Darkening of the nail plate, the thickening, delamination, and deformation and may be a sign of the development of nail fungus (onychomycosis). Many patients confuse an infected injuries or psoriasis. To prevent worsening of the disease, you need to know how to identify the fungus toe nails, the types and the symptoms.
The types of fungus nails
Most common fungal infection is spreading, not just the nail, as well as affect the nail zone. Also suffer from the skin, feet, finger folds, as the hand, the feet (athlete's foot). The most common pathogenic micro-organisms are causing the negative changes can be distinguished:
- the yeast – you hit the nail, way thinner, which leads to delamination of the plate in the bed;
- dermatophytes – penetrating into the stratum corneum, to provoke the appearance of yellow bands or spots on the white that will eventually increase;
- mold penetrates the upper layers of the disk, changing the color, green, gray, or black.
If the infection affects the nails, in the initial stage, or already showing the changes, on the basis of which we can distinguish 3 main types of fungus.
- Distal onychomycosis. Defeat starts from the edge of the stratum corneum, then the infection moves to the motherboard. The nail becomes grey, thickens, or thins, crumble, and finally almost completely destroyed.
- Proximal fungal. Extends from the center of the plate, which is the dark, destruction.
- Superficial onychomycosis. Accompanied by the appearance of white spots in the middle of the nail or the edges. The disease at an early stage of plate no deformation, but the touch is noticeable looseness that sooner or later leads to the change of the bed loss of the nail.
The first symptoms of nail fungus
The development of fungus no hidden flows. A few days after infection the first symptoms, which sooner or later will be brighter.
- The nail grows dull, loses light of, changing the sample plates appear yellow or white spots, longitudinal stripes.
- Changing the shape of the nail, the deformation of which is accompanied by thickening or thinning the stratum corneum. This condition leads to delamination, the dropout plate, and further, in the bed.
- Pain when pressed. The stratum corneum, as well as the surrounding tissues become inflamed.
- Diaper rash between the toes, but the smell of the affected nail.
These symptoms help to identify a nail fungus in its early stages and distinguish it from other diseases (bruises, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm).
Diagnostic methods
The procedure of detection of onychomycosis or the fungal infection usually goes through several stages, which contains the concrete methods: the clinical picture of microscopic examination.
Initially, the expert drew attention to the symptoms and complaints of the patient, gathering clinical data. After the inspection, the nail plate and the skin around them is a doctor prior identification of the infection, while the similar diseases (psoriasis, red shingles, problems with the normal diet, the nails).
The confirmation of the disease, the specialist makes the material to carry out the microscopic examination. The affected area takes a scraping of tissue in laboratory conditions is treated with a special substance.
More accurately diagnose fungal property helps in the study of biological material. After the analysis, the microscopic examination. Sowing happens scraping. The sample of the affected tissue is placed in a nutrient fungus environment. After 3-5 days you can receive the results of the procedure. The kind of mushrooms you manage to learn the structure of the colonies, the specific growth, unique color.
Thanks to biological research to determine exactly what type of virus, the sensitivity of the specific antimicrobial. This allows you to not only identify the exact pathogen, but also to select an effective treatment.
How to identify nail fungus at home?
Darkening of the nail plate, the porosity of the depletion may not always indicate onychomycosis. To find out whether a fungal infection, then use the iodine, potassium permanganate.
Define onychomycosis by potassium permanganate
The procedure to identify the fungus less time it takes, and it is easy to implement. A pool of warm water dissolve some manganese is a weak solution. Put liquid hand or foot, wait for 5-10 minutes. During this time, healthy nails will be painted in brown color, the affected areas remain unchanged.
Identifying nail fungus iodine
Unlike manganese, iodine may not indicate the presence of pathogens onychomycosis. Help exclude other fungi, especially tinea versicolor. If the skin around the nail appeared peeling, redness, if such zones are treated with the iodine. The healthy skin is almost dark on the basis of the alcoholic solution, but depriving the affected places will be a rich, dark color.
How to distinguish a fungal infection of the nails other diseases?
The first stage of the development of the fungal infection can be mistaken skin diseases (psoriasis, shingles), or trauma to the nail. You don't run the negative manifestations, it is important to know the main differences in the fungus growth.
- Darkening of the nail plate, the appearance of yellow spots and longitudinal streaks, which ultimately larger penetrate deeper into the nail.
- The smooth progression of the disease without exacerbations, calm as the psoriasis. The fungus gradually the nail plate is deformed, while the detachment of bed.
- The smell, and painful sensations, also distinguishes it from the fungus to the injuries, or arthritis, lesions, eczema, ringworm.
- Causes the fungus access to the public areas (pool, sauna), wearing tight shoes (micro trauma life), increased sweating feet, diaper rash, and contact with infected person.
- The fungus initially appears to be a certain finger, often large, then the impact on the rest of the phalanges, or fingers areas.
These differences can be identified the fungus in the early stages of development. The most important thing is to understand that self-diagnosis is not enough. The effective treatment need examination by a specialist.
Fungal infections – a nasty, insidious disease, which will perceive, as with other diseases (psoriasis, eczema). It is important to closely monitor the nails, feet, if suspicious symptoms in time to see a doctor timely treatment.