Most people do not even know that the most common sweating of the feet and the accompanying unpleasant odor is one of the main signs of the development of a fungal disease. Nail 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 disease waits almost everywhere, and most often in public places. The sad thing is that a fungal disease is quite insidious: it is treated for a long time and is not effective in 100% of cases, since it is characterized by relapses. In order to quickly identify the fungus and start treatment, you need to have an idea of how the 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 emergence and further propagation 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 catch a fungal infection even without leaving your home thanks to shared objects (bathroom, clothes, shoes, towels). However, this is true if at least one member of the household is a carrier of the fungus. And yet, what in principle affects the spread of the fungus? There are such key aspects that provoke infection with a fungal disease:
- Strong sweating;
- Diabetes;
- The problem of excess weight;
- If the nail is injured;
- Weak immunity.
In order to somehow protect yourself from infection with a fungus, you need to use only personal hygiene products, carry out a full shower and bath treatment, wear only your shoes, organizewashing carpets as often as possible, etc. And if you have already noticed the first signs of nail fungus, you should immediately contact a dermatologist!
Signs of a fungus, based on the causative agent of the disease
Signs of fungus on the nails 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 fungi, and each species reacts to a specific group of drugs.
In most cases, the causative agents of the disease are:
- Mold;
- dermatophytes;
- Yeast.
If the fungus began to grow due to yeast, it is almost impossible to detect the disease overnight. 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 peels off.
Yeast infection only occurs in 4-5% of cases. Very 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 kind. There is a simultaneous defeat of the nail plate, skin of the feet and legs as a whole. Such a fungus easily moves to the nails and skin of the hands.
- 2 kinds. The disease affects only the thumb and little fingernails of the legs. Can also go to the creases between the fingers.
- 3 types. 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 fungus. It is observed extremely rarely. Mainly found in AIDS patients.
Other symptoms
Often, when the disease is just beginning to develop, there are no symptoms of fungus on the nails. But in the case of extreme attention to his feet, a person will notice that round spots have begun to appear on the nail plate, and the nail itself loses its shine and becomes rough. In development, a fungal disease affects the nail plate more: 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.
Nail fungus: symptoms (additional)
- The nail plate turns black;
- The nail takes on an unusual shape, and its structure changes completely;
- Nails become very brittle;
- Nail plastic cuts under the skin;
- Followed by constant fatigue.
An abnormal appearance of the nail plate is a "bell" to consult a dermatologist, and there the nail fungus, the symptoms of which you have noticed, will be confirmed or ruled out. If you constantly postpone your visit to the doctor, the disease will quickly spread to other areas. If you don't think about it, there is nothing fatal about this disease. But, in addition to an exclusively aesthetic problem and discomfort, a fungal infection is sometimes the cause of great complications. For this reason, the symptoms should not be ignored and the treatment of the disease should 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 guesses. To make an accurate diagnosis, a dermatologist will recommend certain tests. For their implementation, a piece of the destroyed nail plate or scraping from the periungual tissues is taken.
Timely detection of infection facilitates further treatment and eliminates the risk of complications. If the treatment is not started at the right time, it will ensure the spread of the disease to other organs and to all the fingernails/toenails.
Nail fungus: treatment procedure
Therapy aimed at treating the fungus is prescribed by a dermatologist - everything will depend on the stage of the disease, the type of fungus present in the body and other factors. Usually, if the fungus is just beginning to grow, medications are prescribed for external use. In more difficult situations, resort to intensive treatment.
Besides, it takes a lot of time. It is therefore in your interest to consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a fungal infection! Symptoms of nail fungus should be recognized in advance. And the earlier the disease is detected, the sooner the treatment will take place!