To make your hands look beautiful, you need to monitor the condition and health of the nails. However, even close care cannot protect against dangerous diseases. One of such serious, but very common ailments is nail fungus (candidiasis). Most people ignore its first symptoms, turning to a doctor at an advanced stage. In this case, surgical intervention is no longer necessary. Adequate and high-quality therapy can be offered only by a qualified specialist.
The main causes of the disease
Candidiasis of nails develops against the background of activation of yeast fungi of the genus Candida. For the first time, a person encounters these conditionally pathogenic bacteria immediately after birth. They are always present on his skin. However, under the influence of a number of factors, fungi activate and begin to multiply uncontrollably. As a result, symptoms of candidiasis appear.
What factors can aggravate the situation?
- Weakened immunity against the background of pregnancy, poor nutrition or heredity.
- Chronic diseases
- Uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs.
- Dysbacteriosis and disturbance of microflora.
- Injury of the nail in the process of manicure.
- Constant contact with water.
Sometimes nail candidiasis develops due to other fungal infections of the skin or mucous membranes.
Who is at risk?
Colonies of opportunistic microflora are usually located under the free end of the nail plate. Therefore, infection most often occurs through a contact-domestic way, for example, through a handshake or common objects. At risk are young mothers, workers in the medical field and trade.
Candidiasis of nails, as a rule, is diagnosed in the fair sex at the age of 30 to 60 years. The pathological process extends to the nails of the middle and ring fingers. He does not pass by and babies. An infected person is a potential carrier of infection. Therefore, he is advised to limit contact with healthy people, especially with children.
The first symptoms of the disease
Candidiasis of nails is characterized by phased development. Initially, the pathological process affects the nail roller. In this case, they talk about the occurrence of candida paronychia. In this area there is a strong and throbbing pain. The skin above the roller reddens and swells, then becomes shiny and excessively thin. When pressed, yellow pus is secreted. The appearance of a greenish secret indicates the attachment of a bacterial infection.
Toward the end of the acute period, the skin above the nail roller begins to peel off, and the redness leaves. Painful cracks form on it. Such a symptom indicates the transition of the disease into a chronic form. Quite often, at this stage, the pathological process extends to the nail plate. Therefore, they talk about the development of candid onychomycosis.
This disease is characterized by damage to the nail hole or its free edge. In the first case, we are talking about the proximal form of onychomycosis, and in the second - about the distal. When the hole is damaged, the nail begins to soften and exfoliate at a rapid pace. It takes on a gray tint. When the pathological process goes to the lateral surfaces of the plate, they slightly rise above the nail bed, and eventually begin to crumble and turn yellow.
In the case of a distal form of the disease, the clinical picture is modified. In this case, the free edge of the nail is affected. It rises and bends up, becomes heterogeneous. Cracks, brownish-yellow tint, grooves - all these symptoms indicate distal onychomycosis.
In young patients, the course of the disease is different. Candidiasis of the skin and nails is not accompanied by peeling and crumbling of the plate. She simply changes color. Premature infants are more susceptible to the pathological process, so they are at risk.
Diagnostic Methods
How to recognize nail candidiasis in a timely manner? The photos presented in today's article allow us to suspect this disease. However, a purely visual comparison cannot be considered a true method for diagnosing an ailment. If you have symptoms of candidiasis, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
At the reception, the specialist first examines the site of the lesion, and only after that takes a scraping to identify a yeast-like fungus. He is sent for laboratory analysis. If the preliminary diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor should tell you how to treat nail candidiasis.
Features of drug therapy
The treatment of the disease is always comprehensive. Antifungal agents and drugs for local use are prescribed to the patient. Systemic therapy is necessary for chronic candidiasis and a combination of onychomycosis with mucosal damage.
In acute form, candidiasis of the nails treatment involves under the supervision of a physician. As a rule, this is a local therapy consisting of several stages. First, the patient makes hot baths with soda or potassium permanganate to soften the lesion on the nail plate. Then proceeds to the treatment of these areas with antifungal agents. They are sold in pharmacy chains in the form of ointments, gels or creams. The following drugs are most effective: “Fluconazole”, “Ketoconazole” and “Miconazole”. Doctors also recommend daily treating the nail with antiseptic agents (Fukortsin, Chlorhexidine). The duration of the course of such therapy is at least 3 weeks.
A different approach requires proximal onychomycosis. Most often, the treatment is delayed for several months until the nail plate has completely grown. In this case, the dosage of antifungal drugs is increased. Treatment of distal onychomycosis depends on the severity of the pathological process. In this case, the duration of therapy cannot be predicted.
The need for surgery
Sometimes for the final cure of the disease requires a fairly radical measure - surgical intervention. First, the doctor removes the nail plate. There are three ways to complete this procedure:
- mechanical;
- surgical;
- chemical (acidic agents are used).
After all the manipulations, a glue mass is applied to the nail bed. It protects the surface from reinfection. As the nail plate grows, it should be treated with antifungal drugs and antiseptics. The doctor should select the medication taking into account the general clinical picture and the patient’s health status. Such treatment is very laborious, but effective.
Possible complications
Treatment of candidiasis of nails on the hands or feet is recommended to begin immediately after the diagnosis is confirmed. If you miss this point, the pathological process can spread to new areas. Among other unpleasant complications, doctors call:
- the attachment of a bacterial infection;
- process chronization;
- damage to the entire nail plate.
When the disease becomes chronic, more serious therapy is required. In most cases, surgical intervention is no longer necessary.
Prevention Methods
To prevent fungal damage to the nails, it is necessary to monitor the state of the immune system. To this end, doctors recommend taking vitamin and mineral complexes regularly, eating properly and playing sports.
If wounds or other visible lesions are present on the skin, prolonged contact with water should be avoided. If necessary, gloves should be used and hands should be thoroughly wiped after work. Women who constantly do manicures and pedicures in beauty salons should choose hardware procedures. In this case, the risk of injuring the skin and causing infection is minimal.