Nail fungus is a persistent disease, so diagnosing the symptoms at an early stage of the disease will significantly speed up the course of treatment. In addition, when the first signs of the disease are detected, you can protect your family / loved ones from infection, since in most cases (from 70 to 80%) nail and skin fungus is transmitted between family members.
How symptoms appear
First of all, nail fungus is expressed by an unpleasant smell and itching. If you notice that your feet suspiciously often emit an unpleasant smell (with timely change of socks and proper hygiene), then this is a good reason to see a doctor to diagnose the disease.
The next symptom of the fungus is a change in the color of the nail plate. In this case, the nail is more often damaged at the edges. Small grooves and whitish spots appear, which eventually increase in size.
If proper measures are not taken, the plate will continue to deform and the fungus will damage new areas of the nail until it completely invades.
Another characteristic symptom of onychomycosis is discoloration of the nail plate. From the action of fungal spores, it can acquire a variety of shades. In most cases, it is brown and yellow, but it can turn a darker color when exposed to mold or yeast.
Also, one of the signs of the disease is a change in the structure of the nails. It can change shape very quickly and begin to crumble.
Other features of the disease
The fungus is a very insidious disease, because the spores of this infection are on the human body for most of life and enter the active phase only in some cases:
- Reduced immunity
- diabetes mellitus
- skin diseases
- Mechanical damage to the skin of the legs / arms or nails.
Therefore, you should be more cautious if you have any of these signs. If you have damaged your nail in a nail salon or wear tight shoes, then it is advisable to use one of the many antifungal prophylactics and apply it to damaged areas no more than once a week.
What to do if you find the symptoms of a fungus?
- If you find symptoms of onychomycosis, be sure to go to the hospital to see a dermatologist and conduct the appropriate tests. There are more than 50 types of pathogenic fungi for the human body, and if you start treatment on your own, then with a high probability it will be ineffective and you will lose valuable time.
- Having passed all the necessary tests, strictly follow the prescribed recipe and carry out all the procedures for the timely treatment of the fungus. Remember that folk remedies are best takenin the complexwith antifungal drugs, and do not forget to consult your doctor about this.
All! These are all the actions that are required of you when you notice the first signs of onychomycosis. Don't try to diagnose yourself and prescribe a treatment beyond that.