A way to healthy nails

What is ONYCHOMYCOSIS?

Onychomycosis is a mycotic lesion of the nail. According to the World Health Organization, every 5th citizen of the Earth suffers from onychomycosis [1, 2]. More frequently toenails become affected (80%), less frequently – handnails (20%); there is also observed simultaneous lesion of toenails and handnails.

Causative agents of onychomycosis are different types of microscopic fungi:

• dermatophytes: (there are about 100 types of them); from 68.3 to 90.7% of cases; they are resistant and can preserve in footwear and clothes up to 2–5 years.
• yeast-like fungi: from 5 to 10% of cases.
• mold fungi: from 10­ to 15% of cases, and in some countries up to 30­-40%­­­.

 How does ONYCHOMYCOSIS look like? 

Change of the color: the nail turns white, grey, yellow, brown of different tints, sometimes black or green. Thickening: in response to fungus penetrating there develops hyperkeratosis subungualis, increased keratinization of the nail bed. Crumbling or destruction: simultaneously with thickening there is nail destruction.

 How can one be infected with ONYCHOMYCOSIS?

The source of infection is ill people and objects infected with fungi. The most widespread way of getting the infection is a social one: via footwear, clothes, manicure instruments, and bath accessories. It may happen both at home (when a member of the family is ill), and in places of public facilities (gyms, saunas, swimming pools, showers).Onychomycosis is often preceded by foot lesion: there develop itching, skin reddening, and rash in the form of blisters. The skin thickens and peels. Then the changes also occur in nails. White lines, opacification, yellowness, change of the structure, appearance of fractures, scales and warts on the nail — all of these are first signs of onychomycosis. It is important to turn to the doctor in time — during the early stage the treatment is easier and it requires less time and money [2].

 How can one avoid being infected with ONYCHOMYCOSIS?

In order to avoid being infected with onychomycosis it is necessary to follow the rules given below:

1. When visiting a bathhouse, a sauna, a shower or a swimming pool, use individual covered rubber shoes.

2. After washing wipe your foot dry.

3. Change socks every day. 

4. Wear shoes at the beach, as fungi preserve in sand and pebbles for a long time. 

5. Do not wear shoes belonging to other people. 

6. Treat dystrophicly changed nails, as they are most liable to fungus penetration. 

7. Follow the rules of personal hygiene as for foot skin care (elimination of microtraumas, disposition to sweating, xerodermia and calluses).

 Why is it necessary to treat ONYCHOMYCOSIS?

• A person with onychomycosis is the source of fungal infection for the whole family. 
• Nail candidiasis may cause stomatitis and thrush.
• Onychomycosis decreases quality of life, causes the feeling of awkwardness when wearing open shoes, visiting beaches and swimming pools.
• Fungi excrete toxic substances, provoking allergy and decreased immunity. There is an increased risk of the development of severe diseases (erysipelatous inflammation, bronchial asthma, and systemic mycoses).

 Effective and reliable treatment of fungal infections

Itrungar presented by the company “Ananta Medicare” (active substance is itraconazole) is a modern antifungal medicinal preparation of systemic action. It is issued in capsules 100 mg, No 4 and 15 per one package (registration certificate No UA/2248/01/01 d/d 15.02.2010).

 Benefits of Itrungar:

• Itrungar is highly active against all known causative agents of onychomycosis.
• Itrungar is accumulated in the nail plate (after the end of treatment course, it preserves in nails for more than 6 months) [3].
• Itrungar is easy to use (taken once a day).
• Itrungar is safe at long-term administration.