One of the most unpleasant diseases that appears suddenly and causes a lot of problems is nail fungus. Some treat it for years, others - just a few months. Because? This is because there is an important rule: if the symptoms of the nail fungus are detected at an early stage, the time for treatment will be significantly reduced.
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to recognize it immediately after infection. Fungal spores gradually "populate" the territory of the human skin, which is why it is necessary to pay attention to the slightest suspicious changes in the skin and nails, so as not to miss the first signs of this disease.
Causes and signs of foot fungal infection
Few 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, while not showing up in any way. For example, fungi of the genus Candida are normally present on the feet of every person. We are talking about conditionally pathogenic flora, which, under certain unfavorable conditions, provokes the development of the disease. What can serve as an impetus for the appearance of a mushroom?
- 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 non-healing ulcers and wounds.
- Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating of the skin. Since nail fungus feels great in a humid and warm environment, it is not difficult to recognize it on the skin of a person suffering from excessive sweating.
- Endocrine Disorders.
Onychomycosis is very easy to contract, 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 at the first manifestations, because the result of treatment directly depends on it. Conventionally, onychomycosis can be divided into several stages, each of which has a number of signs.
- Initial stage: the skin on the legs itches and flakes a little, the external manifestations of the fungus, as we are used to seeing in the photo, usually do not occur. You may feel unusually dry skin, 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 hit 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 over the surface of the skin and burst over time. At the site of the bursting bubble, an ulcer forms that does not heal for a long time.
- It is possible to determine the fungus on the toenails at one of the last stages, because the changes in the nail plate often begin after the appearance of itching and ulcers. The nail thickens considerably. You can see how much it flakes and the free edge crumbles. The color of the nail plate also changes: to yellow-green, brown or even black. It separates from the nail bed, exposing it.
Onychomycosis detected: what to do?
In case you notice the above manifestations on the feet, you should immediately visit a dermatologist, a mycologist - a specialist in the study of fungi or a podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in foot and nail problems). Surely, you will be prescribed an analysis for nail fungus to find out the 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 the 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, the doctor will prescribe a standard treatment regimen with antifungal drugs that 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 long since passed.
From the photo, you can easily determine that the disease is ongoing: the marigold is deformed, peels off the nail bed and has changed color, deep 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 taking vitamins. It is possible to supplement the complex therapy with recipes of traditional medicine: baths with herbal decoctions, sea salt and soda, treatment with a solution of vinegar, applications with garlic, pork fat and other ingredients.
In the most extreme case, calendula affected by onychomycosis is surgically removed or cut down in the office of a pedicure master (podiatrist) using a special bur.
Now you know how the fungus on the feet manifests itself, the causes of its appearance and how to deal with it. We hope this information has been useful to you.