Symptoms of toenail fungus

Toenail fungus, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, appears most often due to the neglect of the rules of personal hygiene. Symptoms of nail fungus in most patients appear suddenly, as the infection occurs almost invisibly and immediately. Since the treatment measures for this disease continue for a long period of time, it is better for someone who has seen signs of the disease on the toenails to immediately seek help from a doctor.

Factors that contribute to the development of the disease

Lesions can be caused by yeast, mold or skin fungus. In the first case, it is impossible to diagnose the disease immediately. Symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after infection. Exfoliation of the nail develops, a slight irritation of the skin around it. Sometimes patients are tormented by severe itching.

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

1. Feet, nails and skin of the feet are infected. The fungus can spread not only on the skin of the lower legs, but also catch the nails on the hands.
2. Another type of mycelium only affects the nails of the thumb or big toe. Sometimes there is a transition of such a fungus to the folds between the fingers. Then the skin is affected either at 1-2 folds, or at all at once.
3. Another type of disease - the fungus is limited to the "occupation" of the nail plate on the little finger or lower toe, but does not spread further.
4. The last type of infection is mold. This type of mycelium usually appears 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 fall below critical levels.
2. The nail was mechanically damaged.
3. The man was wearing shoes that were too tight. Blood circulation in the legs is disrupted, which leads to the development of infection.
4. Some people have anatomical pathology of the foot, which contributes to the development of the fungus.
5. Often, patients diagnosed with obesity develop this disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the development of the mycelium.
6. The fungus grows in diabetics.

To prevent this disease, you only need to use clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items. It is recommended to decontaminate and clean carpets and shoes on time.

General signs of the disease

The first signs of toenail fungus in most people begin to appear as small whitish spots or streaks on the toenails. Most people don’t pay attention to this, because nothing hurts them, nothing discomfort. If you do not start mycosis treatment on time, then you can start the disease. There will be proliferation of mycelium on all nail plates, suppuration of the skin around the affected nail will begin. 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 mycosis, the natural luster of the nail plate disappears. Nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The top and side surfaces of the nail often change shape. Such changes are clearly visible to the eye.

In the last stages of the disease, the nail plate becomes very brittle, the inflammatory process begins on the cuticle. One can lose nails completely. But the fungus doesn’t stop there. They continue to spread to all the nail plates, and then pass through the skin of the foot, that is, they catch the foot.

The patient himself may recognize the disease in the second and third stages, as the nails turn yellow or brown (sometimes turn black). The nails rose from his bed, acquiring increased fragility, quickly breaking.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stages

If a person has developed toenail fungus, the symptoms of the disease are initially practically absent. But then, 2-3 months after the penetration of the skin fungus and its fixation on the nails, you can see the manifestations of the symptoms of the disease:

1. On the surface of the skin near the affected plate, a slight redness first develops.
2. Then the person felt a burning sensation in this area.
3. Severe itching develops, inflammation begins.
4. After that, places with increased humidity grow in this area.
5. There is a thickening of the nail and its keratinization.

Once a person is aware of the signs of this nail fungus, he or she should be examined and then start treatment.

Depending on the type of fungal infection at the next stage of development of mycosis, the diseased nail plates are painted in different colors. In the first stage of disease development, the affected area may turn white or green. The spots on it will be located along the surface or look like round dots. At the same time, the thickness of the plate 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 get rid of it immediately. If the patient sees signs of mycosis in time, then you can get rid of the burning sensation and itching through the use of medications such as Miconazole, Clotrimazole and similar medications. But you can 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 spread immediately to healthy areas, which will complicate treatment.

Subsequent disease progression

Fungus on toenails, if left untreated, can lose the natural color of the nails, and the surface color of the affected area will turn yellow. There is nail delamination. They may start to break down. Along with this, the patient experiences unbearable itching on the skin around the affected area. Cracking of the nail plate material begins. The burning is getting stronger. Some patients may have dysbacteriosis, they feel unwell, complain of weakness throughout the body. Probably a drowsy development.

First, the mycelium completely changes the color of the plate surface, then its thinning begins. Then the diseased nail is rejected, and the infection penetrates the skin structure. The itching is getting worse.

In the last stage of the disease, the surface of the diseased nail plate becomes similar in scale. Depending on the type of fungus that is infecting the person, the thickening of the nails begins, their delamination. They quickly broke. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

1. The edges of the plate become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain in the patient.
2. The shape of the plate is very distorted, and a scaly surface may form.
3. The color of the affected area changes from yellow to black.
4. The insertion of the plate portion into the skin begins.
5. A whitish or yellowish coating appears under the nail. This is because they peel off the bed.
6. The itching is very strong, almost unbearable. Burning of the skin around the affected area increases again.

If these symptoms appear, and treatment is started on time, then it will still continue for a long period of time. You can be infected with the 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 leave the course of treatment because of the possibility of complications that could lead to surgery. So, you have to listen carefully to yourself. If early symptoms are detected and treatment is started immediately, then there is a chance to complete the therapy more quickly, while saving your nails.