Nail fungus

23 October 2025

Donail Fungus is an infectious disease in nature, mycotic organisms such as dermatomycetes, molds and a yeast-like fungus, Civerda Civerda.In fact, there are up to 50 types of fungi that can cause the development of a pathological condition of the nail, but all of them are combined into these three large groups.Moreover, up to 90%, the cause of nail plate disease is a fungus belonging to the Dermatomycetes group, which has 20 different species.A yeast-like fungus of the genus Camenta causes nail diseases so often, about 10% of cases.The remaining small amount of morbidity is caused by fungal mycotic organisms due to infection of the nail.In medical terminology, nail fungus sounds like onychomycosis.

According to statistics, the prevalence of the disease is quite wide.Athlete's foot affects up to 20% of the world's population.The spread of the disease among the population is affected by many factors: climatic conditions in which the population lives, social conditions of a certain person, age, sex and profession.In addition, dermatologists note a constant increase in the number of cases among both adults and children.The likelihood of developing nail fungus increases with age (the disease is more common among people over the age of 65).

Symptoms of nail fungus

Symptoms of nail fungus will depend on the type of pathogen causing the infection, as well as the degree of damage to the nail plate.The age of the patient can affect the speed of recovery.It is known that the nail phalanges are less affected in childhood than in adults.

Symptoms vary depending on the form of the fungus:

Symptoms of normotrophic nail fungus.The color of the affected plate changes, but the thickness and gloss remain the same.First, stripes and spots appear on the nail - their shape and size change, they are located on the sides of the nail.The color of such spots is Ocher-yellow or white;If the disease is not treated, the spots gradually cover the entire area of the plate.The nail completely changes color, remaining normal thickness.Onycholysis is another symptom of normotrophic nail fungus.If this plate cannot grow into the nail bed.As a result, the patient can easily remove it - accidentally or on purpose.
Symptoms of hypertrophic nail fungus.In addition to discoloration, this form of the disease is characterized by a thickening of the plate in dimensions of 2 mm or more.This growth occurs due to an increase in skin scales under the nail.There is a loss of shine, the affected tiles become dull and begin to collapse.As a result, the nail is severely deformed.The more advanced the stage of the disease, the higher the degree of deformation.OnyChomyCozis - Obtaining a shape by the nail similar to a bird's claw is a common symptom of the hypertrophic type of the disease.The lateral parts of the nail are the most damaged.The complex of symptoms accompanying this form of nail fungus causes a person to experience pain when walking.Nail color is dark yellow or gray.
Symptoms of atrophic nail fungus.First of all, patients feel a change in the color of the plate;It becomes brown-gray.The normal shine is lost, the surface of the nail becomes pale and dull.As the disease progresses, the plate is destroyed.The last stage of the atrophic form of the fungus is the exposure of the nail bed and complete necrosis.(Also read: symptoms of necrosis, consequences and prevention) On the surface of the bed, the patient reveals layers of loose consistency consisting of skin scales.Atrophy of the plate occurs in stages starting from the outer end to the growth zone and the nail bed.The growth zone remains longer than other parts of the nail.
Symptoms of lateral and distal nail fungus.These two types of mycotic lesions in common are often diagnosed in symbiosis and cause the same changes in parts of the nail plate.The affected part of the plate loses its normal color and becomes dull.Transverse grooves run along the yellowish color.When nail fungus occurs due to infection with mold and mycotic organisms, the nail plates can turn a blue-green color.The nail itself begins to roughen on the sides.Over time, the affected parts cause the shape of the plate to deform.The nail bed is partially exposed.The last stage of the disease is characterized by the complete destruction of the nail and the opening of a bed with skin flakes on top.If the clinical picture of distal nail fungus is accompanied by lateral onchomycosis, then the ridges surrounding the nail swelling turn red and thicken.A person suffers from pain.When the pathology is aggravated by a bacterial infection, that is, if you press lightly, it can come out from under the nail.
Symptoms of proximal nail fungus.This rare lesion of the nail plate primarily affects the area lateral to the skin layer.The main cause of proximal nail fungus is removal of the eponychium (cuticle).The nail plate begins to turn white in the area next to the growth zone.Fungi deposit their spores and mycelium in nail tunnels located in this zone.Like the reproduction of fungi, it covers the entire nail and completely destroys it.
Common nail fungus symptoms.If the lateral, distal or proximal form of the disease is not treated, onychomycosis occurs.The nail loses its color, begins to collapse, break and is completely destroyed.
Symptoms of white surface nail fungus.Opal-white spots appear in the back pad area as the fungus multiplies, completely covering the entire nail.Spots tend to coalesce and may visually resemble dispersed fine dust.

Despite the existing differences in clinical manifestations in different forms of fungal infection, several common symptoms can be identified, including:

The nail falls off;
Change the plate color;
Fragmentation of the nail phalanx;
Painful sensations that occur as the pathological process progresses;
Itchy skin may form in the area around the nail.

Causes of nodular fungus

Onychomycosis always appears as a result of infection with mycotic organisms.Often they are dermatomycetes.Increased keratophilicity is a distinctive feature of fungi included in this group.They are aided in penetrating the skin and nails by the wide range of proteolytic enzymes they possess.First, dermatomycetes infect the skin of the feet and then spread to the nail plates.

There are three possible ways in which they penetrate deep into the nail:

From the distal (free, lateral) edge of the nail.In this case, the pathological process will be localized under the plate - in the bed and not on the nail itself.As the fungus spreads, ungaigual hyperkeratosis develops.This leads to deterioration of the relationship between the bed and the plate, followed by their separation.From the bed, the fungus penetrates the nail and slowly destroys it.
Through the dorsal part of the nail, fungi often penetrate deep.This method of distribution is available only for dermatomycetes with keratolytic abilities.In this case, the nail destruction process itself will continue faster.
A rare route of spread is through the proximal ridge.From the last part of the matrix, the fungus penetrates under the nail plate and into the bed or is located in the matrix, destroying the collagen structures of the nail phalanx.If the nail lesion is caused by the fungus of the genus Canus, then the proximal ridge with its swelling and thickening will be involved in the pathological process first.However, more often such an inflammatory process affects the nails.

In order for fungi to penetrate the nail area, they must first be damaged and destroyed.

This happens under the influence of the following provocative factors:

Mechanical injuries.
Exposure to chemical factors such as: regular contact with detergents with synthetic components, constant contact with water, degreasers, etc.
He wears uncomfortable tight shoes made of synthetic materials.As a result, a moist and warm environment is created, which is favorable for the rapid reproduction of fungi.
A sympathetic type of autonomic regulation in which a person suffers from increased sweating.This factor refers to the individual characteristics of the body.
Flat feet or narrow spaces between the toes as anatomical features of foot development.Such deformations lead to a significant deterioration of foot aeration.
Nail growth rate.
Non-compliance with personal hygiene rules.
Disorders in the activity of the immune system.Moreover, nail fungus is not the only disease with a decrease in protective forces.Other organs are also susceptible to mycotic damage.
Varicose veins.
Climatic characteristics of the area where a person lives.More often, fungal infections affect people living in areas with a temperate or cold climate.The fact is that you often need to wear warm clothes, thick and tight shoes, thereby creating favorable conditions for the fungus to work.Residents of subtropical countries are also at risk, as the development of fungi is generally facilitated by high humidity and generally ambient temperature.
Age-related changes in the human body.More often, nail fungus is diagnosed among older and older adults.However, dermatologists and mycologists note a growing trend among teenagers and children.Thus, statistics show that every 10 years increases the risk of infection by 2.5 times.The probability of mycotic infection in childhood is 3%, and this number increases to 50% in the elderly.Experts attribute such indicators to the fact that we live, the rate of growth of the plate slows down, the nutrition of the bed deteriorates, and angiopathy develops.
Sex.Men are found to be affected about three times more often than women.However, it is often men who seek qualified help.
The costs of the profession.Fungus on the foot is more common in miners who serve nuclear power plant workers and workers of metallurgical enterprises.Dust content, air temperature, humidity, ionizing radiation and gas pollution are higher, with a higher risk of infection.In this regard, visits to specialists for fungal infections by saunas, bathhouse and laundry workers are more frequent.Frequent visitors of mycologists are massage therapists, orthopedists, employees of rest homes and other representatives of service workers.
Associated pathologies.In this regard, the greatest danger is diabetes, foot deformities, excess body weight, gastrointestinal diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic diseases, thyroid pathologies, any peripheral angiopathy, lymphostasis or venous insufficiency.HIV infection increases the risk of developing nail fungus 5 times.(Also Read: HIV Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Prevention)
He receives antibacterial drugs, corticosteroids and cytostatic drugs.

As for the direct ways of infection, it most often occurs in the following cases:

Visiting saunas and baths, swimming pools and public showers - any public place where people walk barefoot for a while;
The use of common (even family) household items such as bedclothes, slippers, pumice stones, rugs;
Cosmetic procedures, especially pedicures, in beauty salons where hygiene standards are not observed.

In this regard, you should know that the biggest danger is wooden floors, benches and other items made of this natural material.The fact is that wood has a porous structure, and it is almost impossible to wash the fungal mycelium from it.

Why is Foot Mantargus dangerous?

It is not correct to consider Aymeil fungus as a purely aesthetic problem.This is a serious disease that requires qualified treatment.After all, onychomycosis is one of the most common chronic diseases.Untreated athlete's foot is dangerous due to the following complications:

Appendices where mycosis spreads from the skin and immunodeficiency conditions occur.
Development of diabetic foot against the background of diabetes mellitus.
Development of Erysipelas of the lower extremities.
The development of Philism.
The development of lymphostasis.
Development of invasive mycosis in patients undergoing immunosuppressive or cytostatic therapy.
Nail growth and its rotation, turning into the surrounding tissues, accompanied by severe pain and an inflammatory reaction.
Development of eczema.
The addition of bacterial infection and the development of inflammation.
Loss of the nail plate, exposure of the nail bed.
The development of aspergillosis (that is, infection with mold fungi), which is difficult to treat terectively.Most often, aspergillosis develops against the background of untreated dermatophytic onychomycosis.

Stages of nodule fungi

Fungus on the foot never affects the nail.

The disease often progresses slowly, passing through several stages of development:

An early or primary stage is a marginal lesion.In this case, any pathological changes are practically invisible.The manifestation of the process is expressed in the appearance of narrow gray stripes located on the free edge of the nail.
Normotrophic lesion of the nail plate.Thickening has not yet occurred and there is no subangual hyperkeratosis, but traces made by the fungus are visible.They look like stripes and sectors of damaged tiles.Phalanx's fragility increases and its color changes.Sometimes the serous contents can come out from under the nail.
Stage of hypertrophic lesion.First, Onychauxis appeared - an untengual lesion, the nail thickens and hypertrophy increases.The plaque changes color and becomes pathogenic, collapses, erodes, thins, continues to grow, or becomes deformed.As a result, the nail is completely lost.

The initial stage of nail fungus

Most often, the infection affects the skin of the feet.An itching sensation, interdican folds, cracks, blisters and maceration may appear.As it goes deeper into the nail, the fungus begins to affect one or the other of its edges.It mainly depends on the type of pathogen and the route of infection described above.

As a rule, the initial stage is not possible for self-diagnosis, because there are no obvious clinical signs.Stripes and spots on the nail are practically indistinguishable to the naked eye.Detection of the disease is possible in laboratory conditions.

Advanced nail fungus

Advanced athlete's foot is characterized by general damage to the nail phalanx.With the long-term absence of therapy, the possibility of not completely destroying the nail, at the same time damaging the skin, as well as the possibility of the disease spreading to the nails of the hands, increases.

The main indicators of the advanced stage of the disease are nail collapse, separation and deformation.Thinning of the nail body and change in color occurs gradually over the years.A rapid transition to the general stage of the disease is possible only against the background of existing systemic diseases that occur most often in old age.The last stage is the destruction of the nail plate or its severe deformation, as well as the development of serious complications that can be caused by fungi on the feet.

How to get rid of nail fungus

The modern pharmaceutical industry offers a wide selection of effective drugs to cope with the problem to people diagnosed with toenail fungus.There is a means of both local and general action.

It is the abundance of available antiemetic drugs that complicates the independent choice of a drug.After all, the fungus can affect not only nails, but also mucous membranes, any organs and tissues.Therefore, it is very important to undergo a thorough diagnosis and receive medical advice on the treatment of nail fungus.

Therapeutic tactics are based on four points:

Accounting of the affected area;
Time elapsed since the onset of the disease;
The nature of the pathological changes provoked by the disease;
Presence of infectious pathology.

Modern drugs not only destroy fungal organisms and stop their development, but also tend to accumulate in the thickness of the nail plate, remaining there for a long time.This allows to significantly reduce the duration of therapy up to 8 - 16 weeks.This time will be enough to completely get rid of the problem.An important, integrated approach to therapy is the combination of local treatment with oral drugs.This is my question, how to choose a medicine and how to get rid of nail fungus?Below we will consider all modern types of drugs.

Antifungal nail polish

If the touch fungus does not reach an advanced stage, only local therapy can be used.For this purpose, specialized varnishes or solutions with antimasot components can be used.

In addition, to achieve a therapeutic effect, you can use patches with a peeling effect.To make your nails more attractive, you can apply manicure polish over medicated polish.

To get the maximum effect from treating nail fungus with varnish, you must follow certain rules:

You should not complete the treatment yourself until you receive laboratory data indicating the absence of fungus on the nail;
Varnish application regularly and without skipping;
Treatment can last a year, and this is a necessary measure to get rid of the miotic organism.

Nails have the ability to accumulate more drugs than nails.You should not combine varnishes, because their therapeutic effect will be low.

There are certain contraindications for therapy using antifungal varnishes:

Lactation period;
A fetus;
Individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
Childhood.

Sometimes redness of the skin around the nail is possible.

Rules for using anti-static varnishes:

Using a nail file, you should remove as much of the affected nail as possible;
Using a solution based on water and alcohol on the nail surface or using a soap and soda bath to steam the nail;
Apply the remedy;
It should be removed using a common solvent once a week.

Remedies to remove nails affected by fungi

Before applying the nail cleaner, you need to steam your feet in water, where there is a teaspoon of liquid soap and soda for 1000 ml.Then the feet are dried, the skin around the affected nail should be fixed using an adhesive plaster.The product is applied to the affected area in a thick layer, but without rubbing.The top of the nail is also fixed with an adhesive plaster.

After 4 days, the patch is removed, the feet are steamed, and the nail affected by the fungus is simply broken using manicure tools.

Antifungal tablets

Systemic antibacterial agents are required in cases where the fungus has reached an advanced stage.Only a doctor can choose the optimal treatment regimen.There are many tablets that can get rid of fungus, but some are not compatible with hormonal contraceptives, some cannot be taken in childhood, and some are prohibited for use if you have liver problems.

Local treatment with cream, spray, ointment

If the therapy is chosen correctly and the symptoms of the fungal infection are completely eliminated and the scheme is completed, then the affected nail tissue will eventually be replaced with a healthy one.

However, complete recovery can only be checked by performing tests that patients pass 14 and 30 days after the end of therapy.If the skin on the legs peels and turns red during the treatment, this is a manifestation of an allergy that occurs in response to the use of the drug.Therefore, it is important to stop the treatment in time.

Other means

Oils: tea tree and lavender.As for lavender oil, it can relieve irritation, and tea tree oil helps fight bacteria.However, it is important that the oil is natural;Only in this case it can have the desired effect.

Apple cider vinegar, mouthwash, lemon juice.After mixing these three products, you should soak your feet in the solution for a quarter of an hour.It is an excellent adjunct to the main anti-inflammatory treatment.

Laser treatment

Treatment of the disease with a laser beam is a physiotherapeutic treatment method.It can be used together with antifungal drugs to achieve only one effect.Laser therapy alone will not completely eliminate nail fungus.This procedure is aimed at improving nail nutrition and increasing blood circulation.As a result, the antimasot drug penetrates the damaged plate.But the laser itself cannot kill the fungus.

This method has no contraindications and reduces the risk of disease.Laser therapy is a safe and painless way to fight fungal nail infections.

Prevention of nail fungus

If a person's immune system is functioning properly, standing belly button won't harm them even after infection because the immune system will neutralize it on its own.If a fungal infection spreads on the nail plate, then it is necessary to choose the best methods of combating it.

This is a very labor-intensive process, so the following preventive measures can help prevent infection:

You should avoid walking barefoot on the beach;
Closed rubber slippers are the optimal footwear for saunas and baths;
Socks for daily wear should be made of cotton fabric;
It is forbidden to put on someone else's shoes;
You should keep your feet dry.