Fungal disease is very often diagnosed in dermatology. Walking barefoot on the beach, lack of changeable footwear when visiting saunas and bathrooms, trying on other people's shoes, boots, etc. contribute to the widespread spread of toe disease. According to statistics, the most common damage to nail plates begins with the thumb. This is due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the nail and the significant subungual space. If you seek medical help in time, the disease will not bring much discomfort and will turn out to be only a temporary cosmetic defect.
Symptoms of the disease
Entering under the nail plate, the fungal infection quickly finds a nutrient medium for itself and begins active reproduction. During this period, the person may not feel any symptoms, or there may be mild itching, redness in the nail area. Furthermore, the growth of colonies of pathogens leads to more pronounced signs, they are a reason to seek advice from a medical institution. If you treat toenail fungus in the initial stage, you can avoid many unpleasant complications. The main symptoms include:
- nail discoloration;
- the appearance of spots under it;
- lack of natural luster;
- increased fragility;
- nail deformity.
The longer the disease is not treated, the more negative the effect of the fungus: the body of the nail becomes thick, its shape changes greatly. Such a toe causes pain when trying to put on tight shoes or in case of accidental mechanical injury. In the future, the nail completely loses its healthy appearance, collapses, peels 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, mold, and dermatomycetes. Their prevalence in the environment is extremely high, so there can be many ways of infection. However, not all people can be infected by dangerous contact, because immunity protects health. Treatment for fungus on the big toe is often necessary for people with reduced resistance to infections of this type. In addition, the disease can be caused by:
- frequent thumb injuries;
- non-compliance with hygiene standards;
- the presence of fungal skin lesions;
- diabetes;
- overweight;
- vascular diseases;
- varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Weak immunity occupies a special place among the predisposing factors. Past viral infections, frequent colds, sore throats, poisonings deprive the body of defensive forces against fungal infections and increase the risk of infection. In addition, lack of nutrients and frequent cracking and other injuries in the toe area reduce local immunity and can cause disease.
Which doctor should I go to?
If you have started to worry about any unpleasant symptoms related to toenails, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Itching, redness, discoloration may indicate an impending illness. Qualified help in this case will be provided by a doctor.
He specializes in various skin diseases and will help in the competent treatment of nail fungus on the thumb. A comprehensive diagnosis is performed first, including history taking, examination, and some laboratory tests. For a more complete assessment of the patient's condition, a dermatologist may prescribe a few additional ones
questions:
- How long have you been noticing changes in your nails?
- What was he supposed to worry about first?
- Has the nail plate changed color?
- How long did it take for the pattern to change?
- What kind of activities do you do?
- Do you often visit saunas, baths?
- Have you ever had a fungal infection?
After undergoing additional examinations, the patient will have to visit a dermatologist again. Based on the obtained results and the clinical picture, the doctor prescribes therapy for the disease.
Treatment
The effectiveness and duration of treatment of the disease directly depends on the early search for medical help and the right plan. In the initial phase of the disease, effective means are ointments and gels for external use that contain an antifungal component. In this case, it is important to correctly identify the pathogen and deal with it. Other treatments are 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, a general tonic. An adjunct to drug treatment is a low-sugar diet. He is the one who creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of parasitic fungi. For a faster recovery process, we recommend:
- take vitamin complexes;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- perform daily disinfection procedures;
- strictly adhere to the treatment regimen;
- reject bad habits.
An important place in the final phase of therapeutic measures is the prevention of relapse and strengthening of immunity. Patients are not advised to walk barefoot on the beach, try on other people's shoes and allow frequent sweating of the feet.
Possible complications
The aesthetic disadvantage is far from everything that a fungus is capable of. In advanced conditions, the nail becomes excessively large, extremely painful, grows into the adjacent skin, it is possible to combine secondary infection and purulent lesion. Treating nail fungus in this case will be a long and arduous process. In addition to the local negative impact, pathogens have a devastating effect on the whole organism, the following is possible:
- allergies;
- dermatitis;
- blood poisoning;
- intoxication;
- somatic diseases.
When fungal strains reach large numbers, their waste products become poisons, poison the person and deprive the immune system's defense system. In this condition there is a very high probability of various viral or bacterial lesions. There is a significant deterioration in overall health and performance.