Nail fungus is a disease that causes many problems for people. Severe itching, burning, aesthetic problems associated with the unsightly appearance of the claws are not the whole list of problems caused by this disease. The longer you ignore the problem, the disease will progress and the appearance of your nails will be uglier. In addition, the whole body will gradually be poisoned by the waste products of the fungal microflora. But how not to overlook the initial stage of nail fungus, which is much easier and cheaper to treat than the advanced stage? It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of not only the nails, but also the skin of the hands and feet. In this article, we will talk about how not to start the disease and what to do at the beginning so that your beautiful, pink nails do not turn into the crooked claws of Baba Yaga over time.
Why does the initial stage of nail fungus occur?
Elderly people and people with a weakened immune system are most often affected by the infection. At the same time, no one is immune from fungal diseases: even a child can "catch" an unpleasant disease.
Fungal spores are ubiquitous in the modern world, extremely tenacious and persist on the soil surface even at low temperatures. But most of all they "love" warmth and moisture, where they reproduce extremely quickly. Warm public places, where there is a lot of crowd, are favorite habitats of mushrooms. Baths, saunas, swimming pools, fitness clubs: as soon as a person with a fungus visits these places, small scales of skin infected with the infection appear on almost every surface. Imagine how often you visit these institutions and consider yourself very lucky if you are reading this article for general development, and not because of the need to treat mycosis in the initial stage.
Sometimes it's enough to walk barefoot in the bathroom, or put on someone else's flip-flops, and you can make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist. Of course, you should not worry ahead of time: the infection takes root in the body if the person has a weakened immune system, or there are cracks, blisters or wounds on the skin. By the way, public transport, which we use several times a day, has also long been a dangerous habitat for fungal spores.
The disease can be "caught" in the nail salon, and both clients and employees are exposed to this danger. The use of poorly sterilized instruments often causes a fungal infection.
Many chronic diseases can also cause unpleasant ailments.
Wearing uncomfortable, tight, hermetically sealed shoes made of unnatural materials also often causes an unpleasant infection. In such shoes, the foot sweats and creates a very favorable environment for fungal spores.
Signs of fungus on the nail plate
The initial stage of the onychomycosis fungus is usually not obvious, so people who are careless about themselves can notice problems with their nails when the nails are already seriously destroyed, and the treatment will cost a considerable amount.
So what are the symptoms of toenail fungus that can be detected almost immediately? In the initial stage of fungal disease, the nail retains its usual pink color, the nail plate is smooth and shiny. Gradually, the structure of the nail partially thickens, laminations and small damages appear. There are several types of fungus, each of which can have specific symptoms, but there are common signs of fungal disease.
How does toenail and toenail fungus develop? The symptoms are approximately the same: when the nail plate is still smooth and pink, the initial stage of a fungal infection can be recognized by severe itching. Affected areas itch, making it difficult to perform normal daily activities. Itching and burning can be felt both directly on the nails and on the skin. A sharp, unpleasant smell often appears.
The skin between the toes becomes red and irritated. Gradually, the natural shine disappears from the nail plate, it becomes cloudy, and the nail bed is difficult to see through it. The nail becomes uneven, bumpy or wavy, which is clearly visible both to the touch and visually. A gap appears between the nail and the bed, which is easy to see. Some areas of the nail become yellowish or even brown.
The initial stage of mycosis of the nail plate can sometimes be detected by peeling, brittle nails. Of course, peeling nails does not always mean that the nails are "sick", but it is often a precursor to a fungal infection. Also, we have already said that slow infections penetrate through damaged skin.
What does toenail fungus look like - the initial stage? Photos will be no less informative:
Nail fungus - the initial stage, it looks like this: the nail also becomes uneven and lacks shine, and whitish spots appear. Most often, this type of disease is found in women on the "active" hand. The right hands of right-handed people are especially susceptible to this unpleasant disease, because they spend the longest time in an aggressive environment, which is why the nails quickly become thinner and destroyed.
The change in plate thickness in the initial stage of fungal infection is typical for nails and hands and feet. Depending on the type of fungus and the causes of the disease, the plates can thicken or, conversely, thin.
Photos of nail fungus in the initial stage are no less impressive:
Treatment of nail fungus in the initial stage
Like other diseases, nail fungus responds better to treatment in the initial stage. In this case, you can manage with products for external use, which, by the way, are not cheap. Many topical remedies are available to treat the problem. The earlier procedures are started, the less likely it is that the infection will develop further.
Medicines are applied either directly to the nail or to the skin near it. Anti-fungal nail polishes are effective, fast-acting agents and are very easy to use. Such preparations penetrate deep into the nail and, due to their texture, remain on it for a long time. Medicines are selected based on the type of fungus.
Antifungal drops also penetrate deep into the nail tissue, and they have a large selection of products. They disinfect the nail plates, kill bacteria and prevent the reproduction of fungal spores. The drops will help cure the initial stage of nail fungus.
Lotions are less common but can also be effective in the early stages. They act on the surface of the nail plate.
Nail fungus creams have become widespread. Mainly intended for treating the skin around damaged plates. With their help, infections are prevented from spreading to undamaged areas, including new nails.
A special spray is used for disease prevention and as part of therapy. Or feet and shoes are treated.
The initial stage of mycosis is treated mainly with local drugs, and if the disease progresses, doctors prescribe drugs that are taken orally. Such drugs are effective if a small part of the nail plate is affected by the infection.
Modern medicine offers a wide range of means to eliminate diseases. An expensive but effective method in the initial phase is laser therapy. Devices with laser radiation are directed at the damaged areas.
The initial stage of nail fungus may require only 4 such procedures. But this method must be used in combination with the drugs described above.
Ozone therapy involves saturation of tissues with ozone. Special injections are given into the skin near the affected nail. This procedure helps delay the development of the fungus and prevents the reproduction of its spores.
Of course, we should not forget about folk remedies for the treatment of nail fungus in the initial stage. There are a lot. Traditional methods are good because they are easy to use and economical. For example, treatment of fungus with salt and soda is quite effective in the initial stage of the disease.
Prevention measures
Fungus is very difficult to cure: it takes a lot of time, effort and money, and treatment sometimes takes years. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions in order not to "catch" an unpleasant disease.
It is extremely important to maintain personal hygiene: never wear someone else's shoes. When you go to a shoe store, only try on your own socks, don't use the ones offered by the salesperson. Of course, you can't try on shoes with bare feet.
After traveling in public transport, it is necessary to wash your hands well with soap. It is best to wash your nails with tar soap. Use preventive measures, there are many of them. Treat your shoes regularly with antifungal sprays.
When you go to the nail salon, it is better to always have your set of tools with you, which also needs to be regularly disinfected.
It is important to wash your socks and tights every day, don't forget to iron them well afterwards. Bedding should be washed frequently at high temperatures.
If the fungus affects the nails, it is necessary to protect your loved ones from the same fate. The fungus is not transmitted by close contact between a sick person and a healthy person, but it can easily be spread by shared objects and surfaces. Regularly treat the bathroom with disinfectants: the bathtub itself, rugs and floors.