Who should I contact and which doctor can treat onychomycosis?

You may develop onychomycosis (fungus) after visiting a swimming pool or relaxing at the beach.Symptoms of the disease are as follows: redness, itching and discomfort between the toes, yellowing and cracking of the nails.This problem is common and won't go away on its own. If you don't consult a doctor, fungus can grow and damage your body. From this article, you will learn what to do in this situation and which expert to contact to solve this problem.

What should you do if you find out you have fungal disease?

For example, if you notice one of the signs of fungus is that your toenails are discolored -Contact your doctor quickly!Don't let the fungal disease progress so you don't have to deal with it for years. Fungal spores can cause toxic reactions when released into human blood.With this problemYou should first consult a dermatologist, such specialists can be found in clinics, hospitals, any paid medical institution, as well as dermatology and vein pharmacies (where you can go for free).

Which expert should I contact? Who is responsible?

Onychomycosis and tinea pedis are skin diseases.Dermatologists deal with such problems. You can find him at regional clinics where he will make the first appointment, examine the patient, diagnose onychomycosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.If the disease has progressed or your doctor considers your case to be complex, your dermatologist will refer you to a mycologist (a specialist who deals with the treatment of fungal diseases in more depth). The difficulty in contacting such a doctor is that experts in this field are not always found in simple clinics.

The price

Mycologist services in public and private clinics are mainly paid. Consulting prices may vary based on the following indicators:

• The size of the affected area;
• severity of illness;
• the number of laboratory tests required;
• Physician's qualifications.

The most expensive is to consult a mycologist with a PhD, the cheapest is to consult a doctor of the lowest rank. Private clinics charge a fee for each exam and prescription for an individual treatment plan.

How about an appointment with a mycologist?

During the first visit to the doctor, patients will be interviewed to determine specific symptoms regarding their skin and nails.The mycologist will also ask questions about your lifestyle and perform a preliminary examination of the affected area. However, it is impossible to tell the type of fungus with the naked eye, so dead scales from the skin and nails need to be scraped.All samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis. The materials were examined under a microscope and some were placed in nutrient media. Analysis takes only 3-5 minutes to determine the exact presence of the mushroom. It can take up to two weeks to identify a specific type of fungus.At the next appointment, the mycologist will prescribe a treatment plan and medications based on the tests performed and the patient's overall condition.Further visits to a mycologist are required to monitor the healing process, which sometimes takes a lot of time. The disease may resolve in one area of the skin and worsen in another.

Difference Between Mycologist and Dermatologist

Various majorsSkin Problems - Dermatologist.For the treatment of viral and infectious skin lesions, rashes, eczema, sweat gland inflammation, dermatitis and fungal skin diseases.The first examination is performed by a dermatologist; he can prescribe treatments himself or refer you to a mycologist.Mycologists are also dermatologists and delve into the treatment of fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails. But such doctors are not always available in clinics, nor are they available in every city.

What tests are prescribed?

• Scratching of the skin on the foot area and between the toes;
• Analysis of the infected nail plate (its fragments);
• Blood tests for antibodies to allergens and fungal diseases.

important!If the above studies do not bring the expected results, a histological examination is performed to ensure that the patient is fungus-free. In this case, consider the option of mechanically damaging the nails.

The external symptoms of fungus sometimes occur at the same time as symptoms of other nail injuries. Therefore, laboratory tests must show the presence of fungal infection. Calluses, bruising, and changes in nail color and shape on the nail plate may not be related to fungal disease.

How does treatment work?

The treatments used in the past are no longer effective today because the drugs do not completely deal with the microorganisms. Doctors choose special treatment complexes. No drug can cure fungus, you need to combine 2 or 3 products. Ointments, tablets, solutions, vitamins, droppers, special varnishes and products that dissolve the nails for subsequent removal are widely used in medicine.

important!Medications to treat fungus have many side effects, so never self-medicate! The lesion may move to another location, and the disease may become more severe. It is important to see a specialist so that this disease can be dealt with as quickly and safely as possible.

systemic treatment

Mycologists treat patients with systemic treatments for faster recovery.What medications can be prescribed to patients with fungal diseases? Systemic treatment includes the following measures:

1. Oral medication (tablets).
2. Topical preparations (in the form of creams, ointments, etc. )
3. The nail is surgically removed.

Remove nail plate

Nails can be removed in various ways: surgically or using special methods.Non-surgical removal methods cause no pain, you don’t have to worry about going to the surgeon. After a few days, new, uninfected nails will begin to grow.Treatment is considered complete if obvious symptoms disappear, but you will need to ensure this by repeating the test twice.A test is performed at the end of the treatment course and again one month later from the date the patient recovers.The mycologist must not only plan the treatment but also monitor the progress of the treatment and the results it brings. Even after you fully recover, you'll need to see your doctor and take preventive measures to avoid a recurrence.

Laser Treatment

Laser therapy is a type of physical therapy. Laser beam irradiation is not used as a standalone treatment.for maximum positive effectsLaser therapy combined with other medications. It improves blood circulation and has a beneficial effect on the nutrition of the nail plate.Therefore, antifungal drugs can penetrate deeper into the infected area. But lasers alone are unlikely to kill infections. However, there are no contraindications to the procedure; it reduces the likelihood of reinfection. This is a painless and completely safe way to treat conditions like onychomycosis.

pedicure treatment

The purpose of therapeutic pedicure for nail fungus is to have a healing effect on the nails and foot skin.This process prevents the development of disease and the further spread of fungal spores.During a pedicure, the affected areas of foot skin and nails are removed..Reflexology is especially important for patients who:

• Ingrown nails often occur;
• There are many calluses, corns, and warts on the feet;
• The nail plate is thin and fragile.

The main goal of this procedure is disinfection. A pedicure can help eliminate yellowing, unevenness, and bumps in your nails. Before applying varnish, be sure to ask your doctor if this is acceptable.

important!Use caution when choosing an expert. Make sure you are qualified and that your pedicure tools are handled correctly.

Prevent fungal diseases of the legs

To avoid this unpleasant disease, you just need to be careful and practice fungal prophylaxis regularly. Going to the beach, pool, gym or bathroom can cause big problems. In fact, fungal pathogens are highly resistant to external influences. Fungal spores can withstand heating, drying and freezing.There are several main causes of infection. Please follow these rules to avoid getting sick:

• Don’t walk on the beach without shoes;
• Always wear closed-toe rubber shoes when in bathrooms and saunas to protect against splashing water;
• After bathing, dry your feet thoroughly, paying special attention to the creases between your toes. You can also use talcum powder or a special antifungal cream;
• Don’t use other people’s shoes;
• Wear clean stockings or socks every day.

in conclusion

When the immune system is strong and functioning properly, leg mycosis will not harm the body even after infection due to the immune system's protective capabilities. If fungus begins to spread on your nails, you need to contact a dermatologist or mycologist as soon as possible, who will be able to prescribe the best treatment plan.