How exactly to recognize toenail fungus and when to start treatment?

Nowadays, not only women, but also most men take care of the beauty of their nails.But only healthy nails can be beautiful, so it will be useful for everyone to know how to recognize toenail fungus.The earlier a person notices signs of the disease, the easier it will be to undergo treatment.But it will be difficult to cure an advanced form of onychomycosis.The disease often recurs and is difficult to treat.

Onychomycosis is a common disease.Most often, the fungus affects the toenails, but this disease can also appear on the fingers.Onychomycosis of the hands is especially common in women.The signs of the disease on the nails of the feet and hands are approximately the same.Symptoms depend on the type of pathogen and where the infection was introduced.

species

How to recognize toenail fungus?This disease is quite insidious, since the symptoms depend on the type of pathogen that caused the disease.There are several dozen varieties of fungi that can cause onychomycosis.But they can be divided into three groups, depending on the nature of the pathogen.

yeast

This type of fungus most often affects the fingers, but it can also appear on the feet.The infected nail plate loosens and peels off from the nail bed.In addition to the nail, the skin is also affected, the edges around the plate become inflamed.They become red, painful, and in an advanced stage, when the roller is pressed, white contents come out from under it.

dermatophytes

This type of filamentous fungus most often affects toenails.The disease manifests itself gradually.At the first stage, spots or stripes appear, which have a yellowish tint.Initially, these spots are small, but gradually grow, occupying the entire surface of the nail.

Mold

Molds are extremely common, but relatively rarely cause onychomycosis.When affected by this type of pathogen, nails change color.The spots have an unusual color - black, green, dirty gray.

forms

The disease can appear in several forms.Symptoms of the disease depending on the form of onychomycosis:

• Lateral-distal.This is the most common case;the first changes in the nail can be seen in the growing part of the nail in one of the corners (sometimes in both corners at the same time).
• Proximal.In this case, the first changes appear on the inner edge of the nail.

• Superficial.Unlike the previous forms, with the superficial type of onychomycosis, the pathogen does not penetrate deep into the plate.The symptoms are unusual, spots appear in the center of the plate, the nail itself becomes looser, the entire surface begins to peel off, and the scales peel off from it.

Clinical manifestations

Fungal diseases of the nails do not cause discomfort in the first stage.The patient does not experience pain or other unpleasant sensations.However, a careful person may notice that the appearance of the nails has changed.Main symptoms of the disease:

• loss of natural shine, darkening;
• the appearance of spots or stripes, their color differs from the color of a healthy plate;
• furrows may appear on the surface;
• the plate can change its shape;
• the nail may begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become thin and atrophic;
• the plate delaminates, begins to disintegrate and subsequently lags behind the skin;

• in an advanced stage, physical discomfort also appears, pain occurs when pressure is applied;
• if a secondary infection occurs, inflammation and suppuration may develop.

advice!Onychomycosis can occur in isolation, but often this disease is accompanied by mycosis of the skin of the feet.Redness, diaper rash and cracks appear between the fingers.The feet begin to emit an unpleasant odor.

Mushrooms or not?

Unfortunately, fungal nail diseases do not have specific symptoms.A similar clinical picture can also appear in other dermatological problems.For example, psoriasis.In order to say exactly whether there is a fungal disease of the nails of the hands or feet, it is necessary to do laboratory tests.

For analysis, take a piece of the nail (in the distal form) or make a scraping from the surface of the plate.The procedure for taking material is safe and painless.The biological material is then delivered to the laboratory.

Microscopic examination reveals the presence of a fungal infection, but does not determine the type of pathogen.To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to place the collected material (nail particles) in a nutrient medium and under favorable conditions.

advice!The most favorable conditions for the development of fungi are heat and humidity.

The results of the analysis will be available only after 5 days.During this time, the colony of fungi will grow so much that it will be possible to determine the type of pathogen by their appearance.In addition, the study allows us to determine which antifungal agents most effectively destroy this fungus.

To do this, the filter paper is moistened with solutions of antifungal agents, after which they are applied to the fungal colonies.After some time, the paper is removed and it is seen which places will most effectively stop the development of microorganisms.

Home methods

It happens that for some reason you cannot enter the laboratory.Is it possible to determine the presence of a fungal infection at home?Of course, home diagnostic methods are far from perfect;cannot be compared with laboratory research methods.

However, even these simple methods can detect the presence of a fungal infection in most cases.Many people have a bottle of brown potassium permanganate crystals in their home.The solution of this product has antiseptic properties and is used in medicine and horticulture.

This solution will also help in the home diagnosis of onychomycosis.To perform diagnostics, you must:

• prepare a strong, dark purple solution in a small vessel;
• pour warm water into a basin or other container in such an amount that you can completely immerse your nails in it;
• add the previously prepared strong solution drop by drop to the water, achieving a solution with a soft lilac color;

advice!Never add dry crystals to bath water.If the crystals do not dissolve, they can cause burns if they come into contact with the skin.

• immerse the limbs in the solution so that the nails are completely covered with the solution;

• hold for about ten minutes;
• then remove the limb from the solution and examine the nails, healthy nail plates will turn brown, patients will remain unchanged.

advice!Before diagnosing with the help of potassium permanganate, make sure that the solution of potassium permanganate does not cause allergies.

How to avoid infection?

Everyone is at risk of contracting onychomycosis, but there are people who are at risk.These are:

• elderly people;
• people who often come into contact with water (dishwashers, washing machines, etc.);
• patients with diabetes;
• patients with severely weakened immunity.

In addition, non-compliance with hygiene rules contributes to infection.In particular, the use of things together with the patient.So never wear other people's shoes, use your own towel, never go barefoot in public bathrooms, wear rubber flip flops.

The risk of contracting onychomycosis is highest in the following places:

• public places where people do water procedures - showers, baths, water parks, swimming pools;
• shoe stores;
• nail salons.

In addition, you can easily get infected at home if someone in your family has onychomycosis.The use of active preventive and protective measures will help to avoid infection and prevent the development of the disease.

Every person should know the answer to the question of how to recognize nail fungus.Knowing what a sick nail looks like will help you notice negative changes in time.If onychomycosis is detected in the early stages, then the treatment of the disease will be much easier.But in an advanced stage, the treatment will be difficult and prolonged;the course of treatment may take a year or more.