During this time, I probably tried all sorts of folk 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 to 70% of cases it is caused by special dermatophyte fungi;infections caused by mold and yeast are 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.
Typically, the fungus starts growing from 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 originate from the side surface of the nail.
There is also superficial white onychomycosis.Outwardly, it looks like white or dull spots on the nail surface.It extends from the center to the edges;if the disease is not treated, it can cover the entire nail plate.
Sometimes proximal onychomycosis occurs - it affects the nail at the cuticle and root level.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.Outwardly, 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 50-60% of all nail problems.I don't know where I got the fungus from, but here are the ways doctors use to get infected with it.
Contact with a contaminated surface.Fungal pathogens love moisture and therefore live well in damp rooms - baths or swimming pools.Sometimes mushrooms are brought as a bonus by beauty salons after a manicure or pedicure: just one microcut and poorly processed instruments 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 may become infected with onychomycosis.The risks increase if you share slippers, a common washcloth or a bath mat.However, the fungus can even be transmitted through carpets, which is why it is so important that a person with painful nails follows hygiene rules.
Bad hygiene.If a person does not wash his feet well, does not cut his nails on time or rarely changes socks, it will be easier for him to catch 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 disrupted.Onychodystrophy may develop, a condition that resembles and often accompanies toenail fungus.
Certain professions.Nail fungus is much more common among people in certain professions - housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, car washers.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 develops in such conditions.
Concomitant diseasesincrease the risk of infection because they weaken the immune system.In people suffering from varicose veins, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases or malignant tumors, the fungus is more common.Smokers and obese people are also at risk.Excessive sweating – hyperhidrosis – also contributes to the proliferation of fungus.
Typically, the fungus occurs in people aged 30 and older, especially older adults.Children get sick less often and respond better to local treatments: their nail plates are thinner and the nail itself grows faster.It turns out that with a shorter exposure to the drug, the effect in children occurs faster.
Why is the mushroom dangerous?
Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of your feet, it is a real dangerous disease for the body.If nail fungus is not treated, it will spread to other healthy nails.In some people, a fungal infection can cause allergies: the fungus itself becomes the allergen.
Dermatophyte fungi feed on keratin, so this is no longer sufficient for nail growth.For this reason, they become brittle, crumble and flake.Over time, “keratin debris” will begin to build up between the nail and the nail bed;They form when keratin breaks down due to fungal attack.This causes the nail to become thicker and grow crooked.Even if the nail is thick, it remains very fragile: it will catch on clothes and break easily.
Sometimes with toenail fungus, your feet start to sweat more than usual, which 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.Secondly, in place of the removed nail, a kind of wound will appear, a moist and warm environment will appear - just like those that dermatophytes love.In it, they will grow even faster.
And advanced toenail fungus is expensive to treat.Most likely, a person will have to purchase medication and change all shoes after completing treatment.If in the early stages of onychomycosis it can be disinfected using special disinfectant solutions, after recovery 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 sweating, my nails were thick, crumbling and breaking.Even in summer, I had to wear closed shoes so as not to scare others.In addition, the fungus greatly limited my activity: I couldn't really do sports or go to the swimming pool.I have read that some people experience such a feeling of shame that it sometimes even turns 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 fungus.
Nail color changesyellowish, whitish or brownish spots appear.This is more common in the early stages of infection and is associated with the accumulation of keratin debris in and under the nails.The nails are dull and no longer shine as 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 appearsfeet sweat more.
I suspected a fungus late.On the middle toe of the left foot, the nail became very thick and grew upwards, standing out strongly from the rest.I postponed my visit to the doctor for a long time and did not undergo any treatment, so the infection spread to my other nails - they turned yellow.
How I dealt with the fungus myself
When I suspected a fungus, I thought it was absurd.I didn't do anything for about a year, hoping it would go away on its own.Then 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 I could just cover my nails with the polishes and magic drops advertised on TV, and it would all disappear.
When I realized that drops and polishes weren't helping, I started doing foot baths.They wrote on the Internet that these are miracle procedures that will permanently eliminate the fungus.I don't like going to the doctor, so I believed this advice.
I soaked my feet in solutions of soda and liquid soap, poured iodine into the water and even took several coffee baths.Then I learned that it was better to replace liquid soap with brown laundry soap - when I grated it, the aroma in the apartment was indescribable.I trimmed and scraped the steamed nails, then filled the clippers and file with vodka in a bowl.I collected the nail fragments on a paper towel and threw them in the trash.I also coated my nails with aloe juice and propolis.These procedures took even longer, so in the end I simply abandoned the treatment.
As I later realized, self-medication was my big mistake, because it took more than a year.But this did not bring any results: the fungus, it seems, only began to spread.The reason 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 shoes, it even made walking a little difficult.
And then my wife and I booked a trip to Türkiye.And that was another reason why I went to the doctor: it was just embarrassing to show someone my legs.
I made an appointment at the skin and venereal disease clinic to see a mycologist.Just from the appearance of the nails, she said it looked a lot like fungus, but she still sent me for testing.
I was asked to cut off the infected nail and submit it for examination, and they 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 which can be identified using the blood count.
How I treated nail fungus under the supervision of a doctor
Three groups of drugs 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 antimycotics.Like antibiotics, they must be taken strictly as a treatment.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 damage to the nail, the patient's well-being, possible contraindications and other factors.
Often, in addition to tablets, external treatment is also prescribed in the form of creams, ointments, sprays, which helps to speed up the process.These medications can also help patients who, for various reasons, cannot take systemic antimycotics.
Sometimes photodynamic therapy is prescribed - when the nail is covered with special substances, then exposed to a beam of cold light and blocks the spread of infection.They may offer laser treatment - it is believed that the laser beam penetrates all layers of the nail and burns the mycelium of the fungus.But scientists still have little evidence of the laser's real effectiveness.
In the most advanced cases, the nail is completely removed surgically.
The doctor prescribed itraconazole tablets - 2 pieces 2 times a day for a week.
I tolerated the 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 all this time.There were no digestion problems.
The nail itself had to be scraped by hand.I was suggested to start by doing baths with laundry soap and soda, and then apply urea paste to the nail.With a small spatula, I spread it on a quarter of cotton wool, put it on the nail, wrapped it with bandages and a plaster, and walked like that for a day.During this time, the hard upper layer of the nail softened a little, after which 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.She then prescribed an econazole nitrate cream.It has a local effect and, like tablets, destroys fungal cells.The cream should be spread on the nails twice a day, and this time I was no longer lazy.
What's wrong with the nails now?
I had my nails treated 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 found out that there was a reinfection.We are still at the initial stage, so local remedies can help - these same varnishes, drops and creams.
Reinfection should not be confused with relapse of the disease.Reinfection occurs when you receive an infection from the external environment, that is, it is actually no different from the primary infection.As for relapses, the most common cause is incomplete treatment.Then a focus of infection remains in the nails: outwardly it may not be noticeable, but over time a growth will certainly appear.
It also happens that an incorrect diagnosis is made at the very beginning.For example, my doctor told me that in medical practice there are situations where nail fungus is confused with nail psoriasis.These two diseases have very similar external symptoms at first.
How to prevent nail fungus
Prevention of fungi is directly related to the causes of their appearance.Take the reason, reverse the meaning and get prevention recommendations.
Always wear shoes in public places,especially in those where it is humid - gyms, showers, baths, 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 best to disinfect common shoes, for example at an ice rink or bowling alley, with special solutions.When buying shoes, try them on only on the toe or heel.
Do not wear tight shoes.No beauty is worth the health of your skin and nails.
Keep your feet dry.If your feet are 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.Sprinkling them with water during your daily shower is not enough.It is advisable to have a separate washcloth for your feet and wash them with soap - and wash them thoroughly on all areas, and do not rub them even once on the heels and feet.
Trim your nails carefully.Try to avoid wounds and microcuts - these will be entry points for any infection, not just fungus.Use only your own scissors and do not share them with any family member.
If you do manicures and pedicures, sterilize your instruments.- this is also important for other infections.For example, I treated my files and scissors with alcohol spray.I told my wife to make sure that in the manicure room the master sterilizes the tools - this is usually done with hot steam.
How much does nail fungus treatment cost?
To treat nail fungus, you need to consult a dermatologist.If he specializes in fungal diseases, he is called mycologist.Such a doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the infection and choose treatment.Taking pills on your own may not bring results and may even be dangerous.
You can contact a dermatologist under compulsory health insurance: to do this, you need to make an appointment at a classic clinic or dermatovenerological dispensary.The consultation, examination and diagnosis will be free.
If you are treated in private medical centers, you will have to pay for everything.The cost of testing nails for fungus depends on the analysis method.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infectious disease that can easily be 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 only with local remedies and not take pills.
Only a doctor can choose the right treatment.Prescribing pills yourself based on reviews and recommendations from the Internet is a dubious tactic.It is important to complete the treatment, even if you are lazy.To prevent nail fungus, it is important to maintain foot hygiene and not wear someone else's shoes while barefoot.