If you ask at a doctor’s clinic which one will help cure toenail fungus, most likely they will refer you to a dermatologist. This looks weird. After all, dermatologists treat skin diseases, and mycologists treat fungal infections.
But there is no contradiction in this. Dermatologists treat a wide variety of skin conditions. Mycologists only treat fungal infections, not just skin. If the disease does not progress, a dermatologist from the district clinic will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment, and, if necessary, refer to a mycologist. Nails, of course, are not skin. But nails are treated by dermatologists. Which doctor is better to contact?
In complex or severe cases, complex treatment is required. In addition to medications for external use, pills are also prescribed, and sometimes physiotherapy. Of course, in such cases it is better to contact a mycologist.
So who, which doctor treats nail fungus? Both answers are correct: dermatologist and mycologist. This way, appointments with mycologists are often paid for. As a rule, there is no queue for it, and if there are serious reasons for suspicion, you can immediately go to a mycologist.
No matter which doctor treats the nail, paid testing may be required. But it is better to take an analysis to clarify the diagnosis or make sure that there is no fungal infection. In further cases, the cost of treatment will be higher.
What is treated by a dermatologist?
The word donation translates as "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 parasitic diseases from allergies and prescribe treatment even before test results.
Which doctor treats nail fungus on the hands and feet
Usually, in mild cases, fungal infections are treated by conventional doctors. Fungal diseases of the genital organs - urologist or gynecologist. Thrush in children - pediatrician. Dermatologist of uncomplicated skin diseases.
In difficult cases (and more often - in advanced cases), the help of a specialist in fungal infections is needed. That is, mycologists understand them. It is possible to address to a mycologist. if you do not want it recorded in the outpatient card that the fungus was found. Or you can’t go to a dermatologist.
The first signs of a fungal infection on the feet
The walking form arises due to the fact that the disease is not noticed immediately. What is worth worrying about?
- If the skin between the fingers is wet and cracked
- There is itching or redness on the skin of the feet
- There is swelling of the skin near the nails
- The skin peels off
- Cracks in the heel
- The skin of the feet looks rough and untreated with good care.
- Nail color has changed, spots or streaks have appeared
- There is an unpleasant odor from the feet.
Enough to look at just one of the above violations to take a closer look at your feet. Of course, the reason may be new or uncomfortable shoes. You have to change shoes, leaving synthetic socks. In the evening, wash your feet with laundry or baby soap, and then bathe with sea salt or a decoction of chamomile. But if after two the appearance of the legs does not become normal, you should see a doctor.
What are the dangers of foot and nail fungus
Usually the fungus first affects the skin of the feet, and then goes to the nails. To treat the fungus, even if 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 the fungus when its manifestations become noticeable on the nails.
And the smallest particles of skin or nails affected by the fungus become the cause of re -infection. Eventually, other family members may also become infected.
But are fungi really that dangerous? What, other than itching and ugly appearance, is it threatening?
The danger is that some fungi can damage not only the skin of the feet or nails. Infections can get, for example, in the ears. And in small children and the elderly - in the inguinal folds. The skin there is softer and thinner. There are fungi that affect not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes. It is better not to take risks and not to wait for the spread of infection.
How is the treatment
In all cases, the doctor prescribes not only local treatment, but also tablets. It is not necessarily an antifungal drug. A complex preparation of vitamins and minerals helps to overcome infections. Blood tests are needed, and other tests are performed. Do scraping on damaged skin or nails. Often the treatment is outpatient, but there are day hospitals where all procedures are performed by nurses. If it turns out that injections are needed, they can be hospitalized.
But modern science can cure fungus in two or three laser treatments. The treatment is not cheap, but in the most hopeless cases, full recovery takes two weeks. Of course, new nails will not grow at this time, even the skin will not recover. But the disease will be overcome. 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 medications. Excellent in fighting fungus in the early stages
- foot bath
- lotions and compresses from herbs and vegetables
- essential oils,
- soda, salt, vinegar, vodka
- native ground coffee
- alcohol tincture of medicinal plants
- ordinary yellow clay
- tar soap
From fungus on the feet - homemade 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. Admission of 10 days concurrently with external treatment.
Golden mustache. The stems of the plant are pressed on 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 infusion is three parts water. Lubricate the affected skin and all toenails. Attention! The plant is poisonous!
Baths with sea salt are taken twice a week. Afterwards, they wipe their feet dry and lubricate the inflamed spot with celandine juice.
Compress with herbal infusion. Take 20 grams of purple flowers, calendula, celandine herb and oak bark for 2 cups of boiling water. They insisted for 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. Foot bath is being done. Science has confirmed the antifungal effects of birch tar and tar soap. There are no contraindications. But the skin after them is too exposed to the sun. During the day after the procedure, go outside only with socks on! Tar soap dries the skin a bit. You should know.
coffee powder. Disinfects perfectly and promotes skin renewal. Thickening is applied to the surface of all toenails and the skin at its base. This is done after steaming, for example, bathing with salt, sea or ordinary. Wipe feet dry. wrap the foot with a bandage to set the thickness in place. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Potato stew. Unlike tar and coffee, fungi are not destructive. But it soothes the skin and relieves inflammation. In addition, after a bath with a decoction of potatoes, the skin is updated faster.
Mycologist's recommendation
Protecting yourself from re -infection is a key point in treatment. Spores of infectious agents will not disappear by themselves. It is necessary to disinfect bed linen, carpets in the bathroom and near the bed. Wash shoe germs. Fungal spores do not die with regular washing. Therefore, it is better to discard socks only. Those who listen to the doctor’s advice will get rid of the annoying parasites faster.