The initial stage of the fungus is distinguished by the absence of pronounced symptoms. This is one of the reasons why many patients find out about their disease only after some time, when the pathogens of onychomycosis cause significant damage to healthy tissues. If a person is very attentive to his own health, he will be able to recognize the first signs of infection. Its discovery is a serious reason to visit a doctor's office dealing with fungal pathologies.
Reasons for the development of onychomycosis
The initial stage of the fungus on the hands and feet does not cause a person much discomfort. The early signs of the disease, which are mild at this point, are simply ignored by many infected. Because of this, they miss the opportunity to start timely treatment of the disease and prevent the occurrence of serious complications.
There are many reasons that can cause the development of a fungal infection in the nails and the adjacent areas of the skin. They create optimal conditions for the successful development of pathogenic microflora. As a general rule, onychomycosis is more susceptible to older people, as well as people with a weakened immune system. Other adverse factors can also provoke the development of the initial stage of the disease:
- Neglect of the rules of personal hygiene;
- Skin damage in the area of the fingers or toes;
- Prolonged contact with moisture or chemicals that dry the skin;
- Regular use of tight clothing and shoes made of synthetic materials;
- Increased sweating during hot seasons;
- Chronic diseases that affect the state of immunity;
- immune and endocrine diseases;
- Abuse of potent drugs;
- Climatic characteristics of the area that create ideal conditions for the reproduction of the causative agent of nail mycosis.
If one of these negative factors affects the human body, you should think about the prevention of the development of onychomycosis. Otherwise, it will be difficult for him to avoid infection with the fungus.
Avoid tight and uncomfortable shoes. Since the fungus loves to "settle" in microcracks. Even the slightest damage to the nail plate or skin "attracts". Also dangerous is the violation of the blood supply in the fingers. The cells then receive less useful nutrients and become easy prey for pathogens. So be careful with your shoes.
Comfortable orthopedic shoes are the key not only to healthy nails and feet, but also to save flat feet, hallux valgus, calluses, calluses, facilitate walking and correct existing disorders in the initial stage. Daily wearing of such shoes provides comfort, not torment when walking. Also, modern orthopedic shoes are excellently designed and maintain a modern style.
What does nail fungus look like in its early stages?
Nail fungus can bother absolutely anyone. In order to identify it in a timely manner, it is necessary to know what conditions characterize the initial stage of the development of the disease.
The first signs of infection are felt from the first day of infection. However, they express themselves weakly, so few people pay attention to them. A person should be careful if, after visiting a public place with a high level of humidity, the color of the nail plates changes and itching occurs in the area of the toes. These are the first symptoms of onychomycosis. If the nails are healthy, the infection will not be able to penetrate into their deeper layers. Only damaged plates are subject to such an attack.
In the hands
Everyone needs to know what nail fungus looks like at an early stage. This information will help you timely calculate the disease in yourself or in people around you.
Fungal infection on the hands in most cases is detected in women. However, the representatives of the stronger sex are also susceptible to such infection. The disease is recognized by the symptoms that appear first after infection:
- fogging of the surface of the nail plate;
- The formation of spots on the nails;
- Change the color of the nail to yellow, gray or brown;
- Crumbling of the nail plate near the edges;
- Delamination and brittleness;
- Peeling of the skin near the nail.
Some patients develop signs of swelling near the nails. Although at the initial stage of the development of the disease, such a symptom usually does not occur.
Walking
Recognizing a fungal infection of the toenails helps a number of characteristic signs of this condition:
- Yellowing of the nail on the top or side;
- Thickening of the nail plate;
- nail discoloration;
- Slight itching in the area of the toes;
- nail exfoliation;
- Unpleasant foot odour.
Lack of treatment at an early stage of the development of the disease leads to its progression. Therefore, it is very important not to miss the most optimal time to start a therapeutic course, which will help to cope with the infection and prevent its spread to healthy tissues.
Treatment
Toenail fungus is easily treatable if the patient is diagnosed at the early stage of its development. In order not to start the disease, it is necessary to abandon self-medication. The patient will not be able to choose the appropriate therapy for himself, which will lead to a positive result. It is better to entrust such tasks to competent specialists who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis.
topical preparations
The fungus of the hands, as well as that of the lower extremities, can be eliminated with topical medications. The initial stage of the disease involves the use of drugs that do not have a significant effect on the patient's body, but act directly on the lesions.
Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis at the initial stage of development necessarily involves the use of a local drug.
The external agent must be used in accordance with the instructions of the attending physician, as well as his instructions for use. Compliance with this rule will increase the effectiveness of the course of treatment and avoid possible side effects.
According to the standard scheme, it is required to apply a local preparation to the nail plate, which has become infected with a fungus, 1-2 times a day with a thin layer. If special varnishes are used, they are applied no more than 1 time per week.
systemic therapy
At the first sign of onychomycosis, you should see a doctor. Foot and nail fungus cannot always be cured with local medicine. Therefore, in addition, dermatologists prescribe a systemic remedy that acts on the causative agent of the disease from inside the human body.
Oral drugs that have an antifungal effect can only be taken as prescribed by a specialist. This is because they have a long list of contraindications and side effects. The course of therapy for each patient is selected individually. It usually lasts about 4 months. If measures were taken at the initial stage of development of onychomycosis, then this period is reduced.
The use of systemic drugs is recommended if local remedies do not stop the development of the disease.
Laser therapy and ozone therapy
It is possible to treat a fungal infection of the nail plates using hardware procedures. For these purposes, laser and ozone therapy is used. They are prescribed at the initial and advanced stages of the development of the pathological process, if the traditional methods of treatment do not give the desired result.
Laser therapy in the fight against nail fungus has many advantages:
- Obtaining a guaranteed recovery result in 99% of cases;
- No pain or discomfort during the procedure;
- No negative impact on internal organs;
- Complete destruction of the fungus;
- Improvement of the general condition of the infected area after the first procedure;
- Restoration of the nail plate 30 days after therapy.
Fungi on the nails of the hands or lower extremities also help to cure ozone therapy. The initial stage of onychomycosis lends itself well to such treatment.
Ozone has an antiseptic effect. This is why doctors use it to treat fungal nail infections. When ozone enters the body, it is transported to different parts of the body through the blood. After that, a fight is waged with the causative agent of the disease, in which he loses in most cases.
Ozone therapy is completely painless. Its duration is limited to 30 minutes. During treatment, only the infected area is affected. The skin around the plaque is not affected.
Ozone, like laser therapy, is prescribed by the attending physician after the patient passes all the necessary tests and studies. From their results, the specialist draws conclusions about the suitability of using this type of therapeutic procedures that help speed up recovery.
popular methods
The treating physician may recommend the use of non-traditional treatment methods along with medications. It is good to carry out such therapy at an early stage of the development of the pathological process. Then it will be most useful. Treatment of onychomycosis can be carried out with such folk remedies:
- Iodine. They need to periodically treat the infected nail. It is desirable to carry out the procedure 2 times a day in order to stop the development of pathogenic microflora on its surface. The antiseptic agent not only fights the fungus, but also dries the nail plate. After a week of such treatment, it is recommended to take a break for 2-3 days;
- Garlic. This is a natural disinfectant that copes with the active reproduction of pathogens. A clove of fresh garlic should be grated, after which this porridge is applied to the problem area. It is advisable to leave it overnight, fixing the mass with a bandage;
- Celandine. With onychomycosis, the juice of this plant is useful. It is recommended to lubricate the areas affected by an infectious disease in the upper or lower extremities with a fresh product. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to test for allergies to this remedy in order to prevent the development of side effects;
- Onion. It is effective against a fungal infection caused by a yeast-like pathogen. Fresh vegetables should be peeled and grated on a medium grater. Afterwards, the onion mass is mixed with a small portion of natural honey. The finished product should be applied to sore nails for 2-3 hours. If you do this procedure several times a day, you can quickly achieve an improvement in the general condition of the patient;
- Soda. It is used in the preparation of medicinal baths. It should be dissolved in hot or lukewarm water. For 2. 5 liters of liquid, you need to take 1 tbsp. yosoda. It is also recommended to add a portion of liquid soap to the solution. This bath can be taken daily for 15 minutes.
Folk remedies work only in the treatment of the initial stage of onychomycosis. In more advanced cases, they do not give much result. But even if the disease has just started, there is no guarantee that alternative medicine will help eliminate it completely. It is best to use their methods in parallel with pharmaceutical preparations in order to be sure of the effectiveness of the therapeutic course.
Disinfection and other rules during the treatment period.
The doctor will tell the patient in detail how to act at the initial stage of the development of the disease, and advise what the foot fungus looks like at an early stage.
In order for the treatment prescribed by the doctor to be effective, the patient must also comply with special rules:
- Daily disinfection of socks and shoes with which a person infected with the fungus has been in contact is required;
- It is necessary to boil the patient's towels and bedding at a high temperature;
- It is necessary to clean the bathtub well after bathing the patient.
Boiling is strongly recommended to disinfect all acceptable objects and things with which a person with onychomycosis has interacted. You should also regularly clean your shoes with special antiseptic and antifungal solutions.
Prevention of onychomycosis
Prevention of onychomycosis should be carried out by everyone who is at risk of contracting this disease. This measure will allow you to avoid unnecessary spending of money and time on medical procedures.
To avoid onychomycosis, you should:
- Refrain from wearing other people's clothes and shoes. If this is necessary, they should initially be carefully treated with an antifungal and antiseptic agent;
- In public places, for example, a sauna or a swimming pool, you must wear disposable slippers;
- Use only your own manicure tools.
If a person was able to cure onychomycosis and further adheres to preventive measures, then the probability that he will encounter the fungus again will be only 8%.