Before you can identify the fungus on toe nails, the specialist must conduct a visual inspection of the patient and to study the first signs of infection observed on the fingers and feet. This unpleasant disease occurs in about 20 % of people. Nail fungus can strike any person at the bathhouse, the pool, the beach or because of the violation of rules of personal hygiene due to the use of other people's towels and nail files for manicure. Spores are not only different objects, but also on the surface of the Shoe.
What is nail fungus
The fungus on the nail beds is a common disease caused by a fungal infection, affecting all the covers of the limbs. As a rule, it appears white or yellowish spot in the layer of keratin. In severe cases the fungus can cause severe damage to the plates and spread throughout the body, once in the bloodstream.
Among the infectious agents there are several types of pathogens. The layer of keratin can affect fungi-dermatophytes, but sometimes after some tests diagnosed a yeast or mold fungal infections. The first symptoms are not expressed, so the time to determine the originator is not always possible. From the moment of infection of the body may take several months before the first signs.
Looks like a foot fungus
How to start a nail fungus on the feet of infected people? Mycoses are several stages of distribution. With the development of the disease on the plates have yellow and white spots. Do not confuse these changes with signs of injury of the nail (bruising), which under the keratin layer is formed of a hemorrhage. Gradually, the thickness of the plates varies, and the shape deforms. They are curved and acquire a wavy surface.
Signs of nail fungus on feet
The presence of a disease say the characteristics that can make a correct diagnosis. Contaminated with fungus plate has several pronounced features in later stages of the disease:
- nail crumble, delaminate, become brittle;
- keratin layer is thickened or very thin;
- the deformation of the nail, it bends, covered with wavy grooves;
- plate tarnish, lose the luster, it appears the spots;
- there is tenderness;
- in severe cases, the plate separates from the bed.
The first signs
Hitting the skin and the toes, the fungal infection does not cause immediately pronounced signs of pathology. In the early stages of infection, the patient may notice the following symptoms of nail fungus on feet
- itching, worse due to excessive sweating;
- observed odor;
- the skin of the feet and toes may look thickened and scaly;
- the edges of the nail appear small spots from white to brown;
- plate does not look aesthetically pleasing.
Symptoms
The defeat of the nail, caused by a variety of fungi, different in each case and is manifested by several characteristic symptoms. Doctors divide the onychomycosis of nails of the feet into three groups:
- Normotroficheskie – at the initial stages of propagation of the infection manifest as spots and stripes, changing the color of keratin, the structure of the nail (thickness, shape) remains the same.
- Hypertrophic – plate is destroyed, and edges become rough. A sick person feels pain, intense itching. Keratin layer is thickened, becoming darker. In addition, the fungus causes peeling of the skin of the feet.
- Onipholitichesky – the spread of the infection causes the peeling of plate from bed, until the complete removal of the nail. The color of keratin becomes dark brown or gray, it loses its luster. The disease develops, accompanied by an unpleasant odor and peeling feet.
Diagnostic methods
Many patients are interested in how to identify fungus on the surface of the toe nail in the clinic. Accurate diagnosis of the patient takes place on the basis of data obtained as a result of the several methods of examination:
- analysis of the clinical picture;
- microscopic analysis;
- a cultural study;
- DNA-diagnostics.
The clinical picture of the disease is the combined analysis of patient complaints and the look of the keratin layer. Onychomycosis causes a number of changes in the skin and the nail plate. The results of the examination, the dermatologist must rule out other diseases: psoriasis, eczema, and more. For effective treatment you need to identify the pathogen, so a microscopic and cultural study. First, in the laboratory, we analyze the scrapings under a microscope for the presence of fungi, and then produce a seeding of microorganisms.
The procedure of DNA diagnostics can also be performed to detect a fungal infection in the body. To analyse the patient take a sample of tissue of the nail, which was struck by a microbe, and scraping. The advantage of this method is high probability of accurate diagnosis, as well as what the result will be ready in a short time (one or two days).
How to identify fungus on my feet
To cure the infection you first need to determine the presence of fungus. Doctors say that patients should not engage in therapy themselves, as it can cause addiction of the pathogen to drugs. For the treatment of onychomycosis used antimycotic ointments, varnishes, solutions and pills. In addition, we should address prevention of infection is to maintain good personal hygiene. To get rid of the fungus and to avoid dangerous complications (risk of infection of blood) to treat the fungus at the first discomfort.
With potassium
How to identify nail fungus and feet, using potassium permanganate? At home, you can easily find fungal infection using potassium permanganate solution. This method has high accuracy but should not completely rely on him. Laboratory tests in the clinic more revealing. To conduct this self-test, prepare a warm solution of potassium permanganate is pink. Then place the foot in a few minutes. The affected areas will not change its color, and healthy nails will be painted.
With the help of iodine
How to recognize nail fungus on the feet and determine the damaged area of the skin with iodine? Procedure can be done independently at home, causing the solution on the fingers. Iodine easily penetrates into the skin layers and, due to this property, allows you to see if mycotic disease. This substance will not be able to determine the presence of toe nail fungus, but it is easy to identify other infection is tinea versicolor of the hands and feet.
How to distinguish a fungal infection of the nails from other diseases
To establish an accurate diagnosis and to distinguish the fungus plates from other dermatological pathologies, the sick person should consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination. Doctors say that illiterate self can lead to various serious complications. Symptoms that accompany onychomycosis, are observed in several diseases:
- psoriasis;
- eczema;
- scabies;
- shingles;
- the Reiter's syndrome;
- pachyonychia;
- disease Daria.