Nail fungus is a rather dangerous phenomenon that can progress, destroying the entire nail plate. In the early stages of development, the fungus can be invisible to the eye, however, its negative effect on the structure of the nail plate is intensified every day. How to identify nail fungus yourself and how to treat it, given the stage of the disease, we will analyze further.
There are a number of signs that help determine the presence of fungal lesions of the nail plate:
- The loosen of the nail - you can check when cutting the edge of the nail. If in the process the nail crumbles, not cut, this is the first symptom of the presence of a fungus and a clear occasion to see a doctor.
- Thickening of the nail plate, mainly at the edge-hyperkeratosis (compaction) occurs due to the harmful effects of fungi that can disrupt the integrity of the nail fibers, which is why the latter change in qualitative and quantitative form.
- Excollation of the nail and its cut under the skin - such a phenomenon can provoke not only wearing tight shoes, but also fungal lesions that modify the nail plate, providing the wrong location.
- Change in the color of the nail (from pale yellow to brown) - occurs as a result of the destruction of the active components of the nail plate and the folding of protein cells during destruction.
- The presence of white plaque - fungal spores penetrate deep into the root of the nail, and also come to the surface, which is dangerous for the extensive infection of all the toes.
The very first signs that the nail has lost its health and has problems caused by the active activity of mushrooms, are:
- loss of shine and surface gloss;
- slight yellowing of the nail;
- extensive itching of the entire foot, the appearance of red dots filled with transparent liquid;
- unpleasant smell of legs, especially after abundant sweating;
- Crossing the skin on heels and soles, extensive coarsening.
These symptoms indicate various problems with the legs, so it is better not to neglect a doctor’s consultation. Early diagnosis greatly facilitates the treatment process, guaranteeing a complete recovery.
Healthy legs on the legs: norm and deviation
To exclude or identify the presence of fungal diseases, you need to examine your own legs, fingers and nails. The following indicators should be maintained:
- The foot of the legs is smooth, without corns, corns and seals.
- The skin of the legs is uniform, without cracks and spots.
- There is no redness and itching, especially between the fingers.
- The nail plate is flat, plain, transparent.
- The nail bed, the surface with the gloss is well visible.
If there are deviations from the stated standards, and the legs have an unpleasant pungent smell, a doctor’s consultation and a survey for the presence of the pathogen are required.
Risk factors for the development of fungus on the legs
Infection of fungi can occur in absolutely any place, including home slippers. So that this happens enough to have:
- weak immunity that is not able to restrain the active reproduction of mushrooms;
- increased sweating of the legs, due to improperly selected and poor-quality shoes;
- the presence of cuts in the nail area with unsuccessful cutting of the nail or cuticle;
- insufficient foot hygiene, as well as shoes;
- Frequent visit to public places in which there is a high risk of infection: city baths, saunas, solarium, pool, local beach;
- Excessive use of cosmetics (varnishes, nail extension, refreshing sprays and legs gels), which lead to the death of local immunity.
Separate types of mushrooms have a different latent period during which the disease does not manifest.
You can get infected with a fungus in two ways:
- Contact - through direct contact from a sick person to a healthy one: personal hygiene items, public places, wearing someone else's shoes.
- Contactly - infection occurs due to the active development of those mushrooms that are in the body of each person. In certain situations (for example, a sharp decrease in immunity), their number increases and cannot be fully controlled by the body independently.
Most often, people of the following categories are subject to fungal lesions:
- children with a thinner layer of skin;
- people suffering from HIV infection;
- with increased sweating of the feet;
- The presence of chronic diseases that inhibit the immune system.
If there are the above indicators, the condition of the nails on the legs and stop as a whole is required to be carefully monitored, paying due attention to hygiene.
Differentiation of a fungal nail disease
In medicine, the concept of "fungal damage to the nail" is collective, since mushrooms of various kinds can act as a pathogen. Most often, such mushrooms are found on the nails of the legs as:
- Dermatophytes - a group of mushrooms that manifest themselves in the form of yellow spots or white vertical stripes. The infected nail gradually loses its strength and shape, after which the cavity becomes lifeless and easily removes from the nail bed.
- Yeast lesions - arise as a result of the active activity of the mushrooms of the genus Candida. The nail itself is thinner, and the perioline roller blushes and swells. It can be manifested as an independent disease with frequent protracted colds and weakened immunity.
- Molds - are located mainly on the surface of the nail, changing its color to a greenish, brownish or whitish tint.
It is impossible to determine the causative agent of a fungal disease on your own, since the same fungi, when exposed to various aggregate factors, can manifest themselves differently. Accordingly, it is impossible to start treatment, since each kind of mushrooms has its own antifungal drugs that adversely affect the life of pathogens. Therefore, when diagnosing the slightest deviations from the norm, you need to consult a doctor, as well as take a test for the presence of a fungus.
Stages of fungal damage to the legs
The process from the moment of infection to the complete destruction of the nail plate is called the stages of the course of the disease. Select them 5:
- Infection - the fungus enters the surface of the nail, plunging through the cuticle into the nail bed.
- The incubation period (from 3 days to 5 months) - the activity of the mushrooms is minimal, but it intensifies with lightning speed when all conditions are created for this: immunity is weakened, there is a wet warm medium, there is no proper hygiene. Outwardly, the incubation period is not manifested in any way.
- The initial stage - the number of mushrooms is so great that it can have a negative effect on the viability of the nail. The edges of the nail plate gradually turn yellow from the edge to the nail bed. The nail acquires a matte shade, a pink healthy color disappears, gloss disappears from the surface. In this case, dry skin of the toes is noted.
- The stage of the active course - the mushroom population reaches the maximum, which allows you to infect other nail plates, having received disputes through contact. Hyperkeratosis is enhanced - increased production of keratin fibers, under the influence of fungal activity. In this case, the nail is compacted, noticeably bulging above the surface of the finger.
- The last stage - is determined by the murder of the nail plate as a result of the lesion of not only the nail, but also the nearby soft tissues. The entire surface of the nail has a yellow or brown shade, looseness is noted on the cut, which is accompanied by painful sensations.
With large -scale infection, local symptoms may also join:
- dysbiosis in the form of stool disorder;
- increase in body temperature;
- pain in the legs, intensifying during movement;
- Confession connection.
All the above manifestations help to determine exclusively the stage of the course of onychomycosis. To identify the pathogen, you will have to take a special analysis indicating the exact genus and the type of fungi that provoked onychomycosis.
How and what to treat
You need to understand that the key to successful treatment is a correct diagnosis, which is impossible to do at home at home. Only a doctor, based on the results of the analyzes, is able to identify a genus of mushrooms, as well as choose the appropriate treatment.
For many, it remains a mystery why, the antifungal drug purchased in a pharmacy does not help. There are many reasons and explanations for this. Firstly, initially the antifungal drug is selected based on the generator. Secondly, the treatment of fungus is a complex event consisting of:
- Local therapy - applying antifungal drugs to the surface of the nail.
- Oral antifungal tablets that can suppress the development of fungi and reduce their number from the inside.
- Immunostimulating drugs that "force" the body to produce a sufficient number of immune carts that independently fight fungi.
- Compliance with feet hygiene-the legs are washed 2-3 times a day, with cool water and soap, after which they wipe dry with a towel. The nail is cut every 3-5 days.
- Wearing shoes made of genuine leather, as well as cotton linen.
Having excluded at least one of these 5 points, the recovery process will drag on for many months, or even become unsuccessful. Only comprehensive treatment will allow you to completely get rid of the fungus, as well as exclude the risks of the manifestation of relapse.
Recipes for traditional medicine, which are so hard to cure nail fungus are in most cases ineffective. The result will appear only when the above recommendations for combating fungal lesions of the nails will be added.
Thus, it is not difficult to determine the presence of a fungus on the nails of the legs. It is enough to conduct an inspection of the nail plate and all the fingers in general, comparing them with pictures indicating the presence of a fungus. Treatment is considered effective and correct only when it is carried out under the control of specialists. Self -medication can provoke a lot of negative consequences for health, as well as complicate further treatment of the disease.