Some diseases cannot be ignored because of their obvious, visible symptoms. One of these problems is onychomycosis. Nail fungus deforms them appearance causes itching and discomfort in the feet and hands. In the article we will consider in detail effective ways fight against onychomycosis.

You can approach the treatment of onychomycosis using several approaches. Both local remedies are recommended - ointments, creams and nail polishes, as well as systemic preparations. In addition, it is imperative to follow lifestyle recommendations. Nail fungus is not a fatal disease. It responds well to treatment if the treatment is properly prescribed and all necessary measures are observed.

Important! The most common causative agent of onychomycosis, the fungus Trichophyton rubrum, causes 90% of all fungal infections.

Ointments, creams, sprays

All ointments and creams for onychomycosis require long-term use, since the active substance must accumulate in the plate in an effective concentration. You can talk about the final cure after the growth of a healthy nail. Means differ in the active antimycotic component.

One of the most effective remedies for onychomycosis today. Terbinafine is included in clinical guidelines for the treatment of fungal infections.

Based on it, a number of drugs are produced:

Lamisil;
Fungoterbin;
Exifin;

All agents are applied twice daily until clinical and laboratory cure. Beforehand, hands or feet should be thoroughly washed and dried.

Naftifin

Exists only in the form of one drug - a cream, ointment or Exoderil solution. It effectively helps with onychomycosis and mycosis of the feet and hands. Exoderil is used once or twice a day until a healthy regrowth nail plate. You should not stop treatment earlier, as there is a high risk of recurrent fungal infection.

Important! Exoderil is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women.

It is used for onychomycosis in a long course once a day. The manufacturer recommends that after the growth of a clean nail, apply the product for another two weeks. This will avoid relapse.

Bifonazole is contained in the composition of the funds:

Bifunal cream or spray;
Bifosin cream or spray;
Mycospor cream or solution.

Sertaconazole

A modern antimycotic agent, which is contained in the composition of just one drug - Zalain cream.

Zalain cream is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug that kills skin fungus of any localization.

Sertaconazole has a wide spectrum of activity, it is effective against several types of fungi. With onychomycosis, it is recommended to apply twice a day to the affected nail plate. The course of treatment is at least a month.

One of the best known antifungal drugs, it is still used in the treatment of athlete's foot. It is used twice a day, applied to the affected nails, covering the skin around.

Clotrimazole-based products differ in manufacturer and price.

This is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug, so you can find shampoos, creams, ointments and sprays with ketoconazole on sale. They effectively get rid of dandruff, fungal infections of smooth skin and onychomycosis. A ketoconazole-based Nizoral cream is used twice a day until a healthy nail grows.

Important! Any local remedy can cause an allergic reaction: if there is a burning sensation and redness, the drug should be washed off.

Lucky

As one of the options for external therapy for onychomycosis, nail polishes are used. The drug is applied to the affected surface, covering it completely. The antimycotic effect is provided by the active substance: amorolfine or ciclopirox.

An effective antifungal agent that actively accumulates in the nail plate. Amorolfine penetrates deep into, persists for 7-10 days, therefore daily application not required. Main disadvantage drugs based on amorolfine- high cost, which is somewhat different for different manufacturers.

In addition to the bottle with the drug, the kit includes files for removing the affected part of the nail, spatulas for applying the drug and alcohol wipes for pre-treatment of the nail.

The manufacturer recommends using preparations with 8% ciclopirox solution for 24 weeks. In this case, the first month it is necessary to apply the product every other day, the second month twice a week and then once a week from the growth of a clean nail. The total duration of treatment should be at least 6 months.

Preparations containing ciclopirox:

Systemic drugs

With significant fungal lesions, only external therapy is not enough. In such cases, it is recommended systemic antifungals.

All systemic drugs have a toxic effect on the liver, therefore, before their appointment, it is recommended to examine the therapist and conduct liver tests. If transaminases deviate from normal, as well as in a number of chronic diseases, systemic drugs are contraindicated.

The fungus can persist on clothes and shoes, causing a recurrence of the disease. Therefore, it is important, in parallel with antifungal agents, to carry out antimycotic treatment of shoes, socks, tights during the entire course of treatment once a month.

Attention should be paid to the condition of the feet. Increased sweating, the smallest cracks, rare hygiene procedures - all this is fertile ground for the fungus. Feet should be washed regularly, 1-2 times a day, using a non-irritating soap. After hygiene procedures, be sure to dry the skin well, it is advisable not to put on socks immediately.

Avoid synthetic, nylon tights and socks, as they do not allow the skin to breathe and create a greenhouse effect. The skin actively sweats, the risk of a fungal infection increases. Shoes made of synthetic non-breathable fabrics have a similar effect.

Before applying external antifungal drugs, the affected limbs should be steamed in a bath with soap and a small amount of baking soda. This soap and soda treatment allows you to soften the affected nails. After that, the nail is cut off as much as possible and sawed off. It is recommended to steam the nails in the bath once a week. All means must be individual: basin, nail files, scissors, shoes.

Important! For the period of treatment, visits to public baths and pools are contraindicated.

Choice of treatment

Tactics for each specific case of onychomycosis will be different. The choice of therapy depends on:

area of the affected nail;
skin involvement;
associated pathologies;
responsibility of a person, his readiness for regular nail treatments.

If the fungus has affected no more than a third or half of the nail plate of one or two fingers, then only local remedies are recommended. In this situation, creams, ointments and nail polishes will be effective. Systemic drugs are not indicated.

In some cases, a person is not ready for regular treatment of the nail plates. Treatment of onychomycosis is always a long process, which usually lasts about six months or more. Therefore, some people prefer oral antimicrobial topical therapy because they are not time consuming.

However, there is also a reverse situation, for example, pregnancy or severe somatic pathology (liver failure) in combination with a fairly common onychomycosis. In such a situation, tableted antimycotics are undesirable. Therefore, local forms are recommended: creams and varnishes.

When choosing between creams and varnishes, it should be borne in mind that creams and ointments tend to be absorbed for a long time. At least 15-30 minutes after application, it is undesirable to wear shoes or socks, as the product is smeared. In addition, the drug can contaminate clothing. In this regard, varnishes have a clear advantage: they dry on the surface of the nail in a couple of minutes, allowing people who are actively working and studying to live a full life.

But with a combined lesion, when there is onychomycosis and mycosis of smooth skin, nail polish alone will not be effective enough. You will need an additional cream or systemic antifungal agent.

Fungal nail infections are one of the most common in dermatological practice. Treatment is not difficult, however, due to the long regrowth of the nail plate, it turns out to be delayed in time. Proper adherence to recommendations for nail care in combination with antimycotic therapy allows you to permanently get rid of the fungus. In the future, advice on foot hygiene and the preventive use of antifungal agents at each visit to saunas, baths, and pools remain relevant.

Video - Treatment of onychomycosis

The provides paper the data on the pathogens of onychomycosis and the clinical types of nail affections and describes the current treatments of onychomycosis with highly effective systemic and topical antifungal agents. The paper also shows that cure may be achieved by the correct choice of antimycotic agents by taking into account the type and form of affection, the extent of the process, as well as the patient's health status (the presence of concomitant diseases, immunity ).

Zh. V. Stepanova - Central Research Institute of Dermatovenereology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow.
Zh.V. Stepanova - Central Research Dermatovenereological Institute, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow

IN For the past 20 years, mycoses of the feet (hands) have been the most common fungal diseases in all countries of the world, while nail plates are also affected in 40% of cases.
Onychomycosis can be caused by dermatophytes, yeast-like and mold fungi. Of the dermatophytes, the main causative agent is consideredTrichophyton rubrum isolated during culture in 60 - 70% of cases. The fungus can affect the nail plates on the toes, hands, smooth skin in any area skin, as well as long and vellus hair. The second stimulus Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale affects the nails of the feet only on the I and V fingers and the skin of the III - IV interdigital folds, the upper third of the sole, the lateral surfaces of the foot and fingers and the arch of the foot. Very rarely causes damage to the nails on the I and V toes of the feet fungus Epidermophyton floccosum. However, onychomycosis is often caused by mixed flora: dermatophytes and yeast-like or mold fungi, possibly attaching a bacterial infection. From mold fungi the most common causative agent is a fungus Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, causing, as a rule, damage to the nails on the big toes, while the nails become Brown color. Less commonly, moldy onychomycosis can be caused by fungi of the genusAspergillus, Alternaria, Acremonium, Fusarium and etc.
Nail damage caused by dermatophytes can be distal, when the change in the nail starts from the free edge, lateral and proximal.
Observed several forms of nail damage in onychomycosis: normotrophic,in which the normal configuration of the nails is preserved, but they become dull, with a yellowish tinge at the free edge, with a thickening in the corners of the nail plate due to the accumulation of horny masses; hypertrophic- thickening of the nail over the entire surface due to subungual hyperkeratosis, the nails become dull, dirty gray, loosened at the free edge; atrophic- the nails are significantly destroyed, as if corroded from the free edge, the nail bed is partially exposed, covered with a layer of loose and dry crumbling masses; defeat by type onycholysis- the nail plates are separated from the nail bed, become dull, sometimes dirty gray in color, the normal color of the nail remains at the base. There may be a combined lesion of the nails in one patient.
Behind last years significant progress has been made in studying the causes of onychomycosis, in particular, the possibility of spreading Trichophyton rubrum by the lymphatic route.Trichophyton rubrum And Trichophyton interdigitale can cause an allergic restructuring of the body, in addition, dermatophytes and some mold fungi can have a toxic effect on the body.

Treatment of onychomycosis

Currently, mycologists have a wide range of antifungal drugs for systemic and external action in various dosage forms (ointment, cream, solution, varnish, powder). However, the problem of treating patients with onychomycosis is still relevant, since relapses of the disease are often observed, candida onychia is difficult to treat.
When recommending a treatment method to a patient, it is necessary first of all to take into account its therapeutic efficacy, safety, method of application, and also cost.
To obtain a therapeutic effect, antimycotics with a fungicidal effect on various types of pathogens, the ability to accumulate in the nail matrix and nail bed, are preferred. An important point is the way the drug is used.
When choosing a treatment method, it is necessary to take into account the type and form of the lesion, the degree of spread, the duration of the disease, the rate of nail growth and the general condition of the patient (the presence of concomitant diseases, the state of the immune system, etc.).

Treatment with antimycotics systemic action

Treatment with systemic antimiotics is carried out without removing the nail plates.
Daily dose terbinafine for adults 250 mg, taken 1 time per day or 125 mg 2 times a day during or after meals daily. The duration of treatment is from 6 weeks to 3 months. and depends on the age of the patient, the shape and area of the lesion. It is possible to reduce the duration of treatment if the horny layers are mechanically removed, especially in the hypertrophic form.
In the first days of treatment, side effects such as nausea, discomfort or discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract are possible. Contraindications to the appointment of terbinafine are pregnancy and individual sensitivity to the drug.
With onychomycosis of the feet (hands), caused by dermatophytes, molds, yeast-like fungi and mixed flora, treatment can be carried out itraconazole, it is prescribed by an intermittent method: 200 mg (2 capsules) 2 times a day after meals for 7 days, then a 3-week break is made. With onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes or yeast-like fungi, 3-7 day cycles are sufficient, with moldy onychomycosis - 2-3 cycles, 4 cycles of therapy should be carried out in elderly patients and with slow growth nails. With onychomycosis of the hands, especially in faces young age, the therapeutic effect can be obtained during 2 cycles of therapy.
Studies of the pharmacokinetics of itraconazole in the nail tissue found that the drug penetrates into the nail plate through the nail matrix, as well as by diffusion from the nail bed and persists in the focus of infection for 6 months. after the end of treatment during 3 cycles. The duration of treatment depends on the area of damage to the nail and the rate of growth of the nail plate.
It is not recommended to prescribe treatment with itraconazole for patients with onychomycosis with impaired liver and kidney function, pregnant and lactating women. With reduced acidity of the stomach, corrective therapy is prescribed. Itraconazole is well tolerated. Side effects are possible, but rarely (gastrointestinal disturbances, skin itching, fatigue, heaviness in the head), they disappear without discontinuation of the drug.
With candidal paronychia and onychia, treatment is effective fluconazole. The drug is prescribed 200 mg per day after meals (double dose of 400 mg on the first day) daily for 3-4 months. Fluconazole therapy can be combined with topical antifungals: bifonazole, ciclopirox, clotrimazole, isoconazole in the form of a cream or solution. Bifonazole is rubbed into the area of the roller 1 time in the evening, the rest of the drugs - 2 times a day.

Local therapy

If there are contraindications to the use of systemic antimycotics, bifonazole cream in the kit for treating nails in combination with 1% bifonazole cream, 5% amorolfine lacquer, 8% ciclopirox lacquer can be prescribed to patients with onychomycosis of the feet (hands).
Treatment with bifonazole cream in the nail treatment kit consists of two stages. At the first stage, the affected nails are removed using a cream consisting of bifonazole and urea. The cream is applied to the areas of the affected nails under an occlusive dressing using a dispenser, distributed over the surface of the nail and left for 24 hours under a waterproof plaster. Before the next application of the cream, the bandage is changed, a warm bath is made and the easily detachable part of the affected nail is removed with a special file. Application creams continue until the nail plate or part of it is removed. Our results showed that with the help of this dosage form, it is possible to painlessly remove the nail plate in layers within a period of 4 to 28 days (on average after 16 days), while the nail bed is being treated at the same time. The patient must be warned that the removal of the nail should be carried out only according to the specified method and that the blade should not be used. Subsequent therapy consists in treating the bed with 1% bifonazole cream for 4 weeks or more, depending on the degree of damage to the nail. The cream is rubbed into the bed once a day, at the same time it is applied to the skin of the feet and interdigital folds in the evening after washing the feet and drying them. Clinical observation and mycological studies are carried out before the start of treatment, after detachment of the nail, at the end of treatment, then after 1, 3, 6, 12 months. after the end of treatment. With the distal type of lesion, the growth of healthy nails is observed from 1.5 to 4 months, with the distal-proximal from 6 to 12 months, however, not all patients recover, with the proximal type there is a clinical improvement. It should be noted that bifonazole cream for the treatment of nails is well tolerated, which makes it possible to use this method in patients with onychomycosis. and foot eczema. You can simultaneously treat eczema. Bifonazole nail cream can be widely used in elderly patients.
With onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes, yeast-like and mold fungi, with a lesion area of up to 80%, an intact hole and a nail bed, you can use 5% varnish and 0.25% amorolfine cream. Nail polish is applied to the affected nails of the toes or hands once every 7 days. Before applying it, it is necessary to remove the affected areas of the nail with the file attached to the varnish. Then clean and degrease the surface of the nail with a swab moistened with alcohol.
With repeated use of varnish, the infected areas of the nails are again removed with a file. Before processing, it is necessary to remove the remnants of varnish from the nails with a swab, soaked in alcohol.
On the skin of the feet, palms apply 0.25% cream amorolfine 1 time per day in the evening. Treatment is carried out continuously until healthy nails grow back. The duration of treatment depends on the degree and form of the lesion, the localization of mycosis and is 6 months for onychomycosis of the hands and 9-12 months for feet. Treatment on the skin is carried out until the resolution of clinical manifestations (at least 2-6 weeks) and a few more days after clinical recovery. Tolerance of varnish and cream is satisfactory, sometimes when applying varnish, a slight transient burning sensation in the nail area can be observed, and when using the cream, slight skin irritation (hyperemia, itching, burning sensation). Lacquer is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to it.
With the distal type of onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes, yeast-like and mold fungi, you can use 8% ciclopirox varnish in combination with 1% cream or 1% ciclopirox solution. Before applying varnish, most of the affected nail is removed with a file and filed to create an uneven surface. Lacquer is applied to the nail plate once a day with a thin layer. The nail polish layer is removed once a week with nail polish remover. Such treatment is carried out for 1 month. Then the varnish is applied to the nail plate 2 times a week for 1 month, starting from the 3rd month - 1 time per week. The duration of treatment depends on the form of the lesion, but should not exceed 6 months. Cream or solution of ciclopirox is applied to the skin 2 times a day (at least 2 weeks). After the resolution of clinical manifestations, the drug is used for another 1-2 weeks to prevent relapse.
In the distal type of onychomycosis, you can clean the infected part of the nail with bifonazole nail cream, and then rub a broad-spectrum antimycotic for external use 2 times a day into the nail bed or apply in the evening under an occlusive dressing (exoderil, econazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, bifonazole, clotrimazole, etc.). At the same time, the treatment of smooth skin of the feet or hands is carried out until the resolution of clinical manifestations. The duration of treatment until the growth of healthy nails is from 6 to 12 months or more.
Based on many years of experience, we believe that the therapeutic effect in the treatment of onychomycosis will depend on right choice antifungal agent, taking into account the type, form of nail damage and the prevalence of the process, as well as regular disinfection of shoes (gloves) until healthy nails grow back.

Literature:

1. Stepanova Zh. V. Fungal diseases. -M.: Kron-Press. - 1996. - S. 176.
2. Stepanova Zh.V. - Doctor of Medicine. Sci., Leading Researcher, Mycology Group, Central Research Institute of Dermatovenerology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow.

Onychomycosis is an infectious fungal disease of the nails. The disease can be caused by various pathogens, but in almost all cases, it manifests itself in the same way. Men suffer from onychomycosis more often than women.

With onychomycosis, the fungus invades the tissue of the nail plate and destroys it. thereby creating a nutrient medium for themselves. Not all fungi are capable of infecting nails. Most often, the causative agents of the disease are:

yeast fungi;
Dermatophytes;
Mold fungi.

Causes and symptoms of onychomycosis of the nails:

Fungus Causes and Contributing Factors

The disease has an infectious etiology, certain types of pathogens, and, therefore, its sources of infection. Most often, infection occurs:

By contact with infected people. Most of the fungi that cause onychomycosis belong to the category of anthroponotic infections that affect only humans. In this case, the cause of infection can be the use of shared towels, nail scissors, washcloths, removable shoes, slippers. Spores of such fungi can be perfectly preserved in the soil, as in an incubator for a long time, so there is no need to walk barefoot on the ground.
By contact with animals that can act as carriers of the pathogen.
From environment. There are types of fungi (mainly mold groups) that do not require living organisms for life and development. They can get to humans from water, soil, infected plants.

The chances of a rapid development of the disease increase with some factors, for example:

With diabetes;
In old age;
With vascular diseases;
Weak immunity;
Mechanical injuries of nails or skin diseases;
With regular visits to swimming pools, saunas or baths.

Classification of nail fungus

Consider the types of fungus of the nail plate, depending on the pathogen. Most often it is dermatophytes.

Dermatophytes

This group of pathogens of onychomycosis includes fungi (80% -90% of diseases):

Dermatophytes are imperfect fungi that can infect the skin, hair and nails..

The disease occurs against the background of reduced immunity. In this case, the infection is transmitted through contact with infected people, animals, or through soil in which fungal spores can be stored for a long period.

In the process of growth, almost all fungi of this genus form mycelium (mycelium), which is attached to the nail, thereby causing its destruction.

yeast mushrooms

The causative agent of the disease is most often:

candida tropical;
Candida parapsilosis.

Yeast fungi of the genus Candida live on human skin and mucous membranes, and this is the norm..

In the event that the patient's immunity weakens, they begin to actively multiply, causing certain diseases, including onychomycosis.

For infection, contact with another person is not required.

This genus of fungi does not form mycelium, so the destruction of the nail plate is rare.

mold mushrooms

Most often, from mold fungi, onychomycosis is caused by:

Asperqillus;
Fusarium;
Scopulariopsis brevicaulis.

More than 40 types of fungi can infect nails. They rarely become the cause of onychomycosis. The source of infection, in this case, is difficult to isolate, as well as to diagnose the disease.

There are no typical symptoms that would distinguish nail infection with a mold fungus, so the disease can be determined only after testing. Since the treatment of onychomycosis of the nails differs from that prescribed for the disease caused by dermatophytes, patients (often unsuccessfully) try to get rid of the disease.

Mold fungi quickly destroy the nail, can spread throughout the body and damage internal organs.

Types of onychomycosis

Forms and features of nail lesions

Distral-lateral form

The causative agent of this form of the disease, in more than 80% of cases, is the fungus Trichophyton rubrum, which often affects the nails on the lower extremities. This form of the disease is initial stage and indicates that the infection has occurred recently.

The nail plate is affected from the free edge or from the side surfaces.

Narrow gray-yellow stripes form on it, forming a zone of dystrophy, which gradually spread to the base of the nail. She becomes brittle and exfoliates.

With the progression of the disease: the nail thickens, exfoliates and can acquire different shades (from brown to dirty brown).

Much less often, the causative agents of this form of onychomycosis are yeast fungi (Candida albicans) and mold fungi (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis).

white surface mold

This form of onychomycosis is less common than the previous one. Almost always, the causative agent is Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and only in isolated cases, the mold Asperqillus can become the cause.

Small islands appear on the surface of the nail plate white color, which gradually merge and capture the entire area of the nail. It starts to crumble () and takes on a gray tint.

The nail bed is not affected and the skin surrounding the nail is not inflamed. The disease mainly affects elderly patients.

proximal form

This type of disease is rare. The causative agent can be both dermatophytes and mold or yeast fungi. It occurs when the infection passes from the periungual roller or skin.

This article is often read:

The color of the nails changes, spots appear in the area of \u200b\u200bthe nail hole, and the nail quickly begins to flake off. In this case, a secondary infection (re-infection) joins.

The neglected form of the fungus is treated for a long time, you can read more.

Dystrophic form

It is a consequence of the lack of treatment of previous forms of the disease. The nail is completely affected.

The nail fold thickens, the plate itself is almost completely destroyed and can no longer grow normally, only its remnants are visible.

Treatment methods for onychomycosis

For the treatment of onychomycosis, the following methods are used:

Topical treatment of nail fungus

Such treatment is carried out mainly with the use of special ointments, creams and other preparations containing substances that effectively destroy fungi. Such funds can be used, both independently, in full courses, and as part of complex combination therapy.

The advantage here is that the components of the ointments are delivered immediately to the site of the lesion, due to which the treatment process is not only more efficient, but also faster. However, there is also a downside. Means, as a rule, cannot penetrate into the deep nail layers, providing only a superficial effect. Therefore, there is a high chance of recurrence with this treatment.

The most commonly used drugs for the treatment of nails with onychomycosis:

(Isoconazole) as a cream, () as creams or ointments, () as creams, ointments or special solutions. These drugs belong to the Azolov group. Their action is reduced to inhibition of the development of microorganisms, the destruction of their cells with the help of enzymatic effects. They should be applied 1-2 times a day.
cream (Terbinafine), (Naftifin) in the form of a cream or a special solution. Means belong to the group of allylamines and destroy the membranes of fungal cells, which leads to their destruction. Apply them twice a day.
, Cyclopyroxolamine and other derivatives of the well-known Hydrocortisone, which actively inhibit the development of fungi, gradually causing their death. Apply twice a day with obligatory drying after application.
Salicylic ointment 3%. The tool effectively destroys dead keratinocytes, depriving the pathogen of nutrition.

Internal treatment of onychomycosis

Otherwise, this type of therapy is called systemic, and it is carried out using special capsules and tablets, the active substance of which is absorbed into the blood through the intestinal wall. The advantage of such funds is that their components are able to accumulate in the affected nails, creating a prolonged action and reducing the likelihood of further relapse. But the effect of them comes more slowly than from local drugs.

Such means include:

Surgical intervention

Today, operations to remove affected nails are already very rare, thanks to the vast possibilities of modern medicine and the availability of a wide range of drugs and various therapy methods.

The main indication for surgery at present is only the situation when a bacterial infection is added to the fungal infection of the nails, which requires radical measures. Also, nail removal is carried out when no medical treatment has given the expected effect.

As a rule, a secondary infection complicating the condition joins when basic hygiene rules are not followed, the disease is neglected, or the platinum of the affected nail is severely destroyed. Unlike fungi, additional infections can affect different types tissues, which contributes to the appearance of an inflammatory process and suppuration.

In this case nail to be removed so that doctors have the opportunity to conduct a more thorough treatment of a bacterial infection and prevent its spread.

It is important to remember that even the removal of the affected plate does not eliminate onychomycosis, therefore, it is necessary to take special drugs in any case, as well as follow other recommendations of doctors.

Today, instead of surgery, doctors are increasingly resorting to the procedure of avulsion of the affected nail, if necessary, to remove it. For this, the element is treated with special preparations, for example, Nogtivit, which contributes to rapid layer-by-layer dying and does not cause pain.

Alternative treatment of nail fungus

Treatment of onychomycosis of the nails at home may be accompanied by the use of traditional medicine. Of course, such an ailment can be completely cured only with the help of serious drug therapy, but some folk remedies are quite capable of slowing down the development of fungi and the destruction of the nail caused by them.

Before using any remedy, you should consult with a dermatologist or trichologist. The doctor will identify the type of pathogen and select the most appropriate drugs for treatment.

Hygiene for nail fungus and lifestyle

To prevent the disease from spreading and infecting your family and friends, some simple rules must be observed:

No need to wear someone else's shoes, even for a simple fitting. Since particles of the pathogen may remain in it.
It is better to avoid visiting public pools, baths or saunas, but if you need to go there, you need to wear rubber slippers and stay in them all the time.
After a bath or shower, the feet must be wiped dry and immediately treated with special anti-fungal agents.
In a residential area, it is important to wear slippers, preferably closed, but not creating a greenhouse effect. They should be disinfected after each treatment of the feet.
Wash the things of an infected person separately from the rest, and put them on a personal shelf.
After washing a sick person, the bath or shower must not only be disinfected, but also treated with special solutions against fungi, working only with rubber gloves and shoes.
The room should be ventilated frequently and wet cleaned daily using disinfectants, removing all carpets from the floor.

It is important to remember that fungi do not react to temperature changes, they do not die even at + 100 ° C and at - 60 ° C, so clothes should be disinfected, not boiled.

Prevention of nail fungus

Now you know how to treat onychomycosis of the nails, but infection can be avoided. In order not to get such an infection, it is necessary to wear the right shoes. In summer, it should not be cramped and completely closed. In winter, you should not be in boots or boots for a long time. Shoes must be right size, comfortable and light, do not rub, do not squeeze the leg and do not form corns.

Socks, stockings or tights must be natural materials without synthetics to ensure normal air circulation and avoid sweating. It is important to remember that the alkaline environment created by perspiration is an ideal environment for the rapid development of such microorganisms.

It is important to follow some rules, for example:

Nail fungus is an unpleasant disease of an infectious nature. It causes not only aesthetic inconvenience, but can also lead to a variety of complications - from a secondary bacterial infection to the spread of the lesion to other parts of the body. Fortunately, traditional medicine knows many recipes for dealing with the disease, which sometimes turn out to be more effective than modern medications.

It is called a fungal infection of the nail and nail roller on the hands or feet. This disease is one of the most common dermatological problems worldwide. According to some reports, this problem occurs in 5 - 15% of the population. The incidence is slightly higher in men and increases sharply in old age ( after 60 years, onychomycosis occurs 3-4 times more often).

Fungal nail infections can be caused by various types microorganisms, but almost always has similar manifestations. The disease is contagious, so both dermatologists and infectious disease specialists are involved in its treatment. Concomitant systemic diseases and other factors contributing to infection play an important role in the development of the disease.

Isolated onychomycosis is rare. Most often, patients have a parallel skin lesion on the feet or hands. Due to the absence of severe symptoms and a serious threat to health or life, people usually do not go to a specialist for a thorough diagnosis and treatment for a long time. In this regard, onychomycosis is often referred to more as a cosmetic problem.

The structure of the nail

From the point of view of anatomy, nails are a derivative of the surface layer of the skin ( epidermis). They are located on the tips of the fingers and toes from the back. Nails do not have a pronounced physiological function, but some researchers point to their protective role. To a greater extent, they are necessary for various manipulations in everyday life.

In the structure of the nail, it is customary to distinguish two main parts:

Nail body. The body is the visible flat plate on the back of the finger. Normally, it has a shiny surface, has a fairly high strength and a certain elasticity. The front edge of the body is free. The lateral edges abut against the skin rollers, limiting the growth of the nail in width. The thickness of the body is a few millimeters and is determined mainly by genetic factors. It has a layered structure, in connection with which layer-by-layer destruction or exfoliation of the nail plate can be observed. Proximal edge of the body ( located at the base) connects to the root of the nail. The lower surface of the nail plate is firmly attached to the underlying tissues with the help of short ligaments. They firmly hold the nail in their bed.
nail root. The root or matrix is the growth zone. It is located under the skin roller at the base ( cuticle) and contains specific epithelial cells. In most people, this zone is visible at the very edge in the form of a narrow white strip ( hole). The cells responsible for nail growth are called onychoblasts. They have the ability to quickly divide and form the actual plate of the body. As new cells are formed, the entire body of the nail is shifted to the edge of the finger.

From the point of view of the chemical structure, a special protein, keratin, predominates in the nails. It is responsible for the fibrous structure of the fabric and gives it higher strength. In humans, keratin is present in the surface layer of the epithelium of the skin and in the hair. In animals, the horns and some parts of the bird's beak are made of keratin. It is the amount of keratin in the nails that largely determines the strength of the nails as a whole. Like other proteins, it is produced by cells from the genetic information encoded in DNA. As a result, some people's nails may be more brittle, soft, or thin. Sometimes this is not a symptom of any pathology, but an individual feature.

In addition to keratin, nails contain a small amount of fat and water. This gives the fabric a specific sheen and a certain elasticity. From additional chemical elements calcium, phosphorus, zinc and chromium are present. All of them are important for the normal division of onychoblasts and tissue growth. With some disorders in the exchange of calcium and phosphorus, nail growth may slow down or stop altogether.

Nail growth is a physiological process and occurs at an average rate of 0.5 - 2 mm per week. At the same time, the nails of the hands grow almost twice as fast. Growth disorders are one of the signs of onychomycosis or other diseases. In general, nails can respond to many different pathological processes in the body, changing their shape, color or growth rate.

Fungi affecting the nails

Not all fungi can infect nails. Determination of a specific pathogen in a patient is of great importance for predicting the disease and prescribing effective treatment. This is due to the fact that different groups of pathogens are sensitive to different drugs.

From the point of view of epidemiology, each individual geographical area is characterized by its own types of fungi. However, there are a number of microorganisms that are found almost everywhere. Each of them has its own characteristics in the development of onychomycosis. Sometimes this helps to suspect the type of fungus even before the appointment of a special analysis.

The most common causative agents of onychomycosis are:

dermatophytes;
yeast mushrooms;
fungi.