The initial stage of the fungus is distinguished by the absence of pronounced symptoms. This is one of the reasons why many patients become aware of their condition only after a while, when nail fungus pathogens cause significant damage to healthy tissue. If a person is very attentive to his health, then he will be able to recognize the first signs of infection. Their discovery is a serious reason to visit a doctor's clinic who specializes in fungal diseases.
Reasons for the growth of nail fungus
Hand and foot fungus in the early stages does not bring much discomfort to the patient. The first signs of illness, which are still mild, are simply ignored by many infected people. As a result, they miss the opportunity to start treatment of the disease in time and prevent the occurrence of serious complications.
There are many possible reasons for the development of a fungal infection on the nails and surrounding areas of the skin. They create optimal conditions for the successful development of pathogenic microflora. As a rule, onychomycosis is most common in elderly people, as well as people with weakened immune systems. Other adverse factors can also provoke the development of the early stages of the disease:
- Neglect the rules of personal hygiene;
- Skin lesions in the area of the fingers and toes;
- Prolonged exposure to moisture or chemicals that dry the skin;
- Frequently wearing tight clothing and shoes made of synthetic materials;
- Increased sweating in the hot season;
- Chronic diseases affecting the immune state;
- Immune and endocrine diseases;
- Abuse of strong drugs;
- The climatic features of the region create ideal conditions for the reproduction of the causative agent of onychomycosis.
If one of these negative factors affects the human body, he should think about preventing the growth of nail fungus. Otherwise, it will be difficult for your child to avoid a fungal infection.
Avoid wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes. Since fungi are very fond of "settling" in small cracks. Even the smallest damage to the nail plate or skin "attracts". Also dangerous is a violation of the blood supply in the fingers. The cells then receive less useful nutrients and become easy prey for pathogens. So be careful with your shoes.
Comfortable orthopedic shoes are key not only to healthy nails and feet, but also to help reduce flat feet, valgus, calluses, and calves, facilitate walking and correctingexisting disorders in the early stages. Wearing such shoes every day provides a comfortable, painless feeling when walking. Moreover, modern orthopedic shoes have great design and maintain fashion style.
What does nail fungus look like in its early stages?
Nail fungus can bother anyone. For timely recognition, it is necessary to know what conditions characterize the initial stage of the development of the disease.
Early signs of infection are felt from the first day of infection. However, they appear weakly so few people pay attention. A person should be wary if, after going to a public place with high humidity, the color of the nails changes and an itching appears in the toe area. These are the first symptoms of onychomycosis. If the nails are healthy, then the infection will not be able to penetrate their deeper layers. Only damaged panels are subjected to such an attack.
On hand
People need to know what toenail fungus looks like in its early stages. This information will help him in time to calculate illness in himself or in people from his surroundings.
Fungal infections on the hands are in most cases detected in women. However, representatives of the stronger sex are also susceptible to such infections. The disease is recognized by the symptoms that first appear after infection:
- Matte the surface of the nail plate;
- The formation of spots on the nails;
- Change the color of the nails to yellow, gray or brown;
- The crumbling of the nail plate near the edges;
- Fragmentation and fragility;
- Peel the skin near the nail.
Some patients have signs of swelling near the nail. Although in the early stages of the development of the disease, such a symptom usually does not occur.
By foot
To recognize a fungal toenail infection, you can look for some of the hallmark signs of this condition:
- Yellow nail at the top or side;
- Thickening of the nail plate;
- Change nail color;
- Mild itching in the toe area;
- exfoliation of the nails;
- Unpleasant foot odor.
Lack of treatment at the early stages of the development of the disease leads to its progression. Therefore, it is very important not to miss the optimal time to start a course of treatment, which will help deal with the infection and prevent it from spreading to healthy tissues.
Treatment
Toenail fungus can be easily treated if the patient is diagnosed at an early stage of development. In order not to initiate the disease, it is necessary to abandon self-medication. Patients will not be able to choose the right therapy for themselves, leading to negative results. It is best to entrust such tasks to qualified specialists who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of toenail fungus.
Preparations for topical application
The fungus on the hands as well as the lower extremities can be eliminated with topical medications. In the early stages of the disease, it is only necessary to use drugs that have no significant effect on the patient's body, but directly affect the lesions.
Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis at the initial stage of development necessarily requires the use of topical drugs.
External agents should be used according to the instructions of the attending physician, as well as their instructions for use. Compliance with this rule will help increase the effectiveness of the treatment and avoid possible side effects.
According to the standard scheme, it is necessary to have a local composition for applying to nails already infected with a fungus, 1-2 times a day with a thin layer. If special varnishes are used, then they are applied no more than 1 time per week.
Whole body therapy
At the first sign of toenail fungus, you should consult your doctor. Toenail and foot fungus are not always curable with topical medications. Therefore, besides, dermatologists prescribe systemic drugs that act on pathogens from within the human body.
Oral anti-fungal drugs should only be used under the prescription of a specialist. This is due to the fact that they have a large list of contraindications and side effects. The course of treatment for each patient is selected individually. It usually lasts about 4 months. If measures are taken at an early stage of the growth of onychomycosis, then this stage will be reduced.
Systemic drugs are recommended if local remedies do not prevent the development of the disease.
Laser therapy and ozone therapy
A fungal infection on the nail can be treated with hardware procedures. For these purposes, laser and ozone therapy are used. They are prescribed at an early and advanced stage of the development of the pathology, if traditional methods of treatment do not bring the desired results.
Laser therapy in the fight against nail fungus has many advantages:
- Get a result that guarantees recovery in 99% of cases;
- No pain or discomfort during the procedure;
- No negative effects on internal organs;
- Completely destroy the fungus;
- Improves the general condition of the infected area after the first procedure;
- Nail restoration 30 days after treatment.
Nail or lower extremity fungus also helps with ozone therapy. The early stages of onychomycosis are beneficial for such treatment.
Ozone has a disinfecting effect. It is because of this that doctors use it in the treatment of fungal infections on the nails. When ozone enters the body, it is carried to different parts of the body through the blood. Then a struggle is fought with the causative agent of the disease, in which he loses in most cases.
Ozone therapy is completely painless. Its duration is limited to 30 minutes. During treatment, only the infected area is affected. The skin around the plate is not affected.
Ozone, like laser therapy, is prescribed by the attending physician after the patient passes all necessary tests and studies. Based on their results, the therapist makes a conclusion about the appropriateness of using treatments that speed up recovery.
Folk method
The attending physician may recommend the use of non-traditional treatments along with medication. It is good to carry out such therapy at an early stage of pathological development. Then it will be most useful. Treatment of nail fungus can be carried out by folk remedies as follows:
- Iodine. They need to periodically treat the infected nail. It is recommended to carry out the procedure 2 times a day to prevent the growth of pathogenic microflora on its surface. Antiseptics not only fight the fungus, but also dry the nails. After a week of such treatment, it is recommended to rest for 2-3 days;
- Garlic. This is a natural antiseptic that copes with the active reproduction of pathogens. A fresh clove of garlic needs to be minced, then the fat is applied to the problem area. It is recommended to leave it overnight, fixing the mass with tape;
- King tree. With onychomycosis, the juice of this plant is very useful. It is recommended to lubricate the areas affected by infectious diseases of the upper or lower extremities with fresh produce. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to conduct an allergy test to this remedy to prevent the development of side effects;
- Onion. It is effective against fungal infections caused by a yeast-like pathogen. Fresh vegetables should be peeled and grated on a medium grater. After the onion mass is mixed with a small part of natural honey. The finished product should be applied to the sore nail for 2-3 hours. If you carry out this procedure several times a day, you can quickly achieve an improvement in the patient's general condition;
- Soft drink. It is used in the preparation of medicinal baths. It must be dissolved in hot or warm water. For 2. 5 liters of liquid, you need to take 1 tbsp. l. Soft drink. It is also advisable to add one part liquid soap to the solution. This water can be bathed daily for 15 minutes.
Folk remedies only work to treat nail fungus in the early stages. In more advanced cases, they don't yield much. But even if the disease is just starting, there is no guarantee that alternative medicine will help completely. It is best to use its methods in tandem with pharmaceutical preparations to be sure of the effectiveness of the course of treatment.
Disinfection and other rules during treatment
The doctor will tell the patient specifically about the symptoms of the disease in the early stages of the disease, and will advise on the manifestation of fungus on the feet in the early stages.
In order for the treatment prescribed by the doctor to be effective, the patient will have to adhere to special rules:
- It is necessary to disinfect socks and shoes every day that a person with a fungal infection has come into contact with;
- It is necessary to boil at high temperature the patient's towels and bed linen;
- It is necessary to wash thoroughly after bathing the patient.
Boiling is recommended to disinfect all acceptable objects and things that a person with onychomycosis comes in contact with. You should also regularly clean your shoes with special antiseptic and antifungal solutions.
Prevent nail fungus
Prevention of toenail fungus should be done by all people at risk for this disease. This measure will allow him to avoid unnecessary spending of money and time on medical procedures.
To avoid nail fungus, you must:
- Do not wear other people's clothes and shoes. If this is necessary, then at first they should be carefully treated with antifungal drugs and antiseptics;
- In public places, for example, saunas or swimming pools, you must use disposable slippers;
- Use only your own nail tools.
If a person can get rid of the nail fungus and adhere to further precautions, then the probability that he will see the fungus again will be only 8%.