pick up a fungus both in common areas (the floor in the locker rooms of gyms, in a bathhouse, swimming pools, a manicure / pedicure salon, in a hotel, on the beach), and in your own home.
Shared shoes at home in the family, in the country or at a party, walking barefoot, household items and furnishings (towels, rugs, covers) - these are the factors that determine the transmission of the fungus between members of the same family, their relatives and friends.
The most effective means of combating nail fungus is primary prevention. It is better to avoid infection than to treat it later. To avoid infection with nail fungus, you must follow these simple rules:
- Never use someone else's shoes and do not give your shoes to others, even close people.
- Do not use the same manicure accessories for the treatment of diseased and healthy nails.
- If possible, disinfect all objects with which the patient's legs and hands came into contact.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places, and it is better not to do this at home either. When visiting a bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool, use closed rubber slippers that protect against splashes. On the beach, too, go only in slippers.
- After the pool you need to take a shower.
- Never visit baths and pools if cracks appear on your soles.
- After visiting public places, treat the skin of the feet with boric alcohol or some kind of antifungal ointment, cream, gel, or spray. For prevention, almost any antifungal agents or alcohol solutions of antiseptics are suitable.
- Do not wear rubber boots for a long time, uncomfortable shoes that rub your feet.
- Do not abuse synthetic socks or tights, change them daily.
To the doctor immediately!
At the first suspicion that you have caught a fungal infection, you should consult a mycologist or dermatologist. The doctor will not only conduct an examination, assess the thickness, structure of the nail, but also make tissue scrapings for analysis. Only in this way will he be able to determine the presence of the fungus, its type and prescribe the correct treatment.
If onychomycosis is left untreated, it can lead to nail loss. The infection damages the entire body. The fungus releases toxic substances, provoking allergic reactions and a decrease in immunity.
It is necessary to clearly know that in the first stages it is quite easy to get rid of the infection. If the disease is not advanced, local treatment can be carried out: cut off the affected areas of the nail, cover the remaining nail with antifungal varnish, lubricate with antifungal ointments, which are many today.
Remember that the longer the fungus lives on your nails, the harder it is to get rid of it. In the later stages, when several years have passed after infection (and toenails are affected), fungal diseases are difficult to treat.
What you need to know
- It is necessary to sound the alarm already at the first skin signs of a fungus. A fungal infection on the skin is treated easier and faster than on the nails. It is enough just a week to lubricate the affected areas with one of the antifungal agents, which are in abundance in any pharmacy.
- The fungus can also infect the hair, although the most common are fungi on the nails.
- Sometimes a change in the appearance of nails is not associated with a fungus, but is caused by the state of internal organs: cardiovascular and pulmonary insufficiency, kidney or liver dysfunction. Nails may turn yellow after taking potent medications. Nail damage is also caused by lichen planus, eczema, psoriasis, and finally, nail injuries also occur. But most often the appearance of the nails changes after all from a fungal infection.
Folk recipes
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies is rarely effective. However, here are two recipes.
- Apply a piece of kombucha to the sore nail and bandage your finger. This will soften the nail and make it easy for you to cut it off. Continue the procedure until the nail is completely soft. Then steam your legs well and lubricate with this mixture: take one part of vinegar essence, two parts of glycerin, two parts of 96% alcohol. Prepare garlic oil: grate the garlic and pour sunflower oil heated to sixty degrees (the oil should cover the garlic) - mix everything and let it infuse for a couple of days in a tightly sealed container. Soak a cotton ball in this oil, apply to the sore nail and bandage it. Put on a plastic bag on top - this way you will not stain the bed linen, since such treatment must be done before bedtime. The course of treatment is 10-15 days.
- Wash your feet well before going to bed. Soak a cotton ball in 9% vinegar and place on the nail. Wrap your finger on top with a film and fix with a band-aid. Repeat the procedure in the morning. Wash your feet a day after such treatment. Put your nails in order - where to cut, where to clean. Repeat the procedure several times on the sole.