The initial stage of fingernail fungus: photos, signs, treatment

The initial stage of nail fungus (onychomycosis) occurs without obvious symptoms. Minor changes in the appearance of the nail plate are observed, minimal discomfort is possible, so diagnosing the disease at this stage is quite difficult.

The first signs of nail fungus are already a signal to action

Causes of fungus on hands

Hand fungus is contagious. It is transmitted even with one touch to an infected object. Therefore, the main reason for its appearance is non-compliance with hygiene and precautions. However, transmission does not occur in all cases. If the immune system is in order and hygiene measures are regular, harmful microorganisms will not penetrate the dermis. And no infection occurs.

A person who is at risk of getting hand fungus meets the following conditions:

washes hands less than 3 times a day;
has wounds, cracks and ulcers on the skin of the hands;
does not wear gloves in winter frosts;
has a weakened immune system and often gets colds;
is the owner of dry skin on the hands;
has a person in close circle who recently contracted a hand fungus;
suffers from allergies or chronic pathologies;
has HIV or diabetes.

In addition, a prerequisite for infection is a lack of vitamins and microelements, as well as poor nutrition. Thus, a small amount of vitamin E in the diet leads to increased dryness of the skin and the subsequent formation of cracks on it, which clear the way for fungal microorganisms.

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Trichophytosis

Infection is caused by a group of fungi – Trichophyton. Another name for the disease is ringworm .

Fungi adhere to skin:

person;
rodents;
cats;
cattle.

A surge in infection occurs in the fall in rural areas, when field work takes place. The source of infection is hay and straw.

The fungus is activated on exposed areas of the body. In advanced cases, lesions appear on the buttocks and knees. The disease is easily transmitted from a carrier of the fungus to a healthy person.

How to recognize trichophytosis?

Features of the infection:

round shape of the spot;
when the scalp is affected, hair falls out intensively, black spots with plaque appear;
bright red rash;
large size of the lesion;
outline in the form of a towering strip;
In some places there are signs of peeling and small nodules.

Fungal infection occurs in 3 stages:

superficial form - small spots with a clear outline;
suppurative form - the appearance of blisters with purulent fluid;
chronic trichophytosis is an advanced form, a rash appears all over the body.

Symptoms of fungus on hands

Typically, the hands are affected by the following of three types of fungus:

Candida. Lead to candidiasis. They affect the outer skin and mucous membranes of humans.
Dermatophytes. They penetrate into the body with problematic immunity. Skin infection is called dermato- and epidermophytosis or dermatophytosis. Hair damage - trichophytosis. Nail lesions - onychomycosis.
Mold type mushrooms. They provoke mold mycosis and allergic reactions.

Any of them can cause different diseases and affect different layers of the skin. The hand fungus is localized on the nail plate and surrounding area, on the palms and their backs, in the area between the fingers. You can clearly see the symptoms of fungus on the hands in the photo.

Microsporia

The causative agent of the infection is a fungus of the genus Microsporum. Infection occurs through contact with sick cats and dogs. Microsporia is rarely transmitted from person to person.

Fungi can live in skin scales and hair for up to 10 years. Children are at risk because they come into contact with stray animals more often. In most cases, the lesions are located in the scalp.

The affected areas are round or oval in shape. Along the edges they are outlined by an inflamed strip with blisters and crusts. The surface of the lesion has signs of peeling.

Features of skin lesions:

most often the focus is single;
spot diameter no more than 2 cm;
several lesions can merge into one.

How is toenail fungus treated? Photo deletion

Manifestation of candidiasis (defeat by Candida):

minor peeling;
intense itching or burning sensations in areas of the hand, especially the rib;
dryness and whitish areas on the skin;
itching and redness in the interdigital areas;
swelling and inflammation of the cuticle with the formation of discharge;
formation of cracks and erosion areas on the fingers;
dulling of the nail plate and loss of its top layer;
vesicular interdigital formations extending to the palm.

In most cases, the little finger, as well as the middle and ring fingers are affected. The thumb and index finger are less likely to suffer. Candidiasis occurs unevenly. If not treated correctly, symptoms always return.

Symptoms of dermatophyte damage:

skin peeling with the formation of a large number of scales;
roughening of the skin;
cracks on the pads and in the interdigital areas;
intense itching;
watery blisters that burst when irritated;
nail deformations (waviness and depressions, grooves, bulges, breaking);
yellowness, whitening and dullness of the nails (if fungus on the fingernails is suspected, photos of the symptoms can be found on the Internet);
fragility of nails (severely peeling or crumbling);
nail peeling from the bed.

The skin in the flexion areas cracks, the wounds do not heal and cause discomfort. Inflammation is possible, as well as the appearance of pus and swelling due to additional infection.

Sometimes dermatophytosis can be confused with eczema or psoriasis.

Signs of mold mycosis:

skin peeling and roughening, cracking;
intense itching;
bubble formations;
nail deformities;
problems with the color of the nails, their clouding (regardless of the type of fungus on the fingernails, the symptoms and treatment are similar).

The symptoms resemble the clinical picture of dermatophyte infections. If you do not immediately diagnose what exactly the patient has, the diseases may be confused. This will lead to incorrect therapy, since the drugs for dermatophytes and mold microorganisms are different.

However, molds are a less common problem. As a rule, they affect people with weakened immune systems (for example, after long-term aggressive treatment with antibiotics) or people with serious pathologies such as HIV, tuberculosis and disorders in the hematopoietic system.

Types of fungal infection

Onychomycosis is divided into different types, distinguished by different manifestations:

Normotrophic . The structure of the nail plate and its thickness practically do not change. Stripes appear along the edges of the plate. Their shades can vary: white, yellow, dark. The stripes and dots grow, affecting the entire nail. However, the area near the hole does not change its previous appearance;
Hypertrophic . The infection affects the skin nearby, which causes redness and peeling. The plate thickens, spots and stripes appear on it. The fungus eats the main substance that makes up the nail, and therefore it takes on a corroded appearance. If you do nothing, the plate will soon become lumpy. The direction of its growth changes;
Onycholytic . The plate, within a short time, peels off from the nail bed. Changes its color to white and yellow. However, the nail retains its smoothness.

Mixed symptoms are possible, since several types of the disease are likely to appear at once. In this case, it will be more difficult to treat the fungus. A comprehensive approach will be required.

Treatment of fungus on hands

Therapy includes two main directions - local drugs and systemic ones.

The task of local remedies is to remove discomfort such as itching and flaking, and also to prevent the progression of microorganisms. Local therapy acts directly on the lesion and is therefore highly effective. The most effective treatment is for fungus on the hands at the initial stage.

Local measures include:

Gels and ointments. Antiseptic drugs used to treat the affected areas to suppress pathogenic microflora.
Creams. Antiseptic type. Sometimes combination formulations with corticosteroids are prescribed. They are indicated for adults with chronic mycosis, as well as with low success of antifungal therapy.
Anti-sweating remedies. They treat palms if necessary. Not shown to everyone. If hyperhidrosis is severe, the patient is prescribed Botox injections.
Peel-off patches. For treating contaminated areas.
Healing varnishes. Used in cases where the fungus has affected the nails. Suitable for the initial stages of pathology.

Hand sanitizer is key. The remaining measures listed are auxiliary. For children, separate drugs are selected - less toxic and gentle.

Systemic treatment is resorted to when local treatment does not bring obvious results. Antifungal tablets and capsules are most often prescribed. As a supplement, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes may be prescribed to replenish the body’s protective functions.

Only a doctor knows how to cure fingernail fungus; it is impossible to do it quickly and independently. Sometimes even medications do not help, and the patient undergoes pulse therapy.

All treatment includes several courses, the duration of which is determined by the doctor. The nature and dosage of medications is also determined in the hospital.

Ointments for the treatment of hand fungus

All ointments for fungal microorganisms are divided depending on the active component. These components may include:

terbinafine (terbinafinum);
fluconazole;
itraconazole (itraconazolum);
ketoconazole (ketoconazolum);
griseofulvin (griseofulvinum);
bifonazole (bifonazolum);
naftifine (naftifinum);
sertaconazole (sertaconazolum);
clotrimazole (clotrimazolum).

Often ointments have a name identical to the active ingredient. The doctor decides what exactly the patient needs, based on the type of lesion determined at the beginning. Photos of fungus on the hands at the initial stage can be viewed online.

All ointments for fungus have contraindications. These include:

skin hypersensitivity;
pregnancy status;
renal pathologies.

Sometimes after using the composition, side effects may appear. Side effects sometimes occur after their application. This usually occurs in the form of local reactions such as irritation, itching or redness. The reaction does not last long and soon goes away without a trace.

In acute pathology, the course of ointments lasts from two weeks. For a chronic disease, external therapy is extended for a month, even if the patient has gone away all the symptoms and signs of the disease.

If cracks have formed on the skin of your hands, most likely pathogenic microorganisms have entered the bloodstream and are now circulating throughout the body. In such a situation, no ointment will work. The only way to get rid of parasites is to resort to systemic therapy with pills.

Treatment of fungus on the hands with traditional methods

Folk remedies can help. However, not as an independent measure and exclusively in the initial stages of the disease. By the way, with fungus on the hands at the initial stage, photos do not always reflect reality, since the symptom is not clearly expressed.

In addition, you should consult a hospital before using any prescription. An incorrectly selected remedy can aggravate the situation.

Here are common recipes:

Salt bath with soda. Take 1.5 liters of water at room temperature. Add a tablespoon of salt and the same amount of soda to it. It is better to use sea salt. Instead, it is possible to add a little iodine to the composition. Hands are immersed in the prepared water and held for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse your hands with plain water. Bath every day. Do it until recovery.
Coffee bath. Take natural coffee and brew it strong. Wait for it to cool slightly and place your hands there. Keep for 10 to 15 minutes. The procedure is carried out every day until the symptoms go away.
Lemon-onion lotion. Take equal parts lemon and onion juice. Soak sterile gauze with the mixture. Apply to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes. Course duration is 10-15 days. Do it the night before going to bed. The recipe gives good results for lesions of the thumbnail, as well as skin infections.
Herbal ointment. Burdock root (20 grams), hop cones (20 grams), calendula flowers (10 grams) are crushed and mixed. The mixture is poured with water (200 ml) and kept on fire for about 20 minutes. The prepared composition is mixed with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1:2, respectively. Keep refrigerated. Apply overnight.

In addition to what is indicated, you can resort to other antifungal agents. These include vinegar, celandine and mint (they can be combined), essential oils, tansy and chamomile. The components are used to make decoctions and infusions, ointments, lotions and baths.

With a high degree of damage, folk remedies are ineffective. However, they help eliminate itching and flaking. The best option is complex treatment.

Rubrophytia

The causative agent of the infection is red trichophyton (Trichophyton rubrum).
The name of the fungus reflects the peculiarity of red pigmentation when growing on Sabouraud's nutrient medium. Mycoses during infection with rubrophytosis affect :

feet;
areas between the fingers on the limbs;
large folds on the body - under the knees, in the groin.

In rare cases, ulcerations appear on the face and scalp. The disease is transmitted through the personal belongings of the carrier. Most often, the fungus appears on the feet - in 60-90% of cases. Trichophyton lives on damp surfaces. If you walk in the sauna without slippers, it is easy to get an infection. Carriers of the infection are 20% of the world's population.

nail rubrophytosis photo

The initial stage of rubrophytosis is manifested by an erythematosquamous form of the disease. What does the affected area look like? Rubrophytosis manifests itself in the form of a dry rash, peeling, and itchy nodules. The skin turns red and becomes dense.

Furrows appear at the sites of the lesion , and skin patterns are pronounced. First, the fungus affects the interdigital folds. Then moves to the soles of the feet. Visual signs are accompanied by severe itching.

If you ignore the signs, the erythematosquamous form of rubrophytosis passes into the follicular-nodular stage. Itchy nodules become wet and crusty. This form is more common in children.

Rubrophytosis of the feet
In severe cases, generalized rubromycosis occurs . The disease is characterized by the spread of foci of infection to different parts of the body. The reason is chronic pathologies of the immune system, taking antibiotics. The affected areas grow from the center to the periphery. They are outlined by an intermittent ridge.

This feature distinguishes generalized rubromycosis from other skin diseases.

Rubrophytia - video

Preventive measures

Manual mycosis is difficult to cure. It’s easier to insure yourself and minimize the likelihood of defeat.

Here are the conditions that will help prevent the occurrence of the disease. Necessary:

Avoid damage to nails and skin. When cuts, wounds, cracks and other open injuries form, it is necessary to treat your hands with an antiseptic.
Be careful when interacting with water. It is recommended to wear gloves when cleaning and washing dishes. The skin should remain dry.
Use antiseptic in public places. Doors or handrails in caravans may contain fungus. An antiseptic will help immediately destroy harmful microorganisms.
Immediately begin the fight against foot fungus. It can move to the hands. Both hands and feet should be treated with antimycotic agents. Hands - for preventive purposes.
Watch your diet. It should contain enough vitamins.
Remove bad habits. Alcohol and cigarettes weaken all body systems, especially its protective function.
Take care of your skin. Nourish and moisturize it. Such activities will strengthen the skin structure and improve barrier functions.
Strengthen immunity. The body's defenses must be in order.

Thus, the optimal strategy for combating hand fungus is complex therapy, which is carried out in accordance with the doctor’s indications.