Nail fungus (nail mycosis) is an infectious disease that affects every 5 adults on our planet. The infection occurs very quickly and occurs through pathogenic fungi. You can "catch" the infection if you wear someone else's shoes or neglect hygiene rules, as well as when visiting swimming pools, saunas, etc. Contribute to the appearance of toenail fungus can be diabetes, poor circulation in the legs, low immunity, damaged nails, excess weight and excessive sweating. How to determine the nail fungus, what symptoms indicate the manifestation of the disease? We will talk about this in this article.
Nail fungus usually appears on the feet, less often on the hands, but it can happen from one foot to one hand and from one finger to the next. This disease may seem mild, but it is very "survivable", causing physical and psychological discomfort. Treatment of the fungus is a very laborious and lengthy process, if the disease is not detected in time or the symptoms are ignored, serious violations can occur - the fungus quickly grows stronger on the nails and penetrates the internal organs, where it can cause harm severe. Therefore, in order to diagnose and recognize toenail fungus in time, it is necessary to know the early signs of toenail fungus. What are they?
Signs of foot fungus.
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 the following:
- Changing the structure of the nail. The nail changes color (turns yellow), becomes brittle, rough and cloudy.
- Painful sensations in the lesion. The site of the appearance of the fungus hurts on contact with shoes.
- Itching and burning of the skin. The skin near the infected nail becomes red and itchy.
- Fall of the nail. In advanced stages, nails infected with a fungus can detach.
There are 4 stages of nail fungus:
- The early stage of nail fungus is almost never diagnosed (only medically). Barely noticeable white stripes appear on the nail plate, indicating 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, becomes cloudy and crumbles.
- The third manifests itself in a noticeable deformation of the nail and sometimes its partial detachment. Also, the skin around the fingers begins to itch, burn and peel off.
- The fourth is the busiest. The affected skin begins to break, to get wet and, if not treated, non-healing wounds appear.
fungal causes
So why does the fungus appear? Microorganisms called fungi (dermatophiles) are responsible for the damage to the body by the fungus. And a certain environment allows them to multiply, so the reasons for the appearance of the fungus include moisture and heat, which are formed as a result of wearing air-tight shoes, or synthetic socks, and also if it does do not dry your feet after washing, damage the nail: when the nail plate is cut under the root, wear tight shoes, which only contribute to the weakening of the nail, such as acrylic or gel varnishes.
So what do fungal nails look like? They are yellow, have lost their shine, crumble and partially exfoliate. If you have seen all these symptoms of nail fungus or some of them, you should immediately consult a specialist, since self-treatment is just a waste of precious time.
On its own, nail fungus will not go away, it will hit your body step by step, weakening it. That is why one of the main and most important symptoms of toenail fungus is its systemic nature.
Treating the causes of nail fungus
Then, the first symptoms are recognized and you have come to the doctor. A dermatologist or mycologist must first determine the type and extent of the disease (by taking a sample of the affected tissues) and make a diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment. Depending on the degree of damage to the nail, normotrophic mycoses (when the color of the nail changes), hypertrophic mycoses (to the color change is added the clouding of the nail and its thickening), atrophic mycoses (in addition to the change in color and deformation, the crumbling of the nail and its detachment appear).
Treatment begins with local preparations - these are ointments, patches and creams. Most often they are used to restore the skin affected by the fungus. To treat the nail, antifungal varnishes are used, the principle of their action is based on penetrating deep into the nail plate and eliminating fungal pathogens. On the surface of the nail, these drugs form a film that prevents a new infection from attacking.
In severe cases of the disease and the ineffectiveness of treatment with local drugs, the dermatologist prescribes antifungal tablets. It is worth noting that in terms of their spectrum of action, they have a very serious effect on the body and have a number of side effects. When prescribing oral tablets and while taking them, tests are necessary so that the doctor can monitor the course of treatment and its effect on the body.
There are also cases when specialists prescribe local drugs along with antifungal tablets. This occurs in the most severe forms of the disease or in patients of mature age, in whom the recovery process is slower. As a result of such therapy, the course of treatment is significantly shortened.
Folk remedies against fungus.
Along with drug treatment, traditional medicine is also widely used in the fight against fungus.
Improper treatment is a step towards aggravation of the disease! It should be remembered that folk remedies will not cure nail mycosis, but can only relieve the condition and relieve symptoms. They can be used as additional support for medical treatment.
No treatment (drug or popular) will be effective if certain hygiene rules are not followed, this is what the tips for fungal prevention consist of.
Prevention of nail mycoses
Preventing nail fungus is a fairly simple task, given a few standard hygiene requirements that everyone can and should follow:
- Wear tights or stockings made of natural fabrics and change them every day, and if your feet get wet during the day (several times a day), you should wash, dry and change them to dry ones.
- Change your shoes often. If you wear the same shoes every day, always check (before you go out) if they are dry from the previous walk. Remember that a humid environment favors the formation of fungi.
- When visiting a manicure and pedicure master, make sure the tools are in proper shape and condition. Do not hesitate to ask a specialist to disinfect all the equipment.
- Low immunity is a prerequisite for the appearance of a fungus. 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 antiseptics. The most common among them is tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic), they can be used to treat the nails and the skin around them.
- Use only your own personal hygiene products, as shared items are a safe pathway for fungus. You must have your own toiletries (towel, brush, comb, scissors); furthermore, when you go to public places (bathrooms, swimming pool, sauna, gym), you must wear only your own shoes (even in the shower).
Prevention is the easiest way to avoid fungus! By following the simple rules (above) regularly, you will not have to get rid of "stubborn" nail mycosis for a long time and painfully. Personal hygiene: the key to health.
summarizing
So how to determine nail fungus? You need to study the appearance of the nail, as well as pay attention to the symptoms and signs of the fungus. However, if nail mycosis is present, it is urgent to contact a dermatologist or mycologist, but do not self-medicate, so as not to waste precious time. To treat the fungus with medication alone (under the supervision of a doctor), folk remedies can be used as adjuvant therapy. And most importantly - you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene (no matter how you think they are trifles and some of them can be neglected) in order to avoid such an unpleasant ailment as nail fungus and not face it.