One of the most unpleasant diseases that appears suddenly and causes many problems is onychomycosis. Some treat it for years, others only a few months. Why is that? This is because there is an important rule: if the symptoms of nail fungus are detected at an early stage, the treatment time will be noticeably reduced.
Unfortunately, not everyone can recognize it immediately after infection. Fungal spores gradually "populate" the territory of human skin, so you need to pay attention to the slightest suspicious changes on the skin and nails, so as not to miss the first signs of this disease.
Causes and signs of fungal foot infection.
Few people examine their feet with meticulous care every day. Often, not everyone can recognize toenail fungus, as different types of spores can live on the surface of the skin for a long time, without showing themselves in any way. For example, fungi of the genus Candida are normally present on everyone's feet. We are talking about a conditionally pathogenic flora that, under certain unfavorable conditions, provokes the development of the disease. What can serve as an impetus for the appearance of a fungus?
- Immunodeficiency states (oncological diseases, congenital pathologies, autoimmune diseases, AIDS, hepatitis and others).
- Diabetes. The so-called diabetic foot is very often affected by fungi and bacteria due to impaired blood flow, as well as the formation of ulcers and wounds that do not heal.
- Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating of the skin. Since nail fungus feels great in a warm, humid environment, it is not difficult to recognize it on the skin of a person who suffers from excessive sweating.
- Endocrine disorders.
Onychomycosis is very easy to infect, for example, in a swimming pool, sauna or gym. Fungal spores can settle on the skin where there are cracks, wounds, and damage. It is important to diagnose the disease in the first manifestations, because the result of treatment directly depends on this. Conventionally, onychomycosis can be divided into several stages, each of which has several signs.
- Initial stage: the skin of the legs itches and flakes a little, the external manifestations of the fungus, as we are used to seeing in the photo, do not usually happen. Your skin may feel unusually dry, nothing more.
- The next stage is characterized by the appearance of red spots or whitish plaque on the skin of the foot and between the toes. It all depends on the type of fungus that has affected your feet. The spots come in a variety of sizes and are generally well defined with scaly edges. The white coating resembles powder or flour.
- In addition, bubbles with liquid begin to form on the legs, are unevenly distributed on the surface of the skin, and burst over time. At the site of the bubble burst, an ulcer forms that does not heal for a long time.
- It is possible to determine toenail fungus in one of the later stages, because changes in the nail plate often begin after the appearance of ulcers and itchy skin. The nail thickens noticeably. You can see how much the free edge is flaking and crumbling. The color of the nail plate also changes: to greenish-yellow, brown or even black. It separates from the nail bed, exposing it.
Detected onychomycosis: what to do?
In the event that you notice the above manifestations on the feet, you should immediately visit a dermatologist, mycologist, a specialist in the study of fungi or a podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in foot and nail problems). Without fail, you will be prescribed a nail fungus test to find out your type and degree of infection. Most often, onychomycosis appears when the foot is affected by fungi:
- Trichophytos,
- Dermatophytes,
- Spores of the genus Candida.
If the initial stage of nail fungus is characterized by only a few minor signs and is localized only on one of the feet, as you can see in the photo, then you are in luck.
Most likely, your doctor will prescribe a standard treatment regimen with antifungal medications that will effectively kill the fungus.
For therapy, it is recommended to use ointments, creams, sprays and special nail polishes.
Unfortunately, sometimes a person notices the appearance of toenail fungus, when the initial stage has already passed.
From the photo, you can easily determine that the disease is running: the marigold is deformed, falls off the nail bed and changes color, deep and painful cracks have formed between the toes, both feet are affected by the fungus. In such a situation, antibiotic therapy will help, as well as treatment with immunostimulating and antiallergic drugs, and the intake of vitamins. You can complement the complex therapy with recipes of traditional medicine: baths with decoctions of herbs, sea salt and soda, treatment with a vinegar solution, applications with garlic, pork fat and other ingredients.
In the most extreme case, the marigold affected by onychomycosis is surgically removed or cut in the office of a pedicure teacher (podiatrist) with a special bur.
Now you know how the fungus manifests itself on the feet, the causes of its appearance and how to treat it. We hope this information has been useful to you.