Most people do not even know that the more common sweating of the feet and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it is one of the main signs of the development of a fungal disease. Toenail fungus, the symptoms of which do not appear immediately, can appear in any person who does not take care of himself at least a little. This ailment awaits almost everywhere and very often in public places. The sad thing is that a fungal disease is quite insidious: it is cured for a long time and is not effective in 100% of cases, as it is characterized by relapses. In order to timely identify the fungus and start treatment, it is necessary to have an idea of how toenail fungus manifests itself.
The spread of a fungal disease
The disease is caused by the development of parasitic fungi in the body. The best conditions for their appearance and subsequent diffusion are a warm environment at the same time as high humidity. Many are of the opinion that it is very easy to get such an infection in water parks, baths, beauty salons.
But the statistics are completely different: you can get a fungal infection even without leaving the house through shared items (bathroom, clothes, shoes, towels). However, this is true if at least one of the family members is a carrier of the fungus. Yet what in principle affects the spread of the fungus? There are key aspects that cause infection with a fungal disease:
- Strong sweating;
- Diabetes;
- The problem of excess weight;
- If the nail is injured;
- Weak immunity.
To somehow protect yourself from infection with a fungus, it is necessary to use only personal hygiene products, carry out a complete treatment of the shower and bath, wear only shoes, organize carpet washing as often as possible, etc. And if you've already noticed the first signs of toenail fungus, you should contact a dermatologist immediately!
Signs of a fungus, based on the causative agent of the disease
Signs of fungus on the toenails should be noticed in time. The effectiveness of the complex treatment of a fungal infection is determined by the extent to which the causative agent of the disease has been correctly identified. This can be explained by the fact that there are many varieties of mushrooms, and each species reacts to a specific group of medicines.
In most cases, the causative agents of the disease are:
- Mold;
- dermatophytes;
- Yeast.
If the fungus began to develop due to yeast, it is almost impossible to detect the disease overnight. The signs of a fungus on the legs in such circumstances are as follows:
- The foot and the skin around the nail plate itch;
- The nail comes off.
Yeast infection occurs in only 4-5% of cases. Most often it is dermatophytes that affect the nail plate (94. 5%). This pathogen is of 3 types, and the manifestation of each is very different:
- 1 type. There is a simultaneous defeat of the nail plate, the skin of the feet and legs as a whole. Such a fungus easily moves on the nails and skin of the hands.
- 2 type. The disease affects only the nails of the thumb and little finger of the legs. It can also go to the creases between the fingers.
- 3 type. It is characterized by damage to the nail plate of the little finger and thumb, but the disease does not spread to the skin.
As for mold, the causative agent in this case is mold fungi. It is extremely rarely observed. Mostly found in AIDS patients.
Other symptoms
Often, when the disease is just starting to develop, there are no symptoms of fungus on the toenails. But in the case of extreme attention to their feet, a person will notice that round spots have begun to appear on the nail plate, and the nail itself loses its luster and becomes rough. In development, a fungal disease affects the nail plate to a greater extent: its color will initially change, after which the nail exfoliates, it can easily break. The shade of the nail plate is determined by the type of pathogenic fungus.
Toenail fungus: symptoms (additional)
- The nail plate turns black;
- The nail takes on an unusual shape and its structure changes completely;
- The nails become very brittle;
- Plastic nail cuts under the skin;
- Constant fatigue follows.
An abnormal aspect of the nail plate is a "bell" to visit a dermatologist and there the nail fungus, the symptoms of which you have noticed, will be confirmed or refuted. If you constantly refer to the doctor, the disease will quickly spread to other areas. If you don't think about it, then there is nothing life-threatening about this disorder. But, in addition to a purely aesthetic problem and discomfort, a fungal infection sometimes causes major complications. For this reason, the symptoms must not be ignored and the treatment of the disease must be started in a timely manner, as soon as it has been identified.
Doctor who treats fungal diseases
It is realistic to detect an infection on your own, but only a doctor can confirm your assumptions. To make an accurate diagnosis, a dermatologist will recommend some tests. For their implementation, a piece of the destroyed nail plate or scraping of the periungual tissues is taken.
Timely detected infection facilitates further treatment and eliminates the possibility of complications. If treatment is not started at the right time, this will ensure the spread of the disease to other organs and all fingernails / toenails.
Toenail fungus: treatment procedure
Therapy aimed at treating the fungus is prescribed by a dermatologist - everything will depend on how advanced the disease is, what type of fungus is in the body and other factors. Usually, if the fungus is just beginning to develop, drugs for external use are prescribed. In the most difficult situations, resort to intensive treatment.
By the way, it takes a long time. Therefore, it is in your best interest to visit a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a fungal infection! Symptoms of nail fungus need to be recognized early. And the earlier the disease is detected, the faster the treatment will take place!