If you ask at the clinic which doctor will help cure toenail fungus, then most likely you will be referred to a dermatologist. This seems strange. After all, a dermatologist treats skin conditions, and mycologists treat fungal infections.
But there is no contradiction in this. A dermatologist treats a wide variety of skin conditions. A mycologist only treats fungal infections, not just the skin. If the disease is not advanced, a dermatologist at the district clinic will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment and, if necessary, refer to a mycologist. The nail, of course, is not exactly skin. But the nails are treated by dermatologists. Which doctor is better to contact?
In complex or severely advanced cases, complex treatment is required. In addition to drugs for external use, pills and sometimes physiotherapy are also prescribed. Of course, in such a situation it is better to contact a mycologist.
So who, what doctor treats nail fungus? Both answers are correct: dermatologist and mycologist. By the way, an appointment with a mycologist is often paid for. As a rule, there is no queue for him, and if there are serious reasons for suspicion, you can immediately go to the mycologist.
Regardless of the doctor treating your nails, paid tests may be required. But it is better to have an analysis to clarify the diagnosis or make sure that there is no fungal infection. In advanced cases, treatment will cost much more.
What does a dermatologist treat?
The word derma translates to "skin. "This specialist deals with skin problems. Allergies, acne, scabies and even psoriasis. Dandruff on the head is treated by the same doctor. There are many skin diseases, but a dermatologist can distinguish a parasitic disease from an allergic one and prescribe treatment even before the test result.
What doctor treats fingernail and toenail fungus?
In mild cases, yeast infections are usually treated by conventional doctors. Fungal diseases of the genital organs - urologist or gynecologist. Thrush in children - pediatrician. Dermatologist for uncomplicated skin diseases.
In difficult cases (and more often, in advanced cases), the help of a specialist in fungal infections is needed. That is, the mycologist understands them. You can address to the mycologist. if you do not want it to be stated on the outpatient card that a fungus was found. Or you can't go to a dermatologist.
The first signs of a fungal infection of the foot.
The current forms arise due to the fact that the disease was not immediately noticed. What should be alarming?
- If the skin between the fingers gets wet and cracks
- There is itching or redness of the skin of the foot.
- There was swelling of the skin near the nail.
- the skin is scaly
- Cracks in the heels
- The foot skin looks rough and sloppy with good care.
- The color of the nail has changed, spots or streaks have appeared.
- There was an unpleasant foot odor.
It is enough to notice only one of the above violations in order to take a closer look at your legs. Of course, the reason may be new or uncomfortable shoes. You should change your shoes, abandon synthetic socks. In the evening, wash your feet with laundry or baby soap, and then take a bath with sea salt or chamomile decoction. But if after two the appearance of the foot does not return to normal, you should see a doctor.
What is the danger of foot and nail fungus?
Usually, the fungus first affects the skin of the foot, and then goes to the nails. Treating the fungus, while only the skin is affected, is much easier. Various ointments, infusions and solutions penetrate the skin more easily than the hard surface of the nail. And they act faster. It is more difficult to cure a fungus when its manifestations are noticeable on the nails.
And the smallest particles of skin or nails affected by the fungus become the culprits of reinfection. Finally, other members of the family can also be infected.
But are mushrooms really that dangerous? What, besides itching and an ugly appearance, threatens?
The danger is that some fungi can damage not only the skin of the legs or nails. The infection can enter, for example, in the ear. And in young children and the elderly, in the inguinal folds. The skin there is smoother and thinner. There are fungi that affect not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes. It is better not to risk it and not wait for the infection to spread.
how is the treatment
In all cases, the doctor prescribes not only local treatment, but also tablets. It doesn't have to be antifungal medication. Vitamin-mineral complex preparations help to cope with infection. Blood tests and other tests are done. Scrape off damaged skin or nails. Treatment is usually outpatient, but there is a day hospital where all procedures are performed by a nurse. If it turns out that injections are needed, they may be admitted to hospital.
But modern science can cure the fungus in two or three laser treatments. Treatment is not cheap, but in the most hopeless cases, full recovery takes two weeks. Of course, a new nail will not grow during this time, and even the skin will not recover. But the disease will be defeated. The interval between laser treatment sessions is one to two weeks. Unfortunately, even regional centers do not always have such equipment.
Home remedies for nail fungus
It is important to understand that home remedies that you can use on your own do not include medication. Excellent in the fight against the fungus at the initial stage.
- foot baths
- herbal and vegetable lotions and compresses
- essential oils,
- soda, salt, vinegar, vodka
- plain ground coffee
- alcoholic tinctures of medicinal plants
- ordinary yellow clay
- tar soap
From the fungus on the legs - home recipes.
2 tablespoons of calamus root, pour a glass of boiling water, insist, cover, from half an hour to 40 minutes. Drink a quarter cup 4 times a day. Reception 10 days simultaneously with external treatment.
Golden mustache dye. The stem of the plant is insisted in vodka, 10 internodes with leaves per 150 grams of vodka. Insist in a dark place for a week. Dilute with water before use. One part of the infusion is three parts of water. Lubricate affected skin and all toenails. Attention! The plant is poisonous!
Baths with sea salt are taken twice a week. After that, they dry their feet and lubricate the inflamed places with celandine juice.
Compresses with herbal infusion. Take 20 grams of lilac flowers, calendula, celandine herbs and oak bark for 2 cups of boiling water. They insist an hour. Keep the compress for half an hour.
Grate a piece of tar soap. pour a quarter of the resulting chips with hot water. A foot bath is being done. Science has confirmed the antifungal effect of birch tar and tar soap. There are no contraindications. But the skin after them is too susceptible to the sun. During the day after the procedure, go out only in socks! Tar soap dries the skin a little. You should know.
Coffee grains. Perfectly disinfects and promotes skin renewal. A thickening is applied to the surface of all toenails and the skin at their base. This is done after steaming, for example, a bath with salt, sea or ordinary. Dry feet. wrap the legs with a bandage to fix the thickness in place. Wash after 20 minutes.
Potato decoction. Unlike tar and coffee, the fungus does not destroy. But it calms the skin and relieves inflammation. Also, after baths with a decoction of potatoes, the skin is refreshed faster.
mycologist recommendation
Protecting yourself from reinfection is the main thing in treatment. The spores of the infectious agent will not go away on their own. It is necessary to disinfect bedding, a rug in the bathroom and near the bed. Disinfect shoes. The fungus spores are not killed by normal washing. Therefore, it is better to just throw the socks away. Those who listen to the advice of doctors will get rid of the annoying parasite faster.