What does toenail fungus look like?

In order to detect pathological changes in the condition of the nails and skin of the feet in time and start treatment as quickly as possible, it is important to know what mycosis of the nail plate looks like. The sooner measures are taken to eliminate the disease, the more likely it will be possible to prevent the destruction of the nail plate and return it to its normal appearance. Find out how the fungus manifests itself at different stages and what are the characteristic features of the course of this disease.

What does onychomycosis look like?

To understand that the nail plates have been infected with a fungal infection (onychomycosis), you need to know what healthy nails look like. Under normal conditions, nails are smooth, horny plates of light pink color, smooth, without dents, bumps or delaminations. Healthy nails are strong and elastic, not thickened. But a change in their appearance can signal many pathological processes in the body, so it is necessary to identify specific symptoms inherent in onychomycosis. They may vary depending on the form of the disease.

1. Normotrophic.This is the initial stage of nail fungus. Horny plaques change color, yellowish and white spots and stripes appear on them, as well as an unpleasant odor. This is the initial stage of the disease, the nail therefore retains its normal thickness and its relatively healthy appearance. This stage begins to appear at the end of the incubation period.
2. Hypertrophic:the color changes even more, the plaques begin to thicken and the shine disappears. A change in shape and partial destruction of the plaque along the edges can be observed.
3. Atrophic:the affected nail is separated from the nail bed.

Another classification also depends on the appearance of the nail fungus. This involves dividing the infection into several types depending on the part of the nail affected by the fungus:

1. Distal.There is delamination and yellowing of the edge of the plate, keratinization of the nail bed. In some cases, the nail may be completely affected and its root (matrix) may also be infected. Thinning of the plaque may occur.
2. Surface.The fungus affects the upper part of the horny plate, causing the appearance of white stripes and spots that turn yellow and increase in size over time. They can be easily removed by scraping. The plate has a loose structure. This variety is specific: this is how toenail fungus manifests itself.
3. Proximal.Fungi appear under the nail, causing damage to the matrix and tissues surrounding the plate. Cuticle shedding may occur. Deep grooves and irregularities appear on the nails.
4. Total.The nails acquire a gray-yellow tint, become very thick and peel. The plaque undergoes total or partial destruction.

Foot skin fungus

Often, toenail fungus spreads to the skin of the feet. What does fungus look like on the skin of the feet?

In the early stages, the infection is manifested by redness and swelling of the skin, as well as the appearance of small cracks.

Most often, changes can be noticed between the toes and on the heels.

The next symptom of foot fungus is the appearance of spots on the skin, which soon begin to itch and peel. Over time, these spots increase in size, implicating a larger and larger area of skin in the fungal process. Feet give off an unpleasant odor, even if you don't wear shoes. If treated incorrectly or untimely, foot fungus can develop into an extensive form, in which deep cracks form at the base of the toes and between them, on the arch of the foot and on the heels. In addition, this stage is characterized by severe peeling of the skin.

Diagnosis of nail fungus

Anyone far from medications can suspect a fungal infection of the nails or feet if they have at least a vague understanding of this disease. However, only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment based on an external examination, a survey of the patient and data from studies of the affected nail under a microscope. In this case, you should contact a dermatologist.

To determine whether a patient is truly suffering from a fungal infection, a scraping is performed in the laboratory on the affected nail and, after placing the material in an alkaline environment, it is examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal mycelium. If such a specific structure is discovered, the diagnosis will be absolutely confirmed. Additional studies may be prescribed to determine the specific type of fungus, which is necessary to select the most effective drugs against infection.

Nail fungus not only spoils the appearance of the hands and feet, but can also lead to unpleasant consequences, including the complete loss of nail plates and the penetration of a fungal infection into the body. In addition, onychomycosis and foot fungus are contagious diseases, which is why at the first symptoms you must consult a doctor as quickly as possible to protect your loved ones. The incubation period of the fungus can take several weeks, so the disease does not appear immediately. The sooner you seek help from a specialist and accurately diagnose the disease, the faster the treatment will be and the less money you will have to spend on expensive drugs with antifungal action.