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

A third of people in the world have layering and crumbling of the nails, fogging of the plate.

This disease is called onychomycosis or nail fungus. It can start at any age, spreads immediately and adapts well to different conditions.

Reasons for the formation of onychomycosis

Fungal 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 loved ones and relatives if household items are used together.

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

• small skin lesions on the feet (corns, corns, small cracks and scratches) that occur due to tight shoes;
• weak immunity due to inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• vascular diseases, impaired functioning of internal organs, leading to difficulties with blood circulation in the legs;
• violation of safety precautions, d. m. th. , going to public places without shoes, poor foot hygiene, trying on someone else's shoes;
• ignoring the profuse sweating and diaper rash on his feet.

Important!

Onychomycosis starts in the big toe, and then the virus can develop in the little toe.

What diseases can serve as a prerequisite?

The risk group includes people whose skin does not breathe due to tight shoes all day. These include 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 blockage of blood vessels.

Today, various creams and ointments are often offered for treatment, but they will be useless, as the cause may be caused by internal diseases.

Types of infection

In total there are more than half a thousand species of mushroomscausing problems. There is no single classification.

The only thing is that there are two important signs by which the disease is distinguished. This is the location 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 plaque varies based on the localization of the virus.

The type of pathogen

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

• Dermatophytes- this is red trichophyton and mentagrophytes, cracked epidermophyton and so on. When infected with such fungi, yellow or gray spots are formed, the remaining parts of the plaque become cloudy, and the free edge changes shade. In general, the entire surface changes and eventually leaves the bed.
• Moldings. This type is relatively harmless. It does not penetrate into the deep layers of the nails, therefore it only changes the plates to a dark, swampy, gray, yellow, brown color. Such a shadow can affect the surface both partially and completely.
• Yeast of 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 severe pain and purulent secretions can be observed. If left untreated, the nail will become thinner, turn brown and leave the bed completely.

Locations of the disease in the arms, legs

The main forms of onychomycosis:

1. Lateral.There is an infection of the nail on the sides. Its color becomes gray, yellow and brown. The plate begins to become cloudy, crumble and melt.
2. Distal.This is the most common type of mushroom. The infection starts from the free edge of the nail. The plaque changes color to yellow, brown or gray. Over time, the loss becomes greater. On the plate, delamination, crumbling and fogging begin. In this case, hyperkeratosis appears under the nail, and if the entire nail is affected, tissue dystrophy is formed.
3. Proximal.This form involves damage to the cuticle, which swells, inflames, reddens and changes its shape and structure. As a result, the roller is separated from the plate, and the nail crumbles, fades and deforms. With a neglected disease, the plaque can completely disintegrate.
4. White surface.It appears, as a rule, in the thumb, in others - from time to time. From the outside, it manifests itself in the form of white spots that are located on the entire surface of the nails. Further, the disease progresses and spreads to the keratinized tissues. The spots can change color - from milk to green or yellow. The structure of the plate has become spongy and loose. If this form is not treated, then the nail can completely collapse.
5. Dystrophy is total.Covers the entire surface of the nails. This is an advanced degree of distal or proximal fungi. The plaque becomes thick, changes its shape to an unnatural one and eventually deteriorates completely.

Photo of nail fungus

Mycosis symptoms

Once an infection has occurred, fungi need time to settle down. First, the disease affects the big toes, destroying the nail plate. The damage is manifested by signs such as:

• Thickening.The plaque becomes thicker due to strong keratinization. In advanced cases, this significantly complicates treatment.
• Color change. In a healthy state, the nail is transparent, and the transparent capillaries give a pink color. And the infected changes its shade to black, brown and yellow. A gap is formed under the plate in which microbes and other pathogens develop.
• collapsing.With incomplete treatment or its absence, the fungus begins to penetrate into the deeper layers of the plate. As a result, it crumbles and collapses. If you do not carry out therapy, then onychomycosis becomes chronic. Because of this, the immune system weakens, allergies begin and problems with internal organs begin.

How to determine, independently recognize the disease?

The fungus first affects one leg, then the infection moves to the second. It is not necessary to delay with this disease, if you yourself suspect and cannot determine the virus, then 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 colors healthy nails brown, and infected ones remain light.

This procedure is simple and does not take 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 about 10 minutes. This method is completely harmless. It cannot be used only if there are allergic reactions to potassium permanganate.

Detected by iodine

Iodine is also often used to identify nail fungus. But this 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 an alcohol solution, and the area affected by lichen will become very dark in color.

How to diagnose?

Today, various effective diagnostic methods are available, perhaps the most reliable way is to take tests for nail fungus:

• Microbiological diagnostics.Microscopy is the most used method for detecting fungi and determining its type. This allows you to detect the infection only in the structure of the nail plate or in the skin tissue. Obtaining a biomaterial involves scraping infected cells from the area where the pathogen is located.

  In the late and middle stages, mycotic spores, yeast cells and mycelial threads are found in the samples. Such a diagnosis makes 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 the internal organs. Its difference is that to detect the disease, venous blood is required, 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 accuracy and the ability to take any tissue sample. A feature of the method is considered to be a narrow focus. That is, for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, it is necessary to know the exact location. A 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 the 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 it, the products of vital activity begin to shine brightly. The type of pathogen affects the shade of the glow.

How to distinguish mycosis from bruises and other diseases?

At first, onychomycosis is easily confused with other diseases, such as lichen, nail bruises or psoriasis.

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

Compared to psoriasis, onychomycosis develops smoothly. It gradually deforms the plate so that it detaches from the bed. It is distinguished by injuries, psoriasis, lichens and eczema, the presence of pain and bad smell.

Hygiene rules

The best medicine 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 plates.

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. When trying on shoes in the store, you must wear shoe covers or socks. Be sure to monitor the hygiene of your feet and hands and wipe them dry after washing.

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

If there are suspicions of infection, then the legs or arms should be immersed in hot water and kept for about 10 minutes. Fungi die quite quickly at a temperature of +50 ° C. Then these places are smeared with antifungal ointment.

Conclusion

Onychomycosis is an insidious and unpleasant disease, so it is important to monitor your toenails and toenails and be sure to follow preventive measures. If there are suspicious symptoms, it is best to go to the doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.