How to accurately recognize toenail fungus and when to start treatment?

Nowadays, not only women, but also most men take care of the beauty of their nails.But only healthy nails can be beautiful, so it will be useful for everyone to know how to recognize toenail fungus.The sooner a person notices the signs of the disease, the easier it will be to undergo treatment.But it will be difficult to cure an advanced form of onychomycosis.The disease often recurs and is difficult to treat.

Onychomycosis is a common disease.Most often, the fungus affects the toenails, but this disease can also appear on the fingers.Onychomycosis of the hands is particularly common in women.Signs of the disease on the toenails and fingernails are approximately the same.Symptoms depend on the type of pathogen and where the infection was introduced.

Species

How to identify fungus on toenails?This disease is quite insidious, since the symptoms depend on the type of pathogen causing the disease.There are several dozen varieties of fungi that can cause onychomycosis.But they can be divided into three groups, depending on the nature of the pathogen.

Yeast

This type of fungus most often affects the fingers, but can appear on the feet.The infected nail plate becomes loose and separates from the nail bed.In addition to the nail, the skin is also affected and the ridges surrounding the plaque become inflamed.They become red, painful, and in advanced stages, when you press the roller, white contents come out from underneath.

Dermatophytes

This type of filamentous fungus most commonly affects toenails.The disease manifests itself gradually.At the first stage, spots or stripes appear with a yellowish tint.At first, these spots are small, but they gradually grow and occupy the entire surface of the nail.

Mold

Molds are extremely common, but relatively rarely cause onychomycosis.When affected by this type of pathogen, nails change color.The spots have an unusual color - black, green, dirty gray.

Forms

The disease can present in several forms.Symptoms of the disease depending on the form of onychomycosis:

• Lateral-distal.This is the most common case;the first changes in the nail can be noticed in the growing part of the nail in one of the corners (sometimes in both corners at once).
• Proximal.In this case, the first changes appear at the inner edge of the nail.

• Superficial.Unlike previous forms, in the superficial type of onychomycosis, the pathogen does not penetrate deep into the plaque.The symptoms are unusual, spots appear in the center of the plate, the nail itself becomes looser, the entire surface begins to peel off and scales fall off from it.

Clinical manifestations

Fungal nail diseases do not cause discomfort at the first stage.The patient does not feel any pain or other unpleasant sensations.However, an attentive person may notice that the appearance of the nails has changed.Main signs of the disease:

• loss of natural shine, tarnishing;
• the appearance of spots or stripes, their color differs from the color of a healthy plate;
• grooves may appear on the surface;
• the plate can change shape;
• the nail may begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become thin and atrophic;
• the plaque peels off, begins to crumble and then lingers on the skin;

• in advanced stages, physical discomfort also appears, pain appears when applying pressure;
• when a secondary infection occurs, inflammation and suppuration may develop.

Advice!Onychomycosis can occur in isolation, but this disease is often accompanied by mycosis of the skin of the feet.Redness, diaper rash and cracks appear between the fingers.Feet begin to emit an unpleasant odor.

Mushroom or not?

Unfortunately, fungal nail diseases do not have specific symptoms.A similar clinical picture can occur with other dermatological problems.For example, with psoriasis.To accurately find out whether there is a fungal disease of the fingernails or toenails, it is necessary to carry out laboratory tests.

For analysis, take a piece of nail (in distal form) or scrape the surface of the plaque.The material collection procedure is safe and painless.Then the biological material is delivered to the laboratory.

Microscopic examination reveals the presence of a fungal infection, but does not determine the type of pathogen.To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to place the collected material (nail particles) in a nutrient medium and favorable conditions.

Advice!The most favorable conditions for fungal growth are heat and humidity.

The analysis results will only be available after 5 days.During this time, the colony of fungi will become so large that it will be possible to determine the type of pathogen by its appearance.In addition, the study allows us to determine which antimycotic agents most effectively destroy this fungus.

To do this, filter paper is moistened with solutions of antifungal agents, after which they are applied to the fungal colonies.After a while, the paper is removed and they examine the places where the growth of microorganisms will be stopped most effectively.

Home methods

It happens that for some reason you cannot enter the laboratory.Is it possible to determine the presence of a fungal infection at home?Of course, home diagnostic methods are far from perfect;they cannot be compared to laboratory research methods.

However, even these simple methods, in most cases, can detect the presence of a fungal infection.Many people have a bottle of brown potassium permanganate crystals at home.A solution of this product has antiseptic properties and is used in medicine and gardening.

This solution will also help with home diagnosis of onychomycosis.To carry out a diagnosis, you must:

• prepare a strong dark purple solution in a small container;
• pour lukewarm water into a basin or other container in such quantity that you can completely immerse your nails in it;
• add the previously prepared strong solution drop by drop into the water, to obtain a soft lilac colored solution;

Advice!Never add dry crystals to your bath water.If the crystals do not dissolve, they can cause burns if they come into contact with the skin.

• immerse the limbs in the solution so that the nails are completely covered with the solution;

• hold for about ten minutes;
• then remove the limb from the solution and examine the nails, healthy nail plates will turn brown, patients will remain unchanged.

Advice!Before diagnosing the use of potassium permanganate, make sure that the potassium permanganate solution does not cause you to develop allergies.

How to avoid infections?

Everyone is at risk of getting onychomycosis, but some people are at risk.These are :

• the elderly;
• people who often come into contact with water (dishwashers, laundresses, etc.);
• patients with diabetes mellitus;
• patients with severely weakened immunity.

In addition, non-compliance with hygiene rules contributes to infection.In particular, use objects with the patient.Therefore, never wear someone else's shoes, use your own towel, never walk barefoot in public baths, wear rubber flip-flops.

The risk of contracting onychomycosis is highest in the following places:

• public places where people carry out water procedures - showers, baths, water parks, swimming pools;
• shoe stores;
• nail salons.

Additionally, you can easily become infected at home if one of your family members has onychomycosis.The use of active preventive and protective measures will help avoid infection and prevent the development of the disease.

Everyone should know the answer to the question of how to identify nail fungus.Knowing what a diseased nail looks like will help you notice negative changes in a timely manner.If onychomycosis is detected at an early stage, then it will be much easier to cure the disease.But at an advanced stage, the treatment will be difficult and long;treatment may take a year or more.