Symptoms of toenail fungus

Nail fungus, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, appear more often due to negligence of the rules of personal hygiene. The symptoms of nail fungus in most patients appear suddenly, as the infection occurs almost invisibly and instantly. Since the treatment measures for this disease continue for a long time, it is better for a person who has noticed signs of disease on the toenails to seek immediate help from a doctor.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease

The lesion can be caused by yeast, mold or fungus on the skin. In the first case, it is impossible to diagnose the disease immediately. Symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after infection. Nail peeling develops, slight irritation of the skin around it. Sometimes the patient suffers from severe itching.

If the disease has developed due to a skin fungus, then three scenarios are possible:

1. The feet, nails and skin of the feet are infected. The fungus can spread not only to the skin of the lower extremities, but also catch the nails on the hands.
2. Another type of mycelium affects only the big toe or little finger. Sometimes there is a passage of such fungi in the folds between the toes. Then the skin is touched either in 1-2 folds, or in all at once.
3. Another type of disease - the fungus is limited to the "invasion" of the nail plate on the little finger or thumb of the lower limb, but does not spread further.
4. The last type of infection is mold. This type of mycelium usually occurs in people with severe immune disorders, such as HIV.

The appearance of infection in all cases occurs for the following reasons:

1. The protective properties of the patient's body fell below a critical level.
2. The nail is mechanically damaged.
3. The man was wearing very tight shoes. Blood circulation in the legs was disturbed, which led to the development of an infection.
4. Some people have anatomical pathology of the feet, which contributes to the development of fungi.
5. Most often, patients who are diagnosed with obesity suffer from the disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the development of mycelium.
6. The fungus develops in patients with diabetes.

To prevent the disease, you should use only clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items. Timely decontamination and cleaning of carpets and shoes is recommended.

General signs of the disease

The first signs of toenail fungus in most people begin to appear as small white spots or streaks on the toenails. Most people do not pay attention to this, as nothing hurts them, there is no embarrassment. If you do not start treating mycosis in time, then you can start the disease. There will be a germination of mycelium on all the nail plates, the suffocation of the skin around the affected nails will start. In severe cases, the disease spreads to deep tissue structures. This threatens the development of gangrene and amputation of the leg or even the whole leg.

In the second stage of fungal disease, the natural luster of nail plates disappears. Nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The upper part and the lateral surfaces of the nail are often deformed. Such changes are clearly visible to the eye.

In the last stage of the disease, the nail plates become very brittle, the inflammatory process begins in the cuticles. A person can completely lose a nail. But the fungus does not stop there. They continue to spread to all the nail plates, and then pass to the skin of the foot, i. e. catch the feet.

The patient himself can recognize the disease in the second and third stage, as the nails become yellow or brown (sometimes they become black). The nail rises from the bed, gains added fragility, breaks quickly.

Symptoms of the disease in the initial stage

If a person has developed toenail fungus, the symptoms of the disease at first are virtually absent. But then, 2-3 months after the penetration of the skin fungus and its fixation on the nails, you may notice the appearance of such signs of the disease:

1. On the surface of the skin near the affected plaque, a slight redness initially develops.
2. Then the person feels a burning sensation in this area.
3. Severe itching develops, inflammation begins.
4. Subsequently, places with increased humidity develop in these areas.
5. Thickening of the nail and its keratinization is noticed.

As soon as a person notices these signs of nail fungus, he should be examined and then start treatment.

Depending on the type of fungal infection in the subsequent stages of mycosis development, the diseased nail plate is painted in different colors. In the first stage of disease development, the affected area may become white or green. Stains on it will be placed along the surface or will look like round dots. At the same time, the thickness of the plaque in most patients does not change and in many cases the nail retains its natural luster. The itching in all cases is very strong, it is impossible to leave immediately. If the patient has noticed signs of mycosis in time, then you can get rid of the burning and itching through the use of medications such as Miconazole, Clotrimazole and similar medications. But you do not have to treat yourself, it is better to do it under the supervision of a doctor. With any mistake or non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, the mycelium will immediately spread to healthy areas, which will complicate treatment.

Subsequent development of the disease

Fungi on toenails, if left untreated, can deprive nails of their natural color and the surface color of the affected area will be yellow. There is delamination of the nails. They can start to break down. Along with this, the patient develops intolerable itching in the skin around the affected area. The cracking of the nail plate substance begins. Burning intensifies. Some patients may develop dysbacteriosis, they do not feel well, complain of weakness throughout the body. Perhaps the development of drowsiness.

First, the mycelium completely changes the color of the surface of the tiles, then their thinning begins. The diseased nail is then rejected and the infection penetrates the skin structures. Itching worsens.

In the final stage of the disease, the surface of diseased nail plates becomes similar to scales. Depending on the type of mold that has hit the person, the nails begin to thicken, distorting them. They break quickly. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

1. The edges of the tiles become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain to the patient.
2. The shape of the tiles is very distorted and the scaly surface may develop.
3. The color of the affected area turns from yellow to black.
4. The insertion of the tile parts into the skin begins.
5. A white or yellow layer appears under the nails. This is due to their peeling from the bed.
6. The itching is very strong, almost unbearable. Burning of the skin around the affected areas increases again.

If these symptoms appear and treatment starts on time, then it will continue for a long period. You can become infected with a disease in 4-5 seconds and it is very difficult to cure the disease. This usually lasts 3 to 6 months. It is not recommended to abandon the course of treatment due to possible complications that may lead to surgery. So you need to listen carefully to yourself. If the initial symptoms are detected and treatment begins immediately, then there is the possibility of completing the therapy more quickly, saving your nails.