Summer has arrived, we've all been waiting for that time, because it's getting warmer and more comfortable outside, which means it's finally time for light, open shoes. But what to do if you are embarrassed to take your feet off for reasons associated with one of the most common and troublesome diseases -nail fungus.
In this article, we will try to inform you as simply and quickly as possible abouthow to treatthis disease and how to get rid of it as efficiently and painlessly as possible.
Nail fungus. Treatment and causes of disease
First, let's see what nail fungus is. This is a living organism that needs nutrition, that is, the moisture (sweat) of your feet. One of the most common illnesses associated with a problem likenail fungusit is onychomycosis, most often caused by dermatophyte fungi and much less often by microsporia.
There are 5 types of onychomycosis lesions of the nail plate:
- Distal - coverage of the front of the nail;
- Side - coverage of the sides of the nail;
- Proximal - coverage of the back of the nail;
- Superficial - covering the nail with yellowish spots;
- Total - coverage of the nail plate as a whole;
All types of lesions have common visible symptoms such as discoloration, deformation, frailty.
Fungal infection foci
If you regularly go to the gym, swimming pool, spa or massage room, take good care of your personal hygiene, as in these places the fungal infection has all the conditions to spread. It has a high level of humidity and moderate temperature, which is the best stimulant for the development of ringworm (bacteria that causes fungal infection). You can catch the fungus if you walk into the shower or massage room barefoot.
How does nail fungus develop?
- Wear tight, uncomfortable shoes, as well as shoes made of synthetic material that compress the foot and block air circulation. In such an environment, ringworm develops at a rapid rate;
- Gel enamel (female), which promotes the development of fungi between the nail plate and the applied varnish;
- Increased sweating of the feet;
- Nail defects or injuries;
- Flat foot;
- Slow nail growth;
- Violation of metabolic processes in the nail;
- Insufficient blood supply to limbs;
- Diseases of the immune system;
- Harmful working conditions (dust, gas pollution, high humidity);
- Taking antibiotics, hormones;
To prevent infections, timely foot hygiene is needed, which is much easier to follow than treating an already neglected case. At an advanced stage, the fungus can spread not only to nearby nails, but also to enter other bloody human organs, which can contribute to the development of a host of other diseases associated with a weakened immune system.
There are also categories of people more susceptible to this disease than others, in view of the concomitant diseases, namely:
- With diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot);
- Being overweight (obese);
- With cardiovascular disease (venous disease).
Signs of fungus in toenails
So, how can you still recognize the fungus by the first signs, so as not to penetrate it deeply into the nail later on and avoid spreading from the fingers neighboring the healthy nail plates.
There are several symptoms why you may recognize nail fungus at an early stage:
- Yellowing of the nail plate;
- Slight deformation or modification (if the stem was too deformed);
- Crack and brittleness of the nail, which reveals the nerve endings and soft tissue of the toes (a light touch will bring pain and discomfort);
- unpleasant odor (associated with increased sweating).
Nail fungus photo
Modern methods of treating toenail fungus
If you find one of the above signs of illness, you should not self-medicate. There are a large number of bloggers and traditional healers on the net who will be happy to tell you what you need to apply to the affected nail or leg area, as well as what medicine to use to make it all go away in a week or two. Unfortunately, the process of treating fungal diseases is not as simple and fast as we would all like. It must be understood that even with a visible improvement in the overall clinical picture it is undesirable to stop treatment as this is fraught with the fact that sooner or later a relapse can occur and you will have to restart treatment. And choosing antifungal creams, sprays, gels yourself - you run the risk of aggravating the situation or wasting money without getting the desired effect. Only a specialist can select effective medications that will relieve you of infections after a thorough examination.
Modern medicine offers many treatments for fungi:
- Local treatment - the treatment is carried out with conventional antifungal agents, which in most cases only lead to a healing effect, but not to complete recovery;
- Medical treatment - complete cure is guaranteed, but side effects are not excluded, as the body suffers under the influence of antimycotics and pulse therapy toxicity;
- Surgical intervention - this method is ineffective as it does not always lead to complete recovery, as there is a high probability of regrowth of the defective nail. Also, don't forget the long recovery period;
- Laser treatment - Laser treatment for nail fungus is less effective. Due to the fact that laser treatment is based on the use of a hot beam, after this heat treatment the nail plates slow their growth and, therefore, the fungus is not blocked but continues to spread. Laser treatment of fungus is an ineffective method that is now virtually unused;
What is the best way to treat nail fungus?
Since the main task and objective is to relieve the patient of nail fungus quickly, effectively, without discomfort and unpleasant consequences, we recommend the Photodynamic Therapy method.
It is the newest fungus treatment method, based on the use of photosensitizers, which provide the formation of oxygen in the fungus cells and completely destroy the infection foci. Subsequently, the cells of the immune system (phagocytes) comprehensively absorb and remove the dead fungal cells from the body.
When using light, all fungal bacteria die in a matter of minutes. It is also important to note that this therapy is an absolutely painless process with no side effects.
The photodynamic therapy method has a number of advantages that every patient will appreciate:
- Effectiveness: just a few sessions are enough to remove the focus of infection. The number of procedures depends on the stage of development of the disease;
- Treatment without consequences: after photodynamic therapy sessions, there are no scars, scratches, micro-cracks, redness or irritation on the skin;
- Lack of pain: during the session, you will not feel a slight tingling sensation, constriction or any other unpleasant sensations;
- Completely replaces antibiotic treatment;
- Recommendations from leading international experts;
- The treatment process takes a minimum of time;
Fornail fungus treatmentwas successful, trust the professionals. We will accurately determine the stage of development of the disease, the condition of the skin and the nail plate and prescribe procedures with state-of-the-art equipment using effective drugs to level the ringworm. In a few weeks, you'll not only forget about the itch, you'll also be able to be proud of the perfect condition of your feet.
After the end of the course of treatment, it will be possible to perform the procedure for the nail plate prostheses. Plaque prosthesis is the right decision if you need to restore the nail plate quickly, efficiently, accurately, and return an incomparable look to your legs. In our clinic, this procedure is performed in modern equipment, using effective drugs with antifungal and anti-inflammatory action, using gel and acrylic materials that contain silver and platinum nanoparticles. The part of the nail plate that is partially lost (but if not more than 2/3 of the nail plate) after treating a fungal infection or injury to the nail plate is prosthetic.
We draw attention to the fact that the procedure is performed only in the absence of contraindications, before the prosthetic procedure is performed, treatment (in the presence of fungal infection and/or other type) or prophylactic use of a course of therapy is mandatory. using a complex of special antifungal and anti-infective drugs.
If you are faced with a problem as delicate as a fungal infection, contact a specialist medical center where experienced doctors will help you cure the disease.