If you ask the clinic which doctor will help treat toenail fungus, they will most likely refer you to a dermatologist. This seems odd. 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. A mycologist treats only fungal infections, not just the skin. If the disease is not advanced, a dermatologist from the district clinic can prescribe adequate treatment and, if necessary, refer to a mycologist. The nail, of course, isn't exactly skin. But the nails are taken care of by dermatologists. Which doctor is best to contact?
In complex or severely advanced cases, complex treatment is required. In addition to medicines for external use, pills and sometimes physiotherapy are also prescribed. Of course, in such a situation it is better to contact a mycologist.
So who, what doctor treats nail fungus? Both answers are correct: dermatologist and mycologist. By the way, an appointment with a mycologist is often paid. As a rule, there is no queue for him, and if there are serious reasons for suspicion, you can immediately go to the mycologist.
Regardless of the doctor who treats your nails, you may need paid tests. But it is better to do an analysis to clarify the diagnosis or to make sure that there are no fungal infections. In advanced cases, the treatment will cost a lot more.
What does a dermatologist treat?
The word derma is translated 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 a dermatologist can distinguish a parasitic disease from an allergic one and prescribe treatment even before the test result.
Which doctor treats nail fungus on the hands and feet
Usually, in mild cases, fungal infections are treated by conventional doctors. Fungal diseases of the genital organs - urologist or gynecologist. Thrush in children - pediatrician. Simple skin diseases dermatologist.
In difficult (and more often - advanced) cases, the help of a fungal infection specialist is needed. That is to say, the mycologist understands them. It is possible to address to the mycologist. if you do not want it to be recorded in the outpatient card that a fungus has been found. Or you can't go to a dermatologist.
The first signs of a foot fungal infection
Running forms arise due to the fact that the disease was not noticed immediately. What should be alarming?
- If the skin between the toes gets wet and cracked
- 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
- Foot skin appears rough and unkempt with good care.
- The color of the nail has changed, spots or streaks have appeared
- There was an unpleasant smell from the feet.
It is enough to note 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 should change shoes, abandon synthetic socks. In the evening, wash your feet with laundry or baby soap, then take a bath with sea salt or chamomile decoction. But if the appearance of the foot does not become normal after two o'clock, you should see a doctor.
What is the danger of foot and nail fungus
Usually the fungus affects the skin of the foot first, then goes to the nails. Treating the fungus, while only the skin is affected, is much easier. Various ointments, infusions and solutions penetrate the skin more easily than the hard surface of the nail. And they act faster. It is more difficult to cure a fungus when its manifestations become evident on the nails.
And the smallest particles of skin or nails affected by the fungus become the culprits of the reinfection. Eventually, other family members could also be infected.
But are mushrooms really that dangerous? What threatens, besides itching and ugly appearance?
The danger is that some fungi can harm not only the skin of the legs or nails. Infection can get to the ear, for example. And in young children and the elderly - in the inguinal folds. The skin is softer and thinner. There are fungi that affect not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes. It is best not to risk and not wait for the infection to spread.
How is the treatment
In all cases, the doctor prescribes not only local treatment, but also tablets. They don't have to be antifungal drugs. Complex vitamin and mineral preparations help to cope with infection. Blood tests are required and other tests are done. Do a scraping from damaged skin or nails. Treatment is usually outpatient, but there is a day hospital where all procedures are performed by a nurse. If it turns out that injections are needed, they may be hospitalized.
But modern science can cure the fungus in two or three laser treatments. Treatment is not cheap, but in the most desperate cases, a complete recovery takes two weeks. Of course, a new nail will not grow during this time and the skin will not recover either. But the disease will be overcome. 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 you can use on your own do not include medications. Excellent in the fight against the fungus in the initial phase
- foot baths
- herbal and vegetable lotions and compresses
- essential oils,
- soda, salt, vinegar, vodka
- natural ground coffee
- alcoholic tinctures of medicinal plants
- ordinary yellow clay
- tar soap
From the mushroom on the legs: homemade recipes
2 tablespoons of 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. Reception 10 days simultaneously with external treatment.
Gold mustache dye. The stem of the plant insists on vodka, 10 internodes with leaves for 150 grams of vodka. Insist in a dark place for a week. Dilute with water before use. One part of the infusion is made up of three parts of water. Lubricate the affected skin and all toenails. Attention! The plant is poisonous!
Sea salt baths are carried out twice a week. After that, they wipe their feet and lubricate the inflamed places with celandine juice.
Tablets with herbal infusion. Take 20 grams of lilac flowers, calendula, celandine herbs and oak bark for 2 cups of boiling water. They insist an hour. Keep the compress for half an hour.
Grate a piece of tar soap. pour a quarter of the resulting chips with hot water. You are taking a foot bath. 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 out only in socks! Tar soap dries the skin a little. You should know that.
Coffee grounds. It disinfects perfectly and promotes skin renewal. A 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. Dry your feet. wrap the legs with a bandage to secure the thick in place. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Potato decoction. Unlike tar and coffee, the fungus does not destroy. But it soothes the skin and relieves inflammation. In addition, after baths with a decoction of potatoes, the skin refreshes faster.
The recommendation of the mycologist
Protecting yourself from reinfection is the main thing in treatment. The spores of the infectious agent will not disappear on their own. It is necessary to disinfect bed linen, a carpet in the bathroom and near the bed. Disinfect your shoes. The spores of the fungus do not die with normal washing. Therefore, it is better to throw away the socks. Whoever listens to the advice of doctors will get rid of the annoying parasite faster.