Onychomycosis is a pathology in which fungi that have penetrated the body begin to affect the nail plates on the arms and legs. The pathogens of pathology feed on keratin, so against the background of the disease, nails are inevitably destroyed. However, yellow tuberous nails are not the only problem that patients will face.Than the nail fungus is dangerous- The information that every person faced with this problem must find out.
Causes and symptoms of nail fungus
Infection occurs when the fungus gets from another person. Often infection occurs in wet warm rooms (pool, sauna, shower), where the fungus can survive outside the carrier for some time. A short time pathogens live in the soil, but when the ultraviolet rays of dermatophytes and microspores come in, they quickly die.
Pathogenic fungi surround a person everywhere, but among all people from the disease, 25-30% of the population suffer. This is due to the fact that the immune system can fight infection. After the fungus penetrates the nail and begins to actively multiply, the efforts of immunity without medications will be almost impossible to cope with the disease. But while the fungus is just trying to gain a foothold on the body, immunity is actively fighting them.
Reducing immunity occurs with:
- stress;
- sleep deficiency;
- pathologies: diabetes, hepatitis, dysbiosis, hormonal disorders;
- rehabilitation of the body after a cold, surgical interventions;
- skin diseases;
- extremities injuries.
You can recognize the fungus from the first days after infection. The pathological process begins with the damage to the thumbs or little fingers: the nails lose their shine, yellowness and spots appear on them. When cutting the free edge, the plate crumbles like chalk, crumbled. As the disease progresses, the nail becomes bugrous and thick, with the exception of the onycholytic form of the disease. The skin around the fingers itchs, blushes, an unpleasant sour smell comes from the fingers.
If the nail fungus is not treated, pathology will progress.The consequences of nail fungusVarious, because the pathogen of pathology penetrates deeper into the body and begins to attack internal organs.
The opinion of doctors:
Nail fungus is a common disease, which, unfortunately, is often underestimated. Doctors categorically do not recommend ignoring this problem, since it can lead to serious complications in the absence of treatment. An increase in fungal infection can lead to deformation of nails, their detachment, and in some cases even to complete destruction. In addition, nail fungus can become a source of skin diseases and other infections, which increases the risk for overall health. Therefore, it is important to contact a specialist at the first signs of the disease in order to avoid possible complications and start treatment in a timely manner.
Than the fungus for the body is dangerous
The fact of the fungus itself indicates that the body's defenses do not work actively enough. Most often this is a temporary decrease in immunity, but there is also a risk of hidden immunodeficiency.
Due to the fact that the disease is considered non-hazardous, many people do not think,than the nail fungus for the body is dangerous. If it proceeds without much discomfort, and a person does not bother the change in the appearance of the nail, he can ignore a long meticulous treatment. However, factors may occur that will reduce the work of immunity and make the body defenseless before the infection: a long period of taking antibiotics, drug immunosuppression, organs transplantation.
Therefore, it is important to know aboutWhat does the nail fungus lead to the legsand hands.
Complications of the fungus
Fleet fungus complicationsAnd they include hands:
- distribution of fungus to other organs and systems;
- change in immune status;
- exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
- deterioration in the appearance of nails;
- psychological discomfort, depression;
- Finger deformation: arthritis, flat feet;
- Exacerbation of allergic reactions.
If you do not treat nail fungus, consequences develop in a few years. But if a person has chronic pathologies, their exacerbation against the background of a fungal infection can accelerate the change in immune status. The problem will be of the nature of the closed circle: both the fungus and its complications will progress.
How I forever destroyed nail fungus! Nail fungus on the legs at home
The experience of other people
Nail fungus is not just a cosmetic problem, it is a serious disease that requires attention and timely treatment. People facing this problem often note not only the unpleasant appearance of nails, but also constant itching, burning and an unpleasant odor. However, if you do not start treatment on time, nail fungus can lead to serious complications. In the worst case, the infection can spread to other nails or even to the skin, causing painful ulcers. In addition, a fungal infection can cause allergic reactions and even problems with the immune system. Therefore, it is important not to postpone the visit to the doctor and begin treatment at the first signs of nail fungus.
Diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis
Diagnosis is usually carried out by examining and collecting an anamnesis. If the diagnosis is difficult or you need to differentiate the pathology from similar ones, laboratory diagnostics are used. For the study, a fragment of the affected nail plate is taken, which is examined under a microscope. The identified microorganisms are sent for sowing to determine whether there is a fungal or bacterial infection (staphylococcus, streptococcus).
To warn everythingThe consequences of the nail fungusAnd hands, you need to choose therapy. It is divided into local and general. The first is prescribed at the initial stages of the development of the disease, the second - with advanced onychomycosis.
The tablets allow you to recover faster without daily procedures, the active substance accumulates in the nail plate, continuing to act even after the termination of the course. But tablets have many contraindications, including:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- liver damage;
- renal failure.
In this case, local therapy is recommended: ointments, creams, solutions and sprays. They are applied to the nails every day, some in a few hours. The most popular drugs that eliminate the disease and preventThe consequences of the nail fungus on the legs on the body, are varnishes, pills, etc.
Therapeutic varnishes that allow you to take care of sick nails only 2 times a week are very popular. They mask signs of the disease, and also destroy its pathogen. You can only purchase them in a pharmacy, it is not recommended to use ordinary varnish during therapy.
It is important to understand that therapy leads to the complete destruction of the disease only after the completion of the course of treatment. Until this moment, the drugs simply dull the activity of fungi, so a person may not guess,What threatens nail fungusuntil he was completely cured.
Recipes of non -traditional therapy can be used as an auxiliary method.
- Apple vinegar creates adverse conditions for the life of fungi. You can wipe the nails with a cotton pad, moistened in vinegar or dilute it in water for the bath.
- Larging soap was used for the treatment of onychomycosis in non -traditional therapy for several decades. The product can be foamed and left on the fingers for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse with water.
- Soda baths are the easiest and most affordable way of non -traditional treatment. They do not cause irritation on the skin, so they are suitable even for children and allergy sufferers.
- Propolis tincture, which can be purchased in a pharmacy, has anti -inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It can be used for baths, diluting water.
- Iodine helps in the treatment of fungus. It is easy to use: you just need to apply the product with a thin layer before bedtime, and during the night it will completely absorb itself.
Knowingthan the nail fungus is dangerous if it is not treated, a person will more carefully approach the issue of treatment, no matter how much time it takes.
Danger of the fungus for pregnant women
During pregnancy, a woman becomes vulnerable to external and internal sources of infection. Hormonal changes can reduce the activity of immunity, so the expectant mother can become infected with the fungus, or with an exacerbation of onychomycosis, if it has already been infected earlier.
What does the nail fungus lead toIn pregnant women, it depends on the fact of whether self -extension will occur. Often, patients even in the early stages carry pathogens from the nails at the hands to the legs and back. There is also a probability of transferring pathogens to the groin if the underwear first affects the affected nails, and then the genitals. Thus, inguinal mycosis is formed.
When the child passes through the birth canal, he is infected with a fungus. That's whyIf you do not treat nail fungus, consequencesFor the future mother and her baby, it can be serious.
If a woman found that she is sick with onychomycosis already during pregnancy, she should immediately consult a doctor. Most drugs are contraindicated for her, so you need to choose the most sparing therapy, or postpone the treatment time until birth, using traditional medicine that does not cause allergies.
What will happen if you do not treat the fungus
Fungi are living microorganisms that secrete waste in the process of their life. For humans, these products are toxic, and if they enter the bloodstream, they can violate the work of the organs.
- Toxidermia is an acute inflammatory process, as a result of which the skin is affected. In the absence of therapy, a dangerous complication may develop - toxic epidermal necrolysis.
- Lyella syndrome is a complication of toxidermia, toxic epidermal necrolysis. In addition to the formation of a rash, the internal organs are damaged, and multiple organ failure causes death.
- Toxic hepatopathy - damage to the liver in conditions of excess toxins in the body.
Also, against the background of intoxication, an allergic reaction may develop, which provoke damage to the heart, kidneys, liver and other peritoneal organs.
Toxins negatively affect the work of the immune system. Immunity fixes the source of infection in the blood, but cannot cope with it. The immune status changes if the protective forces are reduced, a person often suffers from respiratory infections or encounters relapses of chronic inflammatory processes.
Changes in the work of immunity can lead to the development of autoimmune pathologies, and they are their most important points,What is the danger of nail fungus on the legs if it is not treatedtimely and correct. Autoimmune processes are not treated, corticosteroids are prescribed to stop them, which temporarily "turn off" immune protection. But if a person has a fungal infection in the body, drug immunosuppression will aggravate his condition.
Psychological discomfort
The fungus destroys the nails, makes their appearance repulsive. Some patients against this background develop depression, constraint, and isolation. Many are embarrassed to leave the house, are afraid to face a negative reaction of others.
Cosmetic consequences
Despite the fact that many people knowWhat threatens the fungus of nails on the legsAnd hands and use drugs for therapy, many mistakenly believe that the correctly selected drugs will restore the nail plate. But in fact, it will not be possible to fix the darkened and deformed nail plate. The task of therapy is to stop the pathological process and let the growing new nails, without traces of damage.
For several months, the nails on which the fungus lives will have yellow or gray, and at a running stage-dark brown, color, stripes, spots and cracks. For masking, you can use therapeutic varnish.
The danger of the fungus for others
UnderstandingWhat is dangerous for those around the nail fungusand hands, we can conclude that the treatment of fungus is not only an individual business of a person, but also his duty to people around. The disease is transmitted quickly with personal contact, using a common shower.
If in the family one person is sick with onychomycosis, all family members should be taken for prevention.
Prevention of fungal diseases
The fungal infection occurs in a collision with the pathogen of pathology during a decrease in the body's defenses. Therefore, prevention includes avoiding the sources of infection and support for protective forces.
This is necessary:
- process shoes from the inside;
- carefully observe personal hygiene;
- After washing dry, wipe the feet and hands;
- avoid walking barefoot;
- Do not wear someone else's shoes;
- sanitize foci of chronic infection;
- Eat right.
In order not to relax pathology, after recovery, it is recommended to throw out all the manicure accessories used during illness. It is also recommended to get rid of shoes, but if this is not possible, it should be treated with a special drug Mikostop, or apple cider vinegar.
Frequent questions
What will happen if you do not treat the fungus on the nails?
What is the danger? Without treatment, fungal lesion can serve as an "entrance gate" for infectious diseases, for example, erysipelas. The worst thing is that in many patients this process sooner or later from the feet passes to the hands. For women, this is a real tragedy.
What are the consequences of nail fungus?
The fungal infection mainly affects the toes, but in rare cases it affects the hands. Onychomycosis is an unpleasant cosmetic defect and can provoke a number of complications such as gangrene, a diabetic foot and phlegmon of the lower extremities. Other names of the disease: nail fungus.
Is it possible to lose the nail due to the fungus?
The fungus develops in a warm and humid environment, which is provided by the nail plate. Onychomycosis is not at all harmless! In the neglected case, the fungus destroys the nail growth zone and you can completely lose the nail plate.
What does a neglected fungus look like on nails?
A neglected nail fungus is a serious reason for turning to a dermatologist is the following signs: deformed thickened or thinned nails, destruction, laying, cringing of the nail, a change in the color of the nail on gray, yellow, white, brown, sometimes green or black
Useful tips
Council No. 1
At the first signs of nail fungus, contact a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and prescribing treatment. Do not postpone the visit to the doctor, as the fungus can lead to serious complications.
Council No. 2
Follow the recommendations of the doctor for the treatment of nail fungus. Do not interrupt the course of treatment ahead of schedule and do not miss the use of drugs to avoid relapse and complications.
Council No. 3
Follow the rules of nail hygiene: regularly wash and dry your nails, do not wear shoes made of synthetic materials, use individual manicure supplies.