A few tips on how to identify the fungus on the toenails and not confuse it with another disease

A third of people in the world have stratification and crumbling of nails, clouding of the plate.

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

Reasons for the formation of onychomycosis

Infection with a fungus is quite easy. The infection can be found inpublic showers, beaches and pools.There is a high risk of contracting onychomycosis from infected loved ones and relatives if household items are used together.

There are the following prerequisites that provoke the entry of the pathogen into the body, in short, the causes of the appearance of the fungus:

• 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 ailments, impaired functioning of internal organs, leading to difficulties with blood circulation in the legs;
• violated safety precautions, that is, going to public places without shoes, poor foot hygiene, trying on someone else's shoes;
• ignoring heavy sweating and diaper rash of the legs.

Important!

Onychomycosis begins on the thumb, and subsequently the virus can develop on the little finger.

What diseases can serve as a prerequisite?

The risk group includes people whose skin does not breathe due to tight shoes throughout the day. These include representatives of working specialties.

There are the following diseases that can serve as a prerequisite:

• diabetes mellitus I and II groups;
• phlebeurysm;
• foot deformity;
• obstruction and blockage of blood vessels.

Today, various creams and varnishes are often offered for treatment, however, they will be useless, since the cause may be caused by internal ailments.

Types of infection

In total there are more than half a thousand species of fungibringing problems. 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.

Type of pathogen

There are different causative agents of the disease, each of which has its own distinctive features. These are important to consider when developing a treatment plan. The most common pathogens are:

• Dermatophytes- this is trichophyton red and mentagrophytes, flaky epidermophyton and so on. When infected with such fungi, yellowish or grayish spots form, the remaining parts of the plate become cloudy, and the free edge changes shade. In general, the entire surface changes and eventually moves away from the bed.
• Molds. This type is relatively harmless. It does not penetrate into the deep nail layers, therefore it only changes the plates to a dark, marsh, gray, yellowish, brownish color. Such a shade can affect the surface both partially and entirely.
• Yeasts of the genus Candida. They thin the nail and contribute to its exfoliation. Often, because of this pathogen, a white form of the disease is formed, characterized by inflammation of the cuticle. They can cause intense pain and can be observed purulent discharge. If left untreated, the nail will become thinner, turn brown and completely move away from the bed.

Places of localization of the disease on the arms, legs

The main forms of onychomycosis:

1. Lateral.There is an infection of the nail on the sides. Its color becomes gray, yellowed and brownish. The plate begins to become cloudy, crumble and exfoliate.
2. Distal.This is the most common type of fungus. Infection starts from the free edge of the nail. The plate changes color to yellow, brown or grey. As time goes by, the loss gets bigger. On the plate, delamination, crumbling and clouding begin. In this case, hyperkeratosis appears under the nails, 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, blushes and changes its shape and structure. As a result, the roller is separated from the plate, and the nail crumbles, fades and deforms. With a neglected disease, the plate may completely fall apart.
4. White surface.It appears, as a rule, on the thumb, on others - occasionally. Outwardly, it manifests itself in the form of white spots that are located over the entire nail surface. Further, the disease progresses and spreads to keratinized tissues. Spots can change color - from milky to green or yellow. The structure of the plate 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 nail surface. This is an advanced degree of distal or proximal fungus. The plate becomes thick, changes its shape to an unnatural one, and eventually completely deteriorates.

Photo of mycosis on the nails

Symptoms of mycosis

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

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

How to independently determine, recognize the disease?

The fungus first affects one leg, then the infection passes to the second. It is not necessary to delay with this disease, if you yourself 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 immersing the feet in a solution of potassium permanganate. At the same time, potassium permanganate stains healthy nails brownish, and infected ones remain light.

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

Detect 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 nail, they are treated with iodine. Healthy skin does not darken under a solution of alcohol, and the area affected by lichen will become very dark in color.

How to diagnose?

Today, various effective diagnostic methods are offered, probably the most reliable way is to take tests for nail fungus:

• Microbiological diagnostics.Microscopy is the most commonly used method for detecting fungus and determining its type. It allows you to detect infection only in the structure of the nail plate or skin tissues. Taking a biomaterial involves scraping infected cells from the area where the pathogen is located.

  At the last and middle stages, mycosis spores, yeast cells and mycelial threads are found in the samples. Such diagnostics makes it possible to establish the accumulation and type of pathogen. The procedure itself lasts from 2 days to a month.

• Linked immunosorbent assay. Such an analysis is designed to identify fungi that have affected both the nail and internal organs. Its difference is that venous blood is required to detect the disease, which is taken in the morning or 4 hours after eating. No special preparation is required for the analysis.
• PCR test.Polymerase chain reaction is the best diagnostic method for infectious diseases. It has a number of advantages, such as speed, greater accuracy and the ability to take any tissue sample. A feature 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. A PCR test can reveal both the type of fungus and its concentration in the body.
• Luminescent study. Such a diagnosis is based on transillumination of skin affected by pathological microflora with an ultraviolet lamp. When examining a patient, a Wood's lamp is used, which emits ultraviolet rays. Thanks to her, the products of vital activity begin to glow brightly. The type of pathogen affects the shade of the glow.

How to distinguish mycosis from bruises and other diseases?

At first, onychomycosis is easily confused with other diseases, such as lichen, nail bruises, 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 with psoriasis, onychomycosis develops smoothly. He gradually deforms the plate so that it detaches from the bed. It distinguishes it from injuries, psoriasis, lichen and eczema, the presence of pain and bad smell.

Hygiene rules

The best remedy for fungus is prevention. Simple precautions can help prevent infection. First of all, they are 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 with special means, of which there are many today. It is not recommended to wear too tight shoes or use someone else's. When trying on shoes in the store, you should wear shoe covers or socks. Be sure to monitor the hygiene of the feet and hands, and wipe them dry after washing.

When one of the family members is infected with the fungus, he should have a separate washcloth and towel. After he visits the bath, it must be treated with antimicrobial agents. The patient's washcloth should be treated regularly with a 5% solution of chloramine, and clothes and towels should be boiled with washing powder.

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

Conclusion

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