Many psychologists say that men pay more attention not to beautiful, but to well-groomed women. Unclean, sticky icicle hair and poor skin quality can disfigure anyone. A fungus or greenish mold on the nails scares even the most daring fans.
Causes of fungal infection
Even the busiest woman can quickly tidy herself up. A huge number of islands of nail-bars are located in shopping centers. You can make a beautiful manicure during the lunch break while enjoying a cup of aromatic coffee.
The many advantages of nail bars are not so obvious if you think about the disadvantages. Unfortunately, in the conditions of a shopping center, most manicurists cannot fully monitor even their hygiene. And working tools receive even less attention.
Only an autoclave or an ultraviolet sterilizer can disinfect scissors and nippers qualitatively. Most female nail bar workers are limited to cotton wool soaked in alcohol. Reliably protect against viruses and bacteria, such processing is not capable. Therefore, some clients, in addition to fashionable manicure, carry viruses and staphylococci, as well as fungal spores, on their nails.
The development of onychomycosis under extended nails can not be noticed immediately. During this time, the spores hit the entire plate. They can affect the skin and move to adjacent fingers. The nail grows dull, acquires a dirty yellow color, breaks and leaves the bed.
An unaesthetic appearance is far from the only problem of onychomycosis. An untreated completely fungal infection is the entrance gate to other infections, such as erysipelas. In rare cases, mold on the nails can cause deep mycosis. Sprouted spores of the fungus enter the bloodstream and affect the internal organs.
Green nails and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Incorrectly done manicures often become the cause of the development of mildew on the hands. The cause of the pathology is not a fungus at all, but a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pseudomonium). The main symptoms of the disease include:
- The nail gradually changes color to greenish. Experienced craftsmen know that the shade is affected by the acidity of the medium. The pigment may be orange and red. And recently, information has appeared that new types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are capable of staining the nail in black.
- The plate thickens, begins to crumble along the edges.
- The finger may swell and hurt.
Many manicurists believe that mold on the nails is caused by a fungus. This happens because, in appearance, the infection resembles the same blue-green plaque that can be found on old bread. Mold fungi, unlike pseudomonies, are not pathogenic for the human body.
A mistake in the diagnosis can be expensive. While the patient will spend money on expensive antifungal agents, the disease will continue to progress. The consequences of the development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are dangerous to the body.
Development reasons
An unprofessionally performed nail extension procedure can provoke the development of infection. Mold feels most comfortable in a humid and warm environment. It can develop, provided that the human immunity is weakened.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in abundance in the environment, for example, in water, on furniture and even on human skin. Favorable conditions for the development of pseudomonies are created during the extension or correction of nails, if the drying and sterilization procedure has not been followed, as well as due to injuries.
Until the end of the transmission, pseudomonies have not been studied. Most often this happens in nail salons through tools and in a domestic way.
Correcting yourself is dangerous. Such actions most often lead to the development of mold on the nails. When a woman tries to fix the exfoliated gel with glue or varnish, an air cushion forms between the coating and the nail. There pseudomony is sealed. In a humid and warm environment, it begins to develop intensively. And the keratin of the nail becomes a nutrient for her.
Possible complications
The mold formed on the nails after building is capable of hitting the entire plate within two weeks. The finger gradually turns red, swells and becomes painful. There is a risk of infection spreading to the soft tissues and infection of the whole organism.
Fortunately, such neglected cases are an exception. Most often, a woman seeks help as soon as she spots a green spot on her nail. At the initial stage, getting rid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not difficult.
Mold treatment
The method for treating nail mold depends on the stage of the disease. It is easiest to destroy the Pseudomonas aeruginosa when it is on the surface of the plate. You can do this in the salon, during a normal manicure or correction procedure:
- The master must file the affected area.
- There is no need to completely remove the stain. Most likely, a greenish shadow will remain - this is a consequence of the penetration of the pigment into a deeper layer of the plate. It does not pose any health hazard.
- The affected nail is treated with an antiseptic. It is additionally recommended to make a 15-minute bath with vinegar. It is useful to treat the plate with natural lemon juice. Some cosmetic companies produce drugs aimed at destroying pseudomony.
- Usually, such a treatment is enough to completely cleanse the nail plate from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The procedure can be completed and a new gel or acrylic coating applied. The spot that remains will gradually grow with a fingernail.
In more advanced situations, the infection spreads to the entire thickness of the plate and affects the rollers. In this case, it is necessary to remove artificial material in the cabin, then consult a doctor. About how to treat mold on the nail in a more difficult situation, the doctor knows better than a manicurist.
You can quickly get rid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To do this, completely remove the nail plate in a hospital. Few people decide on this step, so doctors recommend the following treatment options:
- Topical use of antibiotics in the form of solutions. For example, Bacitracin four times a day lubricate affected nails.
- Oral administration of antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin).
On average, treatment lasts about three weeks. In advanced cases, it can take up to several months.
Traditional medicine recipes
There are situations when there is no opportunity to seek help from a doctor or a qualified manicurist. In this case, recipes of traditional medicine will help. Before applying them, it is necessary to remove the artificial coating. Then use the following tools:
- Dissolve a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Soak the nails in the bath in the morning and evening for 10 minutes.
- Rub tea tree oil three times a day into the affected plate.
- Make compresses. For this, any alcohol tincture is suitable.
Prevention
Mold on the nails will never appear if all preventive measures are followed. First of all, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of a nail salon. Check with the master if he uses an ultraviolet sterilizer or an autoclave. Ask for instruments to be disinfected in the presence of the client.
Pseudomonium grows actively in a humid environment. Therefore, extended nails are recommended to be kept dry. Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or other household chores.
Do not stick peeling acrylic or gel on your own. Filling the damaged area with varnish is also not recommended. It is necessary as soon as possible to sign up for a correction or independently remove the accrued material.
It is important to follow the safety measures listed. This will help maintain the health and beauty of the nails.