Nail fungus is a disease that causes a lot of trouble for people. Severe itching, burning, aesthetic problems related to the improper appearance of the claws are not the whole list of problems caused by this disease. The longer you ignore the problem, the more advanced the disease will become and the uglier your nails will look. In addition, gradually the whole body will be poisoned by the waste 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 stages? 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 in the beginning, so that your beautiful and pink nails do not turn into the crooked claws of Baba Yaga over time.
Why does the initial stage of nail fungus occur?
Older people and people with weakened immune systems are more 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, they are extremely stable and survive on the surface of the earth even at low temperatures. But above all they "love" warmth and moisture, where they reproduce extremely quickly. Warm public places, where there is a lot of foot traffic, are the favorite habitats of the fungus. Baths, saunas, swimming pools, fitness clubs: as soon as a person with the fungus visits these places, small skin scales 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 wear someone else's clothes, and you can make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist. Of course, you should not worry in advance: the infection takes root in the body if a person has a weakened immune system, or has cracks, calluses or wounds on the skin. By the way, public transport, which we use several times a day for a long time, is also a dangerous habitat for fungal spores.
The disease can be "caught" in a nail salon and both customers and employees are exposed to this risk. The use of poorly sterilized instruments often causes fungal infection.
Many chronic diseases can also cause discomfort.
Wearing uncomfortable, tight, hermetic shoes made of unnatural materials also often causes an unpleasant infection. In such shoes, the foot sweats and a very favorable environment for mold spores appears.
Signs of nail plate fungus
The initial stage of onychomycosis fungus is most often not visible, so people who are not attentive to themselves can notice problems with their nails when the nails are already severely destroyed and the treatment will cost a regular amount.
So what symptoms of toenail fungus can be detected almost immediately? In the initial stage of a 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 destructions appear. There are several types of fungi, each of which can have specific symptoms, but there are common signs of a fungal disease.
How does nail fungus start on toenails and toenails? The symptoms are roughly the same: when the nail plate is still smooth and pink, the initial stage of fungal infection can be recognized by severe itching. The affected areas are itchy, which makes it very difficult to carry out normal daily activities. Itching and burning can be felt directly on the nails and skin. A sharp and 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, lumpy or wavy, which can be clearly seen both by touch and by sight. A gap appears between the nail and the bed, which is easy to notice. Some areas of the nail become yellow or even brown.
The initial stage of mycosis of the nail plate can sometimes be detected by peeling and brittle nails. Of course, peeling nails does not always mean that the nails are "sick", but often this is a harbinger of a fungal infection. Also, we have already said that infection spores 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 dull, and white spots also appear. Most often, this type of disease is found in women in the "active" arm. The right hands of right-handed people are especially susceptible to this unpleasant disease, since they spend the longest time in an aggressive environment, causing the nails to thin and quickly destroy.
A change in plaque thickness in the initial stage of a fungal infection is typical for nails, hands and feet. Depending on the type of fungus and the causes of the disease, the plaques may 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 best to treatment in the initial stage. In this case, you can face products for external use, which, by the way, are not cheap. There are many local remedies available to remedy the problem. The earlier the procedures are started, the less likely the infection will develop further.
Medicines are applied directly to the nail or to the skin near it. Nail fungus sprays are effective remedies that work quickly and are very easy to use. Such preparations penetrate deep into the nail, and due to their structure, stay there for a long time. Medicines are chosen based on the type of fungus.
Antifungal drops also penetrate deep into the nail tissue, and also 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 early on. They act on the surface of the nail plate.
Creams for nail fungus have become widespread. Mainly intended for the treatment of the skin around damaged plaques. With their help, infections are prevented from spreading to undamaged areas, including new nails.
A special spray is used to prevent the disease and as part of therapy. Or feet and shoes are treated.
The initial stage of mycosis is mainly treated with local drugs; if the disease progresses, doctors prescribe drugs to be taken orally. Such medications are effective if a small part of the nail plate is affected by the infection.
Modern medicine offers a wide range of tools to eliminate the disease. An expensive but effective method in the initial stage 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 should be used in combination with the drugs described above.
Ozone therapy involves saturating tissues with ozone. Special injections are made into the skin near the affected nail. This procedure helps to delay the development of the fungus and prevents its spores from multiplying.
Of course, you should not forget about folk remedies for the treatment of nail fungus in the initial stage. There are many of them. 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.
Preventive measures
The fungus is very difficult to cure: it takes a lot of time, effort and money, and the treatment sometimes drags on for many 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 provided by the sellers. Of course, you can't try on shoes with bare feet.
It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after traveling on public transport. It is good 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 a nail salon, it is better to always have your set of tools with you, which should also be disinfected regularly.
It is important to wash your socks and tights every day, not forgetting to iron them well afterwards. Bedding should be washed frequently at high temperatures.
If the fungus affects the nails, it is necessary to protect loved ones from the same fate. Fungi are not transmitted through close contact between a sick person and a healthy person, but can easily spread through shared objects and surfaces. Treat the bathroom regularly with disinfectant: the bathtub itself, the carpets and the floors.