In case of fungal infection of the nail plates or onychomycosis, you should contact a dermatologist or mycologist. The first doctor specializes in all skin problems. In its competence are allergic, bacterial, viral and fungal lesions of the epidermis. A mycologist is a narrowly qualified specialist. It includes all types of fungi, treats mycotic lesions of any localization, conducts research work and collects statistical information.
When you need medical help
A person becomes infected with a fungus when its spores get on the skin or nails. You can "catch" pathogenic microorganisms in public places (sauna, swimming pool, beauty salon), from members of your own family, in a shoe store. Mushrooms are very fond of moist and warm environments. They are able to breed in shoes. Most often this happens if a person suffers from sweaty feet, ignores this fact or neglects the rules of personal hygiene.
In contact with fungi, a person does not always become infected. This is preceded by a decrease in immunity. Normally, the body successfully copes with the daily attack of billions of microbes. If the defenses are exhausted, you can expect trouble.
Onychomycosis is a serious infectious disease. With him, a person is in contact with pathogenic fungi for a long time. Mycotoxins with poisonous properties enter his body. It also negatively affects the immune system. Get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible. The longer a person coexists with an infection, the more difficult and time-consuming it is to treat. Launched onychomycosis is difficult to cure, becomes chronic, recurs, requires the lifelong use of prophylactic agents.
It is necessary to contact doctors as soon as the first signs of nail fungus appear, namely:
- if they are covered with small spots, dots, stripes, pale inclusions;
- if the color of the nail plate has changed - it has become yellow, brown, grayish or greenish;
- if plaque grows, improper nail trimming creates an "entrance" portal for infection;
- if the nails exfoliate - a sign of the progression of onychomycosis;
- if a person suffers from ringworm - the fungus easily spreads to the nails from the skin;
- if among the family members there are people with onychomycosis;
- if the nails have lost their shine, become dull, uneven.
The direct reasons for consulting a doctor are itching, sweating, dry skin on the feet. Excessive sweating and an unpleasant smell from the feet can speak of a developing fungus.
Who to go first
Having decided to consult a doctor, you must first make an appointment with a dermatologist. There are skin specialists in all paid and free hospitals. You can freely get an appointment with a dermatologist in the skin care center at the place of residence.
The dermatologist will conduct a visual examination - identify signs of fungal development, examine the skin for other symptoms of mycotic lesions on the body. As a rule, the doctor prescribes tests (scraping of nails or skin) that confirm or refute a fungal disease.
If the specialist's suspicions are confirmed, additional tests may be prescribed - a general and biochemical study of blood, urine and liver tests. Additional information is needed to identify the cause of infection, to detect all possible comorbidities. Blood and liver diseases impose restrictions on the use of certain drugs.
A referral for a consultation with a mycologist is issued in advanced cases - if all nails are damaged by onychomycosis, the process of onycholysis (destruction of plaques) has begun, some nails are already missing, the patient has already beenunsuccessfully self-medicate. A narrow-profile specialist will prescribe additional tests to identify the type of pathogen. Specific medications will be more effective for a particular type of fungus.
General principles for the elimination of onychomycosis
For the treatment of nail fungus, specialists prescribe several drugs at once. Among them:
- systemic antifungal agents;
- topical dosage forms;
- vitamin preparations;
- immunostimulants.
The doctor individually assesses the patient's lifestyle and hygiene culture. If necessary, he gives the appropriate recommendations necessary to reduce the duration of treatment.
Medical treatment should be carried out very carefully. The patient should take oral medications in time, exactly follow the treatment conditions recommended by the doctor. Local remedies are used until the problem is completely eliminated. As a rule, use is continued for 1-2 months after the symptoms of onychomycosis have disappeared. The following are prescribed as topical preparations:
- varnish;
- gels;
- ointments;
- solutions.
As auxiliary methods, water-salt baths are recommended, plaque removal with the help of special softening ointments, sometimes surgical assistance is required.
Immunostimulants and vitamins are selected based on the results of biochemical analyzes. In some cases, nail fungus is the first sign of serious diseases of the internal organs or the hematopoietic system.
Do not throw away the doctor's phone number immediately after the first consultation. Successful treatment of onychomycosis depends on controlling the healing process. Medical consultations and tests will be repeated several times during the therapeutic course (up to 1 year). They should be resumed immediately after the regrowth of the changed nail plate, one month after complete healing. In order not to complicate the treatment process, the patient should refuse decorative varnish, nail extensions.