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. You can "pick up" the infection if you wear other people's shoes or ignore hygiene rules, as well as when visiting swimming pools, saunas, etc. Contributing 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 nail fungus, what are the symptoms that indicate the manifestation of the disease? We will discuss this in this article.
Nail mycosis usually appears on the feet, less often on the hands, but it can move from foot to hand and from one finger to the next. This disease may seem mild, but it is very "survivable", causing physical and psychological discomfort. Fungal treatment is a very thorough and long process, if the disease is not detected in time or the symptoms are ignored, then serious violations can occur: the fungus quickly strengthens the nail and penetrates into the internal organs, where it can cause severe damage. Therefore, to diagnose and recognize toenail fungus in time, it is necessary to know the first signs of toenail fungus. What are they?
Signs of fungus on the feet
As a rule, there are no significant changes in the early stages, but if you miss this time, then diagnosis and treatment will be a problem. So how do you recognize nail fungus? Signs or symptoms of nail fungus include the following:
- Change the structure of the nail. Nails change color (turn yellow), become brittle, rough and cloudy.
- Painful sensation in the lesion. The site of the appearance of the fungus is painful when in contact with shoes.
- 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 can peel off.
There are 4 stages of nail fungus:
- Early stages of nail fungus are almost never diagnosed (only medically). Barely visible white stripes appear on the nail plate, which indicates the presence of fungus.
- The second is characterized by a change in the appearance of the nail plate (you can recognize it yourself). Nails turn yellow, become cloudy and crumble.
- The third is shown in a significant deformation of the nail, and sometimes its partial detachment. Also, the skin around the fingers starts to itch, burn and peel.
- The fourth is the busiest. The affected skin begins to break, wet and, if not treated, non-healing wounds will appear.
Fungal cause
So why does fungus appear? Microorganisms called fungi (dermatophils) are responsible for body damage by fungi. And certain environments allow them to multiply, so the reasons for the occurrence of fungi include moisture and heat, which is formed by wearing shoes that do not allow air to pass through, or synthetic socks, and also if you do. do not wipe your feet dry after washing, damage to the nails - when the nail plate is cut under the root, wearing tight shoes, which only contribute to the weakness of the nails, such as acrylic varnish or gel.
So what does nail fungus look like? They are yellow, have lost their shine, crumble and partially peel off. If you have seen all these symptoms of nail fungus or some of them, you should immediately see a specialist, because self-treatment is just a waste of valuable time.
By itself, 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
So, 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 tissue) and make a diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment. According to the degree of damage to the nail, normotrophic mycosis is distinguished (when the color of the nail changes), hypertrophic mycosis (clouding of the nail and its thickening is added to the color change), atrophic mycosis (in addition to the change). in color and deformation, the nail collapses and its detachment appears).
Treatment begins with local preparations - these are ointments, patches and creams. Often it is used to restore skin affected by fungus. To treat nails, antifungal varnishes are used, the principle of their action is based on deep penetration into the nail plate and eliminating fungal pathogens. On the surface of the nail, these drugs form a film that prevents new infections from attacking.
In severe cases of the disease and the ineffectiveness of treatment with local drugs, dermatologists prescribe antimycotic tablets. Keep in mind that, in terms of their spectrum of action, they have a very serious effect on the body and have some side effects. When prescribing oral tablets and while taking them, it is necessary to take tests so that the doctor can monitor the course of treatment and its effect on the body.
There are also cases when the specialist prescribes local drugs together with antimycotic tablets. This happens in the most severe form of the disease or in patients of advanced age, where the recovery process is slower. As a result of such therapy, the course of treatment is significantly reduced.
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 worsening the disease! It should be remembered that folk remedies will not cure nail mycosis, but can only alleviate the condition and ease the symptoms. They can be used as additional support for medical treatment.
No treatment (medicinal or folk) will be effective if you do not follow certain hygiene rules, here is advice for the prevention of fungus.
Prevention of nail mycosis
Preventing nail fungus is a relatively easy task, given some standard hygiene requirements that everyone can and should follow:
- Wear socks or tights made of natural fabric and change them every day, and if your feet get wet during the day (several times a day), you need to wash them, wipe them dry and change your socks to dry ones.
- Change your shoes regularly. If you wear the same shoes every day, always check (before going out) to see if they are dry from the previous walk. Remember that a moist environment encourages mold growth.
- When visiting a manicure and pedicure master, make sure the tools are in the right shape and condition. Do not hesitate to ask a specialist to disinfect all equipment.
- Low immunity is a prerequisite for the appearance of fungus. Enrich your diet with healthy food: eat more fruits and vegetables - they are rich in vitamins, do not be lazy to eat garlic and nuts.
- Apply an antiseptic. The most common among them is tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic), it can be used to treat nails and the skin around them.
- Use only your 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 (bathhouse, swimming pool, sauna, gym), you must only use your own shoes (even in the bathroom).
Prevention is the easiest way to avoid fungus! By following the simple rules (above) regularly, you will not have to take long and painfully get rid of "stubborn" nail mycosis. Personal hygiene: the key to health.
Add up
So, how to determine nail fungus? You need to study the appearance of the nails, as well as pay attention to the symptoms and signs of the fungus. If, however, nail mycosis is present, it is important to contact a dermatologist or a mycologist, but do not self-medicate, so as not to miss precious time. To treat the fungus only with medicine (under the supervision of a doctor), folk remedies can be used as adjunctive therapy. And the most important thing: you must follow the rules of personal hygiene (no matter how you think that these are small things and some of them can be ignored) to avoid unpleasant diseases such as nail fungus and not face it.