Nail fungus (nail mycosis) is an infectious disease that affects every 5th adult on our planet. Infection occurs very quickly and occurs through pathogenic fungi. You can get "infected" by wearing someone else's shoes or ignoring the rules of hygiene, visiting swimming pools, saunas, etc. Diabetes, poor blood circulation in the legs, low immunity, damaged nails, obesity and excess can contribute to the appearance of fungus on toenailsContribute to sweating. How to determine the nail fungus, what symptoms signal the manifestation of the disease, we will talk about this in this article.
Nail fungus usually occurs on the feet, less commonly on the hands, but can spread from foot to hand and from one finger to the next. This disease may seem mild, but it is very "survivable" and causes physical and psychological inconveniences. Treatment of the fungus is a very laborious and lengthy process. If the disease is not recognized in time or the symptoms are ignored, serious injuries can occur: The fungusquickly multiplies on the nails and penetrates into the internal organs, where it can cause severe damage. Therefore, in order to diagnose and recognize toenail fungus in time, it is necessary to know the first signs of toenail fungus. What are you?
Mushroom marks on feet
As a rule, at the initial stage there are no significant changes, but if you miss the moment, diagnosis and treatment become a problem. So how do you recognize nail fungus? Signs or symptoms of nail fungus include the following:
- Change in nail structure. The nail discolors (becomes yellow), becomes brittle, rough and cloudy.
- Painful sensations in the lesion. The place of appearance of the fungus hurts when in contact with shoes.
- itching and burning on the skin. The skin near the infected nail becomes red and itchy.
- falling out of the nail. In advanced stages, nails infected with a fungus can become detached.
There are 4 stages of nail fungus:
- The early stages of nail fungus are 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 see it yourself). The nail turns yellow, becomes cloudy and crumbles.
- The third is manifested by noticeable deformation of the nail, and sometimes its partial detachment. In addition, the skin around the fingers begins to itch, burn and peel off.
- The fourth is the busiest. The affected skin begins to crack, become wet, and if left untreated, non-healing wounds develop.
Causes of fungi
Why does the mushroom appear? Microorganisms called fungi (dermatophils) are responsible for the damage caused to the body by the fungus. And a certain environment allows them to multiply, so the reasons for the appearance of the fungus are humidity and heat, which arise from wearing shoes that do not let air through, or synthetic socks, and also when you wipedo not dry your feet after washing, damage to the nail - if the nail plate is cut under the root, wear tight shoes that only contribute to the weakening of the nail, such as acrylic or gel polishes.
So what do fungal nails look like? They are yellow, have lost their luster, crumble and partially peel off. If you have seen all or some of these symptoms of nail fungus, you should see a specialist immediately as self-treatment is just a waste of precious time.
Nail fungus will not go away on its own, it will hit your body step by step and weaken it. Because of this, one of the most important and 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 nature and extent of the disease (by taking a sample of the affected tissue), make a diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment. Depending on the degree of damage to the nail, a distinction is made between normotrophic mycosis (when the color of the nail changes), hypertrophic mycosis (clouding of the nail and its thickening is added to the change in color), atrophic mycosis (in addition to change in color and deformation, crumbling of the nail). and his replacement 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 action of which 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 impact on the body and have a number of side effects. When prescribing oral tablets and while taking them, tests must be carried out 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 drugs. 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 reduced.
Folk remedies for fungi
In addition to drug treatment, traditional medicine is also widely used in the fight against fungi.
Improper treatment is a step towards exacerbating the disease! It should be remembered that folk remedies cannot cure nail fungus, but only alleviate the condition and relieve symptoms. They can be used as additional support for medical treatment.
No treatment (drugs or folk remedies) will be effective if you do not follow certain rules of hygiene, these are the tips for preventing fungus.
Prevention of nail fungus
Preventing nail fungus is a fairly easy task when you consider a few standard hygiene requirements that everyone can and should follow:
- Wear socks or tights made of natural fabrics and change them every day, and if during the day your feet get wet (several times a day), you need to wash them, wipe them dry and replace your socks with dry ones.
- Change your shoes often. If you wear the same shoes day after day, always check (before you go out) that they are dry from the previous walk. Remember that a humid environment encourages the formation of fungus.
- 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 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), which can be used to treat nails and the skin around them.
- Only use your personal hygiene products as shared items are a sure path for fungus. You must have your own toiletries (towel, brush, comb, scissors); When visiting public places (bathhouse, swimming pool, sauna, fitness studio) you are only allowed to wear your own shoes (also in the shower).
Prevention is the easiest way to avoid fungi! By regularly following the simple (above) rules, you will not have to spend a long and painful time getting rid of "stubborn" nail fungus. Personal hygiene: the key to health.
Summarize
So, how to determine the fungus on the nails? You need to examine the appearance of the nail and pay attention to the symptoms and signs of the fungus. If nail mycosis is still present, it is urgent to contact a dermatologist or mycologist, but not self-medication, so as not to miss valuable time. To treat the fungus only with medicines (under the supervision of a doctor), folk remedies can be used as supportive therapy. And most importantly: you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene (no matter how you think that these are trifles and some of them can be neglected) in order to avoid and not face such an unpleasant disease as nail fungus.