Symptoms of toenail fungus

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

Factors contributing to the development of the disease

The lesion can be caused by yeast, mold or skin fungi. In the first case, it is impossible to diagnose the disease immediately. Symptoms of the disease appear 5-6 months after infection. Peeling of the nail develops, slight irritation of the skin around it. Sometimes the patient is tormented by severe itching.

In the event that the disease has developed due to a skin fungus, then three scenarios are possible:

1. The feet, nails and skin of the legs are infected. The fungus can spread not only on the skin of the lower extremities, but also capture the nails on the hands.
2. Another type of mycelium affects only the nail of the thumb or little toe. Sometimes there is a transition of such fungi to the folds between the fingers. Then the skin is affected either on 1-2 folds, or on all at once.
3. Another type of disease - fungi are limited only to the "occupation" of the nail plate on the little finger or thumb of the lower limb, but do 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 fell below a critical level.
2. The nail was damaged mechanically.
3. The man was wearing too tight shoes. The blood circulation in the legs was disturbed, which led to the development of an infection.
4. Some people have anatomic pathology of the feet, which contributes to the development of fungi.
5. Most often, patients who are diagnosed with obesity suffer from the disease. The disease leads to excessive sweating. This creates favorable conditions for the development of mycelium.
6. Fungi develop in patients with diabetes.

To prevent the disease, you should use only your clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items. It is recommended to disinfect and clean carpets and shoes in time.

General signs of the disease

The first signs of toenail fungus in most people begin to appear as small whitish dots or stripes on the toenails. Most people do not pay attention to this, since nothing hurts them, there is no discomfort. If you do not start the treatment of mycosis on time, then you can start the disease. There will be a germination of the mycelium on all the nail plates, suppuration of the skin around the affected nails will begin. In severe cases, the disease spreads to deep tissue structures. This threatens the development of gangrene and amputation of the foot or even the entire leg.

At the second stage of the mycosis disease, the natural luster of the nail plates disappears. Nails change color. They are yellow with brown or white stripes. The upper part and side surfaces of the nail are often deformed. Such changes are clearly visible to the eye.

At the last stage of the disease, the nail plates become very brittle, the inflammatory process begins on the cuticle. A person can completely lose a nail. But fungi don't stop there. They continue to spread to all nail plates, and then pass to the skin of the leg, that is, they capture the feet.

The patient himself can recognize the disease in the second and third stages, since the nails turn yellow or brown (sometimes they turn black). The nail rises from its bed, acquires increased fragility, quickly breaks.

Symptoms of the disease at the initial stage

If a person has developed toenail fungus, the symptoms of the disease at first are practically absent. But then, 2-3 months after the penetration of the skin fungus and its fixation on the nails, you can notice the manifestation of such signs of the disease:

1. On the surface of the skin near the affected plate, a slight reddening first develops.
2. Then the person feels a burning sensation in this area.
3. Severe itching develops, inflammation begins.
4. Subsequently, places with increased moisture develop in these areas.
5. There is a thickening of the nail and its keratinization.

As soon as a person notices these signs of nail fungus, he should be examined and then begin treatment.

Depending on the type of fungal infection in the subsequent stages of the development of mycosis, the plate of the diseased nail is painted in different colors. At the first stage of the development of the disease, 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 shine. Itching in all cases is very strong, it is impossible to get rid of it immediately. If the patient noticed signs of mycosis in time, then you can get rid of burning and itching through the use of drugs such as Miconazole, Clotrimazole and similar drugs. But you should not be treated on your own, 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 instantly spread to healthy areas, which will complicate the treatment.

The subsequent development of the disease

Fungus on the toenails, if left untreated, can deprive the nails of their natural color, and the color of the surface of the affected area will be yellow. There is delamination of the nails. They may start to break down. Along with this, the patient develops intolerable itching on the skin around the affected area. Cracking of the substance of the nail plates begins. Burning intensifies. Some patients may develop dysbacteriosis, they feel unwell, complain of weakness throughout the body. Perhaps the development of drowsiness.

First, the mycelium completely changes the color of the surface of the plates, then their thinning begins. Then the diseased nail is rejected, and the infection penetrates the skin structures. The itching gets worse.

At the last stage of the disease, the surface of the diseased nail plates becomes similar to scales. Depending on the type of fungus that struck the person, thickening of the nails begins, their delamination. They break quickly. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

1. The edges of the plates become very brittle. Sometimes this causes pain in the patient.
2. The shape of the plates is greatly distorted, and scaly surface may develop.
3. The color of the affected area turns from yellow to black.
4. The insertion of parts of the plates into the skin begins.
5. A whitish or yellowish coating appears under the nails. This is due to their peeling from the bed.
6. The itching is very strong, almost unbearable. The burning of the skin around the affected areas increases again.

If these symptoms appear, and the treatment is started on time, then it will still continue for a long period. You can get infected with an illness 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 abandon the treatment course due to possible complications that can lead to surgery. So, you should listen carefully to yourself. If initial symptoms are detected and treatment is started immediately, then there is a chance to complete therapy faster, while saving your nails.