One of the basic factors for the successful treatment of mycosis is contacting the right doctor. Patients often confuse the doctor's specialization and do not know which doctor to go to with nail fungus. As a result, valuable time is wasted, extra money and nerves go to waste.
Fungal infections require immediate treatment. The earlier the disease is detected and diagnosed, the more effective the therapy. Also, the choice of doctor depends on the stage of the disease. In the advanced form of the disease, the help of several doctors will be needed, including a surgeon.
About the disease
Mycosis is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria. Adults are mostly exposed to it, but children are also not immune from infection. The disease first affects the area between the fingers, gradually moving to the nail plate. The fungus destroys keratin, the main component of nails. The result is the fragility of the plate, stopping its growth, the formation of cracks and specific stains on the surface of the nail.
Cause of infection
There are several causes of fungal infections. The main ones should be highlighted:
- Weak immunity.
If the body is weakened by disease or does not receive the necessary amount of vitamins, a person faces the risk of getting mycosis. The body's protective barrier will not be able to prevent the spread of disease.
- Nervous system fatigue.
Frequent stress, nervous disorders and the habit of taking everything contribute to the deterioration of the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
- Ignoring hygiene rules.
Often, the fungus is picked up in public places. Indifference and negligence in relation to personal hygiene is the main cause of the spread of mycosis. You should always wash your hands before eating in cafes, bars, restaurants, and after using the toilet. You should always carry a spare pair of socks or tights with you when using sports shoes or playing at a rental center or entertainment center. It is also recommended to carry hand sanitizer gel with you so that if there is no water tap nearby, you can treat your palms from dirt and germs.
- Inappropriate communication with animals.
Fungal spores are carried not only by humans, but also by animals. All lovers of petting stray cats and dogs should refrain from this habit. No matter how cute the animal is, it poses a health hazard. In case of contact, you need to wash your hands with soap, treat them with a disinfectant solution and wash your clothes.
- Improper storage of shoes and socks.
Fungi breed most easily in warm, moist environments. Given this fact, after walking in the rain or on damp ground, you should dry your shoes by placing them near a radiator or heater, and put wet socks or tights in the wash. If you let your shoes dry on their own, there is no guarantee that your shoes will dry completely. Meanwhile, spores can be activated quickly, and the next day a person is infected with mycosis.
In almost all cases of fungal infection, the person himself is to blame. It is necessary to increase your attention to detail, do not ignore the hygiene rules, and use only your own clothes and shoes. You also need to monitor your health. Take vitamins and micronutrient capsules regularly. For a healthy and clean person, the disease will pass.
Disease symptoms
Medicine knows more than ten types of mycosis. And there are several tens of thousands of causative agents of this disease. Naturally, each type differs from the others in its characteristic symptoms. But we can identify the main signs of this disease. They are found in every patient in one variation or another.
Main symptoms:
- thickened or thinned nail plate;
- loss of shine of nails, acquisition of dullness;
- nails begin to crack and peel;
- changes in the color of the nail plate (white, yellow, brown, green, black);
- the appearance of spots, stripes, dots on the nails;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers;
- discharge of mucus from under the nail.
Other characteristic symptoms are itching and burning in the affected area of the fingers or toes. The pain may become so severe that the person must take painkillers.
The fungus often spreads outside the nail. It affects the nail ridges, interdigital spaces, and feet. In rare and especially severe cases, the disease spreads throughout the body. Sometimes pathogenic bacteria also affect internal organs.
Detection of nail fungus
The difficulty of identifying the disease lies in its main problem. It is because of the lost time that the infection develops and takes root in the patient's body. Infection in later stages is very difficult to completely eliminate. Those who are infected need treatment for six months for the therapy to bring positive results. Sometimes the mycelium becomes so deeply embedded that it takes a lifetime to heal. It is possible to achieve only a temporary improvement, and then the fungus returns again.
It is very difficult to detect mycosis in the early stages. Symptoms are not as pronounced as in the next stage, when the bacteria create their mycelium. Patients do not pay attention to slight itching, confusing it with fatigue after walking. Some people do not respond at all to changes in the color of the plate. People mistake brittle and brittle nails as a temporary condition that will go away on its own.
The detection of at least one symptom is a reason to see a doctor immediately. However, not everyone knows which doctor treats nail fungus. Usually people go to a therapist, but this is not entirely true. You need to make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist.
The medical facility will run the necessary tests and tell you if the person really has the infection. It is impossible to independently determine its presence, just as it is impossible to know its type. That is, specific treatment and recommendations for recovery depend on the type of mycosis.
Contact a dermatologist
Since fungus is a skin disease, it is logical to seek help from a dermatologist. He will examine the suspected infected nail, interview the patient about his condition, and refer him for tests. After receiving the medical test results, the dermatologist will make a decision.
If the disease is at an early stage, then this specialist will be able to solve the problem. If mycosis is in an advanced form or characterized by complex symptoms, the doctor will send the patient to an appointment with a mycologist.
It should be noted that a dermatologist is a doctor with a wider scope. He treats all skin diseases, but has no special knowledge. They are available from mycologists who specialize only in treating fungi.
Appointment with a mycologist
Mycologists treat all forms of fungal infections - from early stage to advanced. These specialists conduct initial examinations, determine appropriate tests, and develop treatment algorithms. If the patient has the opportunity, it is better for him to immediately go to a mycologist. In this way he will save his time and receive more efficient and clear answers to questions about the nature of his illness and how to treat it.
An appointment with a mycologist usually requires a fee. Doctors see patients in special centers, where general practitioners or dermatologists set referrals. Some clinics have personal mycologists.
The mycologist will guide the patient from the first appointment until recovery. It is not recommended to change doctors during treatment. New doctors need time to study medical history, and this is a waste of time.
After the patient recovers, the mycologist advises to maintain health. Precautions must be strictly followed. In this case, the fungus will not return.
Diagnostic and treatment algorithms
Treatment of mycosis consists of sequentially related stages. It is important to undergo each of them on time under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
Antifungal therapy algorithm:
- Contact a dermatologist or go directly to a mycologist.
- Preliminary examination and obtaining a referral for the test.
- Take the test and receive their results.
- Repeated appointments with the doctor and subsequent determination of treatment.
- Buy medicine for therapy.
Then the patient must regularly visit the doctor to monitor the progress of the disease. If the result is positive, therapy continues and ends with recovery. If there is a negative reaction to the drugs or there is no improvement, additional studies are conducted and new therapy is prescribed.
Tests to clarify the diagnosis
For effective treatment, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause and type of disease. The nature of therapy will depend on the type of pathogen.
Basic diagnostic tests:
- Microbiological methods.
First, the doctor must determine whether the patient is truly infected. To do this, he needs to take material, that is, potentially infected nails. The doctor takes a scraper or cuts a part of the plate. The material is then placed in a solution, after which the specialist examines it under a microscope. This is how he sees the presence or absence of dangerous bacteria that cause infection.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
The doctor takes blood from a vein from the patient. Analysis results come quickly. The reaction indicates the reaction to mycosis: positive, negative or undetermined. In the second case, it is necessary to take additional tests or repeat the blood donation in a week.
- PCR studies.
As in the first study, PCR requires scraping. As a result, doctors can say exactly whether a person is a carrier of the infection or not. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the fact that PCR cannot identify the type of fungus. The doctor only announces its presence or absence.
Fungus in the early stages is difficult to diagnose the first time. This is the so-called unlabeled reaction. To obtain a final diagnosis, the doctor will send the patient for additional tests or ask him to return in one to two weeks. Then the doctor will consult and tell you which doctor the patient should see next if they have developed nail fungus. Most likely it will be a mycologist.
Help from other experts
Often, the help of dermatologists and mycologists is not enough. Sometimes patients do not have the opportunity to immediately get an appointment with a specialist. Then it is recommended to consult a therapist.
The therapist will conduct a preliminary examination, and based on the results of the examination, write instructions for the test. He will also tell you who to go to next - a dermatologist or a mycologist. Appointments with therapists are relevant for patients living in small towns or residential areas of large cities. Not every clinic has its own dermatologist or mycologist. In this case, the therapist becomes an expert who can direct the infected person to the necessary treatment.
If the nail fungus has developed quite seriously and has reached an advanced stage, the patient should make an appointment with a surgeon. Sometimes professional intervention is needed. Sometimes there is no way to save the affected nail. It needs to be surgically removed. The doctor will cut the plate from the nail bed and advise the patient on further actions.
If the patient cannot make an appointment with a specialist, he should see a therapist. This doctor has all the knowledge necessary to conduct an initial examination and make recommendations about the next steps in terms of antifungal therapy.
Treatment in the early stages
Early stage athlete's foot can be treated with antifungal gels, patches and varnishes. The latter contains fungicides - substances that prevent the spread of infection. They stop the growth of bacteria and neutralize the mycelium.
It is not recommended to choose the drug independently. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination, can give effective advice and write the necessary prescription.
In addition to ointments and varnishes, you can use traditional therapeutic recipes. The following are particularly popular:
- vinegar;
- iodine;
- potassium permanganate;
- table or sea salt.
They are used to make lotions and baths. Iodine and potassium permanganate should not be used too often because they dry the skin. To avoid skin damage, you need to rest.
Recipes based on herbs and vegetables are also in demand. For example, mint, onion, garlic compresses. In addition, it is recommended to rub the affected fingers or feet with olive oil or tea tree oil.
Alternative therapy can only be used in addition to the main treatment, but not in place of it.
Treatment at the stage of development and neglect
In advanced forms of the disease, ointments and baths are indispensable. Requires the use of so-called antimycotics. They are prescribed by a doctor. The choice of tablets is based on the type of fungus, the patient's health condition, his age and other characteristics. Antimycotics are characterized by a large list of contraindications and side effects. It is forbidden to buy it without a prescription from a mycologist.
Prevent the risk of infection
To maintain good health, it is necessary to take preventive measures. They will prevent the risk of nail fungus infection.
Top tips:
- Use only personal hygiene items: towels, sports mats, wet wipes.
- Monitor the cleanliness of socks and change pairs regularly.
- Clean your shoes before and after going out.
- If the weather is humid or your feet sweat excessively, dry your shoes thoroughly.
- Avoid contact with strangers.
- After handling animals, especially strays, wash your hands with soap.
- Always carry disinfectant gel with you in public places.
- It is better to bring personal belongings (if any) to the rental base.
- Get manicures and pedicures done regularly and avoid the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on your feet.
- Wear only comfortable shoes that do not pinch or rub your feet.
If a fungal infection has occurred, you must follow all of your doctor's recommendations. By strictly adhering to the therapy, the patient will be able to recover and forget about the unpleasant disease. But you have to be patient - the infection is difficult to eradicate. It will take months, and maybe years.