Nail fungus (nail mycosis) is an infectious disease that affects every 5 adults on our planet. Infection occurs very quickly and occurs through pathogenic fungi. If you wear other people's shoes or neglect the rules of hygiene, as well as swimming pools, saunas, etc. Toenail fungus can be caused by diabetes, poor circulation in the feet, low immunity, damaged nails, excess weight, and excessive sweating. How to determine nail fungus, what symptoms indicate the manifestation of the disease? We will talk about it in this article.
Onychomycosis usually appears on the feet, less often on the hands, but can spread from foot to hand and from one toe to another. This disease may seem mild, but it is very "survivable", causing physical and psychological discomfort. The treatment of fungi is a very painful and long process, if the disease is not detected in time or the symptoms are ignored, serious violations can occur: the fungus quickly strengthens the nails and penetrates the internal organs, where it can cause. serious damage. Therefore, it is necessary to know the first signs of nail fungus in order to diagnose and recognize toenail fungus in time. What are they?
Signs of fungus on the feet
As a rule, there are no significant changes in the initial stages, but if you miss the moment, diagnosis and treatment will become a problem. So how do you recognize nail fungus? Signs or symptoms of nail fungus include:
- Changing the structure of the nail. The nail changes color (becomes yellow), becomes brittle, rough and cloudy.
- Painful sensations in the lesion. The place where the fungus appears hurts when in contact with the shoe.
- Itching and burning of the skin. The skin near the infected nail becomes red and itchy.
- Fall off the nail. In advanced stages, nails infected with fungus peel off.
There are 4 stages of nail fungus:
- The initial stage of nail fungus is almost never diagnosed (only medically). Only noticeable white stripes are visible on the nail plate, which indicates the presence of a fungus.
- The second is characterized by a change in the appearance of the nail plate (you can recognize it yourself). The nail turns yellow, cloudy and split.
- Thirdly, it manifests itself with noticeable deformation of the nail, and sometimes partial separation. Also, the skin around the fingers starts to itch, burn and peel.
- The fourth is the busiest. The affected skin begins to crack, become wet, and if not treated, non-healing wounds appear.
Causes of fungus
But why does the fungus appear? Microorganisms called fungi (dermatophiles) are responsible for causing damage to the body caused by fungi. A certain environment allows them to multiply, so the causes of fungus include moisture and heat from wearing shoes or synthetic socks that do not allow air to pass through, and if you do. do not wipe your feet dry after washing, nail damage - when the nail plate is cut under the root, wearing tight shoes that only help to weaken the nail, such as acrylic or gel varnishes.
So, what do nails affected by fungus look like? They are yellow in color, dull, cracked and partially worn. If you have noticed all or some of these signs of nail fungus, you should immediately consult a specialist, because self-treatment is just a waste of valuable time.
Nail fungus will not go away by itself, it will attack your body step by step, weakening it. Therefore, one of the main and most important signs of toenail fungus is its systemic nature.
Treatment of nail fungus
So, the first symptoms are recognized and you have consulted a doctor. A dermatologist or mycologist must first determine the type and extent of the disease (taking samples from the affected tissues) and make a diagnosis and then prescribe treatment. According to the degree of damage to the nail, normotrophic mycosis (when the color of the nail changes), hypertrophic mycosis (the color change is accompanied by blurring of the nail and its thickening), atrophic mycosis (in addition to the change). in color and deformation, collapse of the nail and its tearing are visible).
Treatment begins with local preparations - these are ointments, patches and creams. Often they are used to restore the skin affected by the fungus. Antifungal varnishes are used to treat nails, their principle of action is based on deep penetration into the nail plate and elimination of fungal pathogens. On the surface of the nail, these drugs form a film that prevents the attack of a new infection.
In severe cases of the disease and ineffective treatment with local drugs, the dermatologist prescribes antimycotic tablets. It should be noted that in terms of the spectrum of their effects, they have a very serious effect on the body and have a number of side effects. When prescribing oral tablets and taking them, it is necessary to conduct tests so that the doctor can monitor the course of treatment and its effect on the body.
There are also cases where experts prescribe local drugs along with antimycotic tablets. This happens in the most severe forms of the disease or in older patients when the healing process is slower. As a result of such therapy, the course of treatment is significantly reduced.
Folk remedies against fungi
In addition to drug treatment, traditional medicine is also widely used in the fight against fungi.
Incorrect treatment is a step towards the aggravation of the disease! It should be remembered that folk remedies will not cure nail mycosis, but they can alleviate the condition and alleviate the symptoms. They can be used as additional support for medical treatment.
If you do not follow certain hygiene rules, no treatment (drugs or folk) will be effective, the recommendations for the prevention of fungi consist of these.
Prevention of nail mycosis
Preventing nail fungus is quite simple, given some standard hygiene requirements that everyone can and should follow:
- Wear socks or tights made of natural fabrics and change them every day, and if your feet get wet during the day (several times a day), you need to wash them, dry them and change your socks to dry ones.
- Change your shoes often. If you wear the same shoes day in and day out, always check (before going out) that they are dry from the previous walk. Do not forget that a moist environment promotes the formation of fungus.
- When visiting a manicurist and pedicurist, make sure the tools are in the right shape and condition. Do not hesitate to ask a professional to disinfect all equipment.
- Low immunity is a condition for the appearance of a cork. Enrich your diet with healthy foods: eat more fruits and vegetables - they are rich in vitamins, do not be lazy to eat garlic and nuts.
- Apply antiseptic. The most common among them is tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic), which can be used to treat nails and the skin around them.
- Use only personal hygiene products, as shared items are a sure way for fungus. You must have your own toiletries (towel, brush, comb, scissors); also, when going to public places (bathroom, swimming pool, sauna, gym) you should only use your own shoes (even in the shower).
Prevention is the easiest way to protect against fungus! By regularly following the simple (above) rules, you will not have to get rid of "stubborn" nail mycosis in a long and painful way. Personal hygiene: the key to health.
Summary
So, how to determine the fungus on the nails? It is necessary to study the appearance of the nail, as well as pay attention to the symptoms and signs of the fungus. Nevertheless, if you have nail mycosis, you should urgently contact a dermatologist or mycologist, but do not self-medicate in order not to miss precious time. To treat the fungus only with drugs (under the supervision of a doctor), folk remedies can be used as adjunctive therapy. And most importantly: in order to avoid and not encounter an unpleasant disease such as nail fungus, you should follow the rules of personal hygiene (no matter how you think that these are small things and some may be neglected).