How to accurately recognize toenail fungus and when to start treatment?

Nowadays, not only women, but also most men take care of the beauty of their nails.But only healthy nails can be beautiful, so it will be useful for everyone to know how to recognize nail fungus.The sooner a person notices signs of the disease, the easier it will be to undergo treatment.But it will be difficult to cure an advanced form of onychomycosis.The disease often recurs and is difficult to treat.

Onychomycosis is a common disease.Most often, the fungus affects the toenails, but this disease can also appear on the fingers.Onychomycosis of the hands is especially common in women.The signs of the disease in the nails of the feet and hands are approximately the same.Symptoms depend on the type of pathogen and the place where the infection was introduced.

The types

How to identify toenail fungus?This disease is quite insidious, as the symptoms depend on the type of pathogen that caused the disease.There are several dozen species of fungi that can cause onychomycosis.But they can be divided into three groups, depending on the nature of the pathogen.

yeast

This type of fungus most often affects the fingers, but it can appear on the feet.The infected nail plate loosens and peels off from the nail bed.In addition to the nail, the skin is also affected and the ridges surrounding the plaque become inflamed.They become red, painful and in advanced stages, when you press the roller, white contents come out from under it.

Dermatophytes

This type of filamentous fungus most often affects toenails.The disease manifests itself gradually.In the first stage, spots or lines appear that have a yellow tint.At first, these spots are small, but gradually grow, occupying the entire surface of the nail.

mold

Molds are extremely common, but they cause onychomycosis relatively rarely.When affected by this type of pathogen, the nails change color.The spots have an unusual color - black, green, dirty gray.

shape

The disease can appear in several forms.Disease symptoms depending on the form of onychomycosis:

• Lateral-distal.This is the most common case;the first changes in the nail can be observed in the growing part of the nail in one of the corners (sometimes in both corners at once).
• Proximal.In this case, the first changes appear on the inner edge of the nail.

• Superficial.Unlike the previous forms, with the superficial type of onychomycosis, the pathogen does not penetrate deep into the plate.The symptoms are unusual, spots appear in the center of the plaque, the nail itself becomes looser, the entire surface begins to peel off and scales are removed from it.

Clinical manifestations

Fungal diseases of the nails do not cause concern in the first stage.The patient does not feel pain or other unpleasant sensations.However, an attentive person may notice that the appearance of the nails has changed.The main symptoms of the disease:

• loss of natural shine, staining;
• the appearance of spots or lines, their color differs from the color of a healthy plate;
• grooves may appear on the surface;
• the plate can change shape;
• the nail may begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become thin and atrophic;
• the plate delaminates, begins to crumble, and then remains behind the skin;

• in the advanced stages, physical disturbances also appear, pain occurs when pressure is applied;
• when a secondary infection occurs, inflammation and suffocation may develop.

Tips!Onychomycosis can occur in isolation, but often this disease is accompanied by mycosis of the skin of the feet.Rashes, diaper rash and cracks appear between the fingers.The feet begin to emit an unpleasant odor.

Mushrooms or not?

Unfortunately, fungal nail diseases do not have specific symptoms.A similar clinical picture can occur with other dermatological problems.For example, with psoriasis.In order to accurately say if there is a fungal disease of the nails of the hands or feet, it is necessary to do the analyzes in the laboratory.

For analysis, take a piece of nail (in the distal form) or make a scraping from the surface of the plaque.The procedure for collecting the material is safe and painless.Then, the biological material is delivered to the laboratory.

Microscopic examination reveals the presence of a fungal infection, but does not determine the type of pathogen.In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to place the collected material (nail particles) in a nutritious environment and under favorable conditions.

Tips!The most favorable conditions for mushroom growth are warmth and humidity.

The results of the analysis will be available only after 5 days.During this time, the colony of fungi will grow so large that it will be possible to determine the type of pathogen by their appearance.Furthermore, the study allows us to determine which antifungal agents most effectively destroy this fungus.

To do this, the filter paper is soaked with a solution of antifungal agents, after which they are applied to the fungal colonies.After some time, the paper is removed and they see in which places the growth of microorganisms will be stopped most effectively.

Home methods

It happens that for some reason you cannot enter the laboratory.Is it possible to determine the presence of a fungal infection at home?Of course, home diagnostic methods are not perfect;they cannot be compared with laboratory research methods.

However, even these simple methods, in most cases, can reveal the presence of a fungal infection.Many people have a bottle of brown potassium permanganate crystals in their home.A solution of this product has antiseptic properties and is used in medicine and gardening.

This solution will also help diagnose onychomycosis at home.To make a diagnosis, you must:

• prepare a strong, dark purple solution in a small container;
• pour warm water into a basin or other container in such an amount that you can completely immerse your nails in it;
• add the previously prepared strong solution drop by drop to the water, achieving a solution of a soft lilac color;

Tips!Never add dry crystals to your bath water.If the crystals do not dissolve, they can cause burns if they come into contact with the skin.

• immerse the limbs in the solution so that the nails are completely covered with the solution;

• hold for about ten minutes;
• then remove the limb from the solution and examine the nails, healthy nail plates will turn brown, patients will remain unchanged.

Tips!Before diagnosing the use of potassium permanganate, make sure that potassium permanganate solution does not cause allergies.

How to avoid infection?

Everyone is at risk of getting onychomycosis, but there are people who are at risk.These are:

• elderly people;
• people who often come into contact with water (dishwasher, laundry, etc.);
• patients with diabetes mellitus;
• patients who have severely weakened immunity.

In addition, non-compliance with hygiene rules contributes to infection.In particular, using things together with the patient.So, never wear someone else's shoes, use your own towel, never walk barefoot in public bathrooms, never wear rubber mats.

The risk of contracting onychomycosis is higher in the following places:

• public places where people perform water procedures - showers, baths, water parks, swimming pools;
• shoe stores;
• nail service salons.

In addition, you can easily become infected at home if one of your family members has onychomycosis.The use of active preventive and protective measures will help to avoid infection and prevent the development of the disease.

Every person should know the answer to the question of how to identify nail fungus.Knowing what a sick nail looks like will help you notice negative changes in time.If onychomycosis is detected in the early stages, then curing the disease will be much easier.But in an advanced stage, the treatment will be difficult and long;the course of treatment may last a year or more.