To determine if you have fungus on your nails and quickly deal with the disease, you need to know the signs of its appearance.It has been proven that approximately 20% of the world's population is infected with onychomycosis.People who play sports and go to the pool belong to the risk category.
Reasons for the development of onychomycosis
Faced with this problem, the question arises why nail fungus appears on the hands or feet.Pathogens thrive in soil or air.The best conditions for their reproduction will be excessive humidity and a significant increase in temperature (public showers).
Nail fungus on the fingers or toes is an infectious disease, so its development occurs very quickly.The human nail plate is porous, contains water, keratin fibers and fat.Therefore, by creating suitable conditions for the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, the appearance of unpleasant lesions should soon be expected.
The main causes of nail fungus are:
- Use of tight shoes.Particularly dangerous are poorly breathable products made from low-quality materials.
- If a person suffers from excessive sweating.
- There are significant disturbances in the functioning of the patient's immune system.Onychomycosis can appear due to changes in hormonal levels or due to dysfunction of metabolic processes.
- Often the disease appears after using non-sterile manicure instruments.
- After a long course of therapy with antibacterial drugs.
- As a concomitant disease of diabetes mellitus or varicose veins.
- Because of bad habits, as well as work characteristics.
Symptoms of fungal disease on the feet
To recognize toenail fungus, you need to know its symptoms.The primary signs of the disease are excessive dryness, skin and regular itching of the skin.Unfortunately, this symptomatology is almost always ignored.After some time, changes in the surface of the nail become visible.Instead of shine and healthy color, cracks are created and sometimes there can be pits.But even such obvious signs are often ignored.
As a rule, patients whose fungal infection has developed in an advanced form are visited by a doctor.In this case, the nail plate completely changes color, the nail becomes brittle and then it can even peel off.
If the disease is not treated immediately, the risk of fungal infection spreading to the skin increases.And because of the bad habit of biting the nails, the disease manages to penetrate the human body and affect the internal organs (when the patient suffers from nail fungus).
In order to prevent the occurrence of serious complications, it is important to diagnose the disease in time.It is better to start fighting the fungus in the early stages.You can diagnose a fungal infection yourself.To do this, you need to prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at home, and then immerse your feet in it.Healthy plaques are characterized by a uniform color, closer to brown.And nails affected by onychomycosis will be white.
There are several ways to identify nail fungus yourself:
- There is visible deformation of the nail plate.You should not ignore signs in which the color of the nail changes or a slight thickening of the nail appears.The presence of infection is also indicated by unusual spots of different colors.
- Changes have occurred in the structure of the nails.It is possible to diagnose onychomycosis not only from unusual spots.Sometimes veins and streaks appear on the nail plate.Without timely treatment, they spread and then affect the skin of the feet.
- If the nail is released.Due to a fungal infection, the plate begins to crumble, and sometimes it peels off.
- Instead of a healthy color, the nail becomes dull yellow.At the same time, the edges of the rollers become inflamed, becoming very sensitive.
- Due to the death of tissues, an unpleasant smell appears.
- If foot fungus has developed in an advanced stage, pain appears when walking or when pressing.
Features of some fungal infections
Before carrying out the therapeutic treatment of onychomycosis, it is necessary to determine exactly what kind of pathogen has affected the nails.This will require a careful diagnosis.Although the symptoms of fungal infections are similar, there are some peculiarities in the course of the disease.
When yeast is the cause, the patient's nail takes on a dull yellow color, becoming very dense.In addition, she undresses from the bed.
But if it is found that the fungus is caused by mold, the symptoms are manifested by a change in color (sometimes green, brown and sometimes black).In addition, the plaque begins to peel off strongly, and there are numerous inclusions on it.
Sometimes a fungal infection occurs due to the activity of dermatophyte pathogens.The disease manifests itself as longitudinal lines, which are located in the center or along the edges of the nails.
You should not self-medicate.Instead, it is recommended to consult a specialist.Only the attending physician will determine how to recognize the causative agent of onychomycosis and prescribe the optimal method of therapy.
The process of getting rid of an illness is always long.However, with the help of special ointments, the unpleasant symptoms disappear from the skin after 3 weeks.In certain cases, the treatment of fungal nail infections will require several months.In addition to following the specialist's instructions, you must take care of hygiene.Foot baths with the addition of apple cider vinegar bring excellent results.
It is recommended to regularly treat the affected areas with tea tree oil or use a special propolis solution.
It is possible to prevent re-infection with onychomycosis.You should understand that for this, everyone in the family should have their own hygiene items.Also, do not forget to regularly treat the inside of the shoes with special alcohol.