What does nail fungus look like on the toes?

In order to detect pathological changes in the condition of the nails and skin of the feet in a timely manner and to start treatment as quickly as possible, it is important to know what nail plate fungus looks like. The sooner measures are taken to eliminate the disease, the greater the likelihood that the destruction of the nail plate can be prevented and its normal appearance can be restored. Find out how the fungus manifests itself in different stages and what are the characteristic features of the course of the disease.

What does onychomycosis look like?

To understand that the nail plates are infected with a fungal infection (onychomycosis), you need to know what healthy nails look like. In the normal state, the nails are smooth horny plates of pale pink color, smooth, without dents, bumps or delaminations. Healthy nails are strong and elastic, not thickened. However, a change in their appearance can indicate many pathological processes in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to identify specific symptoms of onychomycosis. They can vary depending on the form of the disease.

1. Normotrophic.This is the initial stage of nail fungus. The horny plates change color, yellowish and white spots and stripes appear, as well as an unpleasant smell. This is the initial stage of the disease, so the nail retains its normal thickness and relatively healthy appearance. This stage begins to occur at the end of the incubation period.
2. Hypertrophic:the color changes even more, the plates begin to thicken and the shine disappears. There may be a change in shape and partial destruction of the plate along the edges.
3. Atrophic:The affected nail is separated from the nail bed.

A further classification also depends on what nail fungus looks like. The infection is divided into several types, depending on which part of the nail is affected by the fungus:

1. Distal.There is delamination and yellowing of the edge of the plate, keratinization of the nail bed. In some cases, the nail may be completely affected and its root (matrix) may also become infected. Thinning of the plate may occur.
2. Surface.The fungus affects the upper part of the horny plate, causing the appearance of white streaks and spots that turn yellow and increase in size over time. They can be easily removed by scraping. The plate has a loose structure. This variety is specific: this is how toenail fungus manifests itself.
3. Proximal.A fungus develops under the nail, damaging the matrix and tissue surrounding the nail plate. Cuticle rejection may occur. Deep grooves and irregularities appear on the nails.
4. In total.The nails acquire a gray-yellow hue, become very thick and flake off. The plate is completely or partially destroyed.

Foot skin fungus

The fungus on the toenails often spreads to the skin of the feet. What does a fungus on the skin of the feet look like?

In the first stages, the infection manifests itself in the form of redness and swelling of the skin, as well as the appearance of small cracks.

Changes are most commonly seen between the toes and on the heels.

The next symptom of foot mycosis is the appearance of spots on the skin, which soon begin to itch and peel. Over time, the size of these spots increases, so a larger and larger area of skin becomes involved in the fungal process. There is an unpleasant smell on your feet, even when you are not wearing shoes. If treated incorrectly or untimely, athlete's foot can develop into a widespread form in which deep cracks form at the base of the toes and between the toes, on the arch of the foot and on the heels. In addition, this stage is characterized by severe peeling of the skin.

Diagnosis of nail fungal infections

Any person who is not familiar with medicine can suspect a nail or athlete's foot infection if they have at least a weak understanding of this disease. However, only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment based on an external examination, a survey of the patient and data from examinations of the affected nail under a microscope. In this case, you need to contact a dermatologist.

To determine whether a patient actually has a fungal infection, a scrape is taken from the affected nail in the laboratory and the material is examined under the microscope for the presence of fungal mycelium after placing it in an alkaline environment. When such a specific structure is discovered, the diagnosis is absolutely confirmed. To determine the specific species of fungi, additional studies may be prescribed; this is necessary in order to select the most effective drugs against infections.

Nail fungus not only affects the appearance of the hands and feet, but can also cause unpleasant consequences, including the complete loss of the nail plates and the penetration of a fungal infection into the body. In addition, onychomycosis and athlete's foot are contagious diseases. Therefore, at the first symptoms, you must see a doctor as soon as possible to protect your loved ones. The incubation period of the fungus can last several weeks, so the disease does not appear immediately. The sooner you visit a specialist and accurately diagnose the disease, the faster the treatment will be and the less money you will have to spend on expensive drugs with antifungal effects.