Not everyone knows what nail fungus looks like and can initially identify the disease and start treatment. Itching, redness of the skin, peeling and cracking are signs of this condition. However, there are other diseases with similar symptoms, such as eczema or psoriasis. And even toenails can change their appearance not because of a fungal infection, but because of psychological stress or a number of diseases of the internal organs. So the final diagnosis can be made by a doctor only after receiving the test results. And the patient's task is to consult a doctor in time if warning signs appear.
The main symptoms of mycoses
The characteristic symptoms of mycosis of the feet are peeling and most often with a certain shape in the form of rings or plates. Sometimes it is so insignificant that such a situation can last for many months, if not years, and at the same time does not even cause much discomfort. At the same time, some people try to fight such manifestations of mycosis on their own. They use folk remedies such as iodine, vinegar and brilliant green and for a while the disease really disappears. More precisely, it looks like this, but in fact this treatment leads to the fact that the fungus on the feet simply freezes and then continues to multiply when a more favorable situation arises.
In addition, if at an early stage such a disease is not completely cured, but only the symptoms are removed, then very soon it will spread to the nails and smooth the skin. Not to mention that other family members can get the fungal disease.
The degree of damage in mycosis of the feet depends on many factors. If there are prerequisites such as microtrauma, various pathologies of the endocrine system, diabetes mellitus, if a person undergoes certain treatment with glucocorticoids or cytostatics, then all this contributes to the further development of the disease.
One day the period of relative stability ends and the patient sees not the most attractive picture - it's not just peeling on the skin, but also blisters, weeping cracks on the foot, pus. All these are classic symptoms that are present in the later stages of the development of the pathology. At the same time, the initial stage of toenail fungus is visible. Although the type of microorganisms can be examined in more detail only under a microscope, their activity is much more noticeable - it is a change in the shape and color of the nails, then their thickening and destruction.
Nail fungus and its manifestations
The flexibility of the toenails manifests itself in different ways. It all depends on the stage of the disease and what kind of fungus is the cause. Usually the nail should be smooth, pink and even shiny. If the condition of the nails is far from the described ideal, then something is happening to the body.
Nails grow at a certain rate. When a person is under stress, this percentage decreases and the nail becomes thinner and weaker. The body then returns to normal and the nails return to their original state from the point of growth, but this weak band on the nail plate still remains. And if a person's life is quite nervous, then there may be several such stripes. In addition, onychomycosis (and this is the scientific name for nail fungus) is not the only disease that causes a change in the color of the nail plate or its shape. Pathologies such as immune deficiency, hormonal imbalance and other disorders of the endocrine system lead to exactly the same results. Therefore, it is necessary to perform an analysis on a case-by-case basis.
What the fungus looks like largely depends on which microorganisms have caused onychomycosis. And it can be provoked by several species. For example, if we are talking about dermatophytes, then the fungus looks just like a clouding of the nail. This is a manifestation of the initial stage of toenail fungus. Then yellow spots may appear on the edge of the plate and even in the middle. Then longitudinal stripes appear and the nail begins to collapse.
Otherwise, problems caused by yeast appear. In such cases, the nail plate becomes significantly thinner, acquires a grayish tinge and after a while already deviates from its normal position. This is largely due to the fact that metabolism deteriorates in damaged cells. At the same time, the grooves in the nail fold finally confirm the diagnosis - yeast fungus.
Mold should be mentioned separately. It usually affects only the nail plate, causing it to become cloudy and discolored; it can be light yellow, greenish, brown and even black.
The peculiarity of these fungi is that they cause only superficial damage and do not penetrate deep inside.
It is clear that the diagnosis can only be made by the attending physician, who will examine all symptoms and perform tests. Self-medication without a visit to the doctor is fraught with very unpleasant consequences.
Stages and types of onychomycosis
Given the stages of onychomycosis, many confuse them with the varieties of this disease, which are three. This is normotrophic, hypertrophic and atrophic onychomycosis.
For example, in normotrophic onychomycosis, the color of the nail changes, streaks and spots may appear on it, but its thickness and shine remain normal. Many people think that this is a nail fungus, the initial stage of which is about to become a more serious pathology, but in fact the fungus in such situations responds well to treatment.
In hypotrophic onychomycosis, the color of the nail changes, its luster is lost, the nail itself thickens and its deformation occurs, in some cases even destruction at the edges. Onycholytic species are often called atrophic. This is not the same toenail fungus, the initial stage of which is cracks and discoloration, here the treatment will be different, as the affected part of the plate atrophies.
Treatment of mycosis of the feet and nails
The first thing you need to do with this disease is to visit a doctor who will help you choose a drug that meets the following requirements:
- high antifungal activity, which allows you to fight various types of infectious agents;
- a sufficiently high concentration of the active substance both in the preparation itself and in the superficial layers of the skin after its application;
- complex antifungal and antibacterial therapy;
- no contraindications and side effects, including allergic reactions;
- ease of use.
Given these requirements, it is not surprising that the stage of drug selection is so important. As a rule, in the absence of complications, drugs based on substances such as cyclopirox and naftifine are used. They are produced in the form of ointments, less often in the form of tablets. In more severe stages of mycosis, it is recommended to be treated with drugs based on terbinafine and fluconazole.
Tablets should be taken if ointments and creams for external use have not worked. The dosage of the tablets should be checked with your doctor. As a rule, all these are quite strong means, so the course of treatment is about 7-10 days, although there are drugs that can be taken even for 3-4 weeks.
The doctor prescribes such therapy, taking into account what other drugs the patient will take. These medicines may have the side effect of vomiting or dizziness. This is considered valid. Generic drugs are lighter than the original, but their effect is small.
Surgical interventions
Previously, in advanced cases, surgical removal of the affected tissue was practiced. This was especially true for nails. They now use a drill like the one used in dental offices. Even in the most advanced cases, cutting almost all nails will take about half an hour. And if the problem is only in one affected nail, it will only take about 5 minutes.
It is not necessary to take additional precautions after the procedure. This procedure does not cause any painful sensations, you can lead a normal life, do morning jogging. It is only important to ensure that the affected areas of the skin are not injured.
One treatment of the nails with such a preparation is not enough, however, it will have to be repeated at least once more, 3-4 weeks after the first treatment, when the nails grow a little. In general, you need to adjust to the fact that this process is long, can take a month, and if things have gone far enough, then a few months. For example, there are cases when during the first 3-4 months the patient treats the nails with such an instrument every 2-3 weeks, and then takes medication for several months.
Are folk remedies effective?
Every doctor will say that the prescriptions of traditional medicine for such a disease are not effective and even harmful. First, neither vinegar, nor herbs, nor even honey, despite their antiseptics, have virtually no effect on the fungus. Yes, you can hear from friends that some of these recipes have helped get rid of itching or cracks. Well, then these signs were simply not attributed to the fungus. The same psoriasis or eczema have similar symptoms and are treated perfectly with the above folk methods.
Secondly, these drugs help to eliminate the signs of the fungus, that is, they mask it for a while and this is enough to infect everyone in the family.
However, the vinegar mentioned above will be effective for other purposes as well - it can be used to wash bed linen and shoes to prevent re-infection with the fungus. The only shoes that are not washable but are discarded are slippers because they cannot be disinfected. Vinegar can also be used to disinfect the bath.