The initial stage of the fungus is characterized by the absence of pronounced symptoms. This is one of the reasons why many patients find out about their disease only after some time, when the causes of onychomycosis cause significant damage to healthy tissues. If a person is very careful about their own health, then they will be able to recognize the first signs of infection. Their discovery is a serious reason to visit an office that deals with fungal pathologies.
Reasons for the development of onychomycosis
The initial stage of fungus on the hands and feet does not bring much discomfort to the person. The first signs of the disease, which are mild at the moment, are simply ignored by many infected people. Therefore, they miss the opportunity to start timely treatment of the disease and prevent the occurrence of serious complications.
There are many reasons that can cause the development of a fungal infection on the nails and adjacent parts of the skin. They create optimal conditions for the successful development of pathogenic microflora. As a rule, onychomycosis is most sensitive in the elderly, as well as in people with a weakened immune system. Other harmful factors can also cause the development of the initial stage of the disease:
- Ignoring the rules of personal hygiene;
- Damage to the skin in the area of the fingers or toes;
- Prolonged contact with moisture or chemicals that dry the skin;
- Regular wearing of tight clothing and footwear made of synthetic materials;
- Increased sweating during hot seasons;
- Chronic diseases that affect the state of immunity;
- Immune and endocrine diseases;
- Strong drug abuse;
- Climatic characteristics of the area that create ideal conditions for the reproduction of the cause of nail fungus.
If one of these negative factors affects the human body, prevention of onychomycosis should be considered. Otherwise, it will be difficult for him to avoid a fungal infection.
Avoid tight and uncomfortable shoes. Because the fungus likes to "settle" in microcracks. Even the slightest damage to the nail plate or skin "attracts". It is dangerous to disrupt the blood flow in the toes. Then the cells receive less useful nutrients and become easy prey for pathogens. So be careful with your shoes.
Comfortable orthopedic shoes are the key not only to healthy nails and feet, but also save flat feet, hallux valgus, blisters, corns, make walking easier and correct existing disorders in the initial phase. Wearing such shoes every day provides comfort, not pain when walking. Moreover, modern orthopedic shoes have a great design and maintain a modern style.
What do nail fungus look like at an early stage?
Nail fungus can upset absolutely anyone. To identify it in time, it is necessary to know which conditions characterize the initial stage of disease development.
Early signs of infection are felt from the first day of infection. However, they are poorly expressed, so few people pay attention to them. The person should be careful if after visiting a public place with high humidity the color of the nail plates changes and itching occurs in the finger area. These are the first symptoms of onychomycosis. If the nails are healthy, then the infection will not be able to penetrate into their deeper layers. Only damaged plates are susceptible to such an attack.
On your hands
Everyone needs to know what nail fungus looks like at an early stage. This information will help him to calculate the disease in himself or people from his environment on time.
Fungal infections on the hands in most cases are detected in women. However, members of the stronger sex are also susceptible to such an infection. The disease is recognized by the symptoms that first appear after infection:
- Darkening of the nail plate surface;
- Formation of stains on nails;
- Nail discoloration to yellow, gray or brown;
- Crushing of the nail plate near the edges;
- Delamination and fragility;
- Exfoliation of the skin near the nail.
Some patients develop signs of swelling near the nail. Although in the initial stage of disease development, such a symptom usually does not occur.
On your feet
Recognizing a fungal infection of the toenails helps with a number of signs characteristic of this condition:
- Yellow nail on top or side;
- Thickening of the nail plate;
- Nail discoloration;
- Slight itching in the area of the toes;
- nail peeling;
- Unpleasant foot odor.
Lack of treatment in the early stages of the disease leads to its progression. Therefore, it is very important not to miss the most optimal moment to start a therapeutic course, which will help cope with the infection and prevent its spread to healthy tissues.
Treatment
Toenail fungus can be easily treated if the patient is diagnosed with the initial stage of its development. In order not to start the disease, it is necessary to abandon self-medication. The patient will not be able to choose the appropriate therapy for himself, which will lead to a positive outcome. It is best to entrust such work to competent specialists who deal with the diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis.
Local preparations
Fungi on the hands, as well as on the lower extremities, can be removed with local remedies. The initial stage of the disease involves the use of such drugs that do not have a significant effect on the patient's body, but act directly in the lesions.
Comprehensive treatment of onychomycosis in the initial stage of development necessarily includes the use of local medicine.
The external remedy should be used in accordance with the instructions of the attending physician, as well as his instructions for use. Compliance with this rule will increase the effectiveness of treatment and avoid possible side effects.
According to the standard scheme, it is necessary to apply a local preparation on the nail plate, which is infected with the fungus, 1-2 times a day in a thin layer. If special varnishes are used, then apply no more than 1 time per week.
Systemic therapy
At the first signs of onychomycosis, you should consult a doctor. Foot and nail fungus cannot always be cured with a local remedy. Therefore, in addition, dermatologists prescribe a systemic drug that acts on the pathogen from the human body.
Oral drugs that have an antifungal effect can be taken only on the recommendation of a specialist. This is due to the fact that they have a large list of contraindications and side effects. The course of therapy for each patient is selected individually. It usually lasts about 4 months. If measures are taken in the initial phase of the development of onychomycosis, then this period is reduced.
It is recommended to use systemic drugs if local drugs do not stop the development of the disease.
Laser therapy and ozone therapy
It is possible to treat fungal infections on nail plates with hardware procedures. Laser and ozone therapy are used for this purpose. They are prescribed in the initial and advanced stages of the development of the pathological process, if traditional methods of treatment do not give the desired result.
Laser therapy in the fight against nail fungus has many advantages:
- Achieving a guaranteed recovery result in 99% of cases;
- No pain or discomfort during the procedure;
- No negative impact on internal organs;
- Complete destruction of the fungus;
- Improving the general condition of the infected area after the first procedure;
- Nail plate restoration 30 days after therapy.
Nail fungus on the hands or lower extremities also helps in ozone therapy treatment. The initial stage of onychomycosis is suitable for such treatment.
Ozone has an antiseptic effect. That is why doctors use it in the treatment of fungal infections on the nails. When ozone enters the body, it is transmitted through the blood to various parts of the body. After that, there is a fight with the cause of the disease, in which he loses in most cases.
Ozone therapy is completely painless. Its duration is limited to 30 minutes. Only the infected area was affected during the treatment. The skin around the plate is not affected.
Ozone, as well as laser therapy, is prescribed by a doctor after the patient has passed all the necessary tests and studies. Based on their results, the specialist draws conclusions about the appropriateness of using such therapeutic procedures that help speed recovery.
Folk methods
Your doctor may recommend the use of non-traditional methods of treatment along with medications. Such therapy is good to carry out in the early phase of the development of the pathological process. Then it will be most useful. Treatment of onychomycosis can be carried out with such folk remedies:
- Iodine. They must periodically treat an infected nail. It is desirable to perform the procedure twice a day in order to stop the development of pathogenic microflora on its surface. The antiseptic not only fights fungus, but also dries the nail plate. After a week of such treatment, a break of 2-3 days is recommended;
- Garlic. This is a natural disinfectant that deals with the active reproduction of pathogens. Fresh garlic cloves should be grated, after which this paste is applied to the problem area. It is recommended to leave it all night, fixing the mass with a bandage;
- Celandine. The juice of this plant is useful in onychomycosis. It is recommended to lubricate the areas affected by infectious disease on the upper or lower extremities with fresh product. An allergy test for this drug should be performed before starting the procedure to prevent the development of side effects;
- Onions. It is effective against fungal infection caused by a yeast-like pathogen. Fresh vegetables must 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. If you perform this procedure several times a day, you can quickly improve the general condition of the patient;
- Soda. It is used in the preparation of medicinal baths. It must be dissolved in hot or warm water. For 2, 5 liters of liquid it is necessary to take 1 tablespoon. l. soda. It is also advisable to add a portion of liquid soap to the solution. This bath can be taken daily for 15 minutes.
Folk remedies work only in the treatment of the initial stage of onychomycosis. In more advanced cases, they do not bring many results. But even if the disease has just begun, there is no guarantee that alternative medicine will help to solve it completely. It is best to use his methods in parallel with pharmaceutical preparations to be sure of the effectiveness of the therapeutic course.
Disinfection and other rules during the treatment period
The doctor will tell the patient in detail how to proceed in the initial stage of the disease, and will advise how the fungus looks on the feet at an early stage.
In order for the treatment prescribed by the doctor to be effective, the patient will additionally have to adhere to special rules:
- Disinfection of daily socks and footwear with which a person infected with the fungus has come into contact is mandatory;
- Towels and bed linen of the patient should be boiled at a high temperature;
- After bathing the patient, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the tub.
Boiling is recommended for disinfection of all acceptable objects and things with which a person with onychomycosis has interacted. You should also regularly wipe your shoes with special antiseptic and antifungal solutions.
Prevention of onychomycosis
Prevention of onychomycosis should be done by every person who is at risk of contracting this disease. This measure will enable him to avoid wasting money and time on medical procedures.
To avoid onychomycosis, you must:
- Refrain from wearing other people's clothes and shoes. If necessary, they should initially be carefully treated with antifungal and antiseptic agents;
- In public places, such as saunas or swimming pools, you must use disposable slippers;
- Use only your manicure tools.
If a person has managed to cure onychomycosis and continues to adhere to preventive measures, then the probability of re-encountering the fungus will be only 8%.