Nail fungus (nail fungus) is an infectious disease that affects 5 adults on our planet. Infection occurs very quickly and occurs through pathogenic fungi. You can "catch" the infection if you wear someone else's shoes or neglect the rules of hygiene, as well as when visiting swimming pools, saunas, etc. Contribute to the appearance of fungus on the nails can be diabetes, poor circulation in the legs, weak immunity, damaged nails, excess weight and excessive sweating. How to determine nail fungus, what symptoms signal the manifestation of the disease? We will talk about it in this article.
Nail fungus usually appears on the feet, less often on the hands, but it can move from foot to foot and finger to finger. This disease may seem benign, but it is very "survivable", causing physical and psychological discomfort. Treatment of the fungus is a very long and laborious 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 serious damage. Therefore, in order to diagnose and recognize nail fungus in time, it is necessary to know the first signs of nail fungus. What are they?
Signs of fungus on the feet
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:
- Modification of 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 when in contact with shoes.
- Itching and burning on the skin. The skin near the infected nail becomes red and itchy.
- Fall off the hook. At an advanced stage, nails infected with fungus can peel off.
There are 4 stages of nail fungus:
- The initial stage of nail fungus is almost never diagnosed (only medically). Barely noticeable white stripes appear on the nail plate, which indicates 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 is manifested by 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 out, get wet, and if left untreated, non-healing sores appear.
Causes of fungi
So why does the fungus appear? Micro-organisms called fungi (dermatophiles) 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 include dampness and heat, which are formed as a result of wearing shoes that do not let air through, orsynthetic socks, and also if you do not wipe your feet after washing, damage the nail - when the nail plate is cut under the root, wear tight shoes, which only contributes to the weakening ofthe nail, such as acrylic or gel varnishes.
So what do fungal affected nails look like? They are yellow, have lost their shine, crumble and partially exfoliate. If you have seen all or some of these symptoms of nail fungus, you should immediately consult 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 nail fungus is its systemic nature.
Treating the causes of nail fungus
Thus, the first symptoms are recognized and you came 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. According to the degree of damage to the nail, normotrophic mycosis (when the color of the nail changes), hypertrophic mycosis (the opacification of the nail and its thickening is added to the color change), atrophic mycosis (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 deep penetration into the nail plate and the elimination of 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 should be noted that in terms of the spectrum of action, they have a very serious effect on the body and have a number of side effects. When prescribing oral tablets and when taking them, it is necessary to pass tests 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 with antifungal tablets. This occurs in the most severe forms of the disease or in mature patients, in whom the recovery process is slower. As a result of such therapy, the duration 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 aggravating the disease! It should be remembered that folk remedies do not cure nail fungus, but can only relieve the disease and alleviate the symptoms. They can be used as an additional support for medical treatment.
No treatment (medicinal or folkloric) will be effective if you do not respect certain rules of hygiene, this is what advice for the prevention of mycosis consists of.
Prevention of nail fungus
Preventing nail fungus is a fairly simple task, given some standard hygiene requirements that everyone can and should follow:
- Wear socks or tights made of natural fabrics and change them daily, and if your feet are wet during the day (several times a day), you should wash them, wipe them and change your socks for dry ones.
- Change shoes often. If you wear the same shoes day after day, always check (before going 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 that the tools are in the correct shape and condition. Do not hesitate to ask a specialist to disinfect all the equipment.
- Weak 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 of these is tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic), they 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); moreover, when you go to public places (baths, swimming pool, sauna, gym), you should only use your own shoes (even in the shower).
Prevention is the easiest way to avoid fungus! Regularly following the simple rules (above), you will not have to long and painfully get rid of "stubborn" nail fungus. Personal hygiene: the key to health.
Summary
So how to determine the fungus on the nails? You need to study the appearance of the toenail and pay attention to the symptoms and signs of the fungus. If, despite everything, nail fungus is present, it is urgent to contact a dermatologist or mycologist, but do not self-medicate, so as not to waste valuable time. To treat the fungus only with drugs (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 trivial you think, and some of them can be neglected) in order to avoid such an unpleasant disease as nail fungus andnot face it.