Toenail fungus, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, most often occurs due to neglect of personal hygiene rules. The symptoms of nail fungus in most patients appear suddenly, as the infection is almost imperceptible and instantaneous. As the treatment measures for this disease take a long time, it is better for a person who has noticed signs of the disease on the toenails to seek medical help immediately.
Factors contributing to the development of the disease
The lesion can be caused by yeast, mold or skin fungus. In the first case, it is impossible to diagnose the disease immediately. The symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after infection. Peeling of the nail develops, slight irritation of the skin around it. Sometimes the patient suffers from severe itching.
If the disease has developed due to skin fungus, then three scenarios are possible:
- The feet, nails and skin of the feet are infected. The fungus can spread not only on the skin of the lower extremities, but also catch the fingernails.
- Another type of mycelium affects only the nail of the thumb or little finger. Sometimes there is a transition of such fungi to the folds between the fingers. Then the skin is affected or 1-2 folds, or all at once.
- Another type of disease - the fungus is limited to the "occupation" of the nail plate of the little finger or thumb of the lower limb, but does not spread further.
- The last type of infection is mold. This type of mycelium usually occurs in people with severe immune disorders, such as HIV.
The occurrence of infection in all cases occurs for the following reasons:
- The protective properties of the patient's body have fallen below a critical level.
- The nail is mechanically damaged.
- The man was wearing too tight shoes. The blood circulation in the legs is disturbed, which led to the development of an infection.
- Some people have anatomical pathology of the legs, which contributes to the development of fungus.
- Most often, patients who are diagnosed with obesity suffer from the disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the development of the mycelium.
- Patients with diabetes develop fungus.
To prevent the disease, you should use only clothes, shoes, personal hygiene. It is recommended to decontaminate and clean carpets and shoes in time.
General signs of the disease
The first signs of toenail fungus in most people begin to appear as small whitish spots or streaks on the toenails. Most people do not pay attention to this, because nothing hurts them, there is no discomfort. If you do not start treatment for mycosis on time, then you can start the disease. There will be germination of the mycelium on all nail plates, the skin around the affected nails will begin to fester. In severe cases, the disease spreads to deep tissue structures. This threatens the development of gangrene and amputation of the foot or even the entire leg.
In the second stage of mycosis, the natural shine of the nail plates disappears. The nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The upper part and the lateral surfaces of the nail are often deformed. Such changes are clearly visible to the eye.
In the last stage of the disease the nail plates become very fragile, the inflammatory process begins on the cuticle. One can completely lose one nail. But the fungus doesn't stop there. They continue to spread to all nail plates and then pass to the skin of the feet, ie capture the feet.
The patient himself can recognize the disease in the second and third stages, as the nails become yellow or brown (sometimes black). The nail rises from its bed, acquires increased fragility, breaks quickly.
Symptoms of the disease in the initial stage
If a person has developed toenail fungus, the symptoms of the disease in the beginning are practically absent. But then, 2-3 months after the penetration of the skin fungus and its fixation on the nails, you may notice the manifestation of such signs of the disease:
- A slight redness first develops on the surface of the skin near the affected plate.
- Then the person feels burning in this area.
- Severe itching develops, inflammation begins.
- Subsequently, places with high humidity are developing in these areas.
- Thickening of the nail and its keratinization are observed.
As soon as a person notices these signs of nail fungus, he should be examined and then begin treatment.
Depending on the type of fungal infection in the next stages of mycosis development, the plate of the diseased nail is painted in different colors. In the first stage of the disease, the affected area may become white or green. The spots on it will be located on the surface or will look like round dots. At the same time, the thickness of the plate in most patients does not change and in many cases the nail retains its natural shine. The itching in all cases is very strong, it is impossible to get rid of it immediately. If the patient notices signs of mycosis in time, then you can get rid of burning and itching by using drugs such as miconazole, clotrimazole and similar drugs. But you should not treat yourself, it is better to do it under the supervision of a doctor. In case of any mistake or non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, the mycelium will immediately spread to healthy areas, which will complicate the treatment.
The subsequent development of the disease
Fungus on the toenails, if left untreated, can deprive the nails of their natural color, and the color of the surface of the affected area will be yellow. There is a stratification of the nails. They may begin to disintegrate. Along with this, the patient develops unbearable itching on the skin around the affected area. Cracking of the substance on the nail plates begins. Burning intensifies. Some patients may develop dysbacteriosis, do not feel well, complain of weakness throughout the body. Maybe the development of drowsiness.
First, the mycelium completely changes the color of the surface of the plates, then their thinning begins. Then the diseased nail is rejected and the infection penetrates the skin structures. The itching gets worse.
In the last stage of the disease, the surface of the diseased nail plates becomes flaky. Depending on the type of fungus that has affected the person, thickening of the nails begins, their stratification. They break quickly. Symptoms of the disease include the following:
- The edges of the plates become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain to the patient.
- The shape of the plates is strongly distorted and a scaly surface may develop.
- The color of the affected area changes from yellow to black.
- The insertion of parts of the plates into the skin begins.
- A whitish or yellowish coating appears under the nails. This is due to their detachment from the bed.
- The itching is very strong, almost unbearable. The burning of the skin around the affected areas intensifies again.
If these symptoms appear and treatment is started on time, it will still continue for a long time. You can catch the disease in 4-5 seconds and it is very difficult to cure the disease. This usually takes 3 to 6 months. Discontinuation of treatment is not recommended due to possible complications that may lead to surgery. So, you have to listen carefully to yourself. If the initial symptoms are detected and treatment begins immediately, then there is a chance to complete the therapy faster, while saving your nails.