Onychomycosis is a dangerous disease, as many people do not recognize the first symptoms and turn to a specialist when the disease is active. At this stage, it is impossible not to notice the signs, the nails begin to crumble, flake off, inflammation spreads to the skin, nearby areas become inflamed. To take timely action, you need to know what toenail fungus looks like.
Nearly two -thirds of the world’s population has to deal with manifestations of fungal infections. Onychomycosis or nail damage is not just an aesthetic problem; at a later stage, the disease begins to cause physical discomfort.
It is difficult to cure onychomycosis, the disease responds better to treatment if you start taking measures at an early stage. And for this, you need to know what kind of nails are affected by the fungus.
Description of the disease
The fungal disease that attacks the nails is called onychomycosis. The fungus penetrates deep into the plate and destroys the keratin - the basis of the nail plate. Fungal spores enter the space between cells and begin to multiply rapidly.
If the infection is not treated, then the disease affects the nail, and if there is not adequate therapy, it will spread to nearby skin areas.
Infection
Fungal spores are found in the environment. They are very resistant to external influences, spores do not die even at temperatures below zero. However, active fungal breeding can only be done in hot and humid environments, therefore, people are at greatest risk when visiting public baths, swimming pools, gyms.
If among the visitors there is a person infected with onychomycosis, then on the thing he comes in contact with, fungal spores remain present, which remain active for a long time. And these spores affect the skin and nails of healthy people. To "catch" the infection, it is enough to walk barefoot on the floor, where there are fungal spores.
Advice! Wooden surfaces are very dangerous - floors, grilles in the bathroom, benches. The fact is that the tree has a porous structure, and even a thorough disinfection can not destroy the spores of pathogenic microorganisms.
But, of course, not every "encounter" with a fungus ends in disease. In most cases, the immune system successfully fights the infection. But if the body becomes weak or the person does not adhere to basic hygiene measures, then the likelihood of onychomycosis increases.
Factors that contribute to the development of this disease
In order for a fungus to begin its licensing activities, certain conditions must be met. Often, the elderly are prone to this disease, they have a weakened immune system, therefore, onychomycosis in the elderly is observed more often than in young people. Risk factors:
- not complying with hygiene rules, wearing shoes that are too tight, clothes and shoes made of synthetic materials;
- the presence of damage to the skin, even small scratches, is the "gateway" to infection;
- endocrine system pathology;
- chronic diseases that weaken the immune system;
- long -term use of medications, especially hormones, cytostatics and antibiotics.
Advice! You can get onychomycosis in a beauty salon by doing a manicure or pedicure. If the master does not pay attention to the sterilization of the instrument, then the files from the cutter can be a source of infection.
Disease -causing agents
To date, about fifty types of fungi have been identified that can cause onychomycosis. For this reason, you cannot cure yourself. An effective drug for one type of nail fungus may not be useful if the disease is triggered by another type of pathogen.
The complexity of treatment lies in the fact that the infection is localized not on the surface of the nail, but under the nail plate. Therefore, the use of external drugs does not always give the expected effect. If left untreated, the disease will continue. Moreover, the more the disease is started, the harder it is to cure it.
Onychomycosis often appears on the feet. The infection can affect the toenails first, but over time it can spread to other nails. Fungus on the hands is more rare, but the disease should not be considered rare.
Clinic
Symptoms depend on the shape and extent of the lesion, therefore, it is impossible to clearly answer the question of how the fungus on the nails.
The most common case
The initial stage is called normotrophic. At this stage, the manifestations are dim, so that many patients do not notice it. Often, you can see the following signs:
- loss of transparency;
- appearance of yellowish spots, most often on the outer edges;
- sometimes there is a feeling that a "void" has formed between the nail and the nail.
These lesions are called distal-lateral and are the most common. If no treatment is done, then the process begins to run. Subungual keratosis appears. This phenomenon is characterized by increased growth of horny cells, as a result of which the nails become thicker.
Advice! Hyperkeratosis is a normal reaction of the nail to an infection. Moreover, the deeper the infection penetrates into the nail, the thicker the nail.
At a later stage, complete damage to the nail plate is observed, signs of dystrophy appear. Gradually, the matrix is also involved in the process - the place from which the nail grows. At this stage, even nail removal does not yield results, as the patient’s nail plate has already begun to grow.
Surface shape
In the early stages, whitish spots appear on the nails in this form. Over time, they grow, capturing the entire surface of the nail. The plate becomes loose, rough. If you scratch the nail with a hard object, then the scales will start to separate.
Advice! This form of fungal disease occurs only on the toes, most often on the big toe, more rarely on the little finger.
Subungual proximal
In this form, the affected nail looks like this:
- the tissues surrounding the nail become red and inflamed;
- roller swells, becomes sore;
- the cuticle begins to separate from the nail;
- Dystrophic changes in the nail appear, grooves first appear in the plate, then fragility appears, and at a later stage the plate disappears.
Variety of fungi
The manifestation of the disease also depends on the type of pathogen. Of course, it is accurate to determine the type of pathogen only after testing. External signs are also different, but still, symptoms are not diagnosed:
- Dermatofit. Fungi of the genus dermatophytes feed on keratin, that is, they "attack" the hair, nails and upper stratum corneum. About 40 types of fungi of this type are known, but onychomycosis causes only about a dozen types of pathogens. The cause of infection is a sick person, you can be infected through direct contact or when using common objects. Stripes and spots first appear on the affected nail, then the edges of the nail gradually turn yellow and gradually lag behind the nail bed. The larger the area of the place, the higher the level of attack.
- Yeast fungus. This is a pathology caused by fungi of the genus Candida. The causative agent of this type is the opportunist. That is, in a certain amount, the fungus is present on the surface of the skin and nails, but with a decrease in immunity, the fungus begins to multiply, causing inflammation. When the nail is damaged, the plate gradually becomes thinner, turns yellow, and then turns brown and is left behind the nail bed. With this type of infection, the nail folds are severely affected, turning red, swollen, and becoming sore.
Advice! Usually, fungal infections develop gradually. Often, the disease persists for years without entering an advanced stage. But when the nail plate is exposed to the yeast fungus, the disease develops rapidly.
- Reference. Infection caused by mold is localized at the top of the plate, without penetrating deep into the plate. Therefore, this type of onychomycosis is easier to treat than others. The first signs of damage are discoloration of the nail plate. Moreover, the nails acquire an improper color, it can turn green or black. In the early stages, dark spots appear on the nail, which gradually develop into spots, and over time, the entire plate changes color.
If onychomycosis is not treated, the pathogen migrates to the skin of the feet, causing skin mycosis. In this case, symptoms such as itching, cracks on the skin appear. It becomes painful for the patient to put on shoes and walk.
What should I do?
What should you do if you see signs of a fungal infection? The drugs themselves are not worth it. A dermatologist must be seen. The specialist will prescribe tests and make an accurate diagnosis. Parents of children need to be careful. Of course, in children, nail fungus is not observed too often, but, nevertheless, such diseases occur at any age.
Remember that the earlier treatment is started, the easier it is to overcome the disease. If the fungal infection begins to be treated at an early stage, then it is possible to do with the use of local remedies - ointments, solutions. But you must be treated continuously, for several weeks.
At an advanced stage, it is necessary to use not only ointments, but also drugs of systemic action, namely tablets. Such drugs are taken orally, from the gastrointestinal tract, the active substance is absorbed into the bloodstream, and carried throughout the body by the bloodstream. Therefore, the infection will be destroyed from within.
At any stage of the disease, it is very useful for strengthening the immune system. Immunomodulators, if necessary, will be prescribed by a specialist. And patients themselves need to set a rest regimen, sleep more, and walk every day. You also need to monitor your diet. The fungus's "favorite food" is sugar. Therefore, you need to minimize the amount of sweets in your diet as much as possible.
Therefore, it will be useful for everyone to know what kind of nail fungus on the hands and toes. Such knowledge will be able to help detect the signs of the disease in time and start treatment at an early stage. This will allow you to overcome the disease quickly and without the use of systemic medications that negatively affect the liver.