The initial stage of the fungus is characterized by the absence of pronounced symptoms. Among other things, this is the reason why many patients only become aware of their disease after a period of time when the pathogens of onychomycosis cause significant damage to healthy tissues. If a person pays close attention to their own health, they will be able to recognize the first signs of infection. Their discovery is a good reason to visit a clinic for fungal pathologies.
Causes of onychomycosis
The initial stage of the fungus on the hands and feet does not cause much discomfort to the person. The first signs of the disease, which are currently mild, are simply ignored by many infected people. Because of this, they miss the opportunity to start treating the disease in time and prevent serious complications from occurring.
There can be several reasons why it can cause a fungal infection on the nails and adjacent areas of the skin. They create optimal conditions for the successful development of the pathogenic microflora. The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are usually the most susceptible to onychomycosis. Other adverse factors may provoke the onset of the disease:
- Ignoring personal hygiene rules;
- skin damage to the fingers or toes;
- Prolonged contact with moisture or chemicals that dry out the skin;
- Regular wear of tight clothing and shoes made of synthetic materials;
- Increased sweating in hot seasons;
- Chronic diseases that affect the state of immunity;
- Immune and endocrine diseases;
- Abuse of strong drugs;
- The climatic characteristics of the area, which create ideal conditions for the growth of the pathogen of nail mycosis.
If any of these negative factors affect the human body, you should consider preventing the development of onychomycosis. Otherwise, it will be difficult to avoid fungal infection.
Avoid tight and uncomfortable shoes. Because the fungus likes to "settle" in the microcracks. Even the slightest damage to the nail plate or skin "attracts" it. Violation of the blood supply to the fingers is also dangerous. At this point, the cells get less useful nutrients and become easy prey for pathogens. So be careful with your shoes.
Comfortable orthopedic shoes are not only the key to healthy nails and feet, but also save flat feet, hallux valgus, calluses, corns, make it easier to walk and correct existing disorders in the initial stage. Everyday wear of such shoes provides comfort rather than pain while walking. In addition, modern orthopedic shoes have an excellent design and fashionable style.
What does a nail fungus look like in its early stages?
Nail fungus can bother anyone. In order to identify them in time, it is necessary to know the conditions that characterize the initial stage of the development of the disease.
Early signs of infection can be felt from the first day of infection. However, they are weakly expressed, so few pay attention to them. A person should be careful if after visiting a high-humidity public place, the color of the nail plates changes and itching occurs in the toe area. These are the first symptoms of onychomycosis. If the nails are healthy, the infection cannot penetrate their deeper layers. Only damaged disks are exposed to such an attack.
On the hands
Everyone needs to know what nail fungus looks like in the early stages. This information helps him calculate the disease in time for himself or the people around him.
Fungal infections of the hand are most common in women. However, members of the stronger sex are susceptible to such infections. The disease is recognized by the first symptoms that appear after the infection:
- Discoloration of the nail plate surface;
- Stains on the nails;
- Change the color of the nail to yellow, gray or brown;
- Crumbling of the nail plate near the edges;
- Delamination and fragility;
- Exfoliation of the skin near the nail.
In some patients, there are signs of swelling near the nails. Although such a symptom does not usually occur in the early stages of the disease.
On foot
Recognizing a fungal infection of the toenails helps with a number of signs of this condition:
- Yellowing of the nail on the top or side;
- Thickening of the nail plate;
- Nail discoloration;
- mild itching in the toes;
- peeling the nail;
- Unpleasant foot odor.
Lack of treatment leads to disease progression in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, it is very important not to miss the most optimal moment to start a therapeutic course that will help you cope with the infection and prevent it from spreading to healthy tissues.
Treatment
Nail fungus is easy to treat if the patient is diagnosed in the early stages of development. In order not to start the disease, you need to stop self-healing. The patient is unable to choose the appropriate therapy, which leads to a positive result. It is best to entrust such tasks to competent professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis.
Topical preparations
Mushrooms on the hands as well as on the lower extremities can be removed with topical medications. In the initial stage of the disease, only drugs that do not have a significant effect on the patient's body but act directly on the lesions should be used.
Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis in the early stages of development necessarily involves the use of a topical drug.
The external agent should be used according to the instructions of the doctor and the instructions for use. Adherence to this rule increases the effectiveness of treatment and avoids possible side effects.
According to the standard schedule, a topical preparation should be applied to the fungus-infected nail plate in a thin layer 1-2 times a day. If special varnishes are used, they are applied up to 1 time per week.
Systemic therapy
A doctor should be consulted for the first signs of onychomycosis. Fungus on the feet and nails is not always curable with topical medicine. Therefore, dermatologists also prescribe a systemic treatment that acts on the pathogen of the disease from within the human body.
Oral antifungal medicines should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. This is due to the fact that they contain a number of contraindications and side effects. The course of therapy is selected individually for each patient. It usually lasts for about 4 months. If measures are taken in the early stages of developing onychomycosis, this period is reduced.
The use of systemic drugs is recommended if local therapies do not stop the development of the disease.
Laser therapy and ozone therapy
Fungal infections on nail plates can be treated with hardware procedures. Laser and ozone therapy are used for this purpose. They are prescribed at an early and advanced stage in the development of the pathological process if traditional treatment methods do not produce the desired results.
Laser therapy has several advantages in the fight against nail fungus:
- Achieving a guaranteed result of healing in 99% of cases;
- There is no pain or discomfort during the procedure;
- There are no negative effects on the internal organs;
- Complete destruction of the fungus;
- Improving the general condition of the infected area after the first procedure;
- Nail plate recovery 30 days after therapy.
Nail fungus on the hands or lower extremities also helps cure ozone therapy. The initial stage of onychomycosis is well suited for such treatment.
Ozone has an antiseptic effect. This is why it is used by doctors to treat fungal infections of the nails. When ozone enters the body, it enters different parts of the body through the blood. They then fight the pathogen of the disease in which they lose in most cases.
Ozone therapy is completely painless. Its duration is limited to 30 minutes. It only affects the infected area during treatment. It does not affect the skin around the disc.
Ozone, like laser therapy, is prescribed by your doctor after the patient has gone through all the necessary tests and studies. Based on their results, the practitioner draws conclusions about the appropriateness of using such therapeutic procedures that aid in healing.
Folk methods
Your doctor may advise you to use non-traditional treatments in combination with your medicine. It is good to perform such therapy in the early stages of the pathological process. Then it will be the most useful. Onychomycosis can be treated with the following folk remedies:
- Iodine. They need to treat infected nails from time to time. It is desirable to perform the procedure twice a day to stop the formation of the pathogenic microflora on its surface. The antiseptic not only fights the fungus but also dries the nail plate. It is recommended to take a break of 2-3 days after one week of such treatment;
- Garlic. It is a natural disinfectant that copes with the active multiplication of pathogens. Grate a fresh clove of garlic and then apply this porridge to the problem area. It is advisable to leave it overnight, fixing the mass with a bandage;
- Bloodweed. In the case of onychomycosis, the juice of this plant is useful. Areas affected by infectious disease of the upper or lower limbs should be coated with a fresh product. An allergy test with this medicine should be performed before starting the procedure to prevent side effects;
- Onion. It is effective against fungal infections caused by a yeast-like pathogen. Fresh vegetables should be peeled and grated on a medium grater. After 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. Performing this procedure several times a day can quickly improve the patient's general condition;
- Soda. It is used to make spas. Dissolve in hot or warm water. 2, 5 liters of liquid requires 1 tbsp. l. soda. It is also advisable to add a portion of liquid soap to the solution. This bath can be used for 15 minutes a day.
Folk remedies only work in the early stages of onychomycosis. In more advanced cases, they do not produce many results. But even if the disease has only just begun, there is no guarantee that alternative medicine will help you get rid of it completely. Its best methods should be used in parallel with pharmaceuticals to ensure the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.
Disinfection and other rules during treatment
The doctor tells the patient in detail how to proceed in the early stages of the disease and gives advice on what the fungus looks like on the legs in the early stages.
In order for the treatment prescribed by the doctor to be effective, the patient must also follow special rules:
- Disinfection of daily socks and shoes that have been in contact with a person infected with the fungus is required;
- The patient’s towels and bedding should be boiled at high temperatures;
- After bathing the patient, the bath should be thoroughly cleaned.
Boiling is highly recommended for disinfecting any acceptable object or thing that a person with onychomycosis has come in contact with. In addition, wipe your shoes regularly with special antiseptic and antifungal solutions.
Prevention of onychomycosis
Prevention of onychomycosis should be done by anyone who is at risk for this disease. This measure will allow him to avoid spending unnecessary money and time on medical procedures.
To avoid onychomycosis, you should:
- Avoid wearing the clothes and shoes of others. If necessary, they should initially be treated carefully with antifungal and antiseptic agents;
- You must use disposable slippers in public places, such as a sauna or swimming pool;
- Use only your own manicure tools.
If a person has been able to cure onychomycosis and continues to adhere to preventive measures, the probability of re-encountering the fungus is only 8%.