Onychomycosis (fungus) can occur after visiting the swimming pool or relaxing on the beach.
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 do not consult a doctor, the fungus may develop, which can harm your body. In the article you will learn what to do in such a situation and which specialist you can contact about this problem.
What should you do if you discover that you have mycosis?
For example, if you notice one of the signs of fungal infection, your toenails have changed color –Contact your doctor quickly!Do not let the mycosis process progress so that you do not have to deal with treatment for years. When fungal spores enter human blood, they trigger a toxic reaction.
With this problemYou should first consult a dermatologist, such a specialist can be found in a clinic, in a hospital, in any paid medical institution and in a skin and vein pharmacy (you can go there for free).
Which specialist should I contact, who does it?
Nail and athlete's foot is a skin disease andA dermatologist deals with such problems. You can find him in the district clinic, he conducts the first appointment, examines the patient, diagnoses onychomycosis and prescribes the necessary treatment.
If the disease is advanced or the doctor considers your case to be complex, the dermatologist will refer you to a mycologist (this specialist deals with the treatment of fungal diseases in more detail). The difficulty in contacting such a doctor is that in a simple clinic it is not always possible to find a specialist in this field.
Price problem
Mycological services in public and private clinics are predominantly paid. The consultation price may vary depending on the following indicators:
- Area of affected area;
- severity of illness;
- number of laboratory tests required;
- medical qualification.
The most expensive would be a consultation with a doctor of mycology, the cheapest would be a consultation with a doctor in the lowest category. Private clinics charge a fee for each test and prescription of an individual treatment plan.
How does an appointment with a mycologist work?
At the first visit to the doctor, the patient is questioned to determine specific skin and nail complaints.
The mycologist will also ask questions about your lifestyle and carry out an initial examination of the affected areas. However, it is impossible to determine the type of fungus visually, so dead scales are scraped off from the skin and nails.
All samples are sent for laboratory analysis. The materials are examined under the microscope and some are placed in a nutrient medium. The analysis that determines the exact presence of fungi takes only 3-5 minutes. And identifying a specific type of mushroom can take up to two weeks.
At the next appointment, the mycologist prescribes treatment, medications are prescribed taking into account the tests carried out and the overall condition of the patient.
To monitor the healing process, further visits to the mycologist are required, which sometimes take a long time. The disease may resolve in one area of skin and worsen in another.
The difference between a mycologist and a dermatologist
Specialist in all types 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, who can prescribe the 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 such a doctor cannot always be found in a clinic and not every city has one.
Which tests are required?
- scratching of the skin in the foot area and between the toes;
- Analysis of the infected nail plate (its fragment);
- Blood tests for allergens and antibodies to mycosis.
Important!
If the examinations described above do not produce the desired results, histology is performed to ensure that the patient does not have fungus. In this case, consider the possibility of mechanical damage to the nails.
External signs of fungus are sometimes accompanied by signs of other nail damage. Therefore, laboratory tests must show whether a fungal infection is present. Calluses on the nail plate, bruises, as well as changes in the color and shape of the nail may have nothing to do with mycosis.
How is the treatment carried out?
The treatment methods used in the past are no longer effective today because the drugs are not fully able to cope with the microorganisms. Doctors select special treatment complexes.
There is no single drug that cures fungus, you need to combine 2 or 3 products. In medicine, creams, tablets, solutions, vitamins, droppers, special varnishes and products are often used that dissolve the nail for subsequent removal.
Important!
Drugs used to treat fungus have a variety 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 see a specialist in order to get the disease under control as quickly and safely as possible.
Systemic therapy
Mycologists prescribe systemic treatment to their patients to achieve faster recovery.
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 through surgery.
Removing the nail plate
The nail can be removed in different ways: surgically and with special means.
The non-surgical removal method does not cause pain, and you don't have to worry about visiting a surgeon. A few days - and a new, uninfected nail begins to grow.
When the obvious symptoms disappear, treatment is considered complete. However, you need to make sure of this by conducting repeated tests twice.
The tests are carried out once at the end of treatment and again a month after the patient has recovered.
The mycologist must not only prescribe treatment, but also monitor how it goes and what results it brings. Even after full recovery, you need to see a doctor and take preventive measures to avoid relapses.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is a form of physiotherapy. 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 positive effect on the nutrition of the nail plate.
This allows antifungals to penetrate deeper into the infected area. However, it is impossible to kill the infection with laser alone. However, there are no contraindications to the procedure, it reduces the likelihood of re-infection. This is a painless and completely safe method of treating a disease such as onychomycosis.
Therapeutic pedicure
Therapeutic pedicure for nail mycoses is carried out with the aim of achieving a healing effect on the nails and skin of the feet.
This procedure prevents the development of the disease and further spread of fungal spores.During a pedicure, the affected areas of skin on the feet and nails are removed..
Therapeutic pedicure is especially important for patients who:
- Ingrown nails often occur;
- have many calluses on the feet, corns and warts on the feet;
- have a thin and weak nail plate.
The main goal of the procedure is disinfection. Therapeutic pedicure helps remove yellowness, bumps and bumps from nails. Before applying varnish, be sure to ask your doctor if it is acceptable.
Important!
Be careful and careful when choosing a specialist. Make sure you are qualified and that your pedicure tools are properly made.
Prevention of mycoses on the legs
To avoid such an unpleasant disease, you just need to be careful and regularly carry out fungal prevention. A trip to the beach, pool, gym or bathhouse can lead to major problems. The fact is that fungal pathogens are very resistant to external influences. Mushroom spores tolerate heating, drying and freezing.
There are several main causes of infection. Follow the following rules to avoid illness:
- Do not walk along the beach without shoes.
- Be sure to wear closed rubber shoes in the bathhouse and sauna to protect against splashes.
- After bathing, dry your feet thoroughly, paying particular attention to the creases between the toes. Also use powder or a special antifungal cream.
- Do not use other people's shoes.
- Wear clean stockings or socks every day.
Diploma
If the immune system is strong and functioning normally, mycosis on the legs 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 need to contact a dermatologist or mycologist as soon as possible who will prescribe the optimal treatment regimen.