The first signs of onychomycosis appear on the toes. First symptoms of onychomycosis

According to statistics, almost half of all dermatologist visits are related to fungal diseases in some way. You can become infected when you go to the pool, sauna, go to the beach, or walk around in your owner's slippers. Learn everything you need to know about how to identify toenail fungus - the symptoms of onychomycosis in the initial and chronic stages of the disease - without scratching or using other diagnostic methods.

What is onychomycosis

yeast

They rank second in frequency of foot mycoses. The disease is caused by two species of Candida pathogens:

• Candida albicans (Candida albicans) – most commonly seen on the fingers, is a complication of existing onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes.
• Candidiasis parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) - affects the nail plate from the edges. The first symptom is the appearance of black spots on the fingertips that gradually grow in size. Candida parapsilosis often completely destroys the nail plate.

Mold

This type of fungal infection is not particularly common—only three patients who sought help from dermatologists had it. There are several types of mold pathogens:

• Scourge - often infects a previously injured big toe.
• Aspergillus or black mold – Only people with low immunity are at risk of contracting onychomycosis. The main symptoms of the disease are deformation of the nail plate and the appearance of normally nourishing blackheads.
• Fusarium - This onychomycosis is very rare because the pathogen lives on crops. It is only possible to infect a person if they have an open wound, scrape or crack on the leg.

dermatophytes

The primary causative agent of onychomycosis is dermatophytes, of which the feet are most commonly affected:

• Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophyton rubrum) - develops on the lateral and distal surfaces. The main symptoms in the early stages of development are yellow spots or white stripes. Without special treatment, fungal spores can spread throughout the body and cause severe skin damage.
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) – Cracks between the toes, severe pain when moving. Without proper treatment, it can spread to the nails; the fungus especially often affects the thumb and little finger.
• Epidermophyton floccosum - in the initial stages it affects the skin of the fingers. Onychomycosis presents as peeling skin on the feet, along with itching and increased sweating on the fingers. If left untreated, epidermophyton can cause atrophy.

What does onychomycosis look like?

Today, there are two medical classifications of onychomycosis: the first is based on the type of pathological changes, and the second is based on the location. Depending on the type of fungal infection, all types are divided into four subtypes: borderline, nortrotrophic, hypertrophic, and atrophic. According to the location of the lesions, they can be divided into the following types:

• Distal – when only the edges are affected by fungus;
• Lateral - the pathological process begins near the skin ridge;
• Proximal – changes affect the lower part;
• White superficial onychomycosis - White spots or streaks appear.

Regional onychomycosis

This is the initial stage of the fungus and can be difficult to identify on your own. This type of mycosis is accompanied by changes in the edges of the nail plate, manifested by the appearance of narrow gray stripes. Over time, the symptoms of onychomycosis intensify: the color begins to fade, brittleness appears, while the thickness of the plates remains the same. Sometimes grayish-yellow spots may appear.

normal nutritional type

This type of onychomycosis shows a loss of shine, but the thickness of the hard part of the finger remains the same. The main symptoms of normal nutrition are:

• increased vulnerability;
• lose luster;
• White or grayish-yellow spots appear on the entire nail surface;
• The bed is visually divided into sections;
• Gray mucus gradually oozes from under the nails.

Hypertrophic type

This disease has a specific symptom - the formation of atrophy along the edges. Hypertrophy causes the nail plate to thicken and develop an atypical pattern. Patients often complain of pain, especially when walking, which only goes away after taking analgesics. Hypertrophic mycoses are divided into three stages:

• Gross - Extensive lesions affecting the thickness of the nail plate.
• Horizontal - Appears in side parts.
• Distal - The infection is located beneath the free part of the bed.

white surface morphology

This type of fungal infection is characterized by small foci of infection that appear white or almost white in the center or edges of the nail. This type of onychomycosis occurs only on the legs. Since the spores only affect the upper part of the finger, the plate itself is rarely deformed, but its upper layer and epidermis are affected by the fungus. If left untreated, the hard parts will become loose and rough. Generally speaking, superficial onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes.

nail stripper

This is accompanied by partial detachment of the plate from the soft nail bed. Affected nails become dull with gray spots and gradually lose their shine. Typically, this type of fungus presents as a complication of hypertrophic or normotrophic mycoses. Without appropriate treatment, areas of hyperkeratosis may develop at the lesion.

Candida onychomycosis

Often accompanied by damage to healthy periungual tissue. The pathology usually occurs in the third or fourth finger or toe. Candidiasis has the following symptoms:

• Lack of skin along the nail growth line;
• The edges of the boards are brittle and broken;
• Horizontal stripes appear on the bottom of the bed;
• Inflammation of cutaneous ridges;
• Nail plate is tan;
• Soft tissue soreness.

proximal deformation

One of the rarest forms of onychomycosis. The disease usually develops in the soft tissues and gradually moves to healthy nails. The fungus starts growing in the middle of the nail. If left untreated, the board will discolor, begin to chip and peel. The pathogens responsible for the proximal variant form are: Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

atrophic

This unpleasant disease is characterized by a change from normal color to brownish-grey. In this case, symptoms appear gradually: first, the plates lose their luster and become dull, then the nails are destroyed, and in the place of the bed a loose accumulation of small flakes of skin can be seen. The pathological process starts externally and eventually covers growth zones and skin folds.

Types and stages of fungal infections

Signs of a fungal infection depend on the form of the disease and its severity. The first signs of pathology may not be noticed, but to an average degree the plate is already noticeably deformed, thickened, and its structure is uneven. These signs should not be ignored, as the next stage is malnutrition, the nail may completely collapse, the periungual ridge becomes inflamed, and secondary infection develops.Main forms of the disease:

1. Onychomycosis is the most common type of fungus. The first signs of fungus appear in the form of small yellow spots on the free edge of the nail. As the disease progresses, the steel plate will become thicker and deeper cracks may form on it, causing discomfort when walking. This form of fungal pathology is difficult to treat.
2. White superficial onychomycosis - the pathogenic microorganism affects only the upper layer of the nail. The board does not get thicker, but over time it becomes loose and has a structure similar to chalk. Treatment is not difficult and health will improve quickly.
3. Subungual onychomycosis is a rare form of the pathology. Symptoms of the fungus appear as thickening of the skin in the nail fold area and the nail becoming completely white and opaque.

There are many diseases that show symptoms similar to fungal infections – psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus. After an injury or bruise, the structure of your nails can change. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis after a thorough diagnosis.

How to Identify Fungus on Toenails - Common Symptoms

Depending on the stage of the disease, a distinction is made between complete atrophy and partial hypertrophy, and these two concepts are related but not synonymous. Atrophic type refers to impaired growth, thinning and complete destruction of the nail plate - this is the stage of complete damage. Often, when advanced stages are detected, patients complain to their dermatologists not only of structural changes, but also of severe pain. Hypertrophic Toenail Fungus - Symptoms:

• The edge of the plate is yellow, or white inclusions appear near the growth area;
• Deformation - the appearance of waves, knots and other irregularities;
• As the infection progresses, the pads become red, flaky, and swollen;
• Start exfoliating and get out of bed;
• Small cracks may appear between the fingers, and sometimes blisters may appear.

Itching and burning sensation

The disease usually appears in the form of severe itching on the legs. This feeling begins to bother patients from the first days after infection. If fungal spores invade the plates, itching will be felt around the affected area, and the skin will become loose, dry, flaky, and irritated. If the infection starts in soft tissue, the fingers themselves may become itchy. When the skin is scratched intensely, itching and burning may occur. Typically, these symptoms occur with lesions on the feet and less commonly with onychomycosis on the hands.

lose natural color

This is the next symptom of onychomycosis, and it can replace or supplement itching. In this case, the color will depend on the type of pathogen that has colonized the body:Once inside the finger, fungal spores begin to multiply actively and gradually cover the entire space, slowly leading to complete deformation and destruction of its hard parts. The board thickens, or on the contrary, becomes very thin, begins to crumble, and an unnatural yellow and white coating becomes apparent. In the initial stages of infection, the structure of the nail plate changes - it becomes caked or covered with streaks, and the color of the nail plate becomes cloudy.Doctors distinguish three main stages of fungal infections:

1. The color turns yellow and wrinkles appear. When you try to cut the edge, the tip starts to chip. Occasionally an unpleasant odor may occur.
2. The finger completely changed color, became dull and cloudy, and had strange inclusions. The yellow begins to darken, black streaks appear, and green areas may appear. It becomes very difficult to cut the affected nail.
3. The entire nail changed - it became noticeably thicker, and it was impossible to trim the edges without softening.

pain in nail area

The discomfort caused by onychomycosis is not a typical symptom experienced by every patient. Some patients may not experience such symptoms at all, especially if the disease is caught early. In advanced forms of fungal infection, the pathology is easily recognized: the fingers lose their original appearance, begin to peel and peel. During this stage, some patients may experience pain under their nails or in their fingers.Pain caused by toe fungus can have a variety of causes:

1. As the affected area thickens, it loses its original appearance and becomes deformed. In this case, even the most worn-out shoes can cause significant discomfort when walking. Therefore, the pain will not only bother you while walking, but also after taking off your shoes.
2. As the spores spread, the fungus takes over more and more new territory. When an infection enters the soft nail tissue, the infection often affects the nerve endings, causing painful, paroxysmal or throbbing pain. If you develop symptoms as a result, you may experience discomfort even when you are resting.
3. One of the symptoms of foot fungus is the development of small cracks and blisters between the toes. The skin may become very red and inflamed, and the fingers may become swollen. Such wounds on the feet heal very slowly and are constantly painful due to the increased sweating in the area between the toes when wearing closed shoes.

How does onychomycosis start?

Loss and changes in color, uneven appearance, thinning or thickening of the plates, delamination – these are the first signs of toenail fungus that fits the general description. However, with careful self-diagnosis of the disease, it is even possible to classify it. For example:

• Infection with dermatophytes begins at the free edge of the plate. The fungus appears as small yellow spots and a broken surface.
• Yeast-like fungi are characterized by a proximal form - the infection starts at the base. The main symptoms of candidiasis-type onychomycosis are inflammation of the periungual folds, cuticle separation, and pain when pressing.
• Mold turns fingers green, brown, or black. Fungal infections appear as spots, dots, or longitudinal plates.

The first sign that you have toenail fungus are symptoms in the adjacent soft tissue. The skin of the feet loses its natural color, becomes red or yellow, becomes thinner, and becomes easily injured. Typically, this is where the fungal process begins. Over time, the disease can cause serious inconveniences—causing deep fissures, itching, and blisters of fluid.

Symptoms of fungal nail infection

In the early stages of the infection, onychomycosis is almost invisible and causes no inconvenience (see picture). Then the characteristic symptoms of a fungal infection appear:

• An unpleasant cloudy tint appears on the surface of the nail plate on the toes;
• The nail plate begins to peel off and separate from the nail bed;
• Affected nails lose their original shape, become thicker and become matted;
• Cracks gradually form between the toes; the patient begins to experience pain in the area of the damaged nail;
• The skin on the toes begins to peel;
• Itchy skin appears between the toes.

Onychomycosis must be treated, preferably in its early stages. In this case, you can only use external preparations: ointments, varnishes and folk remedies. In more advanced forms, you will need to take antifungal pills, in which case you won't be able to get rid of fungus on your feet quickly.

What are the dangers of untreated onychomycosis?

In addition to the unpleasant external manifestations of this disease, the fungus is a pathogenic microorganism that causes harm to the entire human body:

• Untreated onychomycosis opens the door to other infections.
• Additionally, fungi can act as allergens and ultimately trigger allergies to nail fungi as an allergen.
• Onychomycosis complicates the course of many diseases, such as diabetes.
• In particularly severe cases, against the background of a long course of illness or weakened immunity, fungal infections can lead to deep-seated mycosis - penetration of the fungus through the blood into the internal organs.

To avoid complications, you need to start treatment quickly if you notice the first signs of a fungal nail infection.

How to get rid of fungus on toenails?

Medications used to treat nails affected by fungus are divided into two groups.

1. The first group is local influence means. This group includes medicinal varnishes and peel-off patches, ointments, creams and gels. Most topical medications are only effective in the early stages of the disease.
2. The second group consists of oral systemic antifungal drugs. Usually these are capsules or tablets that are fungistatic. They stop the spread of fungal diseases and have long-term effects, significantly reducing the likelihood of another outbreak of the disease.

But considering that the drugs used to treat onychomycosis are very toxic and often cause side effects, and also that the clinical manifestations of fungal infections of the skin of the toes and nail plates are always strictly individualized, it is better to provide the answer to how to treat fungus on the feet by an experienced specialistThe problem.

Laser Treatment

If advanced fungus cannot be treated with medication, you may have laser therapy.

1. Laser treatment of fungus is considered one of the most effective ways to get rid of this disease.
2. Under the influence of the beam, fungal cells die immediately.
3. The laser beam does not harm nearby tissue.
4. Advanced forms of the fungus can be cured in just four laser treatment procedures.

Once you decide to undergo laser treatment, it is also important to take all necessary medications and vitamins at the same time.

Drug treatment for onychomycosis

Experts will develop a treatment plan in the initial stages of onychomycosis, taking into account certain factors:

• Degree of plate change;
• Stages of hyperkeratosis;
• damaged area;
• Clinical forms of pathology.

At the beginning of the disease's development, dermatologists will prescribe topical treatments. These include ointments, varnishes, solutions, creams with antifungal properties (antifungal). It is recommended to use them after treating infected nails. Preparation improves the chances of the drug getting inside the plate, thus speeding up fungal treatment. To soften nails, you can use patches containing urea or salicylic acid:

1. Using a nail file, carefully work on the nail plate;
2. Use antifungals;
3. Wrap the nail in a bandage;
4. Remove it after a day;
5. Use fungal treatments prescribed by your dermatologist.

Specialists usually only prescribe topical medications.

attention!Antifungal systemic drugs are not used in the initial stages of onychomycosis development.

Treat onychomycosis at home

In the initial stages of the disease, you can try proven folk remedies at home.

1. Apple cider vinegar . Simply soak your feet in a 1: 1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water for about 15-20 minutes daily. After soaking, let your toenails dry completely (you can use a hair dryer). Within about two weeks, you will notice that the fungus is gone and a beautiful new fungus has replaced the old damaged nail.
2. Tea tree oil should be applied to fungal infected skin and nails three times a day. A single dose is 4 to 10 drops of product. This treatment should be continued for at least two weeks, and possibly longer, to ensure the infection does not return. This oil should not be used by children or pregnant women.
3. Pass freshly picked celandine through a meat grinder and squeeze out the juice from the resulting pulp (this is done through 3-4 layers of gauze). It should yield approximately 200 ml. Mix the juice with 200 ml. 70% alcohol and leave for 24 hours. The prepared juice is used to lubricate the affected nails, but treatment can only be carried out after the feet have been steamed for 10 minutes and completely dried. The course of treatment lasts for 10-12 days, with 3-4 treatments per day.
4. Another way to get rid of onychomycosis is to treat it with iodine at home. this is very simple. Apply iodine to the nail plate every day for three weeks. In this case, regularly remove the growing tip of the damaged nail.
5. Kombucha also helps fight fungus. For this treatment, compression is required: wrap a dish of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage on the leg and put on socks. In the morning, you need to wash your feet with warm water, carefully remove the dead spots, and lubricate them with iodine. Side effects include very severe pain, but you can achieve your desired results more quickly.

If folk remedies do not achieve the desired results, you should contact a specialist to prescribe complex remedies.Pathogenic fungal infections occur through contact and poor hygiene. Onychomycosis (fungus of the nail plate) is most commonly contracted through the use of shared shoes in everyday life, at the gym, and other places with high humidity and temperature. There are certain symptoms in the early stages of onychomycosis. By knowing them, it is possible to avoid the pathological transition to another stage of development. All folk remedies should be used only after consulting a dermatologist. Many of these can cause allergic reactions. Onychomycosis is more easily cured by combining alternative treatments with medications.In its initial stages, onychomycosis appears as barely noticeable grooves or white spots. Often, a person only knows they have a fungal infection when they see a dermatologist. This is because it is almost impossible to identify the disease on your own during this time. If treatment is started promptly, the disease will be cured quickly.Fungus (onychomycosis) is not only a skin disease; in advanced stages, many systems and internal organs can be affected. In order to stop the lesions in time, it is necessary to understand the symptoms and treatments. How does the disease appear at different stages? Which drugs are most effective?You may get a fungal infection in your home if someone in your family has it; everyone uses the same pedicure or manicure kit. But in public spaces, the risk of infection is much higher—the fungus lives in showers in bathrooms, swimming pools, and fitness centers.What diseases can cause fungal infections:

• Flat feet, congenital or acquired foot deformities;
• Poor blood circulation in the lower limbs;
• Increased sweating of the feet;
• The skin of corns and feet is too rough;
• The deck is often injured;
• Decreased immunity, any chronic disease, diabetes.

Fungus on the feet usually occurs in people who wear tight shoes and neglect personal hygiene. Infections often occur in beauty salons where equipment is poorly manufactured. Taking oral contraceptives and antibiotics may trigger this condition.

Precaution

To avoid this disease it is necessary:

• Avoid direct contact with fungus carriers.
• Observe personal hygiene regulations and wash hands after going to public places.
• After cleaning, carefully wipe the area between your fingers, as fungus prefers warm, moist conditions.
• Don’t use other people’s shoes and household items.
• Wear socks made from natural fabrics.
• Please wear shoes when in public pools, bathhouses or saunas.
• Use personal manicure accessories.

forecast

Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of onychomycosis have a good prognosis. In the context of concomitant chronic diseases, the prognosis worsens.Treatment for advanced onychomycosis is long-term. Recurrence occurs in 40-70% of cases.