Many are not even aware that banal sweating of the feet, accompanied with an unpleasant odor than that of suffering more than half the population of our planet is one of the main symptoms of nail fungus. This disease runs the risk of Contracting any gamer who neglects personal hygiene. Nail fungus lurks everywhere, especially in public areas. And the worst thing is that nail fungus — quite an insidious disease: its treatment is long and not always successful as athlete's foot is prone to relapse. In order to recognize the disease and begin treatment, you should know all the signs of fungus on the feet.
The spread of the disease?
Infection cause parasitic fungi. The ideal environment for their reproduction and development — high humidity combined with warm atmosphere. It is considered that the main places where a high risk of Contracting nail fungus, it is baths, saunas, water parks, swimming pools, nail salons and t.. D. statistics, However, completely refutes these allegations: nail fungus you can pick up at home using some common amenities (towels, shoes, clothes, mats, shower or bathroom) if any of the family members already has this problem, or at a party, for example, through the Slippers, kindly offered by the host (and it may not even be aware of the existence of a disease).
But what factors affect the development of fungal diseases? Note these foundational points that lead to the infection of onychomycosis:
- the lowered immunity;
- injury to the nail plate;
- poor circulation in the lower extremities that can occur when wearing tight shoes;
- feet pathology anatomical character;
- obesity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- excessive sweating.
To at least partially protect yourself, you should use only their things, carefully treated with antiseptics, bath and shower, use a personal towel, regularly clean and wash the carpets, disinfect the shoes. And not to miss favorable for the treatment of mycosis moment (after all, everyone knows that therapy is most effective in the initial stage of the disease), you need to know the first signs of nail fungus on the feet.
How to recognize onychomycosis?
Signs of nail fungus at different stages may differ from each other, which indicates progression of infection. For example, the first (early) stages any symptoms are practically absent. On the nail plate you can see a barely visible whitish spots or stripes. These symptoms should be cause for concern because they can talk about the presence of fungal infection. If you ignore the first symptoms, there is a risk to start a fungus that will affect healthy nails and will lead to the appearance of pus in the tissues around the nail and this can result in gangrene and amputation of the lower extremities.
The second degree of fungal nail disease is manifested by lack of natural Shine of the nail plate. Further, the nail changes color, appearing yellow, white and brown stripes. Can deform the upper part of the nail and its sides. These symptoms are clearly visible in the photo.
Advanced stage of onychomycosis is characterized by brittleness and delamination of the nail plate, inflammation of the cuticle. There is a risk of loss of the nail. But the unpleasant fact that the disease continues to spread to other nails of the lower extremities and feet. Treatment in this case should start immediately to avoid unpleasant consequences of the disease.
The second and third stage of onychomycosis, the patient may recognize yourself: the nail acquires a yellow, or dirty brown color, it becomes loose and thick behind from the nail bed, it becomes very fragile and brittle. Sometimes wearing a closed Shoe becomes painful and itchy skin — unbearable (this symptom is especially enhanced at elevated sweating). In addition, to induce the suspicion of onychomycosis may include accompanying symptoms, which manifest on the skin close to the nails:
- burning;
- intolerable itching;
- flaking and dryness;
- inflammation;
- weeping lesions;
- thickening and cornification.
Recognizing the first signs of nail fungus, you should immediately consult a specialist who will prescribe the best treatment regimen.
As different types of onychomycosis?
Define 3 types of onychomycosis, each of which manifests its own characteristics.
- Normotroficheskie nail fungus is characterized by change in color of the nail plate: a sick nail can take shades from white to dark green. In the first stage of the disease in the nails appear white round spots and longitudinal. As the disease progresses the shade of the nail may vary, and the fungus spreads to the entire area of the nail plate. However, it does not change its thickness and natural Shine is maintained.
- Hypertrophic nail fungus is manifested by color change of the nail plate, loss of luster of the surface, the strong thickening and deformity. The toe nails strongly exfoliate, starts their partial destruction.
- Atrophic fungus is characterized by a change in nail color with its further thinning. The consequence of this fungal infection is a rejection of the patient's nail or infected area.
To determine the presence of fungus on the nails can be yourself, however to establish an accurate diagnosis can only specialist. For this you need to visit the clinic, to take the analysis of the patient scraping of the nail or the skin that is around him. Additionally, a dermatologist appoint microscopic examination.
Signs of the fungus, the causative agent for
Successful treatment of nail fungus depends on how correctly diagnosed the causative agent of the disease. The reason is that the disease causes than one fungal species, but several, and each of them sensitive to certain drugs. This means, if one species of fungus is resistant to one drug, then another pathogen by this means dies.
Often cause nail fungus:
- yeast;
- dermatophytes;
- mold.
If the cause of nail fungus yeast began to detect the disease almost impossible. Signs of fungus on toe nails in this case are the following (they occur over a long period of time): peeling of the nail plate and light itching of the skin around the nail (the itching can be omitted). Infection nail yeast is found in 4-4,5% of cases.
Dermatophytes impress nails much more often than previous pathogen is 94.5% of all cases of infection with nail fungus. Dermatophytes are of three types, infecting each of them is manifested in different ways:
- For the first type is characterized by complex lesions of the feet, legs and nails. The fungus easily spreads on the skin and nails of hands.
- The second type affects only the little finger nail or the big toe. Can spread to the interdigital folds, and all fingers and some.
- The third type is characterized by loss of nails of the thumb and little finger, but the skin fungus does not affect.
The latter type of fungus — mold. Its pathogen — fungi. This disease is found only in 1% of cases. Develops the fungus of this species more frequently in HIV-infected people.
Other symptoms of fungal infection of nails
Often early in the disease obvious signs of fungal nails do not exist. However, if you are attentive, you will notice some changes in the structure of the nail and its look. As mentioned earlier, the nail plate may appear longitudinal or round whitish spots, the nail may become crooked, while its smoothness and Shine are lost. Progressing, the disease increasingly destroys the nail plate: first, changes its hue, and then the surface of the nail becomes scaly, it thickens or becomes thin, peeling, breaking. Nail color depends on which kind of fungus became a pathogen.
In addition to basic features of onychomycosis, there are others
- the fragility of the edges of the nail plate or its entire surface;
- distorted forms of the nail, changing its structure;
- the blackening of the nail.
- penetration of the nail under the skin;
- dysbiosis, drowsiness, weakness;
- the detachment of the plate from the nail bed, which leads to the formation of plaque under the nail whitish or yellow color with an unpleasant odor;
- itching, flaking, burning of the skin in the immediate vicinity of the affected nail;
- dysbiosis, drowsiness, General weakness.
Any deviation in appearance of the toenails should be alerted, as this may indicate the development of nail fungus. The first action in this case — a trip to the dermatologist, who will confirm or deny your fears. If this is not done immediately, the disease will progress. At first glance, nothing in this disease is not. However, besides purely aesthetic problems and discomfort, the fungus may cause serious complications, up to purulent infection of the affected areas and even the development of gangrene. Therefore do not tighten with treatment, take action immediately, as the disease was discovered.