One of the fundamental factors for successful treatment of mycosis is contacting the right doctor. Patients often confuse the specialization of doctors and do not know which doctor to go to with nail fungus. As a result, precious time is wasted, extra money and nerves are wasted.
A fungal infection requires immediate treatment. The earlier the disease is detected and diagnosed, the more effective the therapy will be. Also, the choice of doctor depends on the stage of the disease. In advanced forms of the disease, the help of several doctors will be required, including a surgeon.
About the disease
Mycosis is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria. Adults are mostly susceptible to it, but children are also not immune from infection. The disease first affects the areas between the fingers, gradually moving to the nail plates. The fungus destroys keratin, the main component of the nail. The result is fragility of the plate, stopping its growth, the formation of cracks and specific stains on the surface of the nail.
Causes of infection
There are several causes of fungal infection. The main ones should be highlighted:
- Weak immunity.
If the body is weakened by disease or does not receive the required amount of vitamins, a person runs the risk of contracting mycosis. The body's protective barriers will not be able to prevent the spread of the disease.
- Exhausted nervous system.
Frequent stress, nervous breakdowns and the habit of taking everything to heart contribute to the deterioration of the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
- Neglect of hygiene rules.
Mostly, the fungus is picked up in public places. Inattention and negligence in relation to one's cleanliness are the main reasons for the spread of mycosis. You should always wash your hands before eating in cafes, bars, restaurants, and after using the restroom. You should always take replacement socks or tights with you when using sports or play shoes at rental centers or entertainment centers. It is also recommended to carry hand sanitizer gel with you so that if there is no water tap nearby, you can treat your palms from dirt and germs.
- Inappropriate communication with animals.
Fungal spores are carried not only by people, but also by animals. All lovers of petting stray cats and dogs should wean themselves from this habit. No matter how cute the animals are, they pose a health hazard. If contact does occur, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap, treat them with a disinfectant solution and wash your clothes.
- Improper storage of shoes and hosiery.
The fungus reproduces most readily in a warm and humid environment. Considering this fact, after walking in the rain or on damp ground, you need to dry your shoes by placing them near a radiator or heater, and put wet socks or tights in the wash. If you leave your shoes to dry on their own, there is no guarantee that they will dry completely. Meanwhile, spores can activate very quickly, and the very next day a person becomes infected with mycosis.
In almost all cases of fungal infection, the person himself is to blame. It is worth increasing your attention to detail, not ignoring hygiene rules, and using only your own clothes and shoes. You also need to monitor your health. Take vitamins and micronutrient capsules regularly. For a healthy and clean person, the disease will pass.
Symptoms of the disease
Medicine knows more than ten types of mycosis. And there are several tens of thousands of causative agents of this disease. Naturally, each type differs from the other in its characteristic symptoms. But we can identify the main signs of the disease. They are found in every patient in one variation or another.
Main symptoms:
- thickened or thinned nail plate;
- loss of shine of the nail, acquisition of dullness;
- the nail begins to crack and peel;
- change in the color of the nail plate (white, yellow, brown, green, black);
- the appearance of spots, stripes, dots on the nail;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers;
- discharge of mucus from under the nail.
Other characteristic symptoms are itching and burning in the area of the affected fingers or toes. The pain may become so severe that the person must take painkillers.
The fungus often spreads beyond the nail. It affects the nail ridges, interdigital space, and foot. In rare and especially severe cases, the disease spreads throughout the body. Sometimes pathogenic bacteria even affect internal organs.
Detection of nail fungus
The difficulty of identifying the disease lies its main problem. It is because of the lost time that the infection develops and takes root on the patient’s body. Infection in later stages is very difficult to completely eradicate. Those infected require six months of treatment for the therapy to bring positive results. Sometimes the mycelium becomes embedded so deeply that it takes a lifetime to cure. It is possible to achieve only temporary improvements, and then the fungus returns again.
It is extremely difficult to detect mycosis at an early stage. The symptoms are not as pronounced as in subsequent stages, when the bacteria create mycelium - their mycelium. Patients do not pay attention to the slight itching, confusing it with fatigue after walking. Some people do not react at all to changes in the color of the plate. People mistake crumbling and brittle nails for a temporary illness that should go away on its own.
Detection of at least one symptom is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. However, not everyone knows which doctor treats nail fungus. Usually people go to a therapist, but this is not entirely true. You should make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist.
The medical facility will conduct the necessary tests and tell you whether the person is really infected with the infection. It is impossible to independently determine its presence, just as it is impossible to find out the type. Namely, the specific treatment and recommendations for recovery depend on the type of mycosis.
Contact a dermatologist
Since fungus is a skin disease, it is logical to seek help from a dermatologist. He will examine the nail suspected of infection, interview the patient about its condition, and refer it for tests. After receiving the results of medical tests, the dermatologist will make a verdict.
If the disease is at an early stage, then this specialist will be able to solve the problem. If the mycosis is in an advanced form or is characterized by complex symptoms, the doctor will send the patient to an appointment with a mycologist.
It should be remembered that a dermatologist is a doctor with a broader scope. He treats all skin diseases, but does not have specific knowledge. They are available from a mycologist who specializes only in treating fungus.
Appointment with a mycologist
A mycologist treats all forms of fungal infection - from early to advanced stages. This specialist conducts initial examinations, determines which tests will be appropriate, and develops a treatment algorithm. If the patient has the opportunity, it is better for him to immediately go to a mycologist. This way he will save his time and receive a more competent and clear answer to the question about the type of his illness and how to treat it.
An appointment with a mycologist usually costs a fee. Doctors see patients in special centers, where a general practitioner or dermatologist prescribes a referral. Few clinics have a personal mycologist.
The mycologist will guide the patient from the first appointment until recovery. It is not recommended to change doctors during treatment. A new doctor will need time to study the medical history, and this is a waste of time.
After the patient has recovered, the mycologist prescribes advice on maintaining health. Preventive measures must be strictly observed. In this case, the fungus will not return.
Diagnostic and treatment algorithm
Treatment of mycosis consists of sequentially related stages. It is important to undergo each of them on time under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
Antifungal therapy algorithm:
- Contact a dermatologist or go straight to a mycologist.
- Initial examination and obtaining a referral for tests.
- Taking tests and receiving their results.
- Repeated appointment with the doctor and determination of subsequent treatment.
- Purchasing medications for therapy.
Then the patient must regularly visit the doctor to monitor the progress of the disease. If the effect is positive, therapy continues and ends with recovery. If there is a negative reaction to medications or no improvement, additional studies are carried out and new therapy is prescribed.
Tests to clarify the diagnosis
For effective treatment, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause and type of disease. The nature of therapy will depend on the type of pathogen.
Basic diagnostic tests:
- Microbiological methods.
First, the doctor must determine whether the patient is truly infected. To do this, he needs to take material, that is, a potentially infected nail. The doctor takes a scraping or cuts off part of the plate. The material is then placed in a solution, after which a specialist examines it under a microscope. This is how he sees the presence or absence of harmful bacteria that caused the infection.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
The doctor takes blood from a vein from a patient. The analysis result comes quickly. The response indicates the reaction to mycosis: positive, negative or unspecified. In the latter case, it is necessary to take additional tests or repeat the blood donation in a week.
- PCR study.
As in the first study, PCR requires a scraping. As a result, the doctor can accurately say whether a person is a carrier of the infection or not. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the fact that PCR cannot identify the type of fungus. The doctor only announces its presence or absence.
The fungus at the initial stage is difficult to diagnose the first time. This is what is called an unlabeled reaction. To obtain a final diagnosis, doctors will send the patient for additional tests or ask him to come back in one to two weeks. Then the doctors will consult and tell you which doctor the patient should see next if they have established nail fungus. Most likely it will be a mycologist.
Help from other specialists
Often, the help of a dermatologist and mycologist is not enough. Sometimes the patient does not have the opportunity to immediately get an appointment with a specialized specialist. Then it is recommended to consult a therapist.
The therapist will conduct an initial examination, and based on the results of the examination, write out directions for tests. He will also tell you who to go to next - a dermatologist or mycologist. An appointment with a therapist is relevant for patients living in small towns or residential areas of megacities. Not every clinic has its own dermatologist or mycologist. In this case, the therapist becomes a specialist who can direct the infected person to the necessary treatment.
If the nail fungus has already developed quite seriously and has reached an advanced stage, the patient will need to make an appointment with a surgeon. Sometimes professional intervention is required. Sometimes there is no way to save the affected nail. It has to be removed surgically. The doctor will cut out the plate from the nail bed and advise the patient on further actions.
If a patient cannot immediately make an appointment with a specialist, he should see a therapist. This doctor has all the necessary knowledge to conduct an initial examination and make recommendations on the next steps in terms of antifungal therapy.
Treatment at the initial stage
Early stage athlete's foot can be treated with antifungal gels, patches and varnishes. The latter contain fungicides - substances that prevent the spread of infection. They stop the growth of bacteria and neutralize mycelium.
It is not recommended to independently select medications. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination, can give effective advice and write the necessary prescription.
As a supplement to ointments and varnishes, you can use traditional therapy recipes. The following are especially popular:
- vinegar;
- iodine;
- potassium permanganate;
- table or sea salt.
They are used to make lotions and baths. Iodine and potassium permanganate should not be used too often as they cause dry skin. To avoid damaging the skin, you need to take breaks.
Recipes based on herbs and vegetables are also in demand. For example, mint, onion, garlic compresses. In addition, it is recommended to smear the affected fingers or toes with olive oil or tea tree oil.
Alternative therapy should only be used as an addition to the main treatment, but in no case replace it.
Treatment at the stage of development and neglect
In advanced forms of the disease, ointments and baths are indispensable. Requires the use of so-called antimycotics. They are prescribed by a doctor. The choice of tablets is based on the type of fungus, the patient’s health condition, his age and other characteristics. Antimycotics are characterized by a large list of contraindications and side effects. It is prohibited to buy them without a mycologist's prescription.
Preventing the risk of infection
To maintain good health, it is necessary to take preventive measures. They will prevent the risk of nail fungus infection.
Top tips:
- Use only personal hygiene items: towels, sports mats, wet wipes.
- Monitor the cleanliness of hosiery and change pairs regularly.
- Clean your shoes before and after going outside.
- In case of humid weather or personal excessive sweating of feet, thoroughly dry your shoes.
- Avoid tactile contact with strangers.
- After handling animals, especially homeless ones, wash your hands with soap.
- Always take disinfectant gel with you to public places.
- It is preferable to bring personal belongings (if any) to rental bases.
- Get manicures and pedicures regularly and avoid the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on your feet.
- Wear only comfortable shoes that do not pinch or rub your feet.
If a fungal infection has already occurred, you must follow all the recommendations of your doctor. By strictly adhering to therapy, the patient will be able to recover and forget about the unpleasant illness. But you have to be patient - the infection is difficult to eradicate. It will take several months, and maybe years.