Symptoms of toenail fungus

Toenail fungus, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, occurs more often due to neglect of personal hygiene rules. The symptoms of nail fungus in most patients appear suddenly, as the infection appears almost imperceptibly and momentarily. As treatment for this condition continues for a long time, it is best for a person who has noticed signs of toenail disease to seek immediate help from a doctor.

Factors that contribute to the development of the disease

Damage can be caused by yeast, mold or skin fungi. In the first case, it is impossible to diagnose the disease immediately. The symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after the infection. Peeling of the nail 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, toenails and skin of the feet are infected. The fungus can spread not only to the skin of the lower extremities, but also to the fingernails.
2. Another type of mycelium affects only the toenail or little toe. Sometimes there is a transition of such fungi in the folds between the fingers. Then the skin is affected either in 1-2 aspects, or in all at once.
3. Another type of disease - the fungus is limited to the "occupation" 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.

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 was mechanically damaged.
3. The man was wearing very tight shoes. Blood circulation in the legs was disrupted, which led to the development of infection.
4. Some people have anatomical pathology of the feet, which contributes to the growth of fungi.
5. Most often, patients diagnosed with obesity suffer from the disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the growth of mycelium.
6. The fungus develops in patients with diabetes.

To prevent the disease, you should use only clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items. Early disinfection 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 whitish dots or streaks on the toenails. Most people do not pay attention to this, since nothing hurts them, there is no inconvenience. If you do not start treating the fungus in time, then you can start the disease. There will be mycelial growth on all the nail plates, the skin around the affected nails will start to swell. 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 the disease with fungal infection, the natural shine of the nail plates disappears. The nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The top and sides 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 fragile, the inflammatory process begins in the skin. A person can completely lose a nail. But the fungi do not stop there. They continue to spread to all the nail plates, and then pass to the skin of the foot, that is, they capture the feet.

The patient himself can recognize the disease in the second and third stage, since the nails turn yellow or brown (sometimes black). The nail gets out of bed, acquires increased fragility, breaks quickly.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stages

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

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

Once a person notices these signs of nail fungus, they should be examined and then start treatment.

Depending on the type of fungal infection in the later stages of fungal development, the diseased nail plate is painted in different colors. In the early stages of the disease, the affected area may become white or green. The spots on it will be 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 shine. The itching in all cases is very strong, it is impossible to get rid of it immediately. If the patient notices signs of fungus 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 should not 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.

The subsequent development of the disease

Toenail fungus, if left untreated, can deprive the nails of their natural color and the color of the surface of the affected area will be yellow. There is detachment of the nails. They may begin to collapse. Along with this, the patient develops unbearable itching of the skin around the affected area. The cracking of the substance of the nail plates begins. The burning intensifies. Some patients may develop dysbacteriosis, feel unwell, and complain of weakness throughout the body. Maybe the development of drowsiness.

First, the mycelium completely changes the color of the surface of the plates, then their thinning begins. The diseased nail is then discarded and the infection penetrates the skin structures. The itching gets worse.

In the last stage of the disease, the surface of the diseased nail plates becomes similar to scales. Depending on the type of fungus that struck the person, the nails begin to thicken, to peel off. They break quickly. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

1. The edges of the plates become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain to the patient.
2. The shape of the slabs is very deformed and a scaly surface can develop.
3. The color of the affected area changes from yellow to black.
4. The insertion of parts of the plates into the skin begins.
5. An off-white or yellowish coating 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 occur and treatment is started early, then it will continue for a long time. You can become infected with a disease in 4-5 seconds and it is very difficult to cure the disease. This usually takes 3 to 6 months. It is not recommended to abandon the course of treatment due to possible complications that may lead to surgery. Therefore, you need to listen to yourself carefully. If early symptoms are detected and treatment is started immediately, then there is a chance that you will complete the treatment faster while saving your nails.