This article will talk about such an unpleasant, but, alas, quite common phenomenon as toenail fungus. The symptoms and causes of this disease are known to medical science and are easily diagnosed at all stages. However, it can only be detected if you pay close attention to your health. How to identify toenail fungus? How to treat it? Are the advertised ointments effective?
What causes fungus to form on nails?
Nail fungus is a fairly common disease. The disease spreads especially successfully in places with temperate and tropical climates, that is, where it is humid and warm. However, paradoxically, residents of cold countries very often suffer from nail fungus. This is due to the fact that in harsh climates you constantly have to wear warm shoes and socks. The foot sweats, the sock gets wet and the person is forced to remain in this state for a long time without the possibility of changing his shoes. This is the best way to promote nail fungus growth. Before we talk about how to identify toenail fungus, let's find out who is most susceptible to this disease.
Nail mycosis as an occupational disease
At risk are people whose skin on their feet cannot breathe during the day due to tight shoes. These are miners, power plant workers, gardeners and representatives of other working professions. You can "harvest" the mushroom while working in a laundry, swimming pool, hotel or restaurant.
What diseases can serve as a prerequisite
Often, not only representatives of the above professions suffer from this disease, but also people who have diabetes mellitus of group 1 or 2. In addition, a prerequisite for the formation of nail fungus may be deformation of the feet, varicose veins. Among the causes of this infection is insufficient nutrition of the nail due to blockage or obstruction of the blood vessels. This is why the creams advertised today, as well as nail polishes supposedly designed to save you from fungus, will be completely useless in the fight against the disease. After all, it is often caused by internal disorders, and external influence will not eliminate the problem.
Who is at risk?
A few decades ago, nail fungus was diagnosed mostly in older people. However, every year the number of patients suffering from nail fungus increases, and the disease itself becomes younger.
Official data suggests that nail fungus develops two to three times more often in men. However, it is women who turn to the dermatologist much more often for this problem. Representatives of the fair sex are more concerned about their health and do not find anything shameful in consulting a doctor.
Next we will see why it is so important to get advice on treating fungus from a dermatologist, and we will also talk about how to identify fungus on nails and what symptoms it presents at each stage of its development.
What do fungus on nails look like?
This disease is not fatal, but, of course, it is necessary to get rid of it. Fortunately, it is not difficult for anyone to recognize the onset of the disease. How to identify fungus on feet? Tips are provided below. First of all, take a closer look at your nails.
The first thing you should pay attention to is this nail color. The nail affected by the fungus becomes yellow and dull. Depending on the stage of the disease, the edge of the nail plate, the base or the entire nail may be affected.
Pay attention to the thickness of the nail
When answering the question of how to identify nail fungus, changes in the nail plate should also be mentioned. Despite the fact that due to the disease the nail becomes thinner, visually and in sensations it seems to become thicker and swell.
How to identify fungus on nails? To detect the presence of an infection, visual examination of the nail plate is not sufficient. Mix potassium permanganate and water in a ratio of 1 to 5, soak your nails in the resulting solution for half a minute. A healthy nail will stain and turn brown. Part of the affected plate will remain white.
Stages of the disease
The disease occurs in four stages. The sooner you start treatment, the better your chances of getting rid of nail fungus forever.
The first stage is characterized by damage to the edge of the nail. As mentioned above, the color of the plate changes and bumps appear. The nail grows out of poor quality, hollow, and then breaks and crumbles.
A sign of the second phase will be an increase in the affected area. Also, it should be noted that sometimes the second phase can begin as if bypassing the first. Damage to the nail plate will begin not from the edge, but at the base of the nail. Treating nail fungus in the second stage will be more problematic than in the first.
How to identify third stage toenail fungus? In medicine it is called white superficial fungus and it seems that the entire plaque is affected. It has a dense white color and crumbles heavily at the edges.
The fourth stage is called total dystrophic fungus. The nail has a yellowish-grey color, emits a particular unpleasant odor and is very crumbly. In the fourth stage, you can often see a bare part of the skin under the broken nail, as it has grown due to the fungus and in most cases breaks.
The reason for visiting a dermatologist is often the independent identification of the fourth stage of nail fungus. You should not look for advice on forums or on the Internet on how to effectively treat nail fungus. It is better to consult a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease.
What to expect when you go to the doctor?
Probably each of us is afraid of doctors. However, don't be afraid to consult a dermatologist if you suspect you have nail fungus. The specialist will carry out an external examination and will also carry out a scraping of the upper keratinized layer of the nail to send it to the laboratory for diagnosis. A detailed analysis will reveal what caused the disease, determine the type of fungus, and also tell the doctor what type of treatment should be prescribed.
Nail fungus treatment takes a long time. It can last from a month to three. After the course of treatment, you will need to get tested again, even if the above symptoms are not observed.
A few words about effective treatment
So now we know how to identify fungus on toenails. The methods are given above. Now it is worth saying a few words about the treatment that you can do yourself. The drug based on naftifine has proven to be quite effective. However, it is not necessary to use an ointment, but a solution. This medicine can also be used in case of foot fungus.
How to use the solution? If you have a fungus in the first stage of the disease, lubricate the surface of the affected nail twice a day. Nails must be dry and well washed. In the later stages of the disease, you cannot do without taking pills. However, even in this case, the use of the solution with naftifine should not be stopped: this will increase the effect of the drugs.
Before applying the product, carefully clean the surface of the affected nail with a manicure device. However, you need to be extremely careful. After completing the manipulations, it is necessary to apply a solution containing the active ingredient naftifine to the cleaned area. Repeat 2 times a day.
People who are familiar with this infectious disease also speak positively about kits for removing fungal infections from the nail. Which of these products to use, a nail removal solution or kit, is up to you. But without the help of a dermatologist, getting rid of nail fungus forever and completely will not be possible.
To summarize
The article answers the question of how to identify toenail fungus. However, it is worth remembering that self-medication does not always lead to complete recovery. If you notice any changes in the thickness or color of your nails, you should consult a doctor.
According to the degree of damage to the nail plate, the fungus can be divided into four stages. If in the first stage the disease does not cause alarm, since it does not noticeably deform the nail plate, then in the fourth stage you can easily lose your nails. Don't hesitate to contact a dermatologist.
It is strongly recommended not to self-medicate by giving in to advertising exhortations about the effectiveness of a particular drug. Cream or any other product applied to the nail plate from the outside will not eliminate the causative agent of the disease and, therefore, will be ineffective. As a result, you will only delay the treatment process by masking the manifestation of the disease. It is also worth remembering that nail fungus not only looks unsightly, but is also a kind of beacon indicating the presence of disorders in the body.