The first signs of toenail fungus. The first symptoms of nail fungus

4 April 2024

According to statistics, almost half of all visits to the dermatologist in one way or another are related to fungal diseases. You can get an infection when you visit a pool, sauna, beach or walk in the host's slippers. Find out everything about how to recognize toenail fungus without scraping or using other diagnostic methods - symptoms of onychomycosis in the initial and chronic stages of the disease.

What is toenail fungus?

Yeast mushrooms

They are in second place in terms of frequency of mycosis of the feet. The disease is provoked by two types of pathogens of the genus Candida:

White candida (Candida albicans) - most often appears on the fingers, as a complication of existing onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes.
Parapsilosis (Candida parapsilosis) - affects the nail plate from the edge. The initial symptoms are characterized by the appearance of black spots on the tip of the finger, which gradually increase in size. Candida parapsilosis often completely destroys the nail plate.

Mold

This type of fungal infection is not very common - only three patients who sought help from a dermatologist suffered from it. There are several types of mold pathogens:

Scopulariopsis - often infects big toes that were previously injured.
Aspergillus or black mold - infection with onychomycosis is possible only in people with reduced immunity. The main symptom of the disease is the deformation of the nail plates and the appearance of normotrophic black dots.
Fusarium - this onychomycosis is very rare, since the pathogens live on agricultural crops. Infection of a person is possible only if there are open wounds, abrasions or cracks on the legs.

dermatophytes

The first among the causes of onychomycosis is occupied by dermatophytes, of which the feet are most often affected:

Red trichophyton (Trichophyton rubrum) - develops on the lateral and distal surface. The main symptoms in the initial stages of development are yellow spots or white stripes. Without specific treatment, the spores of the fungus can spread throughout the body and cause severe skin lesions.
Mentagrophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) - cracks appear in the interdigital spaces, severe pain when moving. Without proper therapy, it spreads to the nails, especially often the fungus can affect the thumb and little finger.
Epidermophyton floccosum - in the initial stage affects the skin of the fingers. Toenail fungus manifests itself in the form of scaling on the feet, accompanied by itching and increased sweating of the toes. Without treatment, epidermophytonia leads to atrophy.

What does toenail fungus look like?

Today, two classifications of onychomycosis are used in medicine: the first - according to the type of pathological changes, and the second - depending on localization. Based on the type of fungal infections, all types are divided into four subtypes: marginal, normotrophic, hypertrophic and atrophic. According to the form of localization, there are several more types of diseases:

distal - when only the edge suffers from fungus;
laterally - pathological processes begin near the skin ridges;
proximal – the change affects the lower part;
white superficial onychomycosis - white spots or streaks appear.

Regional onychomycosis

This is the initial stage of the fungus, which is very difficult to identify on your own. This type of mycosis is accompanied by changes in the edge of the nail plate, which are visualized by the appearance of narrow gray stripes. Over time, the symptoms of toenail fungus intensify: the color begins to fade, brittleness appears, while the thickness of the plate remains the same. Sometimes gray-yellow spots may appear.

Normotrophic

This type of onychomycosis manifests itself in a decrease in gloss, but with preservation of the thickness of the hard part of the finger. The main symptoms of the normotrophic type are:

increased fragility;
loss of luster;
the appearance of white or gray-yellow spots on the entire surface of the nail;
the bed is visually divided into sectors;
Gray mucus gradually begins to come out from under the nail.

Hypertrophic

This one has one specific symptom - the formation of atrophy along the edge. Hypertrophy leads to thickening of the nail plate and the appearance of an atypical pattern. Patients often complain of pain, especially when walking, which disappears only after taking painkillers. Hypertrophic mycosis has three stages:

General - a massive lesion that affects the thickness of the nail plate.
Lateral - appears on the side parts.
Distal - the infection is localized under the free part of the bed.

White surface form

This type of fungal infection is characterized by the appearance of small foci of infection in the center or along the edge of the nails, white or almost white. This type of onychomycosis occurs only on the feet. Due to the fact that the spores affect only the upper part of the finger, the plate itself is very rarely deformed, but its upper layers and the epidermis suffer from the fungus. If left untreated, the hard part becomes loose and rough. As a rule, superficial onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes.

Onycholithic

Accompanied by separation of part of the plate from the soft nail bed. The affected nail becomes dull with gray spots and gradually loses its shine. As a rule, this type of fungus manifests itself as a complication of hypertrophic or normotrophic mycosis. In the absence of appropriate treatment, areas covered with hyperkeratosis may appear at the site of the lesion.

Candidal onychomycosis

It is often combined with damage to healthy periungual tissues. Pathology usually appears on the 3rd or 4th finger or toe. Candida mycosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

lack of skin at the nail growth line;
fragility and decay of plate edges;
the appearance of transverse stripes at the base of the bed;
inflammation of skin edges;
brownish-brown color of the nail plate;
soft tissue soreness.

Proximal deformity

One of the rarest forms of onychomycosis. The disease often begins to develop from soft tissues, gradually moving to a healthy nail. Fungal growth starts from the middle of the nail. Without treatment, the plaques change color, begin to crumble and peel off. The causative agents of the proximal deforming form are: red trichophytons and mentagrophytes.

Atrophic

This form of the unpleasant disease is characterized by a change in the normal color to brown-gray. In this case, the symptoms appear gradually: first the plate loses its luster and becomes dull, then the nail is destroyed and loose accumulations of small skin flakes are visible at the site of the bed. Pathological processes begin on the outside, eventually covering the growth zone and the skin fold.

Types and stages of fungal infection

The 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 already at an average degree, the plate is noticeably deformed, becomes thick, and its structure is heterogeneous. Such signs cannot be ignored, because the next stage is dystrophic, the nail can completely collapse, inflammatory processes begin in the periungual ridges and a secondary infection occurs.

Main forms of the disease:

Lateral onychomycosis is the most common type of fungus. The first signs of fungus appear on the free edge of the nail in the form of a small yellowish spot. As the disease progresses, the plate thickens, deep cracks can form on it, and discomfort appears when walking. This form of fungal pathology is difficult to treat.
White superficial onychomycosis - pathogenic microorganisms affect only the upper layers of the nail. The plate does not thicken, but over time it loosens and resembles chalk in structure. Treatment is not difficult and improvement in well-being occurs quickly.
Subungual onychomycosis is a rare form of pathology. The symptoms of the fungus are manifested in the form of thickening of the skin in the area of the nail fold, the nail becomes completely white and opaque.

There are a number of diseases that have symptoms similar to fungal infections - psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus. Changes in the structure of the nail appear after injuries or bruises. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis after a thorough diagnosis.

How to recognize toenail fungus - common symptoms

Depending on the stage of the disease, a distinction is made between complete atrophy and partial hypertrophy, and both concepts are interrelated, but not synonymous. The atrophic type refers to impaired growth, thinning and complete destruction of the nail plate - this is the stage of complete damage. Often, when an advanced stage is detected, patients complain to the dermatologist not only of structural changes, but also of severe pain.

Hypertrophic toenail fungus - symptoms:

acquires a yellow tint along the edge of the plate or whitish inclusions appear near the growth zone;
deformed - waves, tubercles and other irregularities appear;
the pad becomes red, scaly and swollen as the infection progresses;
begins to exfoliate, move away from the bed;
Small cracks and sometimes blisters appear between the fingers.

Itching and burning

Very often, the disease manifests itself on the legs in the form of severe itching. This feeling begins to bother the patient from the first days after infection. If the fungal spores attack the plaque, itching is felt around the affected area, while the skin becomes loose, dry and scaly, irritation occurs. If the infection started from the soft tissues, the fingers themselves itch. With strong scratching of the skin, itching is followed by a burning sensation. As a rule, these symptoms appear in lesions of the legs, less often in onychomycosis of the hands.

Loss of natural color

This is the next symptom of onychomycosis, which replaces or complements itching. In this case, the color will depend on the type of pathogen that has settled in the human body:

Having fallen into the fingers, the spores of the fungus begin to multiply actively and gradually cover the entire space, which slowly leads to complete deformation and destruction of its hard part. The plate thickens or, on the contrary, becomes very thin, begins to disintegrate, and unnatural yellowness and a whitish coating are noticed. In the initial stages of the infection, the very structure of the nail plate changes - it becomes lumpy or covered with stripes, and the shadow of the plate becomes cloudy.

Doctors distinguish three main stages of a fungal infection:

The color turns yellow and furrows appear. When you try to cut the edge, the tip starts to crumble. Sometimes an unpleasant smell may appear.
The finger completely changed color, became dull and cloudy, and strange inclusions appeared. Yellowing begins to darken, black streaks appear and green areas may appear. Cutting the affected nails becomes very difficult.
The whole nail has changed - it has become significantly thicker, it is impossible to cut the edge without softening it.

Pain in the nail area

Discomfort from nail fungus is not a typical concept for every patient. Some patients may not experience such symptoms at all, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage. In an advanced form of fungal infection, it is easy to recognize the pathology: the fingers lose their original appearance, begin to peel and peel. At this stage, some patients may feel pain under the nail or in the fingers.

Painful sensations with mycosis of the toes can occur for several reasons:

Due to the fact that the affected areas become thicker, lose their original appearance and become deformed. In this case, even the most worn shoes cause noticeable discomfort when walking. As a result, pain can bother you not only during a walk, but also after taking off your shoes.
As the spores spread, the fungus occupies more and more new territories. When it gets into the soft tissue of the nail, the infection often affects the nerve endings, causing pain, paroxysmal or throbbing pain. If a symptom occurs for this reason, discomfort may occur even at rest.
One of the signs of foot fungus is the appearance of small cracks and blisters between the toes. The skin may become very red and inflamed, and the fingers may swell. Due to the fact that the area between the toes in closed shoes sweats a lot, such wounds on the feet heal very slowly and constantly hurt.

How does toenail fungus start?

Loss and change of color, the appearance of irregularities, thinning or thickening of the plate, delamination - these are the first signs of toenail fungus that correspond to the general description. However, with careful self-diagnosis of the disease, it can even be classified. for example:

Dermatophyte infection starts from the free edge of the plaque. The appearance of fungus is indicated by a small yellow spot and a crumbling surface.
Yeast-like fungi are characterized by a proximal form - when the infection begins at the base. The main symptom of onychomycosis of the candidal type is inflammation of the periungual fold, detachment of the cuticle, pain on pressure.
Molds stain the fingers green, brown or black. Mold infection appears as spots, small dots or longitudinal plates.

The first signs that you have toenail fungus are the symptoms that appear on the adjacent soft tissues. The skin of the feet loses its natural color, becomes red or yellow, thins and is easily injured. As a rule, this is where the fungal process begins. Over time, the disease can cause serious inconvenience - provoke the appearance of deep cracks, itching and blisters with fluid.

Symptoms of fungal nail infections

In the initial stage of infection, toenail fungus is almost invisible and does not cause discomfort (see photo). After that, characteristic symptoms of a fungal infection appear:

the surface of the nail plate of the toes acquires an unpleasant cloudy shade;
the nail plate begins to peel off, separating from the nail bed;
the diseased nail loses its original shape, thickens and acquires a careless appearance;
cracks gradually form between the toes; a person begins to feel pain in the area of the damaged nail;
the skin on the toes begins to peel off;
Itchy skin appears between the toes.

Nail fungus should be treated, preferably in the early stages. In this case, you can only deal with external preparations: ointments, varnishes and folk remedies. In a more advanced form, you will need to take antifungal tablets, in which case you will not be able to get rid of the fungus on the legs quickly.

What is dangerous in untreated onychomycosis?

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

Untreated nail fungus opens the door to other infections.
In addition, the fungus can act as an allergen and eventually provoke hypersensitivity to the nail fungus as an allergen.
Onychomycosis complicates the course of many diseases, for example, diabetes.
In particularly severe cases, against the background of a long course of the disease or reduced immunity, the fungal infection can cause deep mycosis - penetration of the fungus into the internal organs through the blood.

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

How to get rid of toenail fungus?

Medicines used to treat nails affected by fungus are presented in two groups.

The first group is local means of influence. This group includes medical varnishes and peel-off patches, ointments and creams, gels. Most of the drugs for external use are effective only in the initial stage of the disease.
The second group consists of systemic antifungal drugs that are taken orally. Usually these are capsules or tablets that have a suppressive effect on the fungus. They block the spread of mycosis and have a long-lasting effect, which significantly reduces the possibility of a recurrence of the disease.

But considering that the drugs that are used to treat onychomycosis are highly toxic and often cause side effects, and the clinical picture of fungal infections of the skin and nail plate of the toes is always strictly individual, it is bestto give an answer to the question of how to cure foot fungus to an experienced specialist.

Laser therapy

If the advanced form of the fungus cannot be treated with drugs, you can resort to laser therapy.

Laser treatment of fungus is considered one of the most effective ways to get rid of this disease.
Under the influence of the beam, the fungal cells immediately die.
The laser beam does not damage nearby tissues.
The advanced form of the fungus can be cured with just four laser therapy treatments.

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

Drug therapy for onychomycosis

The specialist prescribes treatment in the initial stages of nail fungus, taking into account certain factors:

Degree of plate alteration;
Stages of hyperkeratosis;
Area of damage;
Clinical form of pathology.

At the beginning of the development of the disease, the dermatologist prescribes local drugs. These include ointment, varnish, solution, cream with antimycotic properties (antifungal). It is recommended to apply them after treating an infected nail. Preparatory actions improve the access of drugs to the interior of the plate, thus accelerating the treatment of the fungus.

To soften the nail, you can use patches containing urea or salicylic acid:

Using a nail file, carefully process the nail plate;
Apply an antifungal agent;
Cover the nail with a bandage;
Remove it after a day;
Apply an antifungal medication prescribed by a dermatologist.

The specialist most often prescribes only drugs for external use.

attention!

Antifungal systemic agents are not used for onychomycosis in the initial stage of development.

Nail fungus treatment at home

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

Apple vinegar . Simply soak your feet 1-2 times a day in a 1: 1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water for about 15-20 minutes. After soaking, let the toenails dry completely (you can use a hair dryer). And within about two weeks, you will notice that the fungus disappears and a beautiful and new one grows in place of the old damaged nail.
Tea tree oil should be applied to the skin and nails affected by fungus three times a day. A single dose is from 4 to 10 drops of products. This treatment should be continued for at least two weeks or even longer to ensure that the infection does not return to you. This oil should not be used by children and pregnant women.
Freshly picked celandine is passed through a meat grinder and the juice is squeezed out of the pulp (this is done through 3-4 layers of cheesecloth). You should get about 200 ml. juice Mix with 200 ml. 70% alcohol and left for 24 hours. The prepared juice is smeared on the affected nails, but the treatment is carried out only after the feet have been steamed for 10 minutes and completely dried. The course of treatment is 10-12 days, 3-4 procedures per day.
Another way to get rid of nail fungus is to treat it at home with iodine. It's very simple. For three weeks, the nail plate is applied daily with iodine. In this case, the growing tip of the damaged nail is removed regularly.
Kombucha will also help fight fungus. Compresses are made for this treatment: wrap a plate of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, then put on socks. In the morning, you should wash your feet with warm water, carefully remove the dead areas and lubricate them with iodine. Side effects include quite severe pain, but you can achieve the desired result much faster.

If folk remedies do not give the desired result, you should contact specialists to prescribe complex therapy.

Infection with pathogenic fungi occurs through contact, as well as through poor hygiene. Onychomycosis (fungi on the nail plate) is most often contracted when wearing common shoes in everyday life, in gyms and other places with high humidity and temperature. The initial stage of toenail fungus has certain signs. Knowing them, it is possible to avoid the transition of the pathology to another stage of development.

All folk remedies can be used only after consulting a dermatologist. Many of them can provoke allergic reactions. It is easier to cure onychomycosis by combining alternative means with drugs.

In the initial stage, toenail fungus appears as almost imperceptible furrows or white spots. Often, a person learns that he has a fungal infection only when visiting a dermatologist. This is explained by the fact that during this period it is almost impossible to recognize the disease yourself. If the therapy is started on time, the disease is cured quickly.

Fungi (onychomycosis) is not only a dermatological disease, but in advanced forms many systems and internal organs are affected. In order to stop the pathology in a timely manner, you need to know the symptoms and methods of treatment. How does the disease manifest itself in different stages? Which drugs are most effective?

You can get a fungus at home if someone in your family has it, everyone uses the same pedicure or manicure set. But in public places, the risk of infection is much higher - the fungus lives in bathrooms, pools and showers in fitness centers.

What diseases can provoke a fungal infection:

flat feet, congenital or acquired foot deformity;
poor blood circulation in the lower limbs;
increased sweating of the feet;
calluses, excessively rough skin on the feet;
frequent injuries to the nail plate;
weakened immunity, any chronic diseases, diabetes.

Foot fungus often develops among lovers of narrow shoes and people who neglect the rules of personal hygiene. Infection often occurs in beauty salons where the tools are poorly processed. The disease can be provoked by taking oral contraceptives and antibacterial drugs.

Precautions

To avoid the disease, it is necessary:

Avoid direct contact with fungal vectors.
Follow the rules of personal hygiene, wash your hands after visiting public places.
After washing, carefully wipe the places between your fingers, as the fungus likes a warm and moist environment.
Do not use other people's shoes and household items.
Wear socks made of natural materials.
Wear shoes in a public pool, bath or sauna.
Use personal manicure accessories.

Forecast

The prognosis for timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of nail fungus is favorable. Against the background of concomitant chronic diseases, the prognosis worsens.

Treatment of advanced nail fungus is long-term. Recurrences are observed in 40-70% of cases.