Some tips on how to identify toenail fungus and not confuse it with other diseases

A third of people in the world have stratification and collapse of nails, turbidity of the plate.

This disease is called onychomycosis or nail fungus. It can start at any age, spread instantly and adapt well to different conditions.

Reasons for the formation of onychomycosis

Fungal infections are relatively easy. Infection can be found atpublic showers, beaches and pools.There is a high risk of contracting onychomycosis from infected loved ones and relatives if household items are shared.

There are the following prerequisites that trigger the entry of pathogens into the body, in short, the cause of the appearance of fungi:

• small skin lesions on the feet (corns, corns, small cracks and abrasions) that occur due to tight shoes;
• weak immunity due to inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• vascular disease, the function of internal organs is impaired, which leads to difficulties with blood circulation in the legs;
• violating safety precautions, i. e. , going to public places without shoes, poor foot hygiene, trying on other people's shoes;
• ignore the heavy sweat and diaper rash on the legs.

Important!

Onychomycosis starts on the thumb, and then the virus can develop on the little finger.

What diseases can be a prerequisite?

The risk group includes people whose skin does not breathe due to tight shoes all day. This includes representative work expertise.

There are the following diseases that can be a prerequisite:

• diabetes mellitus group I and II;
• phlebeurysm;
• leg deformities;
• blockage and blockage of blood vessels.

Today, various creams and varnishes are often offered for treatment, however, they are useless, because the cause may be due to internal diseases.

Type of infection

In total there are more than half a thousand species of fungibring trouble. There is no single classification.

The only thing is that there are two important signs by which the disease is distinguished. This is the localization and type of pathogen.

Important!

The infection can be in any part of the nail, and this is the main symptom of the disease. Externally, the affected plate changes based on the localization of the virus.

Types of pathogens

There are different disease-causing agents, each with its own characteristics. This is important to consider when developing a treatment plan. The most common pathogens are:

• Dermatophytes- these are trichophyton red and mentagrophytes, flaky epidermophyton and so on. When infected with such a fungus, yellowish or gray spots are formed, the remaining part of the plate becomes cloudy, and the free edge changes shade. In general, the entire surface changes and eventually moves away from the bed.
• Mold. This type is relatively harmless. It does not penetrate the inner layer of the nail, therefore it only changes the plate to a dark, swampy, gray, yellowish, brownish color. Such a shade can affect the surface both in part and in its entirety.
• Yeast from the genus Candida. They thin the nails and contribute to their exfoliation. Often, because of this pathogen, a white form of the disease is formed, characterized by inflammation of the cuticle. They can cause severe pain and purulent discharge can be observed. If left untreated, the nail will become thinner, turn brown and completely pull away from the bed.

Location of the disease on the arms, legs

The main forms of onychomycosis:

1. side.There is an infection of the nail on the side. The color becomes gray, yellowish and brownish. Plates begin to become cloudy, crumble and peel off.
2. Distal.This is the most common type of fungus. The infection starts from the free edge of the nail. The plate changes color to yellow, brown or gray. The longer it takes, the greater the loss. On the plate, delamination, collapse and cloudiness begin. In this case, hyperkeratosis appears under the nail, and if the entire nail is affected, then tissue dystrophy is formed.
3. proximal.This form involves damage to the cuticle, which swells, becomes inflamed, reddens and changes its shape and structure. As a result, the roller is separated from the plate, and the nail collapses, fades and changes shape. If the disease is neglected, the plate may collapse completely.
4. White surface.It appears, as a rule, on the thumb, on others - occasionally. Externally, it appears in the form of white spots located on the entire surface of the nail. Further, the disease develops and spreads to the keratin tissue. Spots can change color - from milky to green or yellow. The plate structure is made spongy and loose. If this form is not treated, then the nail can completely collapse.
5. Dystrophy is total.It covers the entire surface of the nail. This is the advanced stage of the distal or proximal fungus. The plate thickens, changes its shape to an unnatural one, and finally degenerates completely.

Photo mycosis on nails

Symptoms of mycosis

After the infection has occurred, the fungus needs time to settle down. First, the disease affects the big toe, destroying the nail plate. Damage is indicated by signs such as:

• thickening.The plate becomes thicker due to strong keratinization. In advanced cases, this complicates treatment significantly.
• Color change.In a healthy state, the nail is translucent, and translucent capillaries give it a pink color. And the infected change its shade to black, brown and yellow. A gap forms under the plate where microbes and other pathogens develop.
• collapsedWith incomplete treatment or its absence, the fungus begins to penetrate into the deeper layers of the plate. As a result, it collapses and collapses. If you do not carry out therapy, then onychomycosis becomes chronic. Because of this, the immune system becomes weak, allergies begin, and problems with internal organs begin.

How to independently determine, recognize the disease?

The fungus first affects one leg, then the infection moves to the second. There is no need to delay this disease, if you yourself are in doubt and cannot determine the virus, then be sure to consult a doctor.

You can diagnose it yourself at home using certain methods.

Find out with potassium permanganate

There is an express method that involves soaking the feet in a solution of potassium permanganate. At the same time, potassium permanganate stains healthy nails brown, and infected ones remain light.

The procedure is simple and does not take much time. A little potassium permanganate is added to a bowl of warm water. The solution should not be strong. Feet or hands are placed in the liquid and wait about 10 minutes. This method is completely harmless. It should not be used only if there is an allergic reaction to potassium permanganate.

Effect with iodine

Iodine is also often used to identify nail fungus. But it does not indicate the presence of pathogens. It can help eliminate other fungi, such as pityriasis versicolor.

When redness and peeling appear on the skin near the nails, they are treated with iodine. Healthy skin does not darken under the alcohol solution, and the area affected by lichen will be very dark in color.

How to diagnose?

Today, various effective diagnostic methods are offered, perhaps the most reliable way is to take a test for nail fungus:

• Microbiological diagnostics.Microscopy is the most common method used to detect fungi and determine their type. It allows you to detect the infection only in the structure of the nail plate or skin tissue. Taking biomaterials involves scraping infected cells from the area where the pathogen resides.

  In the final and intermediate stages, mycosis spores, yeast cells and mycelial threads are found in the sample. Such diagnostics make it possible to establish the accumulation and type of pathogens. The procedure itself lasts from 2 days to a month.

• Correlated immunosorbent assay. Such an analysis is designed to identify the fungus that has affected both nails and internal organs. The difference is that venous blood is needed to detect the disease, which is taken in the morning or 4 hours after eating. No special preparation is required for analysis.
• PCR test. Polymerase chain reaction is the best diagnostic method for infectious diseases. It has several advantages, such as speed, higher accuracy and the ability to take any tissue sample. A characteristic of the method is considered to be a narrow focus. That is, for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, it is necessary to know exactly the place of localization. PCR tests can reveal both the type of fungus and its concentration in the body.
• Luminous study. Such a diagnosis is based on the transillumination of the skin affected by the pathological microflora with an ultraviolet lamp. When examining patients, Wood's lamp is used, which emits ultraviolet light. Thanks to him, the products of important activities began to shine brightly. The type of pathogen affects the light shade.

How to distinguish mycosis from bruises and other diseases?

At first, onychomycosis is easily confused with other diseases, such as lichen, nail fungus, or psoriasis.

It can be distinguished by the darkening of the nail plate, the formation of yellow spots and stripes that become larger over time and penetrate deep into the nail.

Compared to psoriasis, onychomycosis develops smoothly. He gradually changed the shape of the plate so that it came off the bed. It distinguishes it from injuries, psoriasis, lichen and eczema, the presence of pain and bad smell.

Hygiene rules

The best cure for fungus is prevention. Simple precautions can help prevent infection. First of all, it is needed by people who visit beaches, public pools, saunas and so on. In such places, you should always use individual towels and wear light slates.

If your feet sweat a lot, then you need to treat them in a special way, of which there are many today. It is not recommended to wear shoes that are too tight or to use other people's shoes. When trying on shoes in a store, you should wear shoe covers or socks. Make sure you monitor the cleanliness of your feet and hands, and wipe them dry after washing.

When one of the family members is infected with fungus, he should have separate washcloths and towels. After he visits the bath, it must be treated with an antimicrobial agent. Patient wipes should be treated regularly with a 5% chloramine solution, and clothes and towels should be boiled with washing powder.

If there is a suspicion of infection, then the leg or arm should be dipped in hot water and held for about 10. The fungus dies quickly at a temperature of +50 ° C. Then these places are smeared with antifungal ointment.

Conclusion

Onychomycosis is a dangerous and unpleasant disease, so it is important to monitor your toenails and fingernails and make sure you follow preventive measures. If there are suspicious symptoms, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.