Candidiasis of the nails: symptoms, treatment

To make your hands look beautiful, you need to monitor the health and condition of your nails. However, even close care can not be saved from dangerous diseases. One of these serious, but very common ailments is the nail fungus (candidiasis). Most people ignore his first symptoms, referring to a doctor at a neglected stage. In this case, there is no way to do without surgical intervention. An 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-like fungi of the genus Candida. For the first time, with these conditionally pathogenic bacteria, a person faces immediately after birth. They are always present on his skin. However, under the influence of a number of factors fungi are activated and begin to multiply uncontrollably. As a result, there are symptoms of candidiasis.

What factors can aggravate the situation?

1. Weakened immunity against pregnancy, malnutrition or heredity.
2. Chronic diseases.
3. Uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs.
4. Dysbacteriosis and disturbance of microflora.
5. Injury of the nail in the process of manicure.
6. Constant contact with water.

Sometimes the candidiasis of nails develops due to other fungal lesions of the skin or mucous membranes.

Who is at risk?

Colonies of conditionally pathogenic microflora are usually localized under the free end of the nail plate. Therefore, the infection most often occurs by contact-household means, for example through a handshake or objects of common use. At risk are young mothers, medical and trade workers.

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 bypass the side and babies. An infected person is a potential carrier of infection. Therefore, it is recommended that he limit contact with healthy people, especially with children.

The first symptoms of the disease

Candidiasis of nails is characterized by a phased development. Initially, the pathological process affects the nail roller. In this case, they speak of the emergence of a candid paronychia. In this area there is a strong and throbbing pain. The skin over the roller blushes and swells, then it becomes shiny and excessively thin. When pressed, yellowish pus appears. The appearance of a greenish secret indicates the attachment of a bacterial infection.

Towards the end of the acute period, the skin begins to peel over the nail roller, and the redness disappears. It forms painful cracks. This symptom indicates the transition of the disease into a chronic form. Quite often at this stage, the pathological process is already spreading to the nail plate. Therefore, they speak of the development of candidal onychomycosis.

This disease is characterized by damage to the nail hole or its free edge. In the first case it is a question of the proximal form of onychomycosis, and in the second case it is about the distal one. When the hole is damaged, the fingernail begins to soften and break up at a rapid rate. It acquires a gray shade. When the pathological process passes to the side surfaces of the plate, they rise slightly above the nail bed, and eventually begin to crumble and turn yellow.

In the case of the distal form of the disease, the clinical picture is modified. In this case, the free edge of the nail is affected. It rises and arches upwards, acquires a non-uniform character. Cracks, brownish-yellowish hue, grooves - all these symptoms indicate a distal onychomycosis.

In young patients, the course of the disease is different. Candidiasis of the skin and nails is not accompanied by detachment and crumbling of the plate. It simply changes its color. To a greater extent, the pathological process affects premature babies, so they are at risk.

Methods of diagnosis

How to recognize the candidiasis of nails in a timely manner? The photos presented in today's article, allow to suspect this disease. However, only visual comparison can not be considered a true method of diagnosing a disease. When symptoms of candidiasis appear, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

At the reception specialist first examines the site of the lesion, but only after takes a scraping to identify the yeast-like fungus. He is sent for laboratory analysis. If the preliminary diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor should tell you how to treat candida nails.

Features of drug therapy

Treatment of the disease is always complex. The patient is prescribed antifungal agents and preparations for topical use. Systemic therapy is necessary for chronic candidiasis and a combination of onychomycosis with mucosal lesions.

In the acute form of candidiasis, nail treatment involves the supervision of a doctor. As a rule, this is a local therapy consisting of several stages. First, the patient makes hot baths with soda or manganese to soften the lesion on the nail plate. Then proceeds to the treatment of these sites 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". Also, doctors recommend daily treatment of the nail roller with antiseptic means (Fukortsin, Chlorhexidine). The duration of this 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 completely grows. 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 can not be predicted.

The need for surgical intervention

Sometimes for a definitive cure of the disease a rather radical measure is required - surgical intervention. First, the doctor removes the nail plate. There are three ways to perform this procedure:

• mechanical;
• surgical;
• Chemical (acidic agents are used).

After all the manipulations on the nail bed is applied glue mass. It protects the surface from re-infection. As the nail plate grows, it should be treated with antifungals and antiseptics. Medicines should be chosen by the doctor taking into account the general clinical picture and the patient's health condition. 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 confirmation of the diagnosis. If you miss this moment, the pathological process can spread to new areas. Among other unpleasant complications doctors call:

• Attachment of bacterial infection;
• Chronitization of the process;
• Defeat of the entire nail plate.

When the disease takes on a chronic form, more serious therapy is required. In most cases, no surgical intervention can not be avoided.

Methods of prevention

To prevent fungal nail damage, you need to monitor the state of the immune system. To this end, doctors recommend that you regularly take vitamin-mineral complexes, eat right and play sports.

If there are wounds or other visible lesions on the skin, prolonged contact with water should be avoided. If necessary, use gloves, and after work carefully wipe your hands. Women who constantly do manicure and pedicure in beauty salons, it is better to choose the hardware procedures. In this case, the risk of injuring the skin and infecting the infection is minimal.