Onychomycosis, or, as it is popularly called, nail fungus, is damage to the nail plate and surrounding structures by a fungal infection. Nails infected with fungus change color and transparency, become brittle, rough, thickened, flake and crumble. In this case, the tissue under or near the nail may become red and swollen.
Nail fungus is a very common condition. According to statistics, onychomycosis affects from 8 to 26. 9% of the population worldwide, and in Russia the number of people with this diagnosis varies from 4. 5 to 15 million people.
Typically, onychomycosis is found in patients over 40 years of age. At the same time, there is no uniform statistics on the frequency of occurrence of the disease in men and women; the opinions of the authors differ. In Russia, nail fungus is more often found in men. At the same time, women are one and a half times more likely to visit a doctor - perhaps this is explained by a more attentive attitude to the health and appearance of nails on their feet and hands. The photos may seem shocking.
In approximately 80% of cases, the disease affects the toenails. Less commonly, onychomycosis affects the fingernails. Researchers have identified factors that significantly increase the risk of developing onychomycosis. They can be roughly divided into two groups.
External (exogenous) risk factors for the development of onychomycosis:
- nail injuries;
- long-term wearing of tight, non-breathable shoes;
- staying in a hot, humid climate.
Internal (endogenous) risk factors for the development of onychomycosis:
- patient age: the disease is more common in people over 40 years of age;
- overweight;
- decreased immunity;
- associated diseases: diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, varicose veins;
- flat feet and other foot deformities;
- long-term use of certain medications: antibiotics, cytostatics, corticosteroids.
The family factor plays a special role in the spread of onychomycosis. According to statistics, 55% of patients had a history of nail fungus in the family.
You can become infected with onychomycosis through direct contact with an infected person, as well as through household items - clothes, shoes, hygiene products (washcloths, towels).
In public places, infection occurs mainly in gyms, baths, saunas, and swimming pools. Scales with pathogenic fungi end up on floors, benches, paths, and grates. Fungi in such conditions continue to multiply and soon find new hosts.
Fungi that cause onychomycosis reproduce well in conditions of high humidity. In addition, you can catch onychomycosis in a manicure or pedicure salon if the master does not follow the rules of hygiene and sterilization of instruments.
Causes of onychomycosis
About 50 species of fungi are known that can infect the nail plate. At the same time, dermatomycetes from the genus Trichophyton account for up to 80–90% of cases of onychomycosis of the feet and up to 36% of onychomycosis of the hands.
Dermatomycetes are microscopic fungi that attack the skin, hair, and nails. The second most common causative agents of onychomycosis are yeasts from the genus Candida (candida). Candidiasis of the nails occurs in 5–10% of cases. Less common causative agents of onychomycosis are mold fungi - Aspergillus (Aspergillus), Fusarium (Fusarium), Scopulariopsis (Spoculariopsis).
In practice, the nail plate is damaged by several types of fungi at once. Most often this is a combination of two types of dermatomycetes or variations of "dermatomycetes + yeast", "dermatomycetes + mold". In approximately 10% of cases, the patient is infected with three or more types of fungi.
Types of onychomycosis
In Russian dermatology, three types of onychomycosis are distinguished, depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease.
Main types of onychomycosis:
- normotrophic: the shape of the nail plate does not change, while whitish and yellowish stripes are visible in the thickness of the nail;
- hypertrophic: the nail plate noticeably thickens, becomes brittle, with jagged edges;
- dystrophic: the nail plate becomes thinner and peels off from the nail bed.
Depending on how the fungus got on the skin and nails, there are four types of onychomycosis.
Types of onychomycosis depending on the place of penetration and spread of the pathogenic fungus in the nail plate:
- superficial white: the fungus colonizes the upper part of the nail plate. Whitish lesions appear on the nail. As the infection spreads, the nail turns gray-brown and begins to crumble;
- distal-lateral subungual: the fungus penetrates the skin in the area of the nail folds or the free edge of the nail. The nail plate thickens, turns yellow, crumbles, then moves away from the nail bed;
- proximal subungual: the fungus spreads from the skin and nail folds to the nail plate and deeper. Spots appear on the nail in the area of the hole and nail bed. The nail plate peels off;
- total dystrophic: the entire nail plate is affected. It looks sharply thickened and acquires a dirty yellow color. The surface of the nail becomes uneven.
Once on the nail plate or surrounding structures, the colony of fungi begins to grow towards the matrix - the growth zone, which is located at the back of the nail bed. It is believed that the faster the nail grows, the more effectively it displaces the fungal colony and the sooner recovery from onychomycosis occurs. This mechanism also explains the fact that nail fungus mainly affects people over 40 years of age: their nails grow much slower than those of young people.
Symptoms of onychomycosis
As onychomycosis progresses, the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced.
The main symptoms of onychomycosis:
- change in the color of the nail plate to yellow, black, green, brown or gray;
- separation of the nail plate from the bed;
- change in the thickness of the nail plate;
- koilonychia - the nail becomes concave, in the shape of a teaspoon;
- onychogryphosis - the nail bends like the beak of a bird of prey;
- thickening of the nail bed;
- change in the surface of the nail plate: formation of pits, grooves, ridges;
- inflammation of the nail fold.
Complications of onychomycosis
Without treatment, onychomycosis in patients with diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as diabetic foot - ulcerative defects of soft tissues with damage to tendons and bone structures.
In people with a long-term fungal infection, as well as against a background of immunodeficiency, onychomycosis can lead to a severe allergic reaction. This is explained by the fact that the fungal colony and its metabolic products act as sensitizers - triggers to which the body reacts with increased sensitivity.
As a result, an allergic reaction is formed, which can have various manifestations: a more severe course of bronchial asthma, the appearance of foci of microbial eczema, and the development of urticaria.
Common complications of onychomycosis:
- diabetic foot;
- allergic reactions;
- chronic erysipelas of the extremities is an infectious skin lesion;
- lymphostasis - retention of lymphatic fluid in tissues;
- elephantiasis (elephantiasis, elephantiasis) is a progressive lymphatic edema simultaneously with the replacement of subcutaneous fatty tissue with connective tissue.
Diagnosis of onychomycosis
The diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis is carried out by a dermatologist. At the appointment, the doctor will assess the condition of the patient’s nails, skin, mucous membranes and hair. He will perform a dermatoscopy and examine the skin under magnification. In parallel with the examination, the specialist will collect anamnesis and ask the patient about his lifestyle, quality of nutrition, household habits and care procedures. If you suspect onychomycosis, your doctor will order laboratory tests. Examination of scrapings from the nail plate will rule out or confirm a fungal infection. The doctor may also refer the patient for microscopic examination and culture.
Diabetes mellitus can significantly worsen the course of onychomycosis and lead to serious complications. Complex studies can exclude or confirm this diagnosis. A complete blood count helps assess the patient's general condition.
Treatment of onychomycosis
Treatment of onychomycosis can be local, systemic or combined. Corrective therapy may also be required, which is aimed at eliminating concomitant diseases. In local therapy, antifungal medications are applied directly to the nail plate and nail folds. In this case, the drug concentrates on the surface of the nail and does not penetrate into the bloodstream, eliminating the risk of side effects.
However, with local therapy, the drug cannot always reach the fungal colony, especially if it is located deep in the nail bed. Before applying topical medications, the affected part of the nail must be removed. At home, you can use a keratolytic patch - it contains a small amount of acid and can soften the nail.
Systemic therapy allows the antifungal agent to penetrate into the affected area through the blood, no matter how deep the fungal colony is hidden.
The main types of systemic drugs for the treatment of onychomycosis:
- antifungal agents;
- antiseptics - have both antifungal and antibacterial effects;
- multicomponent medications may also contain anti-inflammatory substances.
The treatment regimen and dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor. In combination therapy, systemic and local treatment are carried out simultaneously. This allows you to increase the effectiveness of treatment and shorten its duration.
Corrective therapy is aimed at treating concomitant diseases that can complicate the course of onychomycosis. These are primarily diabetes mellitus, thyroid pathologies and vascular diseases (for example, varicose veins). Treatment tactics are determined by the doctor and other specialized specialists, who in this case manage the patient together.
Forecast and prevention
If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the prognosis for onychomycosis is favorable: up to 80% of patients treated with antifungal drugs get rid of the disease forever. To prevent onychomycosis, you need to protect your feet and hands from irritating and traumatic factors and strengthen your immune system.
Measures to prevent onychomycosis:
- change socks every day or more often if your feet are sweaty or wet;
- air or dry shoes after wearing;
- do not wear shared slippers when visiting;
- do not try on shoes in a store on bare feet;
- use a personal towel for your feet;
- use individual tools for nail care (tweezers, files);
- wear shoes in the pool or sauna;
- monitor the diversity of your diet;
- avoid stressful situations.