After visiting a swimming pool or relaxing on the beach, you may encounter onychomycosis (fungus).
The symptoms of this disease are: redness, itching and discomfort between the toes, yellowing and splitting of the nails.
The problem is quite common and does not go away on its own. If you don't see a doctor, the fungus will grow, which can harm your body. From the article you will learn what to do in such a situation and which specialist to contact for this problem.
What to do if you find out you have a yeast infection?
If you notice any of the signs of a fungus, for example, your nails have changed color -Contact your doctor quickly!Do not let the mycosis process progress so that you do not have to undergo treatment for years. Fungal spores, when released into human blood, cause a toxic reaction.
With this problemYou should first consult a dermatologist, such a specialist is available in a clinic, in a hospital, in any paid medical institution, as well as in a skin and vein dispensary (you can go there for free).
Which specialist should I contact, who does this?
Nail and foot fungus is a skin disease.A dermatologist takes care of such problems. You will find him at the district clinic, he sets the first appointment, examines the patient, diagnoses onychomycosis and prescribes the necessary treatment.
If the disease is advanced or if the doctor considers your case complex, the dermatologist will refer you to a mycologist (this specialist deals more in depth with the treatment of fungal diseases). The difficulty in contacting such a doctor is that it is not always possible to find a specialist in this area in a simple clinic.
Price problem
The services of mycologists in public and private clinics are mainly paid. The price of the consultation may vary depending on the following indicators:
- area of the affected area;
- severity of illness;
- number of laboratory tests required;
- medical degrees.
The most expensive would be a consultation with a mycologist with a doctorate, and the cheapest would be a consultation with a doctor of the lowest category. Private clinics charge for each test and prescription of an individual treatment plan.
How does an appointment with a mycologist take place?
At the first visit to the doctor, the patient is questioned to identify specific complaints regarding the skin and nails.
The mycologist will also ask you questions about your lifestyle and will carry out an initial examination of the affected areas. But it is impossible to visually determine the type of fungus, therefore dead scales from the skin and nails are scraped off.
All samples are sent for laboratory analysis. The materials are examined under a microscope and some of them are placed in a nutrient medium. The analysis, which will determine the exact presence of fungi, takes only 3 to 5 minutes. And to identify a specific type of mushroom, it will take up to 2 weeks.
At the next appointment, the mycologist prescribes treatment, medications are prescribed taking into account the analyzes carried out and the general condition of the patient.
Further visits to a mycologist are necessary to monitor the healing process, which sometimes takes a long time. The condition may improve in one area of the skin and worsen in another.
The difference between a mycologist and a dermatologist
Specialist in all kinds ofskin problems – dermatologist.It is used for viral and infectious skin lesions, rashes, eczema, inflammation of the sweat glands, dermatitis and fungal skin diseases.
The first examination is carried out by a dermatologist, he can prescribe treatment himself or refer you to a mycologist.A mycologist is also a dermatologist who deals in depth with the treatment of skin, hair and nails due to fungal infections. . But you can't always find such a doctor in a clinic, and not every city has one.
What tests are prescribed?
- scratching the skin on the feet and between the toes;
- analysis of the infected nail plate (its fragment);
- blood tests for allergens and antibodies against mycosis.
Important!
If the studies described above do not bring the desired results, histology is performed to make sure that the patient does not have a fungus. In this case, consider the possibility of mechanically damaging the nails.
External signs of fungus sometimes coincide with signs of other nail damage. Therefore, laboratory tests should show whether a fungal infection is present. Calluses on the nail plate, bruises, changes in the color and shape of the nail may have nothing to do with mycosis.
How's the treatment going?
Previously used treatment methods are no longer effective today, because the drugs do not completely fight microorganisms. Doctors select special treatment complexes.
There is no single medicine to cure fungus, you must combine 2 or 3 products. Creams, tablets, solutions, vitamins, droppers, special varnishes and products that dissolve the nail for subsequent removal are widely used in medicine.
Important!
Drugs for the treatment of fungus have a large number of side effects; self-medication should not be allowed! The lesion may move to another location and the disease may become more advanced. Be sure to consult a specialist in order to deal with the disease as quickly and safely as possible.
Systemic therapy
Mycologists prescribe systemic treatment to their patients in order to achieve faster healing.
What can be prescribed to a patient with mycosis? Systemic therapy includes the following measures:
- Oral medications (tablets).
- Local preparations (in the form of creams, ointments, etc. )
- Removal of nails by surgery.
Removing the nail plate
The nail can be removed in several ways: surgically and using special means.
Non-surgical removal method does not cause pain, and you won't have to worry about seeing a surgeon. A few days - and a new, uninfected nail will begin to grow.
If the obvious symptoms disappear, the treatment is considered completed, but you should make sure of this by carrying out repeated tests, twice.
Tests are performed once at the end of treatment and then again one month after the patient's recovery date.
The mycologist must not only prescribe a treatment, but also monitor its progress and the results it brings. Even after complete recovery, you should consult a doctor and take preventive measures to avoid relapses.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is a type of physical therapy. Exposure to a laser beam is not used as a separate treatment method.
For maximum positive effectlaser therapy is combined with other medications. It improves blood circulation and has a beneficial effect on the nutrition of the nail plate.
Thus, antimycotic drugs penetrate deeper into the infected area. But it is impossible to kill the infection with laser alone. However, there are no contraindications to the procedure, it reduces the risk of reinfection. This is a painless and completely safe method of treating a disease such as onychomycosis.
Therapeutic pedicure
Therapeutic pedicure for nail fungus is carried out with the aim of having a healing effect on the nails and skin of the feet.
This procedure prevents the development of the disease and the spread of fungal spores.During the pedicure, the affected areas of the skin of the feet and nails are removed..
Therapeutic pedicure is especially important for patients who:
- you often have ingrown toenails;
- have a lot of calluses on your feet, corns, warts on your feet;
- have a thin and weak nail plate.
The main goal of the procedure is disinfection. Therapeutic pedicure helps eliminate yellowing, irregularities and bumps on the nails. Before applying polish, be sure to ask your doctor if it is acceptable.
Important!
Be careful when choosing a specialist. Make sure you are qualified and your pedicure tools are properly handled.
Prevention of leg fungus
To avoid such an unpleasant disease, you just need to be careful and periodically carry out fungal prevention. A trip to the beach, pool, gym or bathhouse can lead to big problems. The fact is that fungal pathogens are very resistant to external influences. Fungal spores tolerate heating, drying and freezing.
There are several main causes of infection. Follow the rules below to avoid illness:
- do not walk on the beach without shoes;
- in public baths and sauna, be sure to use closed rubber shoes that protect against splashes;
- after bathing, dry your feet thoroughly, paying special attention to the folds between the toes, also use special antifungal powder or cream;
- do not use someone else's shoes;
- Wear clean stockings or socks every day.
Conclusion
When the immune system is strong and functioning normally, leg fungus will not harm the body even after infection, thanks to the protective capabilities of the immune system. If the fungus begins to spread on the nails, you should contact a dermatologist or mycologist as soon as possible, who will prescribe the optimal treatment regimen.