Nail fungus on the legs - photo, treatment and symptoms

Onychomycosis is a fungal damage to the nail plate. The disease can be caused by dermatophyte fungi or microsporia. The fungi negatively affect the construction basis of the nail - keratin and, gradually eating it, cause deformation changes.

The following types of onychomycosis exist:

• Normotorophical. Changing the color of the nail, the appearance of stripes and spots.
• Hypertrophic. Not only the color change occurs, but also a slight deformation. Most often, the nail is deformed from the edges.
• Onycholithic. The nail is destroyed, atrophied and rejected.

The fungus on the nails of the legs appears not only due to a decrease in immunity. About 70% of people are infected from a sick person, and most often they are a relative. The smallest scales of the skin from the feet fall on household items, and, in contact with healthy tissues of nails or skin, infect a healthy person.

Most often, infection occurs through:

• Washcloths.
• Sponges.
• Towels.
• Rugs.
• Shoes.
• Manicure accessories.

When visiting the beach, sauna and baths without slippers, there is a high risk of infection with a fungus of the legs. With high humidity and temperature, infection occurs much more often.

It is especially attentive to be in public places where people go barefoot. The fungi are resistant to both low and high temperatures, and in beach sand they retain their viability for several months.

Healthy tissues are gradually affected by a fungus. Much depends on what type of pathogen, but some signs allow us to distinguish several main stages of the development of onychomycosis:

1. Normotorophical, or initial. There are no pronounced manifestations, at this stage it is difficult to notice infection with a fungus. The nail becomes more matte, its color can change slightly, small cracks occur, irregularities on the surface. Burning and itching may be felt. This period is easy to confuse with other diseases: psoriasis, changes in the liver. Therefore, to confirm the diagnosis, it is recommended to contact a dermatologist.
2. The hypertrophic form arises if measures are not taken at the initial stage. Symptoms are becoming more pronounced. The nail thickens and darkens, the shape of the plate is deformed, it crumbles and destroys.
3. Atrophic, or neglected. It appears when the infection extends to the cuticle, the latter rejects, inflams and swells. The entire surface of the nail plate changes its color, it is completely separated from the bed. Treatment can be ineffective, the nail is not always saved due to its atrophy.

Signs of nail fungus:

1. The nail plate begins to change the shade, it becomes dull. As a result of this, she loses a healthy pink color. When the fungus parasitizes on the surface, the nail becomes white or yellowish. So most often happens on the fingers. With other types of damage, the nail can take on any shade: from greenish, gray to black.
2. Thickening or exhaustion of the nail plate - when you notice that the thickness of the nail has changed, this is a clear sign of fungal damage. At the same time, the nail plate loses elasticity, becomes rough, tough or vice versa too soft, begins to crumble. The normal thickness of the nail on the fingers does not exceed 0. 5 mm, the nails of the legs up to 1 mm.
3. The stratification of the nail plate, its lag behind the surface of the nail bed is a sign of the advanced stage of the disease when the structure of the nail changes. He becomes loose, uneven, covered with furrows.
4. A discomfort - to understand that a fungus has appeared on the nails by unpleasant sensations that accompany this disease. There is a severe itching, sometimes painful sensations.
5. An unpleasant odor - this symptom is especially characteristic of onychomycosis on the nails of the toes. When they begin to smell unpleasantly, despite the regular conduct of hygiene procedures, you should see a doctor.

Nail fungus is often accompanied by an extremely unpleasant odor

The general symptoms of the disease are listed above. But how specifically the onychomycosis manifests itself depends on the type of fungus, which impressed the nail plate.

Each variety of mycosis has typical signs:

1. Fleet fungus - leads to rapid thinning of the nail plate. It becomes breaking, begins to exfoliate from the nail bed. The shade of the nail first becomes yellowish, and then acquires a brown color. In a neglected form of the disease, the skin around the nail swells, blushes.
2. Molds - parasitize on the surface of the nail plate, without penetrating deeper. Thanks to this, this type of disease is easier to treat than the rest. The main sign of the disease is a change in the color of the nail. The shade can be any: from white, green to gray, black. If you do not start the correct treatment in a timely manner, the fungus spreads to other nails and even the skin. There is severe itching, pain, especially when walking.
3. Dermatophyte - develops when the nail is affected by Trichophyton spp. , As well as Epidermophyton spp and Microsporum spp. The first signs of this disease - spots or stripes of gray, yellowish shade are formed on the nail plate. As the disease progresses, their amount increases, and the nail begins to exfoliate.

Dermatophyte one of the common forms of nail fungus

To know what kind of mycosis was struck by the nail very important for the correct treatment. The active components of most pharmacological drugs are designed to destroy a specific type of fungus.

Onychomycosis begins with the lesion of insignificant parts of the nail, so many people at first do not pay attention to a change in shade and the formation of spots. In the absence of treatment, mycosis spreads quickly enough, affecting all the large areas of the infected nail, switching to healthy nails and infecting others.

There are 3 stages of development of nail mycosis:

1. The initial stage - proceeds without clearly expressed symptoms, uncomfortable sensations, such as itching, pain, are often absent. Small spots, stripes, intersperses that are barely distinguishable appear on the nail plate. It is easiest to notice them on the thumb.
2. The second or progressive stage of onychomycosis - the number of spots and grooves increases, they become large and already clearly noticeable. The color of the nail plate changes, it fades and begins to deform.
3. The advanced stage - the nail plate completely loses the aesthetic look, it is excessively thick or very brittle. The color of the nail becomes yellow, brown, green, black. It exfoliates, there is a risk of complete loss of the nail.

   The first signs of the presence of nail fungus

The earlier it is possible to detect onychomycosis, the higher the probability of quickly getting rid of this disease. With competently operational therapy, the body suffers minimally, so when the first symptoms of mycosis appear, you must consult a doctor.

The first signs of nail mycosis appear almost immediately after infection. If after visiting public places such as a pool, a sauna, shower in the gym, the beach, the nails faded, they began to itch a little, then these may be the first signs of onychomycosis.

Healthy nails are practically not susceptible to infection with a fungus. It begins to develop rapidly when only on damaged nail plates.

Folk remedies

There are many folk remedies that will help cure nails affected by a fungus at the initial stage. Consider effective, but at the same time simple recipes.

Sometimes ordinary iodine can help quickly cope with the fungus

1. Iodine - daily until the symptoms disappear, apply 1 drop of iodine 5% to the affected nails. The procedure is carried out in the morning, as well as in the evening. More material about the treatment of iodine.
2. 1 teaspoon of iodine, vinegar, glycerol is mixed and diluted with 6 teaspoons of water. The resulting mixture for 10 days in a row rubs the nails. The composition on the nail plate must be left overnight.
3. Vinegar - prepare a bath by diluting 1 part vinegar 9% with 8 parts of warm water. To soar in her legs or arms for 20 minutes. Conduct 7 procedures every other day. More material about the treatment of vinegar.
4. Ointment from the egg - put in a glass a raw chicken egg in a shell and pour 9%vinegar to the top. When the shell dissolves, remove the remaining film and mix the egg with vinegar. The resulting mixture is applied twice a day to the affected areas for 2-3 weeks.

Ointment from chicken eggs is also quite effective against mycosis of nails

1. Hydrogen peroxide - dilute in 2 liters of water 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide 3%. To soar hands or legs, depending on where the fungus is localized for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure for 7-10 days in a row.
2. The compress of peroxide - to impregnate a cotton swab with peroxide, attach it to the nails on which there are signs of the fungus. Before that, the arms or legs must be scared in the soda bath. To prepare it, 1 teaspoon of soda is diluted in 1 liter of water. The compress on top is wrapped with cellophane or food film and is left for 60 minutes. This is necessary so that the peroxide does not evaporate. Repeat the procedure for 10-14 days twice a day.
3. Propolis tincture - wet a cotton swab into the alcohol tincture of propolis 20% and attach to the affected areas. Keep the lotion while the composition dries. Repeat daily until recovery. 1-2 procedures are enough per day.
4. Washing powder - the method is suitable for the treatment of nails of the legs. It is necessary to dissolve 100 g of washing powder, which contains a lot of alkali, in 2 liters of water. Hold in such a bath for 15 minutes. Repeat 10-14 procedures while the symptoms disappear.
5. Garlic - cut a peeled clove of garlic, wet into salt, and then grate the nail plate. Repeat twice a day before the disappearance of the symptoms.
6. Ammonia - dilute in 1 glass of water 1 tablespoon of ammonia. The resulting solution is impregnated with cotton fabric. It needs to wrap your legs or arms and leave this compress at night. Repeat the procedure for 7 days daily.
7. Onions - grind the onion to the consistency of the gruel and attach to the affected nails for 30 minutes. Repeat twice a day before recovery.

Chopped onions will help to return your nails a healthy look

1. Mix chamomile, sage mint, you can take dry or fresh herbs. Put the resulting composition in a toe or glove at night. Herbs need to be changed every evening. Repeat the procedure in combination with other recipes while the symptoms of the fungus disappear.
2. Boric acid - cotton swabs impregnated with boric acid are applied to pre -steamed nails. You need to keep the lotion for 30 minutes. The procedure is repeated 10 days in a row daily.

3. Celandine oils and tea wood - mix these products in an equal proportion, soak the gauze bandage with the resulting composition and apply it on nails for 20 consecutive days for 45 minutes. The recipe is contraindicated in pregnant women.
4. Soda - dilute soda with a small amount of water to the consistency of gruel. Apply it to the nails for 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water for 10-12 days twice a day.
5. Apple vinegar - dilute it with olive oil. The required proportion is 2 parts of vinegar to 1 part of the oil. Apply the mixture to the affected nail plates while the nail is completely growing.
6. Tea tree oil - apply a couple of drops of oil on the nails, while the areas of the nail plate affected by the fungus will completely grow.
7. Verba - grind 500 g of shoots of a young willow, pour 2 liters of water, bring to a boil. From the finished decoction three times a week, make baths for hands or legs for 20 minutes until recovery.
8. Nettle - brew 3 tablespoons of nettles in 400 ml of water. With this decoction, get wet tampons and apply them to the nail plates twice a day before recovery.
9. Grind the leaves of the mountain ash and put on the nails with a thick layer, and then wrap it with a baking film for 30 minutes. Repeat the procedure daily 12-14 days.

• The fungus of the skin of the feet.
• Reducing immunity.
• Family members suffering from fungal defeat.
• Elderly age.
• Diabetes.
• The presence of microtraumas and burrs.
• Increased sweating of the legs.
• Unknown and poor -quality shoes.
• The habit of walking barefoot in public places.
• Accommodation and work in a wet climate.
• Long -term wearing artificial nails.

• General health.
• Susceptibility to infection.
• The level of moisture and thermal background.
• The type of nail plate (nails on the fingers grow slower).

1. Distal submarine onychomycosis.
2. Lateral onychomycosis.
3. White surface onychomycosis.
4. Proximal tray onychomycosis.
5. Total dystrophic onychomycosis.

How can you get an infection with a fungus?

Infection with mycosis of nails can occur anywhere: from places of public visit to your own home. It is transmitted directly from people to people, as well as through objects with which a person who suffers from mycosis contacted. The fungus penetrates through microcracks, bruises, other damage.

Places in which you can get infected with mycosis:

1. Public places where people often go barefoot, especially if humidity is increased there. In such a microclimate, Mikoz retains life for a long time. Examples of such institutions are souls in fitness centers, saunas, baths.
2. Dressers in stores, sports complexes and other places.
3. Manicure rooms - if the master does not process the tools poorly after he has made a manicure or pedicure to a person with a fungus, there is a very high probability that the next client is infected with this disease.
4. Visiting and at home - when a person puts on clothes, shoes where the fungus remained, uses a towel that he had previously used by onychomycosis. The fungus may be on the nails if you walk barefoot on the floor.
5. Beach - in the sand on the beach there are always a lot of fungi disputes. If you walk barefoot, they will penetrate into microcracks and diseases cannot be avoided. In addition, you can get infected on the beach through a sunbed.
6. Public transport - through the handrails, to which the patient touched.
7. Shop - while trying on the bare foot of the shoes, which previously measured the patient with a fungus of nails.

There are great chances to become infected with a fungus of nails in public transport

In the above places, you should be extremely neat to avoid infection.