The proportion of foot mycosis in the general population is approximately 15-18%.Onychomycosis (fungal infection) accounts for 30% of nail lesions.The main cause of the disease is infection by various dermatophytes.
Depending on the type of fungal infection, onychomycosis on the legs has different symptoms and first symptoms.The cause of the disease is influenced by many factors.Treatment depends on the complexity of the disease course, age of the patient, general health, and includes medications and traditional methods.
Disease characteristics
Toenail fungus, or also known as onychomycosis, belongs to a group of fungal diseases.The causative agents are dermatophytes (about 80-95% of all cases) and occasionally molds and yeast-like fungi.
Toenail injuries can be caused by:
- Trichophyton rubrum.
- T. Cross your fingers.
- Trichophyton anthropophila.
- Mold.
Mold affects toenails in people aged 50 to 70 years.Nail fungus is most likely caused by a mixture of fungi.
There are several forms of onychomycosis:
- Nutritionally normal (retains the normal shape of the nails).
- Hypertrophy (subungual hyperkeratosis leading to thickening of the nail plate over the entire surface).
- Atrophy (destruction of the nail plate).
When affected by onycholysis, the plate separates from the nail bed.
According to the location of the lesion, onychomycosis on the lower limbs is divided into distal type (free edge of the nail), lateral type (outside), distal type, proximal type (the posterior pad is affected), total type (the entire nail is infected) and superficial type.
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Symptoms of onychomycosis depend on the type of pathogen.Healthy people's nails have smooth, pink and shiny surfaces.In most cases, the fungus spreads from the infected skin on the corresponding finger to the nail plate.
The first symptoms of onychomycosis:
- Changes in nail plate color and shape;
- The surface is tarnished, rough, and delaminated;
- The board becomes thicker or thinner.
When the disease occurs, one nail is affected, or the infection spreads to nearby nails.Possible symptoms: itchy skin, peeling near the nail plate.
Depending on the pathogen, symptoms of toenail fungus are listed in the table below:
| Stimulate | Expression | Features |
| red hair bug | Yellow spots with longitudinal stripes along the lateral edges of the nail plate | In children, it manifests as surface roughness |
| Mucor interdigitata | Spots with thick yellow stripes in the center.Deformation of the plate.Free edge thickening | The morphology of the lesions is normotrophic |
| Trichophyton anthropophila | There are gray streaks and spots on the lateral and distal edges.The plate is thickened, grooved and brittle | In the case of maculopathy, the disease first appears as yellow spots across the thickness of the nail plate and then gradually spreads across the entire surface.Toenails can be affected during the long course of the disease |
| Mold | The lesions are superficial.Possible nail plate colors: yellow, green, blue, brown tint, black |
The symptoms of onychomycosis depend on the type of nail plate damage:
| Name | symptom | dyeing |
| normal nutritional type | Shape and shine are preserved.The nail plate thickens at the corners | Yellow distal edge, dull surface |
| Hypertrophic type | Subungual keratosis overgrowth.The entire surface thickens and loses its luster.Horizontal stripes, deformed panels.At the free edge, the surface appears loose.Some patients experience pain when walking | The initial phase is characterized by the transition from light yellow to dirty gray |
| atrophic | The board is obviously deformed and damaged; the nail bed is partially exposed; the loose and broken cuticles are delaminated | Dull color - dirty gray or yellowish |
| Type of nail peeling | The board becomes thinner, separates from the bed, and loses its luster | Appearance is dull, yellow, gray, with dirty undertones.The color at the base of the nail is preserved |
A patient may develop different forms of toenail fungus.
reason
The main source of infection is dermatophytes.
The chances of getting an onychomycosis infection on your feet are:
- at home through household items (bath mats, washcloths, washcloths, slippers, socks);
- When wearing tight-fitting shoes (especially those made of synthetic materials) for long periods of time;
- Sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool, shower, gym.
People with podiatry have pathogenic scales that settle on floors, gratings, benches, and objects.High humidity promotes the development and proliferation of fungal infections.
The cause of nail fungus depends on its type and how it penetrates the nail plate.Trichophyton rubrum infection occurs on the affected skin of the feet.The superficial white fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the result of the nail plate softening due to prolonged exposure to moisture.Tissue damage begins at the top, with surface changes characterized by the formation of white lesions.
Other causes of the disease include:
- Use unsterile instruments when performing pedicures;
- Feet sweat easily;
- Decreased immunity;
- Nail injuries;
- diabetes;
- Impaired blood supply to the lower limbs.
Onychomycosis can be diagnosed in people who have been taking corticosteroids, antibiotics, or immunosuppressive treatments for a long time.
treat
When selecting a treatment method, consideration should be given to the type of lesion, extent of disease spread, safety of the method, general condition of the patient, and cost.
Treatment of toenail fungus can be carried out with topical remedies, folk remedies and systemic medications.
topical treatment
Treatment is available for patients with distal, lateral, and distal-lateral forms of onychomycosis.Condition: No more than 50% of the plate area is affected, the matrix and not all toenails are affected.
The most effective topical medications are available in ointments, creams, and solutions.
If a single nail is affected, it is recommended to soften the nail plate at home with any cuticle-acting preparation, remove the infected area and then apply a cream or solution.Along with the nail plate treatment, a skin smoothing treatment was also performed.
systemic treatment
It is used when local treatment is ineffective and the nails have multiple lesions.
Preferred medications include:
- itraconazole
- Fluconazole.
- Griseofulvin.
- Terbinafine.
The treatment process will be more effective if the cuticles and affected areas are removed first.The procedure will also reduce overall treatment time.
traditional method
When the disease is mild and in its initial stages, it makes sense to use folk remedies.
use:
- Bath (herbs, salt, soda, vinegar, potassium permanganate);
- Lubricate the nail plate with propolis tincture, birch tar, and iodine;
- Compresses and pastes made from a mixture of onions, soda and garlic.
Home remedies are available and are inexpensive.
Characteristics of treatment depend on age
Onychomycosis on the legs is treated differently in adults and children.If one of the family members has a disease, or fungal manifestations are found in a child at school or kindergarten, the child's feet should be checked regularly.
Treatment in childhood requires the use of safe products prescribed by your doctor.An important stage of treatment is consistent hygiene and antifungal treatment of shoes.
When treating adults, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the instructions for use of the drug and take into account contraindications and possible side effects.