Toenail fungus, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, very often appears due to neglect of the rules of personal hygiene. Symptoms of nail fungus in most patients appear suddenly, as the infection occurs almost imperceptibly and instantly. Since the treatment measures for this ailment continue for a long time, it is best for a person who has noticed the 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 immediately diagnose the disease. Symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after infection. Peeling of the nail develops, a slight irritation of the skin around it. Sometimes the patient is tormented by severe itching.
In the event that the disease has developed due to a skin fungus, three scenarios are possible:
- The feet, nails and skin on the legs are infected. The fungus can spread not only on the skin of the lower extremities, but also capture the nails on the hands.
- Another type of mycelium affects only the nail of the thumb or little finger. Sometimes there is a transition of such fungi in the folds between the fingers. Then the skin is affected on 1-2 folds or all at once.
- Another type of disease: fungi are limited only to the "occupation" of the nail plate on the little finger or thumb of the lower limb, but they do not spread further.
- The last type of infection is mold. This type of mycelium usually appears in people with severe immune disorders, such as HIV.
The appearance of infection in all cases occurs for the following reasons:
- The protective properties of the patient's body fell below a critical level.
- The nail was mechanically damaged.
- The man wore shoes that were too tight. Blood circulation in the legs was disturbed, which led to the development of an infection.
- Some people have an anatomical pathology of the feet, which contributes to the development of fungi.
- Most often, patients diagnosed with obesity suffer from the disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the development of the mycelium.
- Fungi develop in patients with diabetes.
To prevent the disease, you should use only clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items. It is advisable to decontaminate and clean carpets and shoes in good time.
General signs of the disease
The first signs of toenail fungus in most people start to appear as small whitish dots or streaks on the toenails. Most people do not pay attention to this, as nothing hurts them, there is no discomfort. If you do not start the treatment of mycosis in time, you can start the disease. There will be a germination of the mycelium on all nails, suppuration of the skin around the affected nails will begin. 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 the disease with mycosis, the natural shine of the nails disappears. The nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The top and side surfaces of the nail are often deformed. Such changes are clearly visible to the eye.
In the last stage of the disease, the nails become very brittle, the inflammatory process begins on the cuticle. A person can completely lose a nail. But the mushrooms don't stop there. They continue to spread all over the nails, then pass over the skin of the leg, that is, they catch the feet.
The patient himself can recognize the disease in the second and third stages, as the nails turn yellow or brown (sometimes they turn black). The nail rises from its bed, acquires greater brittleness, quickly breaks.
Symptoms of the disease in the initial stage
If a person has developed toenail fungus, then the symptoms of the disease are practically absent at first. But then, 2-3 months after the penetration of the skin fungus and its fixation on the nails, you can notice the manifestation of such signs of the disease:
- A slight redness first develops on the surface of the skin near the affected plaque.
- Then the person feels a burning sensation in this area.
- Severe itching develops, inflammation begins.
- Later, in these areas, places with increased humidity develop.
- There is a thickening of the nail and its keratinization.
As soon as a person notices these signs of nail fungus, they should be examined and then treatment started.
Depending on the type of fungal infection in the later stages of the development of mycosis, the diseased nail plate is painted in different colors. In the first stage of the development of the disease, the affected area may turn white or green. The points on it will be placed along the surface or they will look like round points. At the same time, the thickness of the plaque in most patients does not change, and in many cases the nail retains its natural shine. The itch in all cases is very strong, it is impossible to get rid of it immediately. If the patient has noticed signs of mycosis over time, it is possible to eliminate burning and itching through the use of drugs such as miconazole, clotrimazole and similar drugs. But you shouldn't be treated on your own, it is best to do it under the supervision of a doctor. With any mistake or non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, the mycelium will instantly spread to healthy areas, which will complicate the treatment.
The subsequent development of the disease
Fungus on toenails, if left untreated, can deprive the nails of their natural color, and the surface color of the affected area will be yellow. There is delamination of the nails. They may start to break down. Along with this, the patient develops intolerable itching on the skin around the affected area. Cracking of the nail substance begins. The burning intensifies. Some patients may develop dysbacteriosis, feel unwell, complain of weakness throughout the body. Perhaps 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 nails becomes scale-like. Depending on the type of fungus that has affected the person, the thickening of the nails begins, their delamination begins. They break quickly. Symptoms of the disease include the following:
- The edges of the dishes become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain in the patient.
- The shape of the plates is significantly 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 patina appears under the nails. This is due to their detachment from the bed.
- The itch is very strong, almost unbearable. The burning of the skin around the affected areas increases again.
If these symptoms appear and the treatment is started on time, it will continue for a long time. You can be infected with a disease in 4-5 seconds and it is very difficult to cure it. This usually takes 3 to 6 months. It is not recommended to abandon the course of treatment due to possible complications that can lead to surgery. So, you should listen to yourself carefully. If the initial symptoms are detected and treatment is started immediately, there is a chance to complete the therapy faster, saving the nails.