How to identify fungus on the nails of the feet

Before you can define the fungi on the nails of the feet, the practitioner should perform a visual check of the patient and study the first signs of infection, observed on the fingers and feet. This unpleasant disease occurs in about 20 % of people. The nail fungus can affect any person, when you visit the spa, the pool, the beach, or for violation of rules of personal hygiene because of the use of foreign towels and lime manicure. The spores of the fungus are not only different objects, but also on the surface of the shoe.

The fungus

What is the fungus on the nails

Nail fungus dishes – this is the most common disease caused by a fungal infection that affects all the covers of the limbs. Usually, it manifests itself in a white or yellowish point in a layer of keratin. In difficult situations the fungus can cause serious damage to the plate and spread throughout the body, once in the blood stream.

Among the infectious agents they encounter different types of pathogenic microorganisms. The keratin layer can affect fungi-dermatophytes, but sometimes after the drawing intended to diagnose yeast or forms of fungal infections. The first symptoms of the disease are not expressed, then the time to identify the causative agent is not always possible. From the moment of infection of the body can spend a couple of months before the onset of the first signs.

As seems to be a fungus at the foot

How do you start the nail fungus on the legs of the people infected? Fungal infection are in various stages of deployment. With the development of the disease in the tables appear yellow stains and white. We must not confuse these changes with traces of lesions of the nail (injury), in which under the keratin layer are formed hemorrhage. Gradually the thickness of the plates change, and the deformed shape. They become curved and take on a wavy surface.

Signs of nail fungus in the foot

The presence of the disease, say the characteristic signs by which you can make a correct diagnosis. Infected mushroom dish has a couple of cast features in the later stages of the disease:

  • the nail crumbles, layered, becomes brittle;
  • the keratin layer thickens or becomes very thin;
  • occurs the deformation of the nail, is bent, covered with furrows, wavy;
  • plate fades, loses its luster, on it will appear stains;
  • you feel pain;
  • in advanced cases the plate separates from the nail bed.
Methods of diagnosis

The first signs of

Hitting the skin and the toes, a fungal infection does not cause once pronounced signs of pathology. In the early stages of infection, the patient may notice the following symptoms of nail fungus on the legs:

  1. itch, is accentuated because of an increased sweating;
  2. we observe the appearance of unpleasant smells;
  3. skin the feet and the fingers may appear thickened and scaly;
  4. along the edges of the nail appear small spots from white to brown;
  5. the plate does not seem aesthetically pleasing.

The symptoms

The defeat of the nail, caused by any type of fungi, different in each case, and manifests itself with different symptoms. Doctors divide onychomycosis of the nails of the feet into three groups:

  1. Normotroficheskie – in the early stages of the spread of infection manifest-spots and stripes, changes the color of keratin, the structure of the nail (shape, thickness) remains the same.
  2. Hypertrophic – plate collapses, and the edges become rough. The patient feels the pain, severe itching. Keratin layer thickening, becoming darker. In addition, the fungus causes scaling of the skin of the feet.
  3. Onipholitichesky – the spread of the infection causes the flaking plate from the bed, until complete removal of the nail. Color keratin becomes dark brown or gray, and loses shine. The disease develops, accompanied by an unpleasant odor and flaking stop.

Methods of diagnosis

Many of the patients affected, how to identify the fungus on the surface of the nails of the feet in the clinic. The staging, accurate diagnosis, the patient passed on the basis of the data obtained as a result of different methods of investigation:

  • the analysis of the clinical picture;
  • microscope analysis;
  • research culture;
  • DNA for the diagnosis.

The clinical picture of the disease is total, the analysis of the complaints of the patient and that, as it seems the keratin layer. Onychomycosis causes a series of skin changes under the influence and the nail plate. Inspection dermatologist must rule out other diseases: psoriasis, eczema, and so on. For an effective treatment it is necessary to identify the causative agent of infections, and then pass the microscopic and cultural research. First in the laboratory, analyze scrape under the microscope to verify the presence of fungi, and then produce a seeding of microorganisms.

The procedure of DNA for the diagnosis pass to detect the fungal infection in the body. For the analysis of the patient take a sample of tissue of the nail, which has affected the microbe, and scraping. The advantage of this method is the high probability of an accurate diagnosis, and also the fact that the result will be ready within a short period of time (one or two days).

How to identify a fungus in the foot

To cure the infection, it is first necessary to determine the presence of the fungus. The doctors emphasize that patients should not engage in therapy alone, as it can cause dependency causative agent of the disease to drugs. For the treatment of onychomycosis apply antimycotic ointments, paints, mortars and tablets. In addition, it is necessary to practice prevention of the infection – observe the rules of personal hygiene. To get rid of mold and prevent complications that are dangerous for the health (risk of infection of the blood), treat the fungus, is necessary when the first unpleasant sensations.

Iodine

With the help of potassium permanganate

How to identify fungus on the nails of the feet, by making use of potassium permanganate? At home, you can easily locate the athlete's foot with a solution of potassium permanganate. This method has high accuracy, but you should not rely on him. Laboratory studies into the clinic more indicative. To do this test, prepare a warm solution of potassium permanganate to a pink colour. Then place your foot for a few minutes. The affected area does not change its color, and healthy nails can turn.

With the help of iodine

How to recognize a nail fungus in the feet and define the damaged part of the skin with the help of iodine? The procedure can be performed alone at home, that the solution to the fingers. Iodine easily penetrates in the layers of the skin and, thanks to this property, it lets you know if there are mycotic disease. This substance is not able to determine the presence of the toe nail fungus, but it is easy to identify another infection – pityriasis versicolor, hands and feet.

How to distinguish the athlete's foot the nails from other diseases

To establish an accurate diagnosis and to distinguish a fungus dishes from other dermatological diseases, a sick man should see a doctor and get necessary examination. The doctors emphasize that the illiterate, self-medication can lead to several serious complications. The symptoms that accompany onychomycosis, have been observed in different diseases:

  • psoriasis;
  • eczema;
  • scabies;
  • zoster;
  • Reiter's syndrome;
  • pachyonychia;
  • the illness of Mary.