Fungus is the common name of a group of infectious fungal diseases, which develop on the skin (athlete's foot) or nails (onychomycosis).
There are many types of fungi that are parasitic on the human body. They cause many unpleasant symptoms and complicate a person's life. The most common infection with fungi of the genus Candida.
Causes of fungal infection
The cause of nail fungus – infection by microorganisms. The penetration of the microorganism into the human body occurs through a previously damaged nail or skin.
Reasons for such damage can be:
- Mechanical injury.
- Exposure to aggressive chemical agents (caustic detergents, etc.).
- Wearing clothes and shoes made of poor quality synthetic materials that do not absorb moisture and does not leak air.
- Excessive sweating, which provides an optimal environment for the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Deformity of the foot, which causes the deterioration of aeration, which leads to contamination of mycosis.
- The high growth rate of the nail which may damage the skin.
- The low level of personal hygiene.
- Reducing the protective properties of the immune system.
- Varicose disease.
- The climatic conditions (high humidity).
- Old age. In older people this disease occurs much thickets.
- Occupational hazards.
- Comorbidities.
Antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs that disrupt the natural microflora of the person, which protects the human skin from the accession of infections.
Of particular danger are wooden floors and shops. The spores of the fungus penetrate the tree and begin to multiply there. Display came on a wooden surface the fungus is very difficult. This requires regular treatment with a special disinfectant.
Symptoms
Symptoms of foot fungus may vary, depending on the shape, but the common are itching and abnormal deformation of the skin.
Symptoms squamous form of fungal infection
Due to the formation of the stratum corneum there is a seal of the dermis. This form is also called "athlete's foot" and "lignum bracket", since due to the deformation of the epithelium there is a thickening of the foot.
In this form of foot fungus person often has the following symptoms:
- Part of the foot (sole) is covered with a thick layer of dermis, it creates the kind worn on the foot of the Shoe.
- The Horny part becomes rough and is covered with a thick layer of calluses that begin to crack and hurt.
- Rough skin begins to peel off. The affected skin look as if sprinkled with flour.
- The patient constantly feels itchy and bothersome itching.
- There is thinning of the nail plate where the nail begins to break down and crumble.
Symptoms dyshydrotic forms
Since the skin of the foot is thick enough, the first time these bubbles are not visible, other manifestations of the disease at this stage is not observed.
You can see the appearance of small bubbles in areas with thinner skin (between toes or hands).
Later the bubbles start to itch, the patient feels very irritating itching. At some point the bubbles burst, the skin starts to peel off from the surface of the epidermis is exfoliation of the thin plates of keratinized layer of skin.
Symptoms intertriginosny forms
Intertriginous form of fungus (or interdigital) is one of the most common and unpleasant types of pathology. Infection affecting the interdigital area.
Skin fold between the toes is affected fissure or ulcer, which is surrounded by flaky nekrotizirovannah skin green.
If the peeling becomes mukovidnoe, the fingers look as if sprinkled with flour.
Itching is, but it is easily countered, it is not unbearable and does not cause discomfort. In rarer exudative skin is covered with blisters that contain fluid inside.
Symptoms of onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is a common fungal pathology of the Horny layer of dermis (the nail plate). Immediately after contact with skin fungus begins to proliferate actively, hitting the skin and causing itching.
Man tries to get rid of it, starts to comb the affected areas, the skin is injured, covered with small cracks and scratches, additionally the risk of Contracting bacterial or viral infection.
Hypertrophic onychomycosis
In hypertrophic onychomycosis of the nail plate begins to deform. It's obvious in the way it changes color, loses its luster, thickens and partially destroyed. It gives the person great discomfort, especially if he has to go in tight or uncomfortable shoes.
Normal onychomycosis
In this onychomycosis nail plate is not deformed and does not change its shape and structure. Only change nail color from normal to yellowish-brown. Maintained normal nail Shine.
Atrophic onychomycosis
In this case, the nail color changes to brownish, the nail becomes thinner and gradually separates from the bed of the nail plate.
Diagnosis of the disease
In most cases, the fungus can be diagnosed by the symptoms alone. The doctor can make a diagnosis after examination of skin and nails, as well as after the medical history.
Also the doctor may take a sample of skin or nail, cut it with a blade. Special tests will help determine the type of fungus, and to pick up medicines and to assess the effectiveness of treatment. In some situations, you may need a skin biopsy.
Therapy of fungal infections on feet
Below is a look at the most popular tools and methods for the treatment of fungus.
Therapy of fungal infections of the nails
If the disease is at an early stage, it is rational to use only external preparations, for example, antimycotic varnishes, solutions, ointments and gels. There is a wide selection of various drugs.
The treatment can be carried out using a special serum. There are patches, the main effect of which is aimed at peeling off the damaged nail plate.
Therapy fungal infections between the toes
It is better to use combined therapy, using external products, and drugs for internal use.
If the fungus has not had time to spread over the entire surface of the foot, it can only be solved by external means.
In most cases, the specialist assigns a local remedy (ointment), which contains fungicidal and fungistatic components.
Therapy of fungal infection at home how to cure fast
Below is a look at the most popular and effective ways and means for the treatment of athlete's foot at home.
Soda
In order to defeat nail fungus in the home will help such a popular tool like soda paste.
In order to prepare it you only need a little baking soda, lemon juice and water. Take the necessary to treat all affected surfaces the amount of soda.
Place it in a glass jar. Slowly add a small amount of water at room temperature required to form a homogeneous slurry.
After obtaining a homogeneous mass, apply it on the affected areas. After the mass is evenly distributed on the nail plate, sprinkle on a small amount of lemon juice.
The result will be a chemical reaction, during which you will feel a slight burning sensation. Wait 5 minutes and rinse with plenty of warm water and thoroughly dry your feet with a clean towel. Repeat this procedure every two days until, until you grow a healthy nail plate.
Therapy with hydrogen peroxide
For the treatment of fungus can help compresses with use of hydrogen peroxide. For their manufacturing only need hydrogen peroxide and cotton or a cotton swab. For this, a cotton swab impregnated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and applied to the affected nail.
Compress fixed with polyethylene, thus creating the greenhouse effect. Compress on his hands holding up to 20 minutes, legs compress hold for about an hour. The course of treatment lasts from two weeks and depends on how developed the disease.
The overlay compress you need to repeat 2 times a day. After removing the compress, thoroughly rinse the nail with warm water, dry and treat with antifungal medication.
Therapy iodine
For treating fungus with iodine should buy in the pharmacy the usual 5% alcohol solution of iodine.
Dampen with iodine cotton swab or cotton swab and apply accurately to the affected areas 2 times a day – morning and evening.
Try not to get on healthy skin areas. In this case, a healthy skin will be damaged to change the color to brownish-yellow and covered cracks.
This means you cannot use in the presence of hypersensitivity to iodine.
Vinegar
The most effective folk remedy for the treatment of stroke is considered to be the regular Apple or vinegar, you can also use them to concentrate. For the manufacture of compresses using a mixture of 9% vinegar solution and warm water. 1 part vinegar take 8 parts water.
2 tbsp 70% of vinegar mixed with 2 tablespoons of vodka and three egg whites (instead of eggs you can take glycerin). All these ingredients are mixed until homogeneous and applied to affected areas twice a day. Store in the refrigerator no more than 3 days.
You can mix Apple cider vinegar with any vegetable oil (sea buckthorn, olive, sunflower, peach) in the ratio of one to one.
The use of these compositions in the same way. To do this, moisten a cotton swab or gauze. Swab applied to the affected area.
A compress moistened with the medicinal mixture as the drying. Keep it should be half hour to an hour, after which the compress is removed, the foot washed abundantly with warm water, dried.
Repeat the procedure needs at least 1 time a day for two weeks.
Be careful when treatment with compresses of vinegar. When the first signs of Allergy or skin lesions should immediately discontinue treatment and consult a doctor.
Celandine
For the treatment of fungus actively apply the oil of celandine. Carry out the procedure suggest 1 time per day before sleep. Before use, prepare a soda bath (1 tablespoon of baking soda to 3 liters of water) and steamed in her toes or fingers are affected by fungus.
Then carefully wipe his fingers clean towels. On the affected areas using a cotton swab or a cotton swab apply the oil of celandine.
For the successful treatment of need to carry out the procedure regularly until complete recovery.
During treatment, the nail plate will change color to orange. However, celandine can cause quite strong allergic reaction, so be careful.
Ointment medicinal herbs
With the treatment of fungus copes ointment of herbs. For this you need to grind the thyme to a powder. 1 part take powder of 4 parts vaseline. During treatment you can eat garlic to ensure a comprehensive treatment.
Ointment from honey and eucalyptus
To prepare this ointment you need to take 15 g of liquid honey, 15 g of softened butter and 1, 5 teaspoons of vinegar. This mixture is stirred until smooth and add 25 drops of eucalyptus essential oil or tea tree.
Stir the mixture again until a homogeneous mass and keep in the refrigerator for three days. The finished composition should be applied to affected areas once a day.
Prevention
- You must first monitor the hygiene of the skin that are at risk of lesions of fungal infection (skin of hands, feet, nail plates). Thoroughly wash the skin of the feet and hands with soap and water daily, after washing, carefully wipe the skin. Especially in the folds.
- Wear socks and shoes made of natural materials (cotton, linen). Such materials provide adequate ventilation and absorb excess moisture. Change socks every day to clean as the day they can accumulate pathogenic microorganisms.
- Shoes should be made of breathable materials. It should not squeeze, RUB or cause any inconvenience. For the summer time will fit most outdoor shoes with perforation.
- Regularly treat the inner part of the Shoe, especially one that can't be washed, special antibacterial agents. Let your shoes dry out after treatment.
- Spend underwear wash at a temperature below 60 °C. To the highest antimicotic and antibacterial effect linen should be ironed.
- Use the individual rubber shoes from easily processed materials while visiting public showers, saunas, baths and pools.
- Don't wear someone else's shoes, towels and bathrobes. Do not use other people's personal hygiene.
- Do not start the fungus. To start treatment when first symptoms. The sooner treatment begins, the easier it will be to cure.
- Carefully observe a specified physician treatment plan. If you finish the treatment before fully heal fungus, you may experience a relapse.
Conclusion
Nail fungus is a complex and common disease, which is very easy to get infected. To avoid this, follow the rules of prevention. However, if you are already infected – it is necessary to consult a doctor who will help you choose the appropriate individual treatment and get rid of this problem.