After visiting a swimming pool or relaxing on the beach, you may experience onychomycosis (fungus).
The symptoms of this disease are the following: redness, itching and discomfort between the fingers, yellowing and split nails.
The problem is quite common and does not go away on its own. If you do not consult a doctor, a fungus will develop that can harm your body. In the article you will learn what to do in such a situation and which specialist to contact if you have this problem.
What should you do if you discover that you have mycosis?
If you notice one of the signs of fungus, for example, your toenails have changed color.Contact your doctor quickly!Do not allow the fungal process to progress so that you do not have to deal with treatment for years. Fungal spores, when released into human blood, cause a toxic reaction.
with this problemYou should first consult a dermatologist., such a specialist is available in a clinic, in a hospital, in any paid medical institution and in a skin and vein dispensary (you can go there for free).
Which specialist should I contact, who does this?
Nail and foot fungus is a skin disease andA dermatologist deals with these problems.. You will meet him at the district clinic, make the first appointment, examine the patient, diagnose onychomycosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.
If the disease is advanced or the doctor considers your case to be complex, the dermatologist will refer you to a mycologist (this specialist deals more deeply with the treatment of fungal diseases). The difficulty of contacting such a doctor is that a specialist in this field cannot always be found in a simple clinic.
Price problem
Mycologist services in public and private clinics are mainly remunerated. The price of the consultation may vary depending on the following indicators:
- affected area area;
- severity of the disease;
- number of laboratory tests required;
- doctor's qualifications.
The most expensive would be a consultation with a mycologist with a PhD, and the cheapest would be a consultation with a doctor of the lowest category. Private clinics charge for each test and prescription for an individual treatment plan.
What is an appointment with a mycologist like?
At the first visit to the doctor, the patient is interviewed to identify specific skin and nail complaints.
The mycologist will also ask questions about her lifestyle and perform an initial examination of the affected areas. But it is impossible to visually determine the type of fungus, so dead scales are scraped from the skin and nails.
All samples are sent for laboratory analysis. The materials are examined under a microscope and some of them are placed in a nutrient medium. The analysis, which will determine the exact presence of fungi, takes only 3 to 5 minutes. And to identify a specific type of fungus it will take up to 2 weeks.
At the next appointment, the mycologist prescribes treatment, medications are prescribed taking into account the tests performed and the patient's condition in general.
More visits to a mycologist are needed to monitor the healing process, sometimes this takes a long time. The disease may disappear in one area of the skin and worsen in another.
The difference between a mycologist and a dermatologist
Specialist in all types ofSkin problems – dermatologist.It is used for viral and infectious skin lesions, rashes, eczema, inflammation of the sweat glands, dermatitis and fungal skin diseases.
The first examination is carried out by a dermatologist, he himself can prescribe treatment or refer you to a mycologist.A mycologist is also a dermatologist who deals in depth with the treatment of skin, hair and nails due to fungal infections.. But you can't always find such a doctor in a clinic and not every city has one.
What tests are prescribed?
- scrape the skin in the foot area and between the toes;
- analysis of the infected nail plate (its fragment);
- blood test for allergens and antibodies against mycosis.
Important!
If the studies described above do not yield the desired results, histology is performed to ensure that the patient does not have fungus. In this case, consider the option of mechanically damaging the nails.
External signs of fungus sometimes coincide with signs of other nail damage. Therefore, laboratory tests must show whether a fungal infection exists. Calluses on the nail plate, bruises, changes in the color and shape of the nail may have nothing to do with mycosis.
How is the treatment performed?
The treatment methods that were used before are no longer effective today, because the drugs do not fully cope with microorganisms. Doctors select special treatment complexes.
There is no medication that cures fungus., you need to combine 2 or 3 products. Creams, tablets, solutions, vitamins, droppers, special varnishes and products that dissolve the nail for subsequent removal are widely used in medicine.
Important!
Medicines for the treatment of fungus have a large number of side effects, self-medication should not be allowed! The lesion may move to another location and the disease may progress further. Be sure to consult a specialist to deal with the disease as quickly and safely as possible.
Systemic therapy
Mycologists prescribe systemic treatments to their patients to achieve faster recovery.
What can be prescribed to a patient with mycosis? Systemic therapy includes the following measures:
- Oral medications (tablets).
- Local preparations (in the form of creams, ointments, etc. )
- Nail removal by surgery.
Remove the nail plate
The nail can be removed in several ways: surgically and with special means.
The non-surgical removal method does not cause pain.and you won't have to worry about visiting a surgeon. In a few days, a new, uninfected nail will begin to grow.
If the obvious symptoms disappear, then the treatment is considered complete, but it is necessary to ensure this by carrying out repeated tests, twice.
Tests are performed once at the end of treatment and again a month after the patient's recovery.
The mycologist must not only prescribe a course of treatment, but also monitor how it progresses and what results it brings. Even after complete recovery, it is necessary to visit a doctor and take preventive measures to avoid relapses.
laser treatment
Laser treatment is a type of physical therapy. Exposure to a laser beam is not used as an independent method of treatment.
For maximum positive effectLaser therapy is combined with other medications.. Improves blood circulation and has a beneficial effect on the nutrition of the nail plate.
Therefore, antifungal drugs penetrate deeper into the infected area. But it is impossible to kill the infection with laser alone. However, there are no contraindications to the procedure; reduces the likelihood of reinfection. This is a painless and completely safe method of treating a disease such as onychomycosis.
therapeutic pedicure
Therapeutic pedicure for nail mycosis is performed with the aim of having a healing effect on the nails and skin of the feet.
This procedure prevents the development of the disease and further spread of fungal spores.During the pedicure, the affected areas of the skin of the feet and nails are removed..
Therapeutic pedicure is especially important for patients who:
- often experience ingrown toenails;
- They have many calluses on their feet, calluses, warts on their feet;
- Have a thin and weak nail plate.
The main objective of the procedure is disinfection.. Therapeutic pedicure helps to eliminate yellowness, irregularities and bumps on the nails. Before applying varnish, be sure to ask your doctor if this is acceptable.
Important!
Be careful and careful when choosing a specialist. Make sure you are qualified and your pedicure tools are processed properly.
Prevention of mycosis in the legs.
To avoid such an unpleasant disease, you just need to be careful and periodically carry out fungal prevention. A trip to the beach, pool, gym or bathhouse can result in big problems. The fact is that pathogenic fungi are very resistant to external influences. Fungal spores tolerate heating, drying and freezing.
There are several main causes of infection. Follow the rules below to avoid illness:
- don't walk on the beach without shoes;
- in the bathhouse and sauna, be sure to use closed rubber shoes that protect against splashes;
- after bathing, dry your feet well, paying special attention to the folds between the toes, also use powder or a special antifungal cream;
- don't wear someone else's shoes;
- Wear clean stockings or socks every day.
Conclusion
When the immune system is strong and functioning normally, mycosis on the legs will not harm the body even after infection, thanks to the protective capabilities of the immune system. If the fungus begins to spread to the nails, you should contact a dermatologist or mycologist as soon as possible, who will prescribe the optimal treatment regimen.