Summer provides us with wonderful opportunities for relaxation and beauty. After all, when, if not in the summer, can we afford a fashion show in gorgeous open shoes, demonstrating to others our flawless pedicure and beautiful legs? And how much we enjoy walking barefoot on the warm soft sand!
Unfortunately, all these summer charms can end quite sadly for our feet and nails, because by opening we run the risk of getting such an unpleasant and extremely insidious disease as fungus. And our nails and feet are most often affected. Moreover, you can get nail fungus not only on the beach or in the public shower.
You can get this disease even on public transport, or just walking down the street in open shoes: slippers or sandals.
Unfortunately, the consequences of a fungal infection on the nails, and even the entire human body, are quite serious, so you should not start this disease.
Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of the infection and start treatment on time. And for that, you have to understand what a toenail fungus is.
What is onychomycosis
Fungi, as a class, belong to lower plants that form filaments of mycelium and spores. With the help of spores, fungi multiply and spread in the external environment. You will be surprised, but scientists know more than 300, 000 species of fungi, and about 100 species of them can cause skin and nail diseases in humans.
Since they also multiply by spores, every tiny crumb of a diseased nail or a piece of skin from the heel or foot of a sick person is enough to infect such fungi.
Fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) can be caused by various types of fungi. Accordingly, the signs of infection will be different, as well as the ways to eliminate them.
Dermatophytes
If you notice small yellow spots or streaks on your toenails, lighter white or gray streaks appear on your toenails, and the edge of the nail shifts and turns yellow - you are most likely infected with dermatophytes.
The degree of dermatophyte infection can be easily determined by the same streaks and spots: the lighter and closer to the center of the nail, the stronger the infection. So, if these streaks and spots are located closer to the edges of the nail, then the infection is not too advanced and the disease can be stopped in time. But in no case should it be postponed! After all, if left untreated, it affects not only the toenails, but also the skin around them, and the nail plate will eventually become completely yellow and opaque.
yeast fungi
If the toenails become uneven, grooves and "waves" appear on them, if at the same time the nail gradually turns yellow and loses density, it becomes very brittle, thin, begins to lag behind the nail - most likely you have become infected with yeast. In this case, the degree of infection was determined by the color of the nail: the more yellowish and even brownish, the further the lesion progressed.
Defeat of the nail with yeast usually begins with a slight thickening of the nail folds, which eventually swell and become red. The pressure on these inflamed rollers is quite painful. Later, pus may appear in them, which, if it comes in contact with the skin, can cause additional infection. If no measures are taken, over time the nail may gradually bend and change color, shallow brown grooves will appear on it.
Molds
If a person's nails, as well as the whole body, are weakened for a long time by a long illness, and then quickly change color - they become yellow, blue, green, brown or black, or dark or even black spots or spots appear on them. nails - most likely a mold infection.
Such an infection, fortunately, does not penetrate very deep into the structure of the nail plate itself and, compared to the above types of fungi, heals fairly quickly: from one to two months.
Consequences of the disease
However, these are all just external signs of the disease, and if no action is taken, toenail fungus can spread throughout the body, especially when it comes to dermatophytes or molds. Over the course of a year, and sometimes several years, the fungus slowly destroys the nail plate, fills the entire nail and penetrates the nail, and after a while it spreads from the feet to the hands, first affecting the toes and then everyone else.
Spreading and taking root in the human body, the fungus significantly weakens the immune system, thus contributing to the occurrence of various allergic reactions and exacerbation of chronic diseases.
If a person does not start treatment at this stage, internal organs are damaged. People who have a bad habit of biting their nails are especially susceptible to such an infection.
Therefore, it is extremely important to recognize the disease in time and start timely and adequate treatment. Of course, it can only be prescribed by a specialist, who will perform the necessary examination and prescribe the appropriate medication that acts precisely on the fungus that affects your body.
Self-diagnosis
You can try to diagnose your own nail fungus if you suspect something is wrong with their appearance, feel itchy and dry skin.
To do this, you will need the most common potassium permanganate. You have to make an aqueous solution and put your feet in it. After a few minutes, your nails will turn brown, but the fungal lesions will remain bright.
In this case, you definitely can't do it without consulting a doctor. And it is better not to procrastinate!