Doctors say that in recent decades 20-25% of the inhabitants of our planet are diagnosed with nail diseases. About 90% of cases of these diseases are due to fungal lesions of the nail plates on the legs or arms. Many patients are mistaken and believe that this is a cosmetic defect, but this is a dangerous delusion. Fungal lesions contribute to the penetration of a wide range of infections into the nail and skin of the foot. As a result, you can completely lose nails, as well as get damage to nearby skin.
Where and how can you get infected?
There are certain risk factors that can contribute to the spread of nail plate infection. Let’s indicate the main limits of risk where infection with onychomycosis occurs.
So, where and under what circumstances does this infection penetrate easier on the nails?
- When you visit pools, baths or a water park without proper shoes;
- when visiting cinemas and supermarkets, where a person comes into contact with public facilities that may contain fungal microorganisms (binoculars, baskets, carts, money and tickets);
- contact with non-sanitized manicure accessories;
- when you wear shoes that meet the latest fashion trends, but do not quite meet the requirements of comfort and safety (narrow, uncomfortable, impermeable). Such shoes contribute to the appearance of scratches and cracks in the nails, and it is much easier to get a fungus into an injured nail;
- when you live with a person who suffers from fungal diseases of the nails (using common household items, bedding and bedding).
When to be treated?
If you find a fungus on your toenails, immediately contact a specialist podologist:
- when there is itching and burning of the skin of the foot, against the background of which peeling or redness appears;
- discoloration of the nail, the appearance of spots;
- changes in the structure of the nail, the appearance of cavities or tubercles;
- bad smell.
Please note that in the initial stage of the development of the disease, the nails may become white or gray, with yellowish spots. More advanced forms can be characterized by the appearance of spots and green stripes, and the nail can become completely black or brown.