If you ask at the clinic which doctor will help you cure toenail fungus, they will most likely refer you to a dermatologist. This seems strange. After all, a dermatologist treats skin diseases, and mycologists treat fungal infections.
But there is no contradiction in this. A dermatologist treats a wide variety of skin conditions. Mycologist treats only fungal infections, not just the skin. If the disease is not advanced, a dermatologist from the district clinic will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment and, if necessary, refer to a mycologist. The nail, of course, is not exactly skin. But nails are treated by dermatologists. Which doctor is better to contact?
In complex or severely advanced cases, complex treatment is required. In addition to drugs for external use, pills and sometimes physiotherapy are prescribed. Of course, in such a situation it is better to contact a mycologist.
So who, which doctor treats nail fungus? Both answers are correct: dermatologist and mycologist. By the way, a meeting with a mycologist is often paid. As a rule, there is no queue for him and if there are serious grounds for suspicion, you can immediately go to a mycologist.
Regardless of which doctor treats the nails, paid tests may be needed. But it is better to do an analysis to clarify the diagnosis or make sure there is no fungal infection. In advanced cases, treatment will cost much more.
What does the dermatologist treat?
The word derma translates as "skin". This specialist deals with skin problems. Allergies, acne, scabies and even psoriasis. Dandruff on the head is treated by the same doctor. There are many skin diseases, but the dermatologist can distinguish the parasitic disease from the allergic one and prescribe treatment even before the test results.
Which doctor treats fungus on the nails of the hands and feet
Usually, in mild cases, fungal infections are treated by conventional doctors. Fungal diseases of the genitals - urologist or gynecologist. Thrush in children - pediatrician. Dermatologist for uncomplicated skin diseases.
In difficult (and more often - in advanced) cases, the help of a specialist in fungal infections is needed. Namely, the mycologist understands them. It is possible to consult a mycologist. if you do not want the ambulatory card to show that a fungus has been found. Or you can't go to a dermatologist.
The first signs of a fungal infection of the feet
The current forms occur due to the fact that the disease is not noticed immediately. What should be alarming?
- If the skin between the fingers gets wet and cracks
- There is itching or redness of the skin on the foot
- There was swelling of the skin near the nail
- The skin is flaky
- Cracks in the heels
- The skin on the foot looks rough and untidy with good care.
- The color of the nail has changed, spots or streaks have appeared
- There was an unpleasant odor on his feet.
It is enough to notice only one of the above violations to take a closer look at your legs. Of course, the reason may be new or uncomfortable shoes. You have to change your shoes, abandon synthetic socks. In the evening, wash your feet with laundry or baby soap, then take a bath with sea salt or a decoction of chamomile. But if after two types of foot does not become normal, you should consult a doctor.
What is the danger of fungus on the feet and nails
Usually the fungus first affects the skin of the foot and then goes to the nails. It is much easier to treat the fungus while only the skin is affected. Various ointments, infusions and solutions penetrate the skin more easily than the hard surface of the nail. And act faster. It is more difficult to cure the fungus when its manifestations become noticeable on the nails.
Even the smallest particles of skin or nails affected by the fungus are responsible for re-infection. Finally, other family members can also become infected.
But are fungi really that dangerous? What, besides itching and ugly appearance, threatens?
The danger is that some fungi can damage not only the skin of the feet or nails. The infection can get into the ear, for example. And in young children and the elderly - in the inguinal folds. The skin there is softer and thinner. There are fungi that affect not only the skin but also the mucous membranes. It is better not to take risks and not to wait for the infection to spread.
How is the treatment
In all cases, the doctor prescribes not only topical treatment, but also tablets. These do not have to be antifungal drugs. Vitamin-mineral complex preparations help to deal with the infection. Blood tests are needed and other tests are being performed. Scrape damaged skin or nails. Treatment is usually outpatient, but there is a day hospital where all procedures are performed by a nurse. If injections are needed, they can be taken to the hospital.
But modern science can cure the fungus with two or three laser treatments. Treatment is not cheap, but in the most hopeless cases, full recovery takes two weeks. Of course, a new nail will not grow during this time and even the skin will not recover. But the disease will be defeated. The interval between laser treatment sessions is one to two weeks. Unfortunately, even regional centers do not always have such equipment.
Home remedies for nail fungus
It is important to understand that home remedies that you can use on your own do not include medications. Excellent in the fight against fungi in the initial stage
- foot baths
- lotions and compresses of herbs and vegetables
- essential oils,
- soda, salt, vinegar, vodka
- natural ground coffee
- alcoholic tinctures of medicinal plants
- plain yellow clay
- tar soap
From the fungus on the feet - homemade recipes
2 tablespoons calamus root, pour a glass of boiling water, insist, covered, from half an hour to 40 minutes. Drink a quarter cup 4 times a day. Taking 10 days simultaneously with external treatment.
Tincture of golden mustache. The stem of the plant insist on vodka, 10 internodes with leaves per 150 grams of vodka. Insist in a dark place for a week. Dilute with water before use. One part of the infusion is three parts water. Lubricate the affected skin and all toenails. Attention! The plant is poisonous!
Baths with sea salt are made twice a week. Then they wipe their feet and lubricate the inflamed areas with celandine juice.
Compresses with herbal infusion. Take 20 grams of flowers of lilac, calendula, celandine and oak bark for 2 cups of boiling water. They insist for an hour. Hold the compress for half an hour.
Grate a piece of tar soap. pour a quarter of the resulting chips with hot water. A foot bath is made. Science has confirmed the antifungal effect of birch tar and tar soap. There are no contraindications. But the skin after them is too susceptible to the sun. During the day after the procedure, go outside only in socks! Tar soap dries the skin a little. You need to know that.
Coffee grounds. Perfectly disinfects and promotes skin renewal. Thickening is applied to the surface of all toenails and the skin at their base. This is done after steaming, for example, a bath with salt, sea or ordinary. Wipe your feet dry. wrap the legs with a bandage to fix the thick in place. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Decoction of potatoes. Unlike tar and coffee, fungi do not destroy. But it soothes the skin and relieves inflammation. In addition, after baths with a decoction of potatoes, the skin renews faster.
Mycologist's recommendation
The main thing in treatment is to prevent re-infection. The spores of the infectious agent will not go away on their own. It is necessary to disinfect bed linen, carpet in the bathroom and near the bed. Disinfect shoes. Fungal spores do not die during normal washing. So it is better to just throw away the socks. Those who listen to the advice of doctors will get rid of the annoying parasite faster.