Fungus of nails on the hands and feet: photo the initial stage, how to treat, symptoms

The initial stage of toenail and toenail fungus has the same symptoms. Unfortunately, not everyone pays attention to them, which leads to an aggravation of the pathological process.

Unpleasant cosmetic defects in the future threaten the complete loss of nails and blood poisoning. To prevent these complications, it is important to diagnose and begin treatment of onychomycosis at the very beginning of the disease.

Symptoms

The incubation period after the introduction of pathogens of mycotic infection into microcracks on the nails and skin, before the first signs of pathology appear, lasts several weeks. During this time, the spores of the fungus try to penetrate into the nail plate as deeply as possible, starting active growth and development.

By the way, healthy nails are practically not infected with this disease. Damaged nail plates and people with low immunity are not protected against the causative agents of onychomycosis.

The initial stage of toenail fungus (photo)

You can recognize the initial stage of the fungus on the toes by the following signs:

• thickening of the nail plate;
• tarnishing of the roller, up to the lack of visibility of its base;
• yellowness of the stratum corneum;
• peeling of tissues from the bed;
• itching around the nail;
• unpleasant odor coming from the feet.

If you do not start treating the early stage of onychomycosis, the disease will begin to progress. Deformation of the nail plate and its complete detachment may occur. But this is not the most dangerous thing. Pathogenic fungi release into the human blood a huge amount of toxins that enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing poisoning, deterioration of the functioning of internal systems, etc.

The initial stage of nail fungus on the hands (photo)

According to statistics, the problem is more often diagnosed in women, among men - onychomycosis in this area is much less common. Symptoms of the initial stage of nail fungus localized on the hands are:

• white and gray spots;
• faded appearance of the plate;
• yellowness of the nail;
• changes in structure: fragility, crumbling, delamination;
• irritation and itching of the skin.

Treatment of the initial stage of onychomycosis

In order to cope with onychomycosis at an early stage, it is usually sufficient to use medicines and folk remedies that work locally. Oral drugs, injections and surgical intervention are connected to the therapy of nail fungus when the pathological process is advanced.

Traditional remedies

After the doctor has determined the type of causative agent of the disease, he selects drugs that purposefully destroy it. It is more comfortable to cure the early form of onychomycosis with local preparations: varnish, cream or ointment. Let's consider them.

LUCKY. Effective medications at the initial stage of the disease. The preparations of this series are easy to apply and fix well on the plates, are practically invisible, moreover, they form a protective layer that is resistant to abrasion and evaporation of the active components. Thanks to this, the varnish works for a long time, destroying the causative agents of onychomycosis in the deepest layers of the nail.

Consider the popular antifungal varnishes in the table.

Drug name	Description
BATRAFENE	The active ingredient is ciplopirox. Effective against 58 fungi. Apply once every 48 hours. If the symptoms of the disease have not gone away within a month, the frequency of nail treatment is halved. Side effects: urticaria, itching. Contraindications: pregnancy, breastfeeding, children under 10 years of age. The price is 2000 rubles in Russia and 800 hryvnia in Ukraine.
LOCERIL	The active ingredient is amorolfine. Destroys almost all known pathogens of mycotic infection. Apply 2 times a week until complete recovery. Side effects: irritation. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation. The cost is 1200 rubles in Russia and 545 hryvnia in Ukraine.
MYKOSAN	Herbal preparation with antimycotic action. The active substance is rye enzymes. The tool is applied 2 times a day, the course is 4 weeks. Side effects: itching. Contraindications: pregnancy. Cost: 860 rubles in Russia and 530 hryvnia in Ukraine.

There are other antimycotic varnishes, for example, Oflomil, Demicten, Belvedere, etc. Each is effective in the early stages of a fungal nail infection.

OINTMENT AND CREAMS. They contain a concentration of fungicidal components that allows you to destroy the causative agents of onychomycosis at the onset of the disease without the need to take systemic medications.

Let's list the popular medicines in the table.

Drug name	Description
EXODERIL	The active ingredient is naphtinine. Apply 2 times a day to the foci of infection until a healthy nail grows back, then use the drug for another 2 weeks for the purpose of prophylaxis. Side effects - reversible itching, which goes away on its own. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 years of age. The price is 560 rubles in Russia and 180 hryvnia in Ukraine.
MYCOSORAL	The active ingredient is ketoconazole. Apply the drug to the lesions 2 times a day until healthy nail tissue grows back. Side effects: allergic reactions. Contraindications: pregnancy, breastfeeding. The price is 250 rubles in Russia and 86 hryvnia in Ukraine.
CLOTRIMAZOLE	The active ingredient is clotrimazole. Destroys all known types of pathogens of mycotic infection. The cream is applied to the affected areas 3 times a day for a month. No side effects were found. Contraindications: pregnancy. Cost from 70 rubles in Russia and 36 hryvnia in Ukraine.

In addition to the antifungal ointments and creams listed in the table, local remedies such as Fundizol, Nizoral, Lamisil and much more are also popular.

Folk remedies

There are many ways of alternative medicine with which you can get rid of onychomycosis at an early stage. We propose to consider effective means.

• IODINE. It is recommended to apply one drop of the drug to the lesions 2 times a day. Continue treatment until complete recovery.
• TABLE VINEGAR. Mix the product with hot water in proportions 1: 8. Soak in the foot or palm bath for 15 minutes. Then dry the skin, treat the nails with a pumice stone, cut off the exfoliated tissue. A course of 7 procedures every other day.
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. In 2 liters of water heated to 45 degrees, add 2 tbsp. spoons of the drug. Soar your fingers or toes for 20 minutes. Course of 10 daily procedures.
• PROPOLIS. In 20% tincture, moisten a cotton swab and apply it to the foci of onychomycosis. Fix the product with a plaster. Leave the compress to dry completely. Up to 2 procedures can be carried out per day. Repeat the treatment every day until a healthy nail grows back.
• WASHING POWDER. The recipe is suitable exclusively for the treatment of onychomycosis of the legs. The fungicidal effect of the product is due to its high alkali content. 100 g of powder is added to 2 liters of hot water, feet affected by candidiasis are kept in the bath for 15 minutes. The course is 14 procedures. Usually this time is enough for the disease to disappear completely.
• GARLIC. Rub the clove with salt and massage the nail with it. Repeat the procedure until recovery.
• AMMONIA. In a cup of water, dilute 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammonia solution. Saturate a gauze napkin with the resulting composition, apply it to the foci of infection and secure with a bandage. Make a compress at night for 7 days.
• ONION. Grind the vegetable to a mushy state and apply the mixture to the nails damaged by the fungus. Applications should be done in the morning and in the evening until the symptoms of pathology disappear.
• HERBS. A handful of dried or freshly harvested medicinal plants - mint, sage or chamomile, put into a cotton sock or glove and put on the affected limb overnight. Repeat the manipulation every evening until the symptoms of the fungal infection disappear.
• SODA. Dilute the product with water to a state of gruel. Apply to the foci of onychomycosis for 20 minutes, 2 times a day. The course is 12 days.

Other methods

In addition to conservative and non-traditional means, there are also ways to combat an initial degree of fungal infection.

LASER THERAPY. In the early phase of onychomycosis, on average, 4 procedures are enough to completely recover from the disease. The method enhances peripheral blood circulation, improves the action of antifungal agents and destroys pathogens in the nail plate.

The cost of treatment varies from 350 to 5000 rubles, depending on the prestige of the clinic, location and the severity of mycotic infection, for example, laser treatment of the thumb is 2 times more expensive than little finger.

OZONE THERAPY. One of the alternative medicine options, which is based on the saturation of cellular structures with ozone, due to which the destruction of pathogens, including pathogens, occurs fungus. The agent is injected into the area close to the nail bed affected by the infection.

The work of the oxygen-ozone mixture is as follows:

• kills fungal flora;
• increases local immunity;
• restores the appearance of the nail;
• has a prolonged effect.

The price for ozone therapy starts from 500 rubles.

Prophylaxis

Compliance with preventive measures will minimize contact with the causative agents of onychomycosis, and, therefore, prevent infection with nail fungus.

Recommendations for preventing infection:

1. In a public place (swimming pool, sauna, etc.), you must not walk with bare feet. Going to such establishments, they take individual rubber slippers with them.
2. Shoes must be purchased from natural materials. It should be comfortable and not injure the skin.
3. It is forbidden to wear someone else's shoes. When it comes to trying on in a store, be sure to wear new models on the sock.
4. For a salon manicure and pedicure, it is advisable to purchase your own instrument and disinfect it yourself. Only in this case, you can be sure that no pathogenic microflora from a stranger will be brought onto the nails during caring procedures.
5. After hygienic manipulations - shower or bath, you should wipe your feet and hands dry.
6. A strong immune system can prevent most pathologies. Multivitamin and mineral complexes sold in pharmacies will perfectly cope with this task.
7. If the nail is damaged or there are scratches or cracks in the skin of the hands and feet, they need to be treated immediately, as this is the gateway for infection.

No one is protected from mycoses. Even with careful observance of hygiene rules, it is quite difficult to exclude the possibility of infection with a fungus. If the first signs of onychomycosis appear, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. The earlier treatment begins, the less harm the pathology will bring to the body.