The first symptoms and signs of toenail fungus

Fungus is an infectious disease and most often affects the nails or the skin of the feet.You can get infected very easily;danger lurks almost everywhere.Since fungus is basically an infection, it lives mainly in public places.To eliminate the possibility of infection, it is important to know how the pathology is transmitted to humans.

How does infection occur?

This disease always starts because of a humid environment.The main reason will be constant sweating on the feet.Statistics show that large concentrations of parasites are observed in public places, such as saunas, baths, swimming pools, etc.It is impossible to destroy pathogens by drying shoes or feet.

When wondering how contagious the fungus is, it can be said that the pathology passes easily from person to person.It is almost impossible to insure against such diseases.Many pathogens are found in public places where people walk barefoot.This means that if a healthy person steps barefoot on the surface where an infected person previously stood, in the presence of a provoking factor, the disease will begin to develop immediately.

Fungus is very resistant to various destructive factors, so it remains on the surface for a long time.On the coast, fungi are less common, because salt water destroys pathogens, however, the risk of infection still remains.Remember to always wear only your own indoor slippers, socks and shoes.

The first signs of nail fungus and its symptoms

Foot mycosis is always in the developmental stage, so the first signs of toenail fungus can be noticed even in the early stages if you pay close attention to the condition of your body.Different fungal stages differ in their characteristics.If the first stage of the disease can still be dismissed for not caring about yourself, then the second will clearly make themselves felt.Let's look at the symptoms that appear in the early stages:

1. small dots appear on healthy nails, which differ in their shade from the rest of the plate;
2. over time, the points begin to grow and turn into white spots and stripes;
3. then the spots become large and the nail plate loses its shine;
4. the plate acquires a yellow color, sometimes it turns blue or green.

How to determine pathology at home

If the nail changes color and becomes loose, this does not mean that it has been affected by fungus.How does toenail fungus start?To determine fungal infection at home, iodine and potassium permanganate are used.

1. Potassium permanganate.The procedure is quite simple and does not require much free time.Pour warm water into a bowl and add potassium permanganate to make the solution weak.Place your feet in the basin and wait 10 minutes.At this time, the healthy nail plate will turn brown, while the one affected by the fungus will remain unchanged.
2. Iodine.Unfortunately, this medicine does not detect that there are fungal pathogens on the feet.But iodine will show the exclusion of other types of fungi, including pityriasis versicolor.If redness, peeling, etc.visible around the nail, treat this area with iodine.Healthy tissue will not darken, but affected tissue will acquire a slightly darker shade.

Treatment

Treatment for toenail fungus begins with its diagnosis.First, the dermatologist conducts a visual examination, and then prescribes laboratory tests.Do not forget that you cannot stop the treatment after the first improvement, because the fungus is very resistant, so the disease develops again.

Local therapy

Creams, ointments, lotions, sprays, and medical varnishes are used as local preparations.Such drugs relieve symptoms well and destroy superficial lesions.This product is actively used in childhood and pregnancy, because it is completely safe.Local therapy is especially effective in the early stages of pathology.

Medicines

Taking medication adds effectiveness to local fungal treatment.The tablets penetrate the blood and kill the fungus from within the body.But this method has some significant drawbacks.First, the drugs have some contraindications, and secondly, they have side effects.It is impossible to take such a drug in all cases.However, remedies are the only solution that will help in further cases.To increase the effectiveness of treatment, local medicines, medicines and traditional medicines are used simultaneously.

Laser treatment

Laser therapy procedures are gaining popularity.This technique has been implemented recently, and its effectiveness has been proven.Laser therapy has the following advantages:

• Treatment is safe;the beam only treats the affected tissue.After the event, only healthy tissue remains.
• The procedure is painless and the patient tolerates it well.
• Significant improvement after the first session.
• To achieve a positive result, about 4 procedures are enough.

The use of lasers frees patients from taking dangerous drugs and long treatments.

Surgery

In some cases, complete removal of the affected nail is necessary.Surgery is done to completely stop the spread of the infection.This procedure can increase the effectiveness of the use of local medicines.Nail removal can be done using a special compound.It is important for experts to be careful.So that the substance does not come into contact with the skin, otherwise it will cause a chemical burn.

Keratolytic plasters can help remove the nail plate.This product will soften the nail well for easy removal.Plaster is used more popularly because it has a dense texture.In this way the doctor reduces the chance of the substance coming into contact with the skin.The patch softens nails in 2 days, other products last 4 days.

Therapy for the advanced form

If the toenail fungus is at an advanced stage, do not despair;just follow these rules:

1. Find out and remove the source of the infection.
2. Always disinfect shoes or completely change all pairs.Buy a spray for shoes with an antifungal effect.
3. Update your socks.
4. Pass all the necessary tests and follow the treatment regimen prescribed by the dermatologist.
5. Follow all dietary restrictions.

Therapy at this stage should be carried out comprehensively.In addition to local drugs, they include effective drugs that act on the fungus from the inside, and also use traditional medicine.With the latter you need to be careful and take into account any allergic reaction to one or another component.

Various forms of mycosis

Foot fungus is divided into several types, which depend on the pathogen.Among these types it is worth noting:

• Rubromycosis.Symptoms of this type are peeling skin, dry skin, excessive sweating, cracked and broken nails.
• Athlete's foot.The fungus destroys the nail, destroying the keratin in it.This type of fungus is very difficult to cure;it is resistant to low temperatures, antiseptics, drying and other manipulations.Fungi can reproduce for a long time.Signs of this form are redness of the skin, severe itching, peeling, and peeling of the base of the nail.
• Candidiasis.This disease is caused by several types of fungi.The nail plate on the 3rd and 4th finger is affected.The initial stage is characterized by mild inflammation.After this, swelling occurs, changes in shape and thickness lead to the fact that the cuticle begins to be rejected.After such a process, the fungus enters the bed itself and spreads throughout the nail area.In this case, the development of onycholysis begins.

Disease prevention

Doctors and scientists say that there are about one and a half million species of mushrooms in the world.Only half of them have been studied, and the selection of treatment for them is quite complicated.The ideal solution is simply laser therapy, which will have a good effect on any type of fungus.

To avoid infection with this unpleasant disease, it is important to follow the rules of prevention.Measures to prevent pathology are quite difficult, but do not require financial costs.There are 2 main ways to protect yourself from athlete's foot:

1. maintain personal hygiene and be careful in public places;
2. prevention with the help of special medicines.

If you like to visit common places such as bath houses, saunas or swimming pools, make sure you wash your feet clean as soon as you get home.Also, dry your feet, because this fungus is very strong, and it really likes a moist environment.Buy socks made only of cotton fabric.This material absorbs moisture well, which is released when the feet start to sweat.When your feet sweat a lot in closed shoes, remove them periodically if possible.

If you go to the store to buy shoes, bring your own shoes or socks from home;you may not try on shoes on your bare feet or use public shoes.Perform regular foot care such as pedicures and other treatments.Do not share sanitary items.You must have your own towel.Well, if someone in your house has been infected with athlete's foot, avoid contact with him in every possible way and prepare the patient with separate household items.