With a fungal nail infection or onychomycosis, you should contact a dermatologist or mycologist. The first doctor specializes in any skin problem. In his competence are allergic, bacterial, viral and fungal lesions of the epidermis. A mycologist is a strictly qualified specialist. He knows all types of fungi, treats fungal lesions of any location, conducts research and collects statistical information.
When you need medical attention
A person becomes infected with a fungus when its spores settle on the skin or nails. You can "catch" pathogenic microorganisms in public places (sauna, swimming pool, beauty salon), from members of your own family, in a shoe store. Mushrooms are very fond of humid and warm environments. They are able to reproduce with shoes. Most often this happens if a person suffers from sweating of the feet, ignores this fact or neglects the rules of personal hygiene.
When a person comes into contact with fungi, he does not always get infected. This is preceded by a decrease in immunity. Normally, the body successfully copes with the attack of billions of microbes every day. If the defenses are exhausted, you can expect trouble.
Onychomycosis is a serious infectious disease. With it, a person is in contact with pathogenic fungi for a long time. Mycotoxins with toxic properties enter her body. It also negatively affects the immune system. Get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible. The longer a person lives with an infection, the harder and longer the treatment. Launched onychomycosis is difficult to cure, becomes chronic, relapses, requires the permanent use of prophylactic agents.
It is necessary to contact doctors when the first signs of nail fungus occur, namely:
- if they are covered with small spots, dots, streaks, light inclusions;
- if the color of the nail plate has changed, it has become yellow, brown, grayish or greenish;
- if plaque grows, improper nail trimming creates an "entrance" gate for infection;
- if the nails exfoliate - a sign of the progress of onychomycosis;
- if a person suffers from ringworm, the fungus easily spreads to the nails from the skin;
- if among the family members there are people with onychomycosis;
- if the nails have lost their luster, they become dull, heterogeneous.
The direct reasons for visiting a doctor are itching, sweating, dry skin on the feet. Excessive sweating and unpleasant foot odor can speak of a developing fungus.
Who to go first
Having decided to see a doctor, you should first make an appointment with a dermatologist. There are skin specialists in all paid and free hospitals. You can get a free appointment with a dermatologist in the skin care center of your place of residence.
The dermatologist will conduct a visual examination: he will identify signs of fungal development, examine the skin for other symptoms of fungal lesions of the body. As a rule, the doctor prescribes tests (scraping from the nails or skin) that confirm or refute a fungal disease.
If the specialist's suspicions are confirmed, additional tests may be prescribed - a general and biochemical study of blood, urine and liver tests. More information is needed to identify the cause of the infection, to detect all possible comorbidities. Diseases of the blood and liver impose restrictions on the use of certain drugs.
In advanced cases, a referral for a consultation with a mycologist is issued - if all toenails are damaged by onychomycosis, the process of onycholysis (destruction of plaques) has begun, some nails are already missing, the patient has previously been self- self-injured unsuccessfully medicate. A narrow profile specialist will prescribe additional tests to identify the type of pathogen. Specific medications will be most effective for a particular type of fungus.
General principles for the elimination of onychomycosis
For the treatment of mycosis of the nails, specialists prescribe several drugs at once. Between them:
- systemic antifungal agents;
- dosage forms acting locally;
- vitamin preparations;
- immunostimulants.
The doctor individually assesses the patient's lifestyle and hygiene culture. If necessary, you provide the appropriate recommendations needed to shorten the duration of therapy.
Medical treatment must be carried out very scrupulously. The patient should take oral medicines on time, strictly adhere to the treatment terms recommended by the doctor. Local remedies are used until the problem is completely eliminated. As a rule, use is continued for 1-2 months after the symptoms of onychomycosis disappear. The following are prescribed as topical preparations:
- paints;
- gel;
- ointments;
- solutions.
As auxiliary methods, salt and water baths are recommended, the removal of plates with the help of special softening ointments, surgical assistance is occasionally required.
Immunostimulants and vitamins are selected based on the results of biochemical analyzes. In some cases, nail fungus is the first sign of serious diseases of the internal organs or the hematopoietic system.
Don't throw away your doctor's phone number right after your first consultation. The success of onychomycosis therapy depends on controlling the healing process. The doctor's consultations and tests will be repeated several times during the therapeutic course (up to 1 year). They will need to be resumed immediately after regrowth of the modified nail plate, one month after full recovery. In order not to complicate the treatment process, the patient should refuse decorative varnish, nail extensions.