According to statistics, almost half of all appeals to a dermatologist, one way or another, is associated with fungal diseases. You can pick up the infection when visiting the pool, sauna, having visited the beach or visiting the master's slippers.
Learn everything about how to recognize the fungus of nail fungus on the legs without scrapings and the use of other diagnostic methods - the symptoms of the manifestations of onychomycosis of the initial and chronic stage of the disease.
Many do not even suspect that the banal sweating of the legs, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, which more than half of the population of our planet suffers, is one of the main symptoms of nail fungus. This ailment is at risk of getting sick who at least a little neglecting personal hygiene.
The fungus of nails lies in wait everywhere, especially in places of public use. And the worst thing is that nail fungus is a fairly insidious disease: its treatment is long, and not always successful, since mycosis is inclined to relapses.
In order to recognize the disease in time and begin its treatment, you should know all the signs of the fungus on the legs.
How does the disease spread?
The infection is caused by parasitic fungi. An ideal environment for their reproduction and development is increased humidity in combination with a warm atmosphere. It is generally accepted that the main places where the risk of infection with nail fungus is high is baths, saunas, water parks, pools, manicure salons, etc.
However, the statistics completely refute these statements: the nail fungus can be picked up at home through common things (towels, shoes, clothes, rugs, shower or bathroom), if one of the family members already has this problem, or at a party, for example, through slippers, kindly proposed by the owner (and he may not even suspect the presence of a disease).
But what factors affect the development of a fungal disease? Such fundamental moments are noted, leading to infection with onychomycosis:
- decrease in immunity;
- injury of the nail plate;
- violation of blood circulation in the lower extremities, which can occur when wearing tight shoes;
- pathologies of the feet of anatomical nature;
- obesity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- increased sweating.
In order to at least partially protect yourself, you should use exclusively your things, carefully treat the bath and shower with antiseptics, use a personal towel, regularly clean and wash the carpets, disinfect shoes. And in order not to miss the moment favorable for the treatment of mycosis (after all, everyone knows that therapy is most effective at the initial stage of the development of the disease), you need to know the first signs of nail fungus.
Having recognized the first signs of nail fungus, you should immediately contact a specialist who will prescribe the optimal treatment regimen.
How do different types of onychomycosis manifest?
3 types of onychomycosis are determined, each of which manifests itself in its own signs.
You can determine the presence of a fungus on the nails yourself, but only a specialist can establish an accurate diagnosis. To do this, you need to visit the clinic, take to analyze the scraping of a sore nail or skin located around it. Additionally, a dermatologist prescribes a microscopic or cultural study.
Signs of fungus by pathogen of the disease
The success of the treatment of nail fungus depends on how correctly the pathogen is diagnosed. This is explained by the fact that the disease causes not one type of fungi, but several, and each of them is sensitive to certain drugs. That is, if one type of fungus is resistant to one drug, then the other pathogen dies from this product.
More often, nail fungus cause:
- yeast;
- dermatophytes;
- mold.
If the cause of the nail fungus became yeast, then it is almost impossible to identify the disease immediately. Signs of the fungus on the nails of the legs in this case are the following (they appear after a long period of time): peeling of the nail plate and light itching of the skin near the nail (itching may be absent). Failure infection with yeast occurs in 4-4. 5% of cases.
Dermatophytes affect the nails of a person much more often than the previous pathogen - this is 94. 5% of all cases of infection of nails with a fungus. Dermatophytes are of three types, each of them is manifested in different ways:
The last type of fungus is mold. Its pathogen is molds. This disease is found in only 1% of cases. A fungus of this species develops more often in HIV-infected people.
Other symptoms of fungal nail infection
Often at the beginning of the disease, obvious signs of fungal nail damage are absent. However, to be careful, you can notice some changes in the structure of the nail and its appearance.
As mentioned earlier, longitudinal or round whitish spots can appear on the nail plate, the nail can become wave -like, while its smoothness and brilliance are lost.
Progressing, the disease more and more destroys the nail plate: first its shade changes, then the surface of the nail becomes scaly, it thickens or thicken, relaxes, breaks. The color of the nail depends on which type of fungus became the causative agent of the infection.
In addition to the main signs of onychomycosis, there are others:
- the fragility of the edges of the nail plate or its entire surface;
- distortion of the shape of the nail, scaly structure of its structure;
- Blacation of the nail;
- Cutting nails under the skin;
- dysbiosis, drowsiness, general weakness;
- detachment of the plate from the nail bed, which leads to the formation of a plaque under the nail of a whitish or yellow shade with an unpleasant odor;
- itching, cracking, burning of the skin in the immediate vicinity of the affected nail;
- Dysbiosis, drowsiness, general weakness.
Any deviation in the appearance of the nails on the legs should be alert, as this may indicate the development of nail fungus. The first action in this case is a trip to a dermatologist who will confirm or refute your fears. If this is not done right away, the disease will progress.
At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this disease. However, in addition to purely aesthetic problems and discomfort, the fungus can cause serious complications, up to the purulent infection of the affected areas and even the development of gangrene.
Therefore, do not tighten with treatment, take measures at once, as the disease was detected.
What does the nail fungus look like
Every third person on Earth came across a problem such as stratification and cringing of nails, clouding of the plate - this is onychomycosis. The disease affects various age groups. The fungus of nails on the legs (photos are presented below), quickly spreads and adapts to new conditions. We will consider in more detail the main factors of the occurrence, types and methods of treating the fungus.
What is nail fungus?
Onychomycosis is a pathology that destroys the nail plates. The fungus eats keratin - the construction basis of the nail. The infection falls into the intercellular space and begins its division. In the advanced stages, pathology is able to affect the skin of the feet, the intercal zone, heels.
Do not start the fungus and treat it immediately
Causes of nail fungus
An infected with onychomycosis is quite easy. The infection can lurk on the beach, in the public soul, pool. A high probability of catching a fungus from infected relatives or acquaintances (using common lives).
There are several main prerequisites that can provoke the ingress of the virus into the human body:
- A weak immune system - a decrease in protective forces due to infectious or inflammatory diseases;
- vascular pathologies (blockage of veins) violations of the work of internal organs (diabetes), which lead to problems with blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- minor damage to the skin on the feet (abrasions, microcracks, corns, corns) that arose as a result of wearing tight shoes;
- ignoring diaper rash and intensive sweating of the lower extremities;
- Violation of caution measures - trying on someone else's shoes, visiting public places without slippers, and neglect of hygiene of the legs.
Types of nail fungus
Onychomycosis can provoke several types of fungi. Dermatophytes, for example, appear in the form of clouding of the nail. There is a formation of yellow spots along the edges or in the middle of the plate. In addition, longitudinal stripes along the affected area can be observed.
In the late stages of nail fungus, surgical intervention may be required
The yeast fungus provokes deformation of the nail plate. She is very sophisticated and begins to move away from her place, becomes grayish. The metabolism in injured cells worsens, furrows appear on the nail roller. In addition, inflammation, edema, redness appear on the adjacent epidermis, the disappearance of the nail skin is observed.
Mold bacteria can injure the nail plate if there are already diseases that provoke nail nutrition disorders. In this case, there is also a clouding of the plate, a change in its color (from light yellow and greenish to brown and even black).
To find out the cause and pathogen of negative changes in the skin and nails, you must contact a specialist. An independent determination of the disease and its treatment without consulting a doctor can be fraught with consequences.
Folk methods
Against fungal infection at an early stage of development, non -traditional agents can be used. The following are the most effective:
- Every day in the morning and before bedtime, until the symptoms completely disappeared, apply iodine to the nail plates hit by a mushroom;
- Mix 3 tablespoons of water with a teaspoon of glycerol, vinegar and iodine. The composition of the nails for 10 days;
- Mix 9% vinegar with water in a proportion of 1 to 8. Dear the legs in the resulting liquid for 20 minutes. The procedures are repeated every other day. There should be 7-10 of them in total;
- Put a raw egg in the container and pour 9% vinegar. After the complete dissolution of the shell, remove the remaining film, mix the vinegar with the egg. The solution is treated with nails infected with fungus twice a day for 3 weeks;
- Dissolve 4 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in 2 liters of water. In the container, lower the feet, keep them for 20 minutes. The course of treatment is 10 days;
- To moisten a cotton swab in peroxide, attach it to the nail, affected by a fungal infection. Before the procedure, the legs should be steamed in a bath with soda. On top, the compress is wrapped with cellophane. Keep for an hour. Therapy lasts 2 weeks;
- Moisten a cotton pad into 20% alcohol tincture of propolis, attach to an infected nail. Keep the compress until completely dry. The procedure is carried out twice a day. Treatment continue until the symptoms of the disease are completely disappeared;
- Clean the clove of garlic, cut it into the floors. To wet into salt and thoroughly grate the nail to them. Procedures to do twice a day until the features of the fungus are completely disappeared;
- Add 2 teaspoons of ammonia to a glass of water. In the solution, moisten a cotton pad, apply it on the nails affected by the fungus, leave it overnight. The course of therapy is 7 days;
- Grind the onion thoroughly until the gruel is formed. Apply the product to infected nail plates for half an hour. Treatment is carried out daily until complete recovery;
- Grind mint, sage and chamomile in equal proportions. Pour medicinal plants into the toe and put it on the night. Every day, grass must be changed to fresh ones. The tool is used as an addition to other methods;
- Take in equal quantities tea tree oil and celandine. To soak them a cotton pad, place it on an infected nail for 45 minutes. The course of treatment is 20 days. The tool is not permissible to use during pregnancy;
- In 500 ml of water, brew 6 teaspoons of nettle leaves. In a decoction, moisten cotton wool, place it on the nail plates with onychomycosis. Continue the treatment until the symptoms are completely disappeared.
All folk remedies can be used only after consulting with a dermatologist. Many of them are able to provoke allergic reactions. It is easier to cure onychomycosis by combining non -traditional drugs with drugs.
At the initial stage, the fungus on the legs looks like almost invisible grooves or white spots. Often a person learns about the presence of a fungal infection only during a visit to a dermatologist. This is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to recognize the disease during this period. If you start therapy in time, then the disease is quickly cured.