Nail fungus is an intractable disease, so diagnosing the symptoms at an early stage 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 / loved ones from infection, since in most cases (from 70 to 80%) nail and skin fungus is transmitted between family members.
How symptoms appear
![itchy feet with nail fungus](/images/articles/706/itchy%20feet%20with%20nail%20fungus.jpg)
First of all, nail fungus is manifested by an unpleasant odor and itching. If you have begun to notice that your feet are suspiciously often emitting an unpleasant odor (with a timely change of socks and proper hygiene), then this is a good reason to see a doctor to diagnose the disease.
![yellow nails due to fungal infection](/images/articles/706/yellow%20nails%20due%20to%20fungal%20infection.png)
The next symptom of the fungus is a change in the color of the nail plate. In this case, the nail is damaged more often at the edges. Small grooves and whitish spots appear, which eventually begin to increase in size.
![damage to the nails of the plate with fungus](/images/articles/706/damage%20to%20the%20nails%20of%20the%20plate%20with%20fungus.jpg)
If appropriate measures are not taken, the plate will continue to deform and the fungus will damage new areas of the nail until it completely infects it.
Another characteristic symptom of onychomycosis is a discoloration of the nail plate. As a result of exposure to fungal spores, it can acquire a wide variety of shades. In most cases, it is brown and yellow, but when exposed to molds or yeast fungi, it can also acquire 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 start to crumble.
Other features 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 enter the active phase only in some cases:
- Decreased immunity level
- Diabetes
- Skin diseases
- Mechanical damage to the skin of the legs / arms or nails.
Thus, you should be more careful if you have one of these signs. If you damaged your nail in a nail salon or wear tight shoes, then it is advisable to use one of the many antifungal prophylactic agents and apply it to damaged areas no more than once a week.
What to do if you find the symptoms of a fungus?
- If you find symptoms of onychomycosis, be sure to go to the hospital to a dermatologist and take 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 precious time.
- After passing all the necessary tests, follow the prescribed prescription exactly and carry out all the procedures for treating the fungus on time. Remember that folk remedies are best takenin complexwith antifungal drugs, and do not forget to consult your doctor about this.
Everything! These are all the actions that are required of you when you detect the first signs of onychomycosis. Do not try to self-diagnose and, moreover, prescribe treatment.