What does the nail fungus look like

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.

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.

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.

Stages of the disease

Mycosis of nails affects healthy cells gradually.The disease has several stages of development, each of which has its own specific manifestations.

The first stage of onychomycosis (normotorophytic) has no bright manifestations.In most cases, it proceeds hidden.The first signs - the nail fades a bit, its color changes, microcracks and yellow spots are formed in the form of circles or longitudes, and tuberosity appears.A novice fungus may be accompanied by itching and burning.It is difficult to recognize the infection in the initial stage correctly, since symptoms are similar to other diseases (psoriasis, liver pathology).

If treatment does not start in time, the disease will go to the next stage - hypertrophic.The nail becomes thickened, dark.There is a deformation of the plate, its crowning and destruction.

The advanced form of nail disease is manifested by a strong thinning of the nail plate, which leads to its further rejection.The adjacent skin turns blue, an unpleasant smell appears.

Symptoms

Onychomycosis most often affects the nails on the legs, hands suffer less often.The disease begins with the thumb and little finger (the external edge is touched), smoothly affecting all the plates.

The leading symptoms of onychomycosis will help to determine the fungal infection:

• the appearance of strips and spots of a whitish or greenish tint under the nails;
• clouding of the plate, a change in its color (from yellow to dark brown);
• redness and peeling of the skin around the nail;
• the appearance of roughnesses on the feet and between the fingers;
• The formation of mold on the nails.

Types of fungal diseases of the nails

Onychomycosis is usually classified by the appearance of the affected areas.Since the classification feature is what the fungus on the nails looks like, it differentiates in three species, depending on clinical manifestations:

• Atrophic, or onholytic - in which the nail plate is significantly affected, to the degree of rejection from the nail bed;
• The hypertrophic appearance, in which the that has lost natural gloss, changes its color (whitens or, conversely, darkens) and the structure (more tangible) with the appearance of various kinds of deformations and even destroys along the edges;
• Normotrophic - a type characterized by the lowest degree of damage, in which the nail plate does not thicken, remaining brilliant and smooth, but still externally transforms due to the appearance of spots, stripes and other visible changes in its natural transparency and color.

In foreign countries, there is another classification according to which the fungus on the nails is divided into species depending on the specific place of the lesion:

• total, in which the entire nail plate is covered by a pathogenic process;
• distal - the form of damage, localizing only on the free edge of the nail protruding above the fingertip;
• proximal, in which the edge of the plate emerges from under the nail roller is destroyed (opposite to the free edge of the nail!);
• The lateral form of damage, affecting the side sides of the nail plate.

What the pathology looks like

The fungal nail diseases among the population have external similarities with other dermatological diseases of the Negribic nature.Depending on the stage of pathology, the nails begin to look unhealthy because they lose natural shine and transparency.Of the smooth and even, they become thick and deformed, and are covered with various colors (often white or dirty yellow).The soft tissues surrounding the keratin layer destroyed by a parasite are also involved in inflammatory reactions, swollen and ulceration.

If we consider the picture of the destruction of the nail plate in the perspective of the dynamics of the disease, then it can conditionally be divided into three consecutive stages:

1. At the very first stage, there are practically no signs, except for light dullness, points or stripes on the plate.
2. On the so -calledA pronounced stage, quickly replacing the initial one, all the symptoms of onychomycosis become obvious.
3. The advanced stage is the ultimate degeneration of the nail, can be supplemented by the appearance of an unpleasant smell of decaying tissues.

The reasons for the deformation of the nail

Mold, yeast-like fungi and dermatophytic fungi cause infectious diseases of the nails (onychomycosis), manifested by similar symptoms.All types of fungi of nails on the legs or arms deform the nail plate, change its transparency, shine, color.Changes in the nail are found not only with onychomycosis, but also for injuries, chronic paronichia (inflammation of the nail roller), psoriasis, hand eczem, dermatitis.Before drawing a conclusion about fungal infection, you need to consider all possible options.

Symptoms of fungus

There are various classifications of nail fungus, depending on the type and manifestation, they can have completely different signs and symptoms, so it is very important to determine it (psoriasis, eczema, stray lichen and dermatophyte).Superficial onychomycosis on the fingers manifests itself almost immediately after infection, consider the symptoms and signs of the fungus on the nails of the legs and arms:

• Thickened plate;
• Fragile, crumbly or torn nails not only near the edge, but also throughout the surface;
• Distorted forms, scaly structure;

• The initial stage is the loss of brilliance and elasticity;
• If the nail is blackened (not in the expense in the case when a person regularly works with staining compositions or mechanical parts);
• Nails crash under the skin;
• Dysbacteriosis begins, possibly a general decline in immunity, strength, drowsiness;
• Itching between the fingers and on the foot is especially pronounced in the child;
• Examination from the nail bed is a very common phenomenon and almost the last stage before the complete loss of the nail, which is called onycholisis.You can feel pain in your fingers and find a slightly unpleasant odor;
• The skin becomes dry, cracks, a rash appears, possibly even the appearance of blood or a soucon;
• A mold white or yellow circle under the nail, depending on the variety of the fungus, it can be bright, dull, with outlined edges and a muddy structure.

Before starting active actions, it is necessary to minimize the negative impact of the external environment, to eliminateThe reasons why the fungus appearedUnder the nails on the legs:

1. A warm and humid environment is ideal for the growth of various microorganisms, try to dry shoes all the time after walking, wear socks only from natural materials that provide normal heat and air exchange;
2. The foot fungus often appears due to poor immunity, you can just step on the floor with your bare foot, and pick up the infection, take vitamins to avoid this;
3. Frequent nail extension can become one of the causes of onychomycosis, limit the procedure up to 1 session in six months;
4. The most complicated is the sympathetic - this is a fungus caused by active disputes.They penetrate into the hollows between nails and fingers, can be in a sleep stage for some time, and then grow sharply.Most often, they are infected in places of public use (pools, showers, solariums), during the operation of other people's shoes, etc.

Common types of mycosis of stop

There are many ways to get an infection with a fungus of the legs, but it is possible only with direct contact with the pathogen.Most often, this happens during the use of other people's shoes or in violation of personal hygiene rules.The skin fungus on the legs usually manifests itself through the destruction of the dermis, which is reflected in the form of peeling.The lesions of the epidermis in this case are caused by the fact that the infection penetrates into the deep layers of the skin, destroying its structure.

Modern medicine identifies the following options for the fungal damage to the feet, each of which differs in its symptoms and treatment options:

• Intodallic mycosis is the most common form in the form of which the disease manifests itself.The symptom is usually localized between 3 and 4 fingers, less often between 4 and 5, it looks like a crack covered with a white film.It is possible to secrete a certain amount of fluid, peeling of the boundaries, as well as the appearance of signs of diaper rash.Signs of interdigital fungus of the legs can be accompanied by weak itching.Such a fungus on the fingers of the legs can initially occur completely without symptoms, but in the future there is a significant change in the structure of the skin.

• The fungus of squamous hyperkeratotic can be distinguished from other species by severe peeling and keratinization that affect the epidermis.It is characteristic of people suffering from various types of dermatitis, mainly atopic.This is another type of disease that can be seen clearly what fungi are on the legs.The main symptom of the disease is the appearance of an erythema, a painful pink nodule, on a affected area that has clear boundaries.It is accompanied by weak itching, cracks on the feet, dryness, pain, yellowness and damage to the nail plates.Onychomycosis, usually accompanying this type of fungus, leads to stratification of nails;
• The vesicular fungus is one of the most rare types of infection, which affects the skin of the legs.The ailment received its name for the formation of vesiculas - bubbles with liquid contents, in the place of which erosion is then formed, which is dangerous for infection.The main signs that the fungal vesiculosis differs: the appearance of blisters with a diameter of up to 1 centimeter, as well as weak itching;
• Erased fungus.At the initial stage, there is a slight peeling on the feet of the legs, as well as the appearance of small cracks, outwardly affecting only the upper layer of the epidermis.
• The fungus is dyshidrotic, the infection of which is found in medical practice only in 8% of patients infected with mycosis.It is localized mainly on the sole and vault of the foot, manifests itself in the form of bubbles, gradually merging into one, after which its gap occurs followed by the formation of an extensive erosion.The danger of a fungus of this type is the possibility of connecting a bacterial infection, since pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate through the resulting wound;
• Intermicial mycosis occurs not only independently, but also as an accompaniment of a squamous shape of the fungus of the legs.It manifests itself between the fingers of the feet, characterized by severe itching and burning, diaper rash and the appearance of erosion;
• Onychomycosis is another common option of damage, which is a fungus of nails on the legs.It usually develops from the free edge of the nail plate, the initial stage is characterized by the appearance of yellow spots, after which the disease progresses with relaxation and the complete leave of the nail.Often accompanies other forms of fungal lesions;
• The candidal fungus, also called yeast erosion, which is localized in the interdigital space.In this case, the fungus on the legs looks like the concentration of inflamed swollen skin areas, which can be surrounded by pustules of small shape.