How to identify nail fungus on the legs: symptoms, possible causes and characteristics of treatment

The point in this article will be about such an unpleasant, but, alas, quite common phenomenon, like the nail fungus on the legs. Symptoms, the causes of this disease are known to medical science and can be easily diagnosed at all stages. However, it can be detected only when you are attentive to your own health. How to identify nail fungus on legs? How to treat it? Are the advertised ointments effective?

Because of what the fungus is formed on the nails?

Nail fungus is a fairly common disease. The disease is especially successful in places with a temperate and tropical climate, that is, where it is moist and warm. However, paradoxical as it may seem, the inhabitants of the cold countries are more likely to get nail fungus. This is due to the fact that in a harsh climate, one always has to wear warm shoes with socks. The foot sweats, the sock becomes wet and the person is forced to remain in this condition for a long time without the ability to change shoes. This is the best way to promote the formation of nail fungus. Before we talk about how to determine the fungus of the nails on the legs, let's figure out who is more susceptible to this disease.

Nail fungus as a professional disease

In the risk group are people whose skin legs can not breathe during the day because of tight shoes. They are miners, power plant workers, gardeners and representatives of other working specialties. Fungus can be "picked up", working in the laundry, in the pool, hotel, restaurant.

What diseases can serve as a prerequisite

Not infrequently, not only the representatives of the above occupations suffer from this ailment, but also people who have diabetes mellitus of 1 or 2 groups. In addition, the prerequisite for the formation of nail fungus can be deformity of the feet, varicose veins. Among the reasons for the appearance of this infection is an inadequate nourishment of the nail due to the obstruction or difficulty of the vessels. That is why the creams advertised today, as well as nail polish, designed to save from the fungus, will be completely useless in the fight against the disease. After all, it is often caused by internal ailments, and external influence will not eradicate problems.

Who is at risk?

Several decades ago, nail fungus in most cases diagnosed in the elderly. However, every year the number of patients suffering from fungus nails, everything is increasing, the very same disease "is younger".

Official data suggest that in two to three times the nail fungus develops in men. At the same time, women are more often referred to a dermatologist with this problem. Representatives of the weaker sex are more concerned about their health and do not find anything shameful in consultation with a doctor.

Next, we will consider why it is so important to receive recommendations on the treatment of fungus in the dermatologist, and also tell you how to identify the fungus on the nails and what symptoms it has at each stage of its development.

How Nail Fungus Looks

This disease is not fatal, but it is, of course, necessary to get rid of it. Fortunately, to recognize the onset of the disease is easy for anyone. How to identify the fungus on the legs? The tips are given below. First of all, take a good look at your nails.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the color of the nail. The infected nail becomes drowsy-yellow and opaque. Depending on the stage of the disease, the edge of the nail plate, the base or the entire nail can be affected.

Pay attention to the thickness of the nail

Answering the question about how to determine the fungus of nails, one should also mention the changes in the nail plate. Despite the fact that due to illness the nail is thinned, visually and by sensation it seems to become thicker, swells.

How to identify the fungus on the nails? In order to detect the presence of infection, it is not enough to visually inspect the nail plate. Mix the potassium permanganate and water in the proportion of 1 to 5, put the nails into the resulting solution for half a minute. A healthy nail will turn and turn brown. Part of the affected plate will remain white.

Stages of the disease

The disease proceeds in four stages. The sooner you start treatment, the more chances to get rid of the nail fungus forever.

The first stage is characterized by the defeat of the edge of the nail. As mentioned above, the color of the plate changes, bulges appear. The nail grows poor-quality, hollow, and therefore breaks down and crumbles.

A sign of the second stage will be an increase in the area of the lesion. In addition, it should be noted that sometimes the second stage can begin as if bypassing the first. The defeat of the nail plate will not start from the edge, but at the base of the nail. Cure of the fungus of the nails in the second stage will be more problematic than the first.

How to identify the nail fungus on the legs in the third stage? In medicine, it is called a white surface fungus and looks as if the entire plate is struck. It has a dense white color, strongly crumbles around the edges.

The fourth stage is called the total dystrophic fungus. The nail has a yellowish-gray color, exudes a peculiar unpleasant odor and strongly crumbles. At the fourth stage, you can often see the exposed part of the skin under the broken fingernail, since it is overgrown because of the fungus; in most cases it breaks off.

The reason for contacting a dermatologist often becomes the self-identification of the fourth stage of the nail fungus. It is not necessary to search the forums or the internet for advice on how to effectively treat the nail fungus. It is better to consult a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease.

What to expect from a campaign to the doctor?

Probably, in each of us there is a fear of doctors. However, do not be afraid of contacting a dermatologist if you suspect a nail fungus. The specialist will conduct an external examination, as well as take a scraping of the upper keratinized layer of the nail to send him to the diagnostic department. A detailed analysis will reveal what became the causative agent of the disease, determine the type of fungus, and also tell the doctor what kind of treatment should be prescribed.

Treatment of the nail fungus takes a considerable time. It can last from one month to three. After the course of treatment, you will need to take the tests again, even if the above symptoms are not observed.

A few words about effective treatment

So, now we know how to identify the fungus on the nails of the feet. The methods are given above. Now it is necessary to say a few words about the treatment that you can do yourself. The drug "Exoderil" proved to be quite effective. However, you need not use an ointment, namely a solution. This drug can also be used in the case of damage to the feet by the fungus.

How to use Exoderil? If you have a fungus in the first stage of the disease, then lubricate the affected surface of the nail twice a day. Nails should be dry and well washed. In the next stages of the disease, you can not do without taking tablets. However, in this case, the use of "Exoderil" should not be stopped: this will enhance the effect of the effects of drugs.

Before applying the product, carefully clean the affected nail surface with a manicure device. However, you must be extremely careful. After the perfect manipulations it is necessary to apply the solution "Exoderil" to the cleaned place. Repeat 2 times a day.

People who are familiar with this infectious disease, also respond positively about the drug called "Mycosis". For the price of "Exoderil" or "Mikozan" are in the same range: about 500 to 700 rubles. Which of these means to use, you decide. But without the help of a dermatologist, the nail fungus can be disposed of forever and completely fails.

Summarizing

The article answers the question of how to determine the nail fungus on the legs. However, it is worth remembering that self-medication does not always lead to complete recovery. If changes in the thickness or color of the nails should consult a doctor.

By the degree of defeat of the nail plate, the fungus can be divided into four stages. If the first stage of the disease does not cause anxiety, since it does not strongly deform the nail plate, then on the fourth you can easily lose your nails. Do not hesitate to contact a dermatologist.

It is strongly advised not to engage in self-medication, yielding to admonitions about the effectiveness of a drug. Cream or any other agent applied to the nail plate from the outside, will not relieve the causative agent of the disease, and, therefore, will be ineffective. As a result, you will only delay the process of treatment, masking the manifestation of the disease. It is also worth remembering that the nail fungus not only looks unaesthetic, but also is a kind of beacon that indicates the presence of disorders in the body.