Nail fungus is an incurable disease, so diagnosing the symptoms in the early stages of the disease will greatly speed up the course of its treatment. In addition, when the first signs of the disease are detected, you will be able to protect your family/families from infection, because in most cases (from 70 to 80%) nail and skin fungi are transmitted between family members.
How symptoms appear
First of all, nail fungus is manifested by an unpleasant odor and itching. If you started to notice that your feet suspiciously often emit an unpleasant smell (with a timely change of socks and proper hygiene), then this is a good reason to visit a doctor to diagnose the disease.
The next symptom of the fungus is a change in the color of the nail plate. In this case, the nail is more often damaged at the edges. Small furrows and whitish spots appear, which eventually begin to enlarge.
If proper measures are not taken, the plate will continue to deform and the fungus will damage new areas of the nail until it completely infects them.
Another characteristic symptom of onychomycosis is a change in the color of the nail plate. As a result of exposure to fungal spores, it can acquire a wide range of shades. In most cases, it is brown and yellow in color, but when it is exposed to mold or yeast fungi, it can get a darker color.
Also, one of the signs of the disease is a change in the structure of the nail. It can change shape very quickly and begin to disintegrate.
Other characteristics of the disease
The fungus is a very insidious disease, because the spores of this infection are on the human body for most of life and only in some cases enter the active phase:
- Reduced level of immunity
- Diabetes
- Skin diseases
- Mechanical damage to the skin of the legs/hands or nails.
Therefore, you should be more careful if you have any of these signs. If you damaged your nail at the nail salon or wear tight shoes, then it is advisable to use one of the many antifungal prophylactics and apply it to the damaged areas no more than once a week.
What to do if you discover symptoms of fungus?
- If you find symptoms of onychomycosis, be sure to go to the hospital to see a dermatologist and do the appropriate tests. There are more than 50 types of pathogenic fungi for the human body, and if you start treatment on your own, then with a high degree of probability it will be ineffective and you will lose valuable time.
- After passing all the necessary tests, strictly adhere to the prescribed prescription and perform all procedures for the treatment of fungi on time. Remember that it is best to take folk remedies
in the complex with antifungal drugs and do not forget to consult your doctor about it.
Everything! These are all actions that are required of you when you discover the first signs of onychomycosis. Do not try to diagnose yourself and, moreover, prescribe treatment.