Fungal diseases are very often diagnosed in dermatology. Walking barefoot on the beach, not having a change of shoes when visiting saunas and baths, trying on other people's shoes, boots, etc. contribute to the widespread spread of the disease on the toes. According to statistics, the most common damage to the nail plates begins with the thumb. This is due to the peculiarity of the anatomical structure of the nail and a significant subungual space. If you seek medical help in a timely manner, the disease will not cause much discomfort and will turn out to be nothing more than a temporary blemish.
symptoms of the disease
Under the nail plate, the fungal infection quickly finds a breeding ground for itself and begins active reproduction. During this time, a person may not experience any symptoms, or they may experience mild itching and redness in the nail area. In addition, the growth of colonies of pathogens leads to more pronounced signs, which are the reason for seeking advice from a medical institution. If you treat nail fungus on the big toe in the initial stages, you can avoid many unpleasant complications. The main symptoms include:
- change in nail color;
- the appearance of spots under it;
- lack of natural shine;
- increased fragility;
- nail deformity.
The longer the disease is not treated, the more negative the fungus affects: the body of the nail becomes thicker, its shape changes sharply. Such a finger causes pain when trying to put on tight shoes or with an accidental mechanical injury. In the future, the nail completely loses its healthy appearance, collapses, flakes off and can separate from the nail bed.
Causes of fungus on the big toe
The causative agent of the disease are three groups of pathogenic fungi: yeast-like fungi, molds and dermatomycetes. Their prevalence in the environment is extremely high, so there can be many routes of infection. However, not all people become infected through dangerous contact, as immunity is there to protect health. Treatment for fungus on the big toe is often required in people with reduced resistance to infections of this type. In addition, the disease can be provoked by:
- frequent injury to the thumb;
- non-compliance with hygiene standards;
- the presence of fungal skin lesions;
- diabetes mellitus;
- overweight;
- vascular diseases;
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Among the predisposing factors, weak immunity occupies a special place. Previous viral infections, frequent colds, sore throats, poisoning deprive the body of its defenses against a fungal infection and increase the risk of infection. In addition, the lack of nutrients and the frequent formation of cracks and other injuries in the area of the big toe reduce local immunity and can provoke disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you have started to worry about uncomfortable symptoms related to toenails, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Itching, redness, discoloration can indicate an impending illness. Qualified help in this matter is provided by a doctor.
He specializes in various skin diseases and helps in the competent treatment of nail fungus on the big toe. First, a comprehensive diagnosis is performed, including taking the medical history, examining it, and doing some laboratory tests. For a more complete assessment of the patient's condition, the dermatologist can set several additional ones
Questions:
- How long have you noticed changes in your nails?
- What was the first thing to worry about?
- Has the nail plate changed color?
- How long did it take for the shape to change?
- What kind of activity do you do?
- Do you often visit saunas, baths?
- Have you ever had a fungal infection of the body?
After passing additional examinations, the patient must visit a dermatologist again. Based on the results obtained and the clinical picture, the doctor prescribes therapy for the disease.
treatment
The effectiveness and duration of therapy for the disease directly depends on the timely search for medical help and the right scheme. At the initial stage of the disease, ointments and gels for external use containing an antifungal component are effective remedies. In this case, it is important to correctly identify and deal with the pathogen. Other treatments are also possible:
- complex therapy;
- physiotherapeutic effect;
- laser therapy;
- nail removal;
- Elimination of comorbidities.
In more complex cases of pathology, an integrated approach is shown, including antifungal drugs for local and internal use, general tonic. An adjunct to drug treatment is a low-sugar diet. He creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of parasitic fungi. For a faster recovery process, we recommend:
- take vitamin complexes;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- carry out daily disinfection procedures;
- strictly follow the treatment regimen;
- to refuse from bad habits.
An important place in the final stages of therapeutic measures is the prevention of relapse and strengthening immunity. Patients are advised not to walk barefoot on the beach, try on other people's shoes and allow frequent sweating of the feet.
Possible complications
An aesthetic defect is far from everything a fungus is capable of. In advanced conditions, the nail becomes excessively large, extremely painful, grows into the adjacent skin, it is possible that secondary infection and a purulent lesion will join. Treating toenail fungus in this case is a long and tedious process. In addition to the local negative effect, pathogens have a devastating effect on the entire organism, the following is possible:
- allergies;
- Dermatitis;
- blood poisoning;
- intoxication;
- somatic diseases.
When fungal strains reach large numbers, their waste products turn into poison, poisoning a person and depriving their immune system of defenses. In this condition, the probability of various viral or bacterial lesions is very high. There is a marked deterioration in general health and performance.