Nail fungus should not be confused with anything that is almost impossible to treat. However, if you know the previous symptoms of nail fungus, it will not be too late to start fighting the infection and you can prevent nail loss. However, in different cases, the fungus looks different, so you must first understand a little about the nature and course of the disease.
General symptoms of the disease
Regardless of the type, variety, course and even stage of the disease, these symptoms will remain unchanged and will inevitably indicate onychomycosis that is developing or already functioning.
- A change in the color of the nail plate is the main sign that the disease has begun to develop. The shades can vary from whitish to black, but the most common color of fungal nails is brownish-yellow.
- An unpleasant odor is always accompanied by onychomycosis, although it is not very noticeable in the early stages. True, you are unlikely to smell your feet, and a certain odor will already be noticeable during the development of the disease.
- Layering, sagging, and peeling of the nail plate do not begin immediately, but these are the symptoms of nail fungus that alert most people. If these symptoms are moderate and appear local, then there is still a chance to return the nail to a healthy appearance.
- Painful sensations are rarely seen in the early stages and stages of development, but as the disease progresses, it is impossible to avoid discomfort and pain: in any case, it will appear either due to deformity, or due to a destroyed nail plate or nail plate. onset of inflammation with pus.
- Burning and itching of the skin should not be ignored. In addition, in the early stages, these symptoms can help to recognize the disease, because in some cases, the skin passes to the nail plate side or back ridges or cuticles.
By the way
Onychomycosis is more common on the toenails, the fungus occurs on the hands less often, after contact with the most affected nails.
Symptoms of foot fungus
Apparently, you already know how to diagnose nail fungus, but this information is quite general, although it helps to accurately diagnose onychomycosis. The fact is that there are more than 50 species of fungi that can cause it, and about 10 of the course of the disease. In each of the possible scenarios, it is better to know in advance what awaits you.
More than 90% of cases of onychomycosis in the legs are due to dermatomycetes, less than 10% - to fungi such as yeast, and only a small proportion - to fungi.
Different types of nail fungus cause different symptoms.
- With a normotrophic fungus, the nail plate itself is not deformed, and the most noticeable manifestation of the disease is a change in the color of the plate on the sides to a yellowish-brown color. At the same time, its thickness does not change, does not collapse and does not lose its natural luster. If you do not treat normotrophic fungi, it will affect a growing area, the plate will begin to shed and may come off completely.
- Hypertrophic fungus causes thickening of the nail plate, which leads to the formation of paw-like growths. In the advanced stage, such a fungus causes discomfort and often pain during walking, and, of course, damage to the nail is accompanied by a change in color to gray or yellow. Such nails lose their natural shine and begin to fall out and wear out.
- If you encounter an atrophic fungus, the risk of losing the plate without proper treatment is very high. Such a fungus gradually destroys the nail plate, leaving it loose and eroded, resulting in its atrophy. It is difficult to distinguish the course of atrophy in the early stages, as it is accompanied only by a loss of luster and a change in the color of the plaque to yellow, brown or gray.
Less common is lateral-distal mold, accompanied by darkening of the nail plate, pain, purulence and atrophy of the nail plate; proximal fungus with white spots in the area of the growth zone and damage to the nail plate on the side of the cuticle, as well as a white surface fungus manifesting itself in the form of small white spots. The nail occupies an area that gradually grows and grows.
By the way
The older a person is, the more susceptible they are to nail fungus. Also, the formation of fungi can be affected by climate, hygiene and sex.
Signs of fungus on the hands
The 3 main variants of the disease in the hands do not differ from those found in the feet, only the distribution of the causes is slightly different: about 30% and 45% are dermatomycetes and yeast. fungi, respectively, slightly less than 15% mold, as well as a small number of infections are caused by other mycotic organisms.
The main symptoms are the same for the plates on the arms and legs, and the affected areas look similar. The only difficult point may be the question of how to recognize nail fungus in rare cases, such as rubromycosis or infection with trichophytons, but this is a task for more qualified doctors.
The development of the fungus
If the disease does not look scary in the early stages, and serious treatment thoughts rarely occur, and are increasingly replaced by folk remedies, it will not be possible to do without long-term medical treatment at an advanced stage. And it won't even guarantee that the nail will stay with you.
- It would be ideal to start treatment of the disease at an early stage, but it is almost impossible to diagnose it outside the laboratory: all the symptoms have a hardly noticeable manifestation. Although a few signs may still be visible. If you see something wrong on the skin, such as cracks, blisters or burns, it is a clear sign of onychomycosis on the nails. If you notice that the color of the nail plate begins to change along the edges or from one edge, it is also a cause for concern.
- Usually, the fungus is noticeable during the developmental stage, and to see it as early as possible, it is necessary to regularly do at least a simple pedicure and monitor the condition of the skin of the nails and feet. During this period, the nail plate looks unhealthy, loses its luster, a significant change in color begins, and near the beginning of the developmental stage, the nail begins to deform, peel and collapse.
- In the advanced stage, the nail will definitely collapse actively: delaminate, break, loosen the nail plate until it is completely destroyed, and even damage the nail bed. In order for the disease to reach its advanced form, it must be ignored long enough to tolerate the itching, discomfort, disgusting appearance, and unpleasant odor that people still do not often experience. Therefore, this stage is characteristic of the rapid development of the fungus in old age or in the presence of certain diseases.
It is important to remember that untreated nail fungus can turn into toenail fungus, and this disease is even more unpleasant and difficult to treat.
Determining the presence of a fungus on the nails, at least at the stage of development, is not so difficult, but it is better to entrust to qualified professionals to determine the cause and type of course. Do not neglect the help of doctors and contact them at the first suspicion of the disease.