In case of fungal infection of the nail plates, or onychomycosis, you should consult a dermatologist or mycologist. The first specialist doctor for any skin problems. It is responsible for allergic, bacterial, viral and fungal lesions of the epidermis. A mycologist is a narrowly qualified specialist. Understands all types of fungi, treats mycotic lesions of any localization, conducts research and collects statistics.
When you need medical help
A person becomes infected with the fungus when its spores get on the skin or nail plates. You can "catch" pathogenic microorganisms in public places (sauna, swimming pool, beauty salon), from your family members, in a shoe store. Fungi love moist and warm environments. They are able to multiply in shoes. This usually happens if a personsuffers from sweating feet, ignores this fact or ignores the rules of personal hygiene.
When in contact with fungi, a person is not always infected. This is preceded by a decrease in immunity. Normally, the body successfully copes with the attack of billions of microbes a day. If the defense is exhausted, you can expect trouble.
Onychomycosis is a serious infectious disease. In addition, the person has been in contact with pathogenic fungi for a long time. Mycotoxins with toxic 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 harder and longer it takes to treat. Initiated onychomycosis is difficult to cure, becomes chronic, recurrent, requires lifelong use of prophylactic agents.
It is necessary to consult a doctor when the first signs of nail fungus appear, as follows:
- if they are covered with small spots, dots, streaks, pale inclusions;
- if the color of the nail plate has changed - it has become yellow, brown, grayish or greenish;
- if the plaque grows, improper nail cutting creates a "gateway" for infection;
- if the nails are peeling - a sign of progression of onychomycosis;
- if a person suffers from lichen - the fungus easily spreads to the nails from the skin;
- if there are onychomycosis among family members;
- if the nails have lost their shine, they become dull, heterogeneous.
The direct reasons for visiting the doctor are itching, sweating, dry skin on the feet. Excessive sweating and unpleasant foot odor can indicate the development of fungi.
Who first
If you decide to see a doctor, you should first make an appointment with a dermatologist. There are skin specialists in all paid and free hospitals. Feel free to make an appointment with a dermatologist at the skin care center in your place of residence.
The dermatologist will conduct a visual examination - identify signs of fungal development, examine the skin for other symptoms of mycotic lesions of the body. As a rule, the doctor prescribes tests (scraping of nails or skin) that confirm or refute the fungal disease.
If the suspicion of a specialist is confirmed, additional tests may be prescribed - general and biochemical study of blood, urine and liver tests. Additional information is needed to identify the cause of the infection, to detect all possible comorbidities. Blood and liver diseases impose restrictions on the use of certain drugs.
The referral for consultation with a mycologist is issued in advanced cases - if all the nails on the feet are damaged by onychomycosis, the process of onycholysis (destruction of plaques) has begun, some nails are already missing, the patient has previously unsuccessfully self-helped. treatment. A narrow-profile specialist will prescribe additional tests to identify the type of pathogen. Specific drugs will be more effective for a certain type of fungus.
General principles for the elimination of onychomycosis
To treat nail fungus, experts 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, give appropriate recommendations needed to reduce the duration of therapy.
Treatment should be carried out very conscientiously. The patient must take the medication orally on time, strictly adhering to the treatment schedule recommended by the doctor. Topical medications are used until the problem is completely eliminated. As a rule, use is continued 1-2 months after the symptoms of onychomycosis have disappeared. The following are prescribed as local preparations:
- varnishes;
- gels;
- fats;
- solutions.
As auxiliary methods, water-salt baths are recommended, removing plates with the help of special softening ointments, and occasionally surgical help is needed.
Immunostimulants and vitamins are selected in accordance with the results of biochemical analyzes. In some cases, nail fungus is the first sign of serious diseases of internal organs or the hematopoietic system.
Do not throw away the doctor's phone number immediately after the first consultation. The success of onychomycosis therapy depends on the control of the healing process. Consultations with the doctor and testing will be repeated several times during the therapeutic course (up to 1 year). It will need to be taken again immediately after regrowth of the altered nail plate, one month after complete recovery. In order not to complicate the treatment process, the patient should refuse decorative varnish, nail upgrade.