Many leg changes can make people think they have a nail fungus infection, from a medical point of view, known as onycomycosis. Nail fungal infection sometimes makes the contagious condition or is associated with poor hygiene. In fact, up to 10% of all adults have fungal nail infections. This percentage increases to 20% of adults aged 60 and older. In fact, non -normal nails can be caused by a number of conditions, including infection, but not limited, fungi. There are many other reasons why nails can look different.
Treatment of nail fungus
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection, usually caused by a special type of fungus, known as dermatophytes. Since most of these infections are relatively superficial, it seems that current procedures should work well. This is not the case because the nail is relatively impenetrable. Examples of states that are often mistaken for fungal nails include yellow (onikolysis), hematoma, green nails (caused by pseudomonas bacteria), bone (usually associated with psoriasis), nail infection (steamonichia) and late damage.
What other conditions can be taken for fungal nails?
Here are some other conditions that may be instead of fungal nails:
Lines and ridges: They are common and can be considered normal. They can worsen during pregnancy. A great habit in the center of the nail can be caused by damage. Some people may notice these changes after chemotherapy.
Senile nails: With age, nails become fragile and develop ridges and split the nail layers at the bottom of the nail. To avoid this, it is necessary to use special solutions and baths.
White or yellow nails can occur due to onikolysis. This means separating the plate from the base of the nails. The color that the shape is the air under the nail. The treatment consists of cutting the tile briefly, not to clean underneath and Polish. If you need to hide the color, you should wait for two to three months. Continuous onkelos can make nails susceptible to fungal infection. Red or black plaques due to hematoma or blood under the nail, as a rule, occur from damage. If there is a black place under the nail, which is not caused by damage, you should visit a dermatologist or orthopedic to ensure that this is not melanoma (the type of skin cancer associated with pigmented cells). Simple biopsy can exclude malignancy (cancer).
Green plates can be caused by pseudomonas bacteria, which grow under the nail, which is partially separated from the base of the nails. This infection can cause an unpleasant smell of nails. The treatment consists of cutting nails briefly every four weeks, do not clean, polish if you need to hide the color and wait for two to three months. It is also recommended to avoid soaking the tiles in any water (and drying the feet completely after washing. If the problem is not gone, there are drug recipes for treatment that the doctor prescribes. Psoriasis -affected nails can also be brown.
Edema and rash around the nail are called paronychia. This is a skin infection at the bottom of the nail (cuticle). If the infection is acute (it has a quick start), it is usually caused by bacteria. It can react to warm baths, but it is best not to self -medicate, but to see a doctor immediately. Chronic paronichia occurs when the cuticle is inflamed or irritated over time. Sometimes the fungus will use damaged skin and infect it. The therapy begins with the fact that the skin remains dry and is excreted by water. If the problem does not disappear, you should consult a doctor. Antibiotics are not used often, but can be required with a serious infection.
Chronic nail injury can lead to nail damage, which can very much resemble fungal nails. Some injuries can cause constant changes that can mimic the appearance of fungal nails. Microconidii trichophyton fungi, which live on the ground and can lead to fungal infections of the skin, hair or nails.
Causes What causes fungal infections and what are some risk factors?
In normal healthy people, nail fungal infections are often caused by a fungus, which falls into moist areas. Municipal showers, such as in the gym or pools, common sources. Crossing nails that use inadequate tool cleaning (for example, clipper, fillet and foot baths) in addition to life with family members with fungal diseases, are also risk factors. It is proven that athletes are more susceptible to nail fungi.
It is assumed that this is due to the fact that dense, sweaty boots associated with repeated damage to the nails in the legs. The presence of sports loads makes the fungus more likely to infect the nails in the legs. Repeated injury also weakens the plaque, which makes it more susceptible to fungal infection. These include everything that worsens the immune system can make a person prone to infection with a fungus. These include conditions such as AIDS, diabetes, cancer, psoriasis or the approval of any immunosuppressive, such as steroids.
Are the nails of the adhesive mushrooms?
Although the fungus has to be taken somewhere, it is not very contagious. It is enough to find more than one person in a family that has this is nothing more than an accidental coincidence. The fungus can be transmitted from person to person, but only with constant intimate contact.
What are the symptoms of fungi and nail marks?
Although fungal nails are usually cosmetic problems, some patients experience pain and discomfort. These symptoms can be exacerbated by shoes, activity and improper nail decoration. There are many types of fungi that can affect the nails. However, more common, however, is called Trichophyton rubrum. This type of fungus tends to infect the skin (known as dermatophytes) and manifests itself in the following specific methods. It starts at the edges of the nails and raises the plate up: it is called "distal onycomycosis". This is the most common type of nail fungal infection in adults and children (90% of cases).
It is the most common on the fingers, the thumb is usually the first to affect. Risk factors include old age, swimming, sports loads, psoriasis, diabetes, family members with an infection or a depressive immune system. It usually begins as a colorless area at the corner of the thumb and slowly spreads to the cuticle. It is often associated with onikolysis. The most common cause is T.
It starts at the base of the nail and raises a nail: it is called "proximal tendon onycomycosis". This is the least common type of fungal damage (about 3% of cases). It looks like a distal kind, but starts with a cuticle (nail base) and slowly spreads to the tip of the nail. This type is almost always found in people with a damaged immune system. It is rarely possible to see fragments under the tip of the nail with this condition, unlike distal sunny onychomycosis. The most common cause is Mold T. rubrum and dermatophytes.
Onychomycosis of the yeast: this type is caused by the top called Candida, and not the trichophyton fungus, called above. This is more common on nails and is a common cause of fungal nails. Patients can be associated with paronychia (cuticle infection). Candida can cause yellow, brown, white or thick nails. Some people who have this infection also have mushrooms in the mouth or chronic paronichia), which is also infected with pores. Onychomycosis with white surface: in this condition of the nail, a doctor can often clean the white powder material at the top of the nail plate. This condition is more common in tropical environments and caused by a well -known fungus and trihophytii managoff.
What tests are used by health specialists to diagnose fungal nails?
It was shown that only a physical examination is an unreliable method of diagnosing fungal nails. There are many conditions that can make the nails look damaged, so doctors also have difficult time. In fact, studies have shown that only about 50% - 60% of abnormal nail appearance cases were caused by a fungus. Therefore, laboratory tests are almost always shown. Some insurance companies may even require confirmation of a laboratory test for diagnosis to cover an antifungal drug. A plate of sample is taken either by cutting the nail, or drilling a hole in it. This section is sent to the laboratory where it can be painted, cultivated or tested using PCR (to identify genetic material of organisms) to identify the presence of fungi.
If the negative result of the biopsy is associated with a high clinical suspicion, for example, the tiles that are dyed, bleached, thickened and loose, this requires a second test due to the spread of false negative results in these tests. Most of the medicines used to treat nail fungus have side effects, so you need to be familiar with contraindications.
Which specialists treat nail fungus?
There are some doctors who can ensure the treatment of nail fungus. The attending doctor, dermatologist or orthopedist can treat nail fungus. Anydo of these doctors can provide a proper diagnosis and prescribe specific medicines for a fungus infection. An orthopedic or a dermatologist can shake the upper layer of the nail or even remove part of the nail.
What fungal nail treatment is required?
Creams and other relevant medicines are traditionally less effective against nail fungus than oral medicines. This is due to the fact that the nails are very complicated for the penetration of external applications. It is also difficult to adhere to local treatment schemes. Often, these medicines require daily applications over the period of up to one year to see the results. One of the main advantages of local treatment is the minimum risk of serious side effects and interaction with medicines compared to oral therapy.
Coral antifungal therapy works in about 50-75% of cases, depending on the drug. This can last from nine to twelve months to make sure it worked or not, because that is how long you need to create the nail. Even when the therapy works, the fungus can turn to about 20-50% of cases. Currently, oral antifungal therapy is considered the best tool for the treatment of fungi in the foot due to higher levels of treatment and a shorter duration of treatment compared to local therapy.
There are several innovative treatment methods that are still controlled:
One way to get rid of nail fungus is surgery. Surgical treatment of onhomicosis involves removing nails. However, this often provides only temporary relief, and relapse is common if additional antifungal (oral or local) drugs are not used at the same time. However, surgical removal can be justified if the affected nail is associated with other factors such as damage or infection.
Is it possible to prevent the appearance of nail fungus on the foot?
Since mushrooms really bloom in warm wet areas (for example, sweaty legs), there are certain areas that should be carefully avoided or used. It is assumed that showers, closet rooms and pools are fungal springs, although there are no studies that confirm this fact.
Nails and acrylic nails also make a plate less "breathing" and make it more susceptible to fungi infection. The mushrooms are everywhere - in the air, dust and soil. Hygiene measures, such as socks and spraying shoes, are reasonable, and maybe these measures can even help a little. However, by avoiding density, not for breathing or gender or gender for sports facilities, it may turn out to be better prevention. Daily washing of the feet and drying between the fingers can help prevent nail fungus. The fungus is transferred to pets, such as cats and dogs. However, they do not often cause a disease.
How to determine nail fungus?
Treating fungal nails can be difficult and can take up to 18 months. Reinfection and reinfection are common (new frequency of 40% -70%). An attempt to remove or change risk factors, if possible, is important to prevent re -infection. People who have medical illnesses who predisposes them to fungal lesions can be healed even longer by fungi.
Tips for preventing nail fungus treatment
The fungus causes only 50% -60% of non -normally swollen nails. It is difficult to immediately notice the difference between the different reasons of the bleached nails (even for the doctors). Onikomycosis is often not treated. The reasons for medical treatment is mainly needed with skin or nail skin damage.