You will not believe, but this disease affects about 3 people out of 100 around the world. Fungal infection can easily disfigure your nails, turning them into a green-yellow "something". Sometimes the nails crumble and exfoliate, and the surrounding skin becomes red and hurts. Antifungal drugs will certainly help, but only if you take them continuously for 6-12 weeks. Moreover, the drug must be selected by a doctor, since its effect is strictly individual. Treatment of fungal infection is a long and difficult process. But you can not ignore this disease in any case! We often underestimate the seriousness of this diagnosis. This article deals with the question of what actually is a fungal infection of the nails. Without banknotes.
Who is most prone to fungal nail infection?
Approximately three out of 100 people face this disease at a certain stage. And, most often, "sick" nails on the toes. Fungal infection is more common in people over 55 and young people who neglect basic remedies in public places: swimming pools, baths, saunas, and also on the beach. There are several main points where the infection is most likely to be introduced into the body.
- For example, the feet of athletes (especially swimmers) are strongly prone to fungal infection of the skin between the fingers. It can easily spread to the nails, if strongly scratching, while not treating with antifungal drugs.
- "Picking up" this infection is also easy, if you are on duty often wash your hands or keep them in the water. For example, if you are a cook or a cleaner. Frequent washing can damage the protective skin at the base of the nails. This can allow fungi to easily get inside.
- An infected nail or any sharp object can also carry danger. The slightest injection - and the infection is already in your body.
- You have an increased risk of fungal nail infection if you have concomitant diseases. For example: diabetes, psoriasis, poor blood circulation, poor immune system (for example, if you have AIDS, or you have been exposed to chemotherapy) or general poor health.
- Fungal nail infection is more common in people who live in hot and humid climates.
- Smoking also increases the risk of developing nail infections.
- In some cases, there is no apparent reason. Even the implementation of all the basic rules of hygiene and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle may not protect you from this scourge. Alas.
What are the symptoms of fungal nail infection?
Often the infection affects not only one nail, but also neighboring ones, although at the initial stage it is invisible. At first the disease proceeds, as a rule, painlessly. Nails can look thickened and colorless (often yellow-greenish). This is often all that can be noticed, and this often does not cause any fear. But in vain. Over time, the situation is getting worse. White or yellow spots may appear after a couple of weeks, usually in a place where the nail borders the skin. Then the nails begin to deform. Then get sick. With improper treatment or its complete absence, one can at all be left without nails. They just exfoliate and "get off". Sometimes the nails can become soft and crumble. The skin next to the nails can be inflamed or scaly. If left untreated, the infection may eventually spread to the skin of the fingers, causing severe pain. Walking can become extremely uncomfortable if the disease affects the toenail.
How to diagnose an infection?
Usually the infection with this infection is visible to the naked eye. Do not need to be a certified specialist to determine the neglected form of the disease. If it is at an early stage, when the symptoms are not sufficiently expressed, you can conduct a simple test. Part of the nail is sent for analysis, where the presence (or absence) of a fungal infection is determined.
To treat or not to treat?
This question usually arises if the infection is mild or does not cause any symptoms. For example, one nail can be slightly infected, but it remains painless and does not bother much. Some people prefer not to be treated because:
- Treatment does not always give results. The percentage of recovery is about 60-80%.
- Intervention (for example, surgical) does not always allow to restore the appearance of the nails.
- Antifungal drugs used for treatment should be taken for several months, and sometimes more.
- Although rare, there are unpleasant side effects associated with the use of antifungal drugs.
However, treatment is usually recommended if:
- Symptoms are dangerous. For example, when walking, there is a severe pain in connection with the damage to the nails.
- Abnormal appearance of nails and fingers.
- You have diabetes, vascular disease or connective tissue disorder (due to a higher risk for secondary bacterial infection and cellulitis).
- Infection of nails is considered a source of fungal infection of the skin.
- You have serious problems with the immune system. For example, if you have been exposed to certain types of cancer treatment.
Medications.
The action of antifungal tablets is often aimed at curing an open fungal nail infection. The drug also cleans any affected areas of the skin, such as feet. Your doctor will usually recommend one of the drugs described below. The choice may depend on the type of fungus that caused the infection. Both of these drugs have a number of specific side effects, so a preliminary consultation with a specialist is mandatory! The most effective are the following drugs:
- Terbinafine in tablets. The usual dose for adults is 250 mg once a day for a period of 6 weeks to 3 months for the nails on the fingers, and for 3-6 months for the nails on the toes. Visible improvements can be expected after two to three months of treatment.
- Itraconazole in tablets. Its action is usually defined as "impulse". Adult dose: 200 mg twice a day for one week, then the course should be repeated after 21 days. Treatment of a fungal infection requires two or three impulse courses.
Studies show that in about 5 out of 10 cases the nails will look quite normal again after treatment. Approximately 2 more out of 10 cases of fungus will be removed after treatment, but the nails will not look completely normal again. Nails on hands, as a rule, respond better to treatment than nails on legs. One of the reasons for the ineffectiveness of treatment is that some people stop taking the medication too soon.
Antifungal nail polish.
Nail polish, which contains an antifungal agent, is an alternative for the treatment of most (but not all) types of fungi that infect the nails. You can buy it in pharmacies, and also get it on prescription. Your doctor will tell you if this is an appropriate option for your type of infection. For example, the use of such a varnish can be useful if the infection just hit the tip of the nail. This treatment has no particular effect if the infection is near the skin, or is associated with the skin around the nail. But remember: treatment with such a varnish is quite long. You may need six months to treat the nails on your hands and up to a year for nails on your legs!
Removal of nails.
If other procedures do not work, the doctor may be required to remove the nail. This is a small operation that is performed under local anesthesia. It is combined with treatment with antifungal drugs to prevent infection of neighboring nails.
What to look for in treatment.
Fungi, which died under the influence of drugs, no longer multiply. The growth of clean, healthy nails from the ground is a sign that the treatment works. After you finish the course of treatment (it will take several months), the old infected part of the nail will begin to grow and be cut off gradually. In this case, uninfected, fresh nails will continue to grow. Over time, the nails will look normal again.
Nails on hands grow faster, than fingernails or nails on legs or foots. It can take up to one year after the beginning of the treatment before the nails look completely normal again.
Consult a doctor if healthy new nails do not start to grow after several weeks of treatment. However, the infection can react with the drug "with delay", even after the completion of the course of treatment. This is because the antifungal drug remains in the body for about nine months after stopping the drug.
How to help yourself better cope with the infection?
Take medications as directed in the instructions and do not make any changes in dosage without talking to your doctor.
Side effects are rare, but tell your doctor if you notice any problems with the treatment.
Tips for nail care if you have a fungal infection:
- Regularly process your nails and cut down any thickening on them.
- Use a separate scissors to handle the infected nail to prevent the spread of the disease. Do not share scissors for nails with anyone (for the same reason).
- Avoid injuries and irritation of the affected nails. For example, if fingers are touched, it is necessary to use vinyl gloves for work in water and dense cotton gloves for "dry" work.
- When nails are hurt on your feet, you should wear the right shoes with a wide nose.
- Keep your feet in a cool and dry environment as much as possible.
Prevention of fungal diseases of nails.
Studies show that in about 1 out of 4 cases, when the infection was seemingly cured, it returns within three years. One of the ways that will help prevent further occurrence of a nail infection is to start treatment as early as possible. This is especially true for foot fungus. With it, usually an antifungal cream that you can buy at a pharmacy or can be obtained with a prescription is easily handled. The first sign of fungal infection of the foot is the itching of the skin between the fingers.
In the rest, to prevent nail fungal infections can be, following the elementary rules of hygiene. And although this, as mentioned above, does not always exclude the possibility of infection, it is still worthwhile to be more careful. After all, this disease requires extremely long treatment. Do you need this?