Nail fungus is a very common disease, it can often be encountered at the household level and not notice the infection process itself. How to diagnose this disease yourself? What preventive measures should be taken to keep your nails always healthy? What types of treatment are available? Is it possible to cope on your own if the fungus has already settled on your nails? We will try to analyze the situation together, and you will be able to choose the appropriate treatment option yourself together with estet-portal.com.
What is nail fungus? Diagnosis of fungus
Look closely at your nails. Any change in shape, color, transparency, may indicate that your nails are infected with a fungus. Excessive brittleness, compaction, or vice versa, softening of part of the nail plate may indicate that an infection is present. Nail fungus can affect both hands and feet. There may also be an unpleasant smell and itching, especially if the toenails are infected.
For the most part, this disease affects adult men and women, older people, children get sick in very rare cases, since the process of tissue regeneration in them is much faster.
Causes of nail fungus infection
There are many reasons for damage to the nail plate. This is inadequate hand and foot hygiene. Visiting public places without proper protective equipment: some are too lazy to put on slippers in a public shower, bath, sauna or changing room in the gym. You cannot use another person's personal hygiene products, even if you survive in the same family, this applies to washcloths, manicure and pedicure supplies, towels, etc. Socks, slippers, gloves can also keep fungal infection spores for a long time.
Weakened immunity, wounds, corns, prolonged use of antibiotics can also cause nail fungus.
Types of effective treatment for nail fungus
If you do not notice the infection in time or do not pay attention to changes, then the fungus will slowly and gradually spread over the surface of the nail, then the skin around it. The fungus can also penetrate into other organs, causing harm to the body as a whole. Since this disease has been known for a long time, there are many developments in its effective treatment:
- hardware treatment of fungus, a painless procedure aimed at destroying spores of a fungal infection using light (performed by a specialist);
- drug treatment: drugs are applied both to the very site of the fungus - locally, and inside (the degree of infection and the treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor) For local treatment, special varnishes, ointments, films, sprays and patches with antifungal drugs are provided. Their effectiveness is quite high, but the period of application is very long, since you have to wait until a new nail grows (2-3 months, depending on individual tissue regeneration). If the infection has gone deeper, the digestive tract organs (stomach, liver, intestines) may be affected. In such cases, oral systemic preparations are used.
- folk methods of treatment: lotions and rubbing based on black radish, chamomile, propolis, garlic, ammonia, soda, wine vinegar, boric acid or iodine.
However, no matter how good folk methods are, it is best to contact a specialist in this problem: a mycologist or dermatologist. Only they can correctly determine the area and depth of the infected area, the type of fungal infection, possible concomitant diseases.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Don't take risks and put yourself in danger by ignoring the simple rules for the prevention of fungal diseases:
- try to change your underwear every day: stockings, tights, socks, etc.
- Wear hygienically correct footwear that will keep your feet from sweating. the fungus grows well in a warm and humid environment;
- try on shoes in the store only through special socks or footprints;
- don't share your personal hygiene products with anyone;
- do not walk barefoot in public areas;
- Keep your immune system healthy and support it with proper nutrition and vitamins.
Remember: the beauty and health of nails is in your hands, do not get sick from estet-portal.com.
Add a comment