Fungal disease is very often diagnosed in dermatology. Walking barefoot on the beach, lack of changeable shoes when visiting saunas and baths, trying on shoes, other people's boots, etc. , contribute to the widespread spread of the disease in the toes. According to statistics, nail plate damage most often starts with the thumb. This is due to the peculiarity of the anatomical structure of the nail and a considerable subungual space. If you seek medical help in a timely manner, the disease will not bring much inconvenience and will turn out to be nothing more than a temporary cosmetic defect.
Symptoms of the disease
Getting under the nail plate, the fungal infection quickly finds a nutrient medium for itself and starts active reproduction. During this period, a person may not experience any symptoms, or a slight itching, redness may appear in the nail area. Further, the growth of pathogens colonies leads to more pronounced signs, they are the 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 color change;
- the appearance of spots under it;
- lack of natural glow;
- increased fragility;
- deformation of the nails.
The longer the disease is not treated, the more negative is the effect of the fungus: the body of the nail becomes thick, its shape changes a lot. Such a toe causes pain when you try to wear tight shoes or in case of accidental mechanical damage. In the future, the nail completely loses its healthy appearance, crumbles, melts and may come out of the nail bed.
Causes of fungus on the thumb
The causative agent of the disease are three groups of pathogenic fungi: similar to yeast, fungus and dermatomycetes. Their prevalence in the environment is extremely high, so there can be many ways of infection. However, not all people become infected through dangerous contact, as immunity acts to protect health. Treatment for fungus on the thumb is often required for people with reduced resistance to infections of this type. In addition, the disease can be provoked by:
- frequent injury of the thumb;
- non-compliance with hygiene standards;
- 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 its protection against a fungal infection and increase the risk of infection. In addition, lack of nutrients and frequent formation of cracks and other injuries in the area of the big toe reduce local immunity and can provoke a disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you have started to worry about any unpleasant symptoms related to toenails, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Itching, redness, spots may indicate an impending illness. Qualified assistance in this matter will be provided by a physician.
He specializes in various skin diseases and will help in the competent treatment of nail fungus on the thumb. First, a comprehensive diagnosis is made, including the collection of medical history, examination, and several laboratory tests. For a more complete assessment of the patient's condition, the dermatologist may prescribe some supplements
questions:
- How long have you noticed changes in your nails?
- What was the first thing to worry about?
- Has the nail plate changed color?
- How long did it take for the shape to change?
- What kind of activity are you doing?
- Do you often visit saunas, baths?
- Have you ever had a fungal infection of the body?
After passing the additional examinations, the patient will have to visit a dermatologist again. Based on the results obtained and the clinical picture, the doctor prescribes therapy of the disease.
Treatment
The effectiveness and duration of therapy for the disease depends directly on the early seeking of medical help and the proper scheme. In the initial stage of the disease, ointments and gels for external use containing an antifungal ingredient are effective remedies. In this case, it is important to accurately identify the pathogen and treat it. Other treatments are also possible:
- complex therapy;
- physiotherapeutic effect;
- laser therapy;
- nail removal;
- elimination of concomitant diseases.
In more complex cases of pathology, an integrated approach is indicated, including antifungal drugs for local and internal use, general tonic. An adjunct to medication treatment is a low-sugar diet. It is the one that creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of parasitic fungi. For a faster recovery process, we recommend:
- take vitamin complexes;
- to live an active lifestyle;
- performing daily disinfection procedures;
- strictly follow the treatment regimen;
- to refuse from bad habits.
An important place in the final stage of therapeutic measures is the prevention of relapses and the strengthening of immunity. Patients are not advised to walk barefoot on the beach, try on other people's shoes and allow frequent foot sweating.
Possible complications
An aesthetic defect is far from all that a fungus is able to do. In advanced conditions, the nail becomes excessively large, extremely painful, grows on adjacent skin, it is possible that a secondary infection and a purulent lesion may coalesce. Treating toenail fungus in this case will be a long and tedious process. In addition to the local negative impact, pathogens have a destructive effect on the whole organism, as follows are possible:
- allergies;
- dermatitis;
- blood poisoning;
- dehje;
- somatic diseases.
When fungal species reach large numbers, their residues become poisonous, poisoning a person and depriving his immune system of protection. In this condition, the likelihood of various viral or bacterial lesions is very high. There is a noticeable deterioration in overall health and performance.