Some tips to identify the fungus on the nails and not to confuse it with another disease

A third of people in the world have stratification and crumbling of the nails, clouding of the plate.

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

Reasons for the formation of onychomycosis

Infection with a fungus is quite easy. The infection can be found inpublic showers, beaches and swimming pools.There is a high risk of getting onychomycosis from infected relatives 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 the fungus:

• small skin lesions on the feet (corns, corns, small cracks and abrasions) due to tight shoes;
• weak immunity due to inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• vascular ailments, impaired functioning of internal organs, leading to difficulties with blood circulation in the legs;
• violated safety measures, i. e. going to public places without shoes, poor foot hygiene, trying on someone else's shoes;
• ignoring profuse sweating and diaper rash on the legs.

Important!

Onychomycosis begins on the thumb, then the virus can develop on the little finger.

What diseases can serve as a prerequisite?

The risk group includes people whose skin does not breathe due to tight shoes throughout the day. These include representatives of labor specialties.

The following diseases can serve as a prerequisite:

• diabetes mellitus groups I and II;
• phlebeurysm;
• foot deformity;
• obstruction and blockage of blood vessels.

Today, various creams and varnishes are often offered for treatment, but they will be useless, since the cause may be caused by internal ailments.

Types of infections

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

The only thing is that there are two important signs by which the disease is distinguished. It 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 changes depending on the location of the virus.

Type of pathogen

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

• Dermatophytes- this is red trichophyton and mentagrophytes, foliated epidermophyton and so on. When infected with such fungi, yellowish or grayish spots are formed, the remaining parts of the plaque become cloudy, and the free edge changes its shade. In general, the entire surface changes and eventually moves away from the bed.
• Molds. 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, yellowish, brownish color. Such a tint can affect the surface both partially and fully.
• Yeasts of the Candida genus. They thin the nail and contribute to its exfoliation. Often, due to this pathogen, a white form of the disease is formed, which is characterized by inflammation of the cuticle. They can cause intense pain and purulent discharge can be observed. If left untreated, the nail will become thinner, brown, and completely pull away from the bed.

Places of localization of the disease on the arms, legs

The main forms of onychomycosis:

1. Lateral.There is a nail infection on the sides. Its color becomes gray, yellowish and brownish. The plaque begins to become cloudy, crumble and exfoliate.
2. Distal.It is the most common type of fungus. The infection starts from the free edge of the nail. The plate changes color to yellow, brown or gray. Over time, the loss increases. In the plate, delamination, crumbling and clouding begin. In this case, hyperkeratosis appears under the nails, and if the entire nail is affected, tissue dystrophy is formed.
3. Proximal.This form involves damage to the cuticle, which swells, becomes inflamed, 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 collapse.
4. White surface.It appears, as a rule, on the thumb, on others - occasionally. Externally, it manifests itself in the form of white spots located on the entire surface of the nail. Further, the disease progresses and spreads to keratinized tissues. The spots can change color - from milk to green or yellow. The plate structure is made spongy and loose. If this form is not treated, the nail can completely collapse.
5. The dystrophy is total.It covers the entire surface of the nail. This is an advanced degree of distal or proximal fungus. The plaque becomes thick, changes shape to an unnatural shape, and eventually breaks down completely.

Photo of mycosis on the nails

Mycosis symptoms

After an infection, the fungus needs time to settle. First, the disease affects the big toes, destroying the nail plate. Damage is manifested by signs such as:

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

How to independently determine, recognize the disease?

The fungus first affects one leg, then the infection passes to the second. It is not necessary to delay this disease, if you doubt yourself and cannot determine the virus, 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 which consists in immersing the feet in a solution of potassium permanganate. At the same time, potassium permanganate stains healthy nails brownish, and infected nails remain light.

This procedure is simple and does not require much time. A little potassium permanganate is added to a bowl of warm water. The solution does not have to be strong. Feet or hands are placed in the liquid and wait for about 10 minutes. This method is completely harmless. It can be used only in case of allergic reactions to potassium permanganate.

Detect with 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 tinea 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 turn very dark.

How to diagnose?

Today, various effective diagnostic methods are offered, probably the most reliable method is testing for nail fungus:

• Microbiological diagnosis.Microscopy is the most common method used to detect fungi and determine their type. It allows you to detect infection only in the structure of the nail plate or skin tissue. Removing a biomaterial involves scraping the infected cells from the area where the pathogen is located.

  In the final and intermediate stages, mycosis spores, yeast cells and mycelial filaments are found in the samples. Such a diagnosis makes it possible to establish the accumulation and type of pathogen. The procedure itself lasts from 2 days to a month.

• Bound immunosorbent assay. Such an analysis is designed to identify fungi that have affected both the nail and internal organs. Its difference is that venous blood is needed to detect the disease, which is taken in the morning or 4 hours after eating. No special preparation is required for the analysis.
• PCR test.The polymerase chain reaction is the best method for diagnosing 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 a narrow focus. That is, for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, it is necessary to know exactly the place of localization. A PCR test can reveal 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. When examining a patient, a Wood's lamp is used, which emits ultraviolet rays. Thanks to her, the products of vital activity begin to shine brightly. The type of pathogen affects the shade of the glow.

How to distinguish fungal infections from bruises and other diseases?

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

It is distinguished by the darkening of the nail plate, the formation of yellow spots and stripes, which over time enlarge and penetrate deep into the nail.

Compared to psoriasis, onychomycosis develops smoothly. He gradually deforms the plate so that it detaches from the bed. He distinguishes it from wounds, psoriasis, lichen and eczema, the presence of pain and bad smell.

Hygiene rules

The best cure for fungus is prevention.Simple precautions can help prevent infection. First of all, they are necessary for people who visit beaches, public swimming pools, saunas, etc. In such places, you should always use individual towels and carry light slates.

If your feet sweat a lot, you need to treat them with special means, of which there are many today. It is not recommended to wear shoes that are too tight or to use someone else's shoes. When trying on shoes in the store, you must wear shoe covers or socks. Be sure to monitor foot and hand hygiene and wipe them clean after washing.

When one of the family members is infected with the fungus, they should have a separate washcloth and towel. After visiting the bath, it must be treated with antimicrobial agents. The patient's washcloth should be treated regularly with a 5% chloramine solution, and clothes and towels should be boiled with washing powder.

If infection is suspected, the legs or arms should be immersed in warm water and held there for about 10 minutes. The fungus dies fairly 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 fingernails and make sure you follow preventive measures. In case of suspicious symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.