The fight against fungal nails

 The fight against fungal nails

A fungal nail, also popularly called fungal nail, develops slowly and starts with rather discrete symptoms.

A fungal nail never heals spontaneously, in some cases it can be painful. The infected nail can come off if left untreated.

Nail Fungus Treatments Products

Cause

an infection of the fingernails or toenails by a microscopic fungus that causes a thickening or spot on the nail.

Visible Symptoms

• discrete, slow development
• streaks on the nail that becomes more fragile
• a color change of the nail: whitish discoloration that may turn yellow or brown.
• the thickness of the nail increases (hyperkeratosis).
• a brittle appearance and/or loosening of the nail (onycholysis).

Risk Factors

• damaged nails
• regular exposure to heat, moisture, sweating
• chronic use of antibiotics
• immunosuppressants (cortisone treatments)
• diabetics
• artificial nails

How is such a fungus transmitted?

• by sharing nail scissors or accessories
• wearing shoes that are too tight or promote sweating
• by walking barefoot in a locker room or at the edge of a swimming pool.
• from one person to another within the family
• from one toenail to the other
• more often on feet than hands (warmer and moister environment, less blood flow, making the immune system fight harder against a fungus)

When to consult a doctor?

• an onychomycosis never heals spontaneously
• appearance of the nail lasts longer than two weeks (brittle nails, which crumble, flake or thicken…)
• treatment of a mycosis becomes more and more difficult with time
• nail fungus can lead to other skin infections and permanently damage the infected nail and lead to paronychia (the inflammation of the folds around the nails).
• the infected nail can come off if left untreated.

Local treatments

reserved for incipient fungal infections without affecting the matrix or as a supplement to oral treatment.

Products containing urea or keratin emollients increase the hydration of the nail, smooth the outer layers of the nail plate without being aggressive. They change the microenvironment of the nail and improve the integrity of the surface, preventing the growth of mycoses

Nail polishes are indicated in the classic forms of superficial onychomycosis. The development of film-forming solutions allows the diffusion of their active ingredient (amorolfine or ciclopirox) through the nail plate to the deep and persistent layers for at least 1 week and longer after their application.

How do you apply an anti-fungal varnish?

Before each application it is necessary that the affected part of the nail is perfectly filed and then thoroughly cleaned with alcohol wipe and dried.
It is best to use disposable files to limit the risk of infecting healthy nails.
Apply the polish over the entire surface of the nail. For each nail to be treated, dip the spatula in the polish but do not wipe the edge of the bottle to prevent further spreading.
After use, clean the spatula with some alcohol or solvent and let it dry for 1 to 2 minutes.
Close the bottle tightly.
6. Never apply the polish to the skin around the nail as this can cause redness or irritation

The oral treatment

If the damage is greater than the distal third, oral treatment should be initiated immediately.
There are two options, always on prescription (terbinafine or imidazole derivatives) with different treatment regimens.
Compliance with the dosage and dosing methods prescribed by the doctor is very important. In addition, drug interactions are very common with some orally ingested antifungal derivatives.

The duration of the treatment

should be continued uninterrupted until the appearance of the affected nail returns to normal due to the regrowth, clipped and eventually replaced with a healthy nail.
varies depending on the degree of infection and the location.
the treatment takes a long time and perseverance is necessary!
6 months for fingernails
9-12 to 18 months for toenails, because those nails grow even more slowly.

Prevention and hygiene advice

important to prevent recurrence and to treat all fungal sources of recontamination.

• Do not exchange shoes, gloves or toiletries with other persons.
• Wash the feet daily and after all sports even best with an anti-fungal soap. Dry the feet sufficiently with a separate towel, or even with a hair dryer between the toes to avoid the risk of fermentation.
• Use a mild, disinfecting soap
• Use antiperspirant products when sweating profusely
• Use an anti-fungal product in the shoes
• Cut the nails short, take good care of the skin around the nail: treat
• microtraumas, cracks,… use a nourishing cream for dry skin. Ensure healthy nails not to use the same material (file, scissors, brush…) as
• for contaminated nails, and disinfect the reusable material with alcohol.  
• A dietary supplement is useful. Some minerals are necessary for healthy nails: zinc, iron, sulfur, silicon.