Nail fungus on hands: photo, treatment, initial stage

What is it? Nail fungus on hands, scientifically onychomycosis is an infectious disease that occurs when the skin and nails are infected with fungal microflora( see photo).About 50 species of fungi are known to cause disease.

Fungal nail infection is the most common dermatological disease. It is believed that the true number of infected is 10-20% of the total population of the Earth, although only 2-14% have been diagnosed.

Especially often the disease develops in the older age group, which has a physiological decrease in the body's resistance.

In Russia, up to 15 million people suffer from onychomycosis. The nail of the big toe and foot are more often affected by a fungus. Infection of the nails on the hands is less frequent and can arise as a primary disease, for example, when entering the infection during a manicure, and again, when the fungus spreads from the infected nails of the legs.

This variant is most often observed in the elderly, due to untimely treatment of the fungus stop. It is very common "family" infection with fungus, it is observed in 88% of cases.

High prevalence of onychomycosis among members of one family is associated with non-compliance with hygiene measures, for example, use of 1 towel, scouring pads, etc.for the whole family as a whole. Normally, every member of the family should have personal hygiene products.

The cause and cause of onychomycosis of the hands are:

• yeast fungi of the genus Candida( in most cases);
• dermatophytes are anthropophilic trichophytons.

Symptoms of nail fungus on your hands, photo

Any kind of nail fungus on the hands has 3 main symptoms:

1. Color change of the nail plate;
2. Thickening of the nail plate;
3. The destruction of the nail in the form of erosion of contours and other manifestations.

Changes in the nails can begin with the edge of the nail plate, or from its base. It depends on the type of microorganism that caused the disease, i.e.whether it is a candida or dermatoficosis infection.

The fungus under the fingernails is observed in the proximal subungual form, which is caused by the fungi of the Candida albicans genus( Candida albicans).This form affects mainly women and usually affects the right arm, which is associated with its functional purpose.

The proximal shape of the nail fungus on the hands in the initial stage is characterized by the fact that the pathological process starts from the root, the base of the nail.

In response to penetration of the pathogen in the posterior or lateral nail roller there is inflammation - paronychia. In this case, the nail roller swells, thickens, and redness appears. On the edge appear scales of gray-silver color. When probing, the cushion is painful, and when pressed, a drop of pus may appear on it.

• However, purulent exudate is not specific for fungal attack. It appears only when the bacterial pyogenic microflora is attached to the local weakening of immunity.

When the process is transitioned to the nail in the region of the half moon, deformations appear. Then changes its color: in the thickness of the nail at the root spots are formed white or yellow. Gradually develops onycholysis - the nail lags behind its bed and loses its transparency, so it can fall off on its own.

How does the nail fungus look on the hands when affected by dermatophytes? When anthropophilic trichophytons are infected, nail damage is usually observed in combination with a lesion of the scalp, as well as smooth skin. More often the defeat of the nails begins on the hands, later the nails of the feet can change.

The nail changes begin at the edge of the plate and from its sides with the appearance of bands or gray spots, thickening of the nail plate, the appearance of furrows on it. Also in the center of the nail can be formed whitish spot, which when enlarged occupies the entire plate. Nails grow dull, with time they begin to deform and crumble.

Thus, to avoid the negative consequences associated with fungal nail damage, you can. However, this requires timely access to medical care, i.e.before the development of complications.

From this position, the appearance of whitened spots and streaks on the nail plates are the signs when you need to visit a doctor( dermatologist or trichophytologist).

Treatment of nail fungus on the hands of

Before the beginning of therapy, a detailed examination of the patient is performed using additional diagnostic techniques. If they reveal a nail fungus on their hands, the treatment is started with topical preparations.

This type of therapy is acceptable when there is a limited lesion of single nails, with a superficial and initial form. A limited lesion is determined if no more than 3 nails are involved in the pathological process, and each nail plate has no more than 50% damage to its surface. In other cases, the systemic therapy is performed.

The local treatment uses an approach in which the affected nail is softened and removed, followed by application of an antifungal agent, or therapeutic varnishes are applied.

• Cleansing and treatment with the Mikospor kit.

The kit contains an ointment containing an antifungal drug bifonazole and urea. These drugs help to soften the nail plate.

Ointment is applied to the affected nail, covered with a patch and left for 24 hours. Then, before putting your hands in warm water for 10 minutes, a special scraper, included in the set, scrape off the softened part of the nail.

After that, again apply ointment and cover the nail with plaster. This procedure is carried out daily until the infected plate is completely removed - the nail should not exfoliate from the bed, and the nail bed should become smooth.

This usually takes from 1 to 2 weeks. Further treatment of the nail fungus on the hands is the daily application of a cream or Mikospor solution for 2-3 weeks.

Also after removal of the affected part of the nail, it is possible to apply a solution of amorolfin( contains ciplopyrox), creams, ointments or sprays: Exoderyl, Thermicon, Terbinafine, Lamisil, Nizoral.

About a review of inexpensive, but effective preparations from a fungus.

This information is a reference, so you should always consult a doctor. Only a specialist can choose the most optimal drug, taking into account the spectrum of antifungal activity and the pharmacological sensitivity of these microorganisms.

• Therapeutic varnishes are applied according to the scheme until the healthy nail is fully grown, but no more than six months.

Before the first application, the maximum possible area of ​​the affected nail should be removed with scissors or manicure nippers. This will be a mechanical way to get rid of pathogenic fungi.

Clean the nail plate from the previous layers of varnish no more than once a week, any means for removing varnish. This is due to the fact that the active components of therapeutic varnishes have their effect within 1 week. Then they are inactivated, so re-application is required.

Most often used such varnishes as Batrafen, Lotseril, Micoderil, Demicten. They are realized through the pharmacy network without prescription. As the only method of treatment for onychomycosis, this method has conflicting data concerning efficacy and the associated percentage of cure( 9-50%).Therefore, combined therapy is required.

If the fungus on the hands does not respond to treatment with local drugs or caused it to spread from the feet, and there are significant changes in the nail, a full-scale complex treatment is necessary, in which the local therapy is supplemented by ingestion of the antimycotic drug orally;local therapy is combined with a systemic one.

The most effective are preparations of the following groups:

• Intronazole( Orungal).It is used for any kind of onychomycosis. It is prescribed in the "pulse-therapy" mode: with the disease of the hands - 2 times a day for 1 week, break 3 weeks, repeat the cycle 1 time;
• Fluconazole( Diflucan), is effective in onychomycosis caused by yeast fungi. When the nails are injured on the hands, it is prescribed once a week for 6 weeks;
• Terbinafine( Lamisil, Exifin).They are mostly effective and used for dermatophytics. Assign with fungus to the nails of the hands 1 time per day for 6 weeks.

According to modern recommendations, the duration of treatment and its appearance( local, systemic, combined) are determined using the KIOTOS index. To calculate it, a special calculation ruler is used.

Rotating her circles, the specialist compares the form of the lesion( taking into account the symptoms), the length of the pathological process and the degree of hyperkeratosis present in combination with the patient's age.

As a result, it gets a certain value in points, which was previously derived by researchers through the use of mathematical formulas. KIOTOS is a universal system for the therapeutic treatment of onychomycosis.

It should be noted that antimycotic drugs are toxic and contraindicated in diseases of the kidneys, liver, and pregnant women. Therefore, they should be appointed only after an accurate diagnosis and evaluation of the circumstances "for" and "against".

Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the nails of the hands

It is difficult to cure the fungus of nails on the hands solely with folk remedies, and often it is impossible. However, they can be used in conjunction with pharmacological drugs, as well as when there are contraindications to taking antimycotics.

The algorithm of treating the fungus with folk remedies is the same as with traditional therapy: first you need to remove the affected part of the nail, and then apply the remedy.

Some folk remedies that can be used with hand nail fungus are listed in this list:

• Hydrogen peroxide - is applied to a small part of a wadded disk, the size of a fingernail, applied to the lesion and fixed. The exposure time is 10-15 minutes. The procedure is carried out once a day for 1-3 months. Peroxide as an active oxidizer has a harmful effect on the mycelium and spores of fungi;
• Acetic acid - first make therapeutic baths, diluting 9% vinegar with water in a ratio of 1: 8, immerse the nails in the solution for 5 minutes. The baths are produced once in two days, the course - 7 baths. Then the following mixture is applied: 70% vinegar( 1 tsp), sunflower oil( 1 tsp), 1 chicken egg and dimethyl phthalate( 1 tsp).After applying the nails wrapped with food film and put on gloves, leave for several hours. The course consists of 4 procedures;
• Propolis - mix 1 tsp.with 100 ml of ethyl alcohol, applied to pre-steamed and processed nails and as much as possible under the nail plate in the places of destruction, wrapped, left for several hours. Course 3 procedures;
• Tar soap - cover the affected nail and roller with this soap, then immerse your hands in salt, wrap your fingers around the film and put on gloves or mittens, leave for the night. You can use this remedy to cure completely;
• Coffee - in strong coffee, cooled to room temperature, lower the fingers for 5 minutes. This bath well removes the itching and makes the skin smooth. After the procedure, a good effect results in the application of an antifungal cream.

Ideally, folk remedies should be considered as an adjunct to traditional therapy. They help to strengthen the action of antifungal drugs and achieve an early cure and eradication( destruction) of fungi.

Prevention of fungal infection of the hands

To prevent fungal infection of the nail plates on the hands and feet should adhere to certain preventive rules. They are fairly simple and effective if performed regularly.

These are:

1. Moderate hand hygiene, to maintain a protective lipid layer of the skin, which provides natural antifungal protection;
2. Monitoring the condition of nails with frequent visits to manicure salons. With the preventive purpose after manicure it is possible to treat nails with antimycotic cream. However, they are often not interested in it.it breaks the natural protective layer. It is better to visit a proven manicure salon, where due attention is paid to the processing of tools;
3. Prevention of family infection is the timely detection and treatment of fungus, especially foot fungus in the elderly, as well as the use of individual towels, manicure scissors and other personal care products;
4. Prevention of re-infection is done by treating the patient's gloves, disinfection of nail files, bast, towels. The latter is preferably washed at high temperatures and, if possible, ironed.