Nail fungusorOnycholisis- A common problem that is found in many people. It refers to diseases of the nail plate and can cause serious problems if it is not detected and not treated on time. At the same time, the nail injury can imitate the symptoms of the fungus and cause confusion in diagnosis.
ButHowthe sameDistinguishNail fungusfrominjuries? The main signs of the fungal damage to the nail are a change in color, texture and shape of the nail plate. The fungus often leads to the appearance of a yellow, brown or green shade in the affected nail. In addition, the nail can become thicker or more brittle. It is important to note that the fungus usually affects several nails on the legs or hands at the same time, and can also spread to neighboring skin areas.
On the other side,injuryThe nail can lead to a change in its appearance, but usually only one nail is striking, which was subject to impact or pressure. For example, if you had a nail injury as a result of the fall of a heavy object, the nail can change color, become wavy or have cracks. It is important to pay attention to the fact that when injury to the nail, there are usually no signs of damage to other nails or skin.
The main features and methods of diagnostics
It can be difficult to distinguish the nail fungus from the injury, since the growth and appearance of the nail can be signs of both fungal infection and injury. However, there are several basic features that can help determine the causes of the problem.
Onicholysis of the nail
One of the main signs of the nail fungus is onicholysis, that is, peeling of the nail plate from the bed of the nail. In the case of injury, such exfoliation may not be, and the nail can be damaged or have cracks that differ from the changes caused by the fungus.
Changes in the appearance of the nail
The nail fungus can cause changes in the appearance of the nail, such as color change, boiling, peeling or deformation. In case of injury, the nail plate can maintain its natural color and shape, but can be damaged or have traces of injury.
For a more accurate diagnosis and determine the cause of the problem, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or mycologist, a specialist in fungal infections. The doctor can examine the nail, take a smear for analysis or perform other necessary procedures to determine the presence of a fungal infection or injury.
Bottom line:
It can be difficult to distinguish a nail fungus from an injury, but signs such as onycholysis and changes in the appearance of the nail can help determine the causes of the problem. For a more accurate diagnosis, you must consult a dermatologist or mycologist.
How to distinguish a nail fungus from an injury:
Nail fungus:
- In the nail fungus, a change in the color and structure of the nail plate is observed, basically, the nails on the legs are affected by this disease.
- The symptoms of the nail fungus include thick, stubborn, yellowish or whitish nails, a change in the shape of the nail and the presence of white or yellow spots.
- The nail fungus occurs due to infection with fungi, which can penetrate under the nail plate through damaged skin or nail plate.
Nail injury:
- A nail injury can occur due to an accident or mechanical effect on the nail.
- Distinctive signs of nail injury include a bruise, bruises under the nail, peeling the nail from the skin and a change in the shape of the nail.
- A injury to the nail can lead to onycholysis (to remove the nail from its bed) or other changes that are not characteristic of the fungus of the nail.
Determining the cause of the change in the nail plate on the legs can be difficult, so it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or pediatrician in order to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
How to determine the nail fungus:
The fungus of the nail petal is often confused with a foot injury. For proper diagnosis, it is necessary to take into account several basic features that will help distinguish between the fungus from the injury.
Onycholysis legs: what is it?
Onycholysis is a local detachment of the nail plate from the nail bed. At the same time, nails often acquire a convex shape and take yellow, orange or brown tint. Such changes are the first sign of the presence of a fungus.
The difference between the fungus and the foot injury:
- The nail fungus usually affects one or more nails on the leg, while the injury can affect only one nail.
- The fungus is characterized by the thickening and stratification of the nail plate, while with injury the nail can be curved or broken.
- The fungus of the nail petal is often accompanied by itching, burning or pain, unlike injury, which usually causes pain and edema.
If you have a suspicion of the presence of a nail fungus, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or mycologist to conduct professional diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Nail fungus diagnostics methods:
If the nail fungus is suspected, it is important to conduct an accurate diagnosis to determine the correct treatment. There are several methods that can help unlike the nail fungus from other problems, for example, injury or oncholysis.
Visual inspection
One of the first steps in the diagnosis of the nail fungus is a visual examination. The doctor analyzes the structure and color of the nail, assesses its condition and external signs. The fungal infections of the nails are often accompanied by a change in color (for example, with a yellowness or greenish tint), stratification, thickening of the nail plate, the appearance of white spots and combs on the surface of the nail. Separate symptoms can also indicate other problems, so a visual examination can be insufficient to determine the diagnosis.
Microscopy
If a visual examination is not sufficient to determine the presence of a fungus, the doctor can take a sample of the nail and examine it using microscopy. The microscopy method allows you to detect fungal elements (gifs or disputes), which may indicate the presence of a fungal infection. This method is quite fast and simple, although its results may not always be quite accurate and reliable.
More accurate and reliable methods of diagnosis of the nail fungus can include sowing on a nutrient medium or PCR diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction), which allow you to determine the exact type of fungus and establish its sensitivity to various drugs. However, these methods, as a rule, require more time and financial resources.
How to distinguish the nail fungus from onycholysis
Onycholysis is a condition of the nail in which there is a detachment of the nail bed from the nail plate. Visually, onycholysis can look very similar to the nail fungus, but the causes and treatment of these conditions are different.
The main difference between the fungus of the nail and onycholysis is the causes of development. The nail fungus is caused by an infection with a fungus, which is seated under the nail plate and begins to destroy it. Onicholysis is the result of a nail injury, such as traumatic detachment of the bed from the nail plate.
Another way to distinguish the nail fungus from onycholysis is the analysis of symptoms. With the fungus of the nail, a change in the color of the nail is observed (often it becomes yellowish or greenish), the thickness and texture of the nail plate change, the nail can become fragile and brittle. With onycholysis, the problems with a nail are usually limited only to by exfoliation of the box, without changes in the color or structure of the nail plate.
If you have a suspicion of a nail fungus or onycholysis, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist. He will examine the nails, perhaps take a smear for further analysis. Using microscopy or sowing on a nutrient medium, the doctor will be able to determine if you have a fungal damage to the nails or problems with onycholysis.
In any case, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of your nails and at the first suspicions of the nail fungus or onycholysis, do not put down the trip to the doctor. Only a qualified specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.