This article will talk about such an unpleasant, but, unfortunately, quite common phenomenon as toenail fungus. The symptoms and causes of this disease are known to medical science and are easily diagnosed at all stages. However, it can only be detected if you pay close attention to your own health. How to identify toenail fungus? How to treat it? Are the advertised ointments effective?
What causes nail fungus to form?
Nail fungus is a fairly common disease. The disease spreads especially successfully in places with temperate and tropical climates, that is, where it is humid and warm. However, paradoxically, residents of cold countries often suffer from nail fungus. This is due to the fact that in harsh climates you have to constantly wear warm shoes and socks. The foot sweats, the sock gets wet and the person is forced to remain in this state for a long time without the possibility of changing shoes. This is the best way to encourage the formation of nail fungus. Before talking about how to identify toenail fungus, let's find out who is most susceptible to this disease.
Nail fungus as an occupational disease.
At risk are people whose skin on their feet cannot breathe during the day due to tight shoes. These are miners, power plant workers, gardeners and representatives of other labor professions. You can "pick" the fungus while working in a laundromat, swimming pool, hotel or restaurant.
What diseases can serve as a prerequisite?
Often, not only representatives of the above professions suffer from this disease, but also people suffering from diabetes mellitus of group 1 or 2. Also, a prerequisite for the formation of nail fungus may be deformation of the feet and varicose veins. Among the causes of this infection is insufficient nutrition of the nail due to blockage or obstruction of blood vessels. That is why the creams advertised today, as well as nail polishes supposedly designed to protect you from fungus, will be completely useless in the fight against the disease. After all, it is often caused by internal ailments and external influence will not eradicate the problem.
Who is at risk?
A few decades ago, nail fungus was diagnosed mainly in older people. However, every year the number of patients suffering from nail fungus increases, and the disease itself is becoming younger and younger.
Official data suggests that nail fungus develops two to three times more often in men. However, it is women who go to the dermatologist much more frequently with this problem. Representatives of the weaker sex are more concerned about their health and do not find anything shameful in consulting a doctor.
Below, we will look at why it is so important to receive recommendations from a dermatologist on fungal treatment, and we will also talk about how you can identify nail fungus and what symptoms it presents at each stage of its development.
What does nail fungus look like?
This disease is not fatal, but, of course, it is necessary to get rid of it. Fortunately, no one finds it difficult to recognize the onset of the disease. How to identify foot fungus? Tips are given below. First of all, take a closer look at your nails.
The first thing you should pay attention to is this nail color. The nail affected by the fungus becomes dull and dull yellow in color. Depending on the stage of the disease, the edge of the nail plate, the base or the entire nail may be affected.
Pay attention to the thickness of the nail.
When answering the question of how to identify nail fungus, changes in the nail plate should also be mentioned. Although due to the disease the nail becomes thinner, visually and in sensation it seems to become thicker and swollen.
How to identify nail fungus? A visual examination of the nail plate is not enough to detect the presence of infection. Mix potassium permanganate and water in a ratio of 1 to 5, immerse your nails in the resulting solution for half a minute. A healthy nail will become stained and brown. Part of the affected plaque will remain white.
Stages of the disease
The disease occurs in four stages. The sooner you start treatment, the better your chances of getting rid of nail fungus for good.
The first stage is characterized by damage to the edge of the nail. As mentioned above, the color of the plaque changes and bumps appear. The nail grows of poor quality, hollow and therefore breaks and crumbles.
A sign of the second stage will be an increase in the affected area. In addition, it should be noted that sometimes the second stage can begin as if the first was overlooked. Damage to the nail plate will not start from the edge, but at the base of the nail. Curing nail fungus in the second stage will be more problematic than in the first.
How to identify toenail fungus in the third stage? In medicine, it is called white superficial fungus and it seems that the entire plaque is affected. It has a dense white color and is very crumbly at the edges.
The fourth stage is called total dystrophic fungus. The nail has a yellowish-gray color, emits a peculiar unpleasant odor, and is very brittle. In the fourth stage, a bare part of the skin can often be seen under the broken nail, as it has grown due to the fungus and in most cases falls off.
The reason for visiting the dermatologist is usually the independent identification of the fourth stage of nail fungus. You should not look for advice on forums or the Internet on how to effectively treat nail fungus. It is better to consult a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease.
What to expect when going to the doctor?
Probably, each of us is afraid of doctors. However, don't be afraid to see a dermatologist if you suspect you have nail fungus. The specialist will perform an external examination and also take a scraping of the upper keratinized layer of the nail to send to the laboratory for diagnosis. A detailed analysis will reveal what caused the disease, determine the type of fungus, and also tell the doctor what type of treatment should be prescribed.
Treating nail fungus takes a long time. It can last from one month to three. After treatment, it will be necessary to be tested again, even if the above symptoms are not observed.
A few words about effective treatment.
Now we know how to identify toenail fungus. The methods are given above. Now it is worth saying a few words about the treatment that you can do yourself. The drug based on naftifine has proven its effectiveness. However, it is not necessary to use an ointment, but a solution. This medicine can also be used in cases of foot fungus.
How to use the solution? If you have a fungus in the first stage of the disease, lubricate the affected nail plate twice a day. Nails must be dry and well washed. In the following stages of the disease, you cannot do without taking pills. However, even in this case, the use of the solution with naftifine should not be discontinued: this will enhance the effect of the drug.
Before applying the product, the affected nail surface should be thoroughly cleaned with a manicure device. However, you have to be very careful. After completing the manipulations, it is necessary to apply a solution containing the active ingredient naphthyfine to the cleaned area. Repeat 2 times a day.
People who are familiar with this infectious disease also speak positively about kits to eliminate fungal nail infections. It is up to you which of these products to use, a solution or a nail removal kit. But without the help of a dermatologist, it will not be possible to get rid of nail fungus forever and completely.
to sum up
The article answers the question of how to identify toenail fungus. However, it is worth remembering that self-medication does not always lead to complete recovery. If there are changes in the thickness or color of your nails, you should consult a doctor.
Depending on the degree of damage to the nail plate, the fungus can be divided into four stages. If in the first stage the disease does not cause alarm, since it does not deform the nail plate much, in the fourth stage you can easily lose your nails. Don't hesitate to contact a dermatologist.
It is strongly recommended not to self-medicate by succumbing to advertising exhortations about the effectiveness of a particular drug. Cream or any other product applied to the nail plate from the outside will not eliminate the causative agent of the disease and will therefore be ineffective. As a result, you will only delay the treatment process by masking the manifestation of the disease. It is also worth remembering that nail fungus not only looks unsightly, but is also a kind of beacon indicating the presence of disorders in the body.