What do toenail fungus look like?

In order to notice pathological changes in the condition of the nails and the skin of the feet in time and to start treatment as soon as possible, it is important to know what the fungus of the nail plate looks like. The sooner measures are taken to eliminate the disease, the greater the likelihood that it will be possible to prevent the destruction of the nail plate and restore its normal appearance. Find out how the fungus appears in 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 are infected with a fungal infection (onychomycosis), you need to know what healthy nails look like. In normal condition, the nails are smooth plates, with horns of a pale pink color, smooth, without scratches, bumps or distortions. Healthy nails are strong and elastic, not thick. 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 can vary depending on the form of the disease.

1. Normotrophic.This is the initial stage of nail fungus. Horny plates change color, yellow and white spots and stripes appear on them, as well as an unpleasant smell. This is the initial stage of the disease, so the nail retains its normal thickness and relatively healthy appearance. This stage begins to appear at the end of the incubation period.
2. Hypertrophic:the color changes even more, the plates 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 separates from the nail bed.

Another classification also depends on the appearance of nail fungus. It involves dividing the infection into several types depending on which part of the nail is 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 can be completely affected and its root (matrix) can also become infected. Thinning of the plaque may occur.
2. Surface.The fungus affects the upper part of the horny plate, causing the appearance of white streaks and spots that turn yellow and increase in size over time. They can be easily removed by scratching. The plate has a loose structure. This variety is specific: this is how nail fungus manifests itself.
3. Proximal.The fungus occurs under the nail, causing damage to the matrix and tissues surrounding the plate. Cuticle rejection may occur. Deep furrows and irregularities appear on the nails.
4. Total. The nails acquire a grayish-yellow hue, become very thick and fall off. The plate is subject to complete 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 first stages, the infection manifests itself in the form of redness and swelling of the skin and the appearance of small cracks.

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

Another symptom of mycosis of the feet is the appearance of spots on the skin, which soon begin to itch and peel off. Over time, the size of these spots increases, involving an increasingly large area of the skin in the fungal process. There is an unpleasant smell from the feet, even if you do not wear shoes. If treated incorrectly or in time, foot fungus can develop into an extensive form, in which deep cracks are created at the base of the toes and between them, on the arch of the foot and on the heel. In addition, this stage is characterized by severe separation of the skin.

Diagnosis of fungal nail infections

Any person who is far from medicine can suspect a fungal infection of the nails or feet if he has at least a poor understanding of this disease. However, only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment based on an external examination, a study 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 actually has a fungal infection, a scraping is made from the affected nail in the laboratory and, after placing the material in an alkaline medium, it is examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal mycelia. If such a specific structure is detected, the diagnosis will be absolutely confirmed. Additional studies may be prescribed to determine the specific type of fungus; this is necessary to choose the most effective drugs against the 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 athlete's foot are contagious diseases, so at the first symptoms you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to protect your loved ones. The incubation period of the fungus can last 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 develop and the less money you will have to spend on expensive drugs with antifungal action.