Some tips on how to recognize toenail fungus and not confuse it with another disease

A third of people in the world have delamination and crumbling 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 occurrence of onychomycosis

A yeast infection is quite easy. The infection can be found inpublic showers, beaches and swimming pools.There is a high risk of contracting onychomycosis from infected relatives and friends if household items are used together.

There are the following prerequisites that cause the entry of pathogens into the body, in short, the causes of the appearance of fungi:

• small skin lesions on the feet (corns, corns, small cracks and scratches) caused by tight shoes;
• weak immunity due to inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• vascular diseases, damage to the functioning of internal organs, which leads to difficulties with blood circulation in the legs;
• violated safety measures, i. e. going to public places without shoes, poor foot hygiene, trying on other people's shoes;
• ignoring the profuse sweating and diaper rash on his legs.

Important!

Onychomycosis starts on the thumb, and then the virus can also 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 during the day. This includes representatives of work specialties.

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

• diabetes mellitus of groups I and II;
• phlebeurism;
• foot deformity;
• obstruction and clogging of blood vessels.

Today, various creams and varnishes are often offered for treatment, however, they will be useless, because the cause may be internal diseases.

Types of infection

In total, there are more than half a thousand types of mushroomsbringing trouble. 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 depending on the localization of the virus.

The type of pathogen

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

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

Places of localization of the disease on the hands and feet

Main forms of onychomycosis:

1. Lateral.There is an infection of the nail on the side. Its color becomes gray, yellow and brownish. The plaque begins to cloud, crumble and peel.
2. Distal.This is the most common type of fungus. The infection starts from the free edge of the nail. The plate changes color to yellow, brown or gray. As time passes, the loss becomes greater. On the plate, delamination, crumbling and clouding begin. In this case, hyperkeratosis appears under the nails, and if the entire nail is affected, tissue dystrophy occurs.
3. Proximal.This form involves damage to the cuticle, which swells, becomes inflamed, red and changes its shape and structure. As a result, the roller separates from the plate, and the nail crumbles, fades and deforms. If the disease is neglected, the plaque can completely disintegrate.
4. White surface.It appears, as a rule, on the thumb, on others - occasionally. Externally, it manifests itself in the form of white spots that are located on the entire surface of the nail. Furthermore, the disease progresses and spreads to keratinized tissues. The spots can change color - from milky to green or yellow. The board structure is spongy and loose. If this form is not treated, the nail can collapse completely.
5. The dystrophy is total.It covers the entire surface of the nail. This is an advanced stage of distal or proximal fungus. The plaque becomes thick, changes its shape to an unnatural one and eventually collapses completely.

Photo of mycosis on the nails

Mycosis symptoms

Once an infection occurs, the fungus needs time to settle down. First, the disease affects the big toes, destroying the nail plate. The damage is manifested by such signs as:

• Thickening.The plaque becomes thicker due to strong keratinization. In advanced cases, it significantly complicates treatment.
• Shade change. In a healthy state, the nail is transparent, and transparent capillaries give it a pink color. And the infected person changes shade to black, brown and yellow. A gap is formed under the plate in which microbes and other pathogens develop.
• decomposition.With incomplete treatment or its absence, the fungus begins to penetrate into the deeper layers of the board. As a result, it crumbles and collapses. If you do not carry out therapy, 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, and then the infection spreads to the other. It is not necessary to delay with this disease, if you yourself suspect and cannot determine the virus, 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 turns healthy nails brown, while infected ones remain bright.

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. Feet or hands are placed in the liquid and wait for about 10 minutes. This method is completely harmless. It cannot 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 the alcohol solution, and the area affected by lichen will become very dark in color.

How to diagnose?

Today, various effective diagnostic methods are offered, and 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 an infection only in the structure of the nail plate or skin tissue. Collecting biomaterials involves scraping infected cells from the area where the pathogen is present.

  In the last and middle stages, mycotic spores, yeast cells and mycelial threads are found in the samples. Such diagnostics make it possible to determine 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 the detection of the disease requires venous blood, 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 precision and the ability to take any tissue sample. A characteristic of the method is considered narrow focus. That is, for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, it is necessary to know exactly the place of localization. The PCR test can detect both the type of fungus and its concentration in the body.
• Luminescent study. Such a diagnosis is based on the transillumination of skin affected by pathological microflora with an ultraviolet lamp. During the examination of the patient, a Wood's lamp is used, which emits ultraviolet rays. Thanks to her, the products of vital activity begin to shine brilliantly. The type of pathogen affects the shade of the gloss.

How to distinguish mycosis from bruises and other diseases?

At first, it is easy to confuse onychomycosis with other diseases, such as ringworm, nail bruises or psoriasis.

It can be distinguished by the darkening of the nail plate, the formation of yellow spots and stripes that grow larger over time and penetrate deep into the nail.

Compared to psoriasis, onychomycosis develops smoothly. It gradually deforms the plate so that it separates from the bed. It distinguishes it from injuries, psoriasis, ringworm and eczema, the presence of pain and an unpleasant smell.

Hygiene rules

The best cure for fungus is prevention.Simple precautions can help prevent infection. First of all, they are needed by people who visit beaches, public swimming 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 products, of which there are many today. It is not recommended to wear shoes that are too tight or to use someone else's shoes. When trying on shoes in the store, you should wear shoe covers or socks. Be sure to take care of the hygiene of your feet and hands, and dry them after washing.

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

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

Conclusion

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