Among the most common dermatological diseases, doctors precisely isolate a fungal infection. Due to the fact that the clinical picture of this disease is poorly expressed, many do not take it seriously. In fact, onychomycosis can lead to loss of nail plates and even sepsis.
This is the main reason why nail fungus treatment should be started at the initial stage. It is extremely important to use special antifungal agents prescribed by a specialist.
The main symptoms of the fungus
The clinical picture of this disease has been very well studied. This allows you to easily identify the symptoms of finger and toenail fungus, regardless of its stage.
The main ones are the following:
- The nail changes color, turns yellow or green. In certain cases, it can turn white and brown. There are even cases when the nail plate turns multi-colored;
- Severe itching is felt on the skin near the nail plates;
- The skin becomes inflamed, redness is noted on them;
- The nail changes its structure, becomes thicker or finer;
- Peeling of the skin;
- Nail deformation;
- Nail plates become brittle;
- Nail shedding.
What does toenail fungus look like and its first symptoms?
At first, the disease does not have pronounced symptoms, the deformation of the nails during this period is not observed at all.
In the initial stage, nail fungus is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Dry Skin;
- Itching;
- The soft tissues around the nails turn slightly red;
- Slight discoloration of the nail plates;
- Nails do not shine, less elastic;
- The appearance of corns.
At this stage of the disease, patients often do not notice changes in the nail plates, so they do not seek medical help in a timely manner. That is why it is extremely important to know exactly what nail fungus looks like in order to start therapy as soon as possible. After all, it is during this period that the pathology is easiest to treat.
Important!
If we talk about what the fungus on the nails of the hands looks like in the initial stage, then the symptoms are as similar as possible to those that occur when the nail plates of the legs are affected.
Methods for diagnosing nail fungus.
It is quite difficult to diagnose the initial stage of toenail fungus. This will require a series of additional studies. This is mainly due to the fact that the symptoms are poorly expressed.
Among the necessary analyzes, the following are distinguished:
- Clinical blood test. With the help of it, the specialist receives information on whether the body's reaction to the inflammatory process caused by microorganisms is observed;
- General urinalysis. Although this study will provide information only on the general state of health of the patient, it can also be used to identify concomitant pathologies of the urinary system;
- Examination of the tissues of the nail plates under a microscope. This method manages to determine not only the presence of the fungus, but also its variety;
- Chemistry of the blood.
A dermatologist must correctly decipher the results of the investigation. If, at the first signs of the disease, a person turned to a therapist, surely in the near future he will still refer him to a limited specialist. After all, it is he who knows what the nail fungus looks like on the hands and feet and, accordingly, will be able to correctly diagnose.
How to treat budding toenail fungus
Fungal diseases are treated exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. Before prescribing a course of therapy, a specialist takes into account a number of factors:
- The degree of damage to the nail plates;
- The form of the disease;
- The stage of redness of the skin;
- The degree of deformation of the nail.
At the stages when onychomycosis is just beginning to develop, it will be enough to use only local drugs. Special antifungal varnishes, solutions and gels are applied to the affected areas immediately after treatment of the affected nails with a surgical or keratolytic method. After this simple procedure, the drugs are better absorbed and, consequently, the treatment takes place much faster.
Keratolytics contribute not only to the softening of the nail plates, but also to the painless removal of the affected areas. This procedure is done using conventional patches that contain urea or salicylic acid.
The application of this patch should be done according to the following scheme:
- The surface of the nail plates is carefully scraped.
- A special composition is applied to the affected nails.
- The dough is sealed with an adhesive strip.
- The bandage is changed once a day, maximum two.
- The plates damaged by the fungus are cut.
- The antifungal agent is applied immediately.
The patch should be changed daily before going to bed.
There are a number of other effective external medications in the fight against nail fungus.
If the stage of the disease is already significantly advanced, then the specialist may prescribe antifungal drugs, which must be taken orally. The same funds are needed in the early stages, but only if local therapy has not yielded any results.
Important!
You cannot prescribe any antifungal medication for yourself. Only a specialist can choose the most effective and safe remedy, prevent further development of the disease and the occurrence of relapses.
Prevention measures
Nail fungus infection is an infectious disease. Consequently, to prevent it, certain precautions should be taken:
- Maintain personal hygiene;
- Use only personal belongings when visiting the pool or bathroom;
- Don't try on someone else's shoes with an unprotected leg, be sure to wear a sock;
- Take the greatest possible care when you come into contact with a person already infected with the fungus;
- Avoid contact with animals infected with mycosis.
It is important to remember that nail fungus is not a harmless disease at all. Its initial stage does not cause anxiety in most. That is why the disease is becoming more common. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the nail plates and the tissues adjacent to them, at the first manifestations of the disease, seek the help of a specialist.
Since in the early stages this ailment is very easy to cure. If you run it, very unpleasant consequences are not excluded.