Nail fungus is an incurable disease, so diagnosing the symptoms at an early stage of the disease will significantly speed up the course of 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 fungi are 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 manifests itself with an unpleasant odor and itching. If you have begun to notice that your feet suspiciously often emit an unpleasant odor (with a timely change of socks and proper hygiene), this is a good reason to visit 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 furrows and whitish spots appear, which eventually begin to increase in size.
![damage to the nail plate with fungus](/images/articles/706/damage%20to%20the%20nail%20plate%20with%20fungus.jpg)
If proper measures are not taken, the plate will continue to deform and the fungus will damage new areas of the nail until it is completely infected.
Another characteristic symptom of onychomycosis is 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 mold or yeast, it can also take on a darker color.
Also, one of the signs of the disease is a change in the structure of the nail. It can very quickly change shape and begin to crumble.
Other characteristics of the disease
Fungi are 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:
- Reduced level of immunity
- Diabetes
- Skin diseases
- Mechanical damage to the skin of the feet / hands or nails.
Therefore, you should be more careful if you have one of these signs. If you have damaged your nails at a nail salon or wear tight shoes, then it is advisable to use one of the many antifungal prophylactics and apply it to the damaged areas no more than once a week.
What to do if you find the symptoms of fungus?
- If you find symptoms of onychomycosis, do not forget 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 yourself, then with a high degree of probability it will be ineffective and you will waste valuable time.
- After passing all the necessary tests, follow the prescribed prescription exactly and perform all fungal treatment procedures on time. Remember that folk remedies are best
in a complex with antifungal drugs and be sure to consult your doctor about it.
Everything! These are all actions that are required of you when you find the first signs of onychomycosis. Do not try to self-diagnose and, moreover, prescribe treatment.