Which doctor treats a toenail fungus - a mycologist or a dermatologist?

Mycosis, or nail fungus, is an extremely unpleasant infectious disease, which causes deformation of keratinized tissues and gives a person a lot of problems and discomfort. An unpleasant consequence of the development of ailments of this nature is the high probability of their return after successful therapy.

Which doctor treats toenail fungus? Most often, to resolve the problem, they turn to several specialists who prescribe complex therapy. Treatment primarily involves careful personal hygiene, as well as the use of medications, the choice of which depends on the degree of tissue damage and the nature of the pathogen.

Let's look at which doctor treats the toenail fungus. Photos, as well as information about the main manifestations of certain types of mycological infections presented in the material, will help determine the nature of the problem and seek help.

Symptoms

Before figuring out which doctor treats the toenail fungus, it is worth comparing the symptoms of the disease with the existing manifestations. There are several types of pathogens that cause damage to keratinized tissues and surrounding areas. Let's look at the manifestations of each of them in order.

White surface fungus

With the development of the disease, small spots of opal-white hue are formed at the base of the nail plate. At the site of old foci of infection, fine-grained powder remains. As the pathological spores spread, the fungus completely covers the soft and keratinized tissues.

Normotrophic fungus

The main symptom of infection is a change in the shade of the nail plate. At the same time, the gloss and thickness of the keratinized tissue remain the same. In the initial stages of the disease, the nail is gradually covered with dark spots and textured stripes. Gradually, these manifestations cover a more impressive area.

Another clear symptom of normotrophic nail fungus is the so-called onycholysis. This manifestation makes it difficult to connect the keratinized part of the nail with soft tissues. As a result, the risk of self-falling off the plate increases, which causes a whole host of unpleasant sensations.

Hypertrophic fungus

The main symptom of such an infection is a thickening of the nail plate. The development of hypertrophic fungus leads to the formation of specific scales under the keratinized tissue, which, in fact, causes its increase in volume. Over time, the natural shade of the nail plate becomes dull, its deformation occurs.

The lateral areas of the nail are most affected by damage. As a result, a person begins to feel unbearable pain due to the friction of open cracks in the skin on shoes.

Atrophic fungus

The nail plate acquires a brownish-gray hue. Then the fabrics lose their natural luster. Ultimately, the nail is completely destroyed. The final stage of the disease is the complete death of tissues.

Atrophy of the nail develops in stages. Tissue necrosis spreads from the edge of the plate and moves in the direction of the nail roller.

Proximal fungus

It is a fairly rare disease that affects mainly the soft tissues around the nail plate. A common cause of infection is inaccurate cuticle removal. Pathogenic spores fall into open wounds near the nail growth zone. As they multiply, pathogens surround the entire keratinized plate and lead to its complete destruction.

Total nail fungus

If the above forms of the fungus remain unattended for a long time and do not respond to adequate treatment, total tissue necrosis occurs. The nail turns black, its structure becomes loose, the plate crumbles plentifully into small particles. The nail quickly leaves the base and falls off. The admission of pathology leads to a host of unpleasant consequences, up to the difficulty of independent movement and the inability to build up a new plate.

Who to contact: mycologist or dermatologist?

Which doctor treats nail and foot fungus? Mycologist is involved in the elimination of infectious manifestations of this plan. Such specialists are able to determine the nature of the pathology, which is concentrated precisely in the area of ​​keratinized areas of the nails and adjacent tissues.

So we found out which doctor treats toenail fungus. A dermatologist, in turn, specializes in eliminating skin infections. In the case of the development of fungal manifestations in the initial stages, if desired, you can contact such a specialist. According to the results of a visual examination, a dermatologist will tell you whether it is necessary to undergo an examination with a mycologist, or whether the problem can be fixed independently.

The main point when choosing a specialist is the ability to receive the most appropriate help, which will quickly eliminate the existing symptoms of the disease. As practice shows, it is the speed of research and the development of effective methods of therapy that is of paramount importance. Since the slightest delay and self-medication often lead to the transition of the disease to an advanced stage.

Which doctor treats toenail fungus? The main stages of therapy

The procedure for ridding the nail tissue of the spread of pathological spores involves performing actions in the following sequence:

1. Noticing the manifestations of the disease, it is urgent to seek help from a doctor. As already noted earlier, an appeal to a mycologist or dermatologist will help determine the nature of the pathogen and select the appropriate treatment methods.
2. So, we decided which doctor treats the toenail fungus. The diagnostic phase involves the development of methods to eliminate a specific type of infection. To reveal the nature of the problem allows visual inspection, as well as conducting research by taking a sample of pathological tissue.
3. Based on the formed history, the specialist will draw up a plan to combat the ailment. And it is not so important which doctor treats the toenail fungus - the diagnostic stage, not to mention the treatment, can be quite lengthy. The elimination of the manifestations of the disease in the presence of serious tissue lesions in some cases takes from several months to a year.

Therapies

You already know which doctor treats toenail fungus. Proper treatment is the next item that needs to be considered in the framework of the topic we have addressed. There are several ways of therapeutic effects on the affected tissue during the development of fungal infections. Regardless of which doctor treats the fungus of the toenails, the right treatment involves, first of all, building a competent scheme. The mycologist can prescribe a course of medications, local therapy by applying special varnishes, or removing the nail plate. Let's consider each decision separately.

Reception of antibacterial drugs seems rational in cases if the fungus is neglected. The most effective, widely available medicines are:

1. "Fungavis" - the main active ingredient is ketoconazole, which prevents the propagation of pathological spores of microorganisms.
2. "Fluconazole" - has a good disinfecting effect. It is one of the cheapest, but at the same time proven means for eliminating the manifestations of fungal diseases.
3. "Lamisil" - contains terbinafine, the action of which is aimed at destroying the pathogen and suppressing its mass distribution in the structure of both keratinized and soft tissues.

As for antifungal varnishes, their use gives a result only in the initial stages of the spread of infection. Among the most affordable means of this category, it is worth noting “Batrafen”, “Lotseril”, “Oflomil”, and “Mikozan” serum.

If therapy is used at the stage of progressive spread of the pathogen, you can resort to methods that will allow you to painlessly remove the affected nail plate. The following drugs will allow adequate treatment:

1. "Nogthimycin" - is not a medicine in the traditional sense. The basis of the drug is natural plant components, in particular essential oils. The soft effect of the latter on the affected tissue contributes to the speedy restoration of the skin and the growth of a new nail plate.
2. “Nogtivit” - the components of the drug soften keratinized tissues, which makes it possible to remove a nail damaged by fungi without undue discomfort. Regular application of the product to the affected area ensures removal of the old stratum corneum for 2-3 days.

Prevention

Having found out which doctor treats the toenail fungus, as well as resorting to the appropriate treatment, in the future it is necessary to do everything possible to prevent the re-development of the infection. The following should be noted as effective preventive measures:

1. Refusal to visit public showers, bathrooms, pools, baths and saunas in someone else’s shoes. In this case, the use of personal slippers or slippers, as well as thorough washing of the feet with the use of disinfectants after performing water procedures, will prevent infection.
2. Wearing someone else’s shoes is not recommended when visiting. In such a situation, it is much safer to walk barefoot.
3. In order to never have to find out which doctor treats toenail fungus and how to treat the disease, you should avoid wearing shoes made of synthetic materials, in particular artificial leather. Products of this plan pass the air quite poorly. As a result, there is foot fogging, in which optimal conditions are created for the development of fungal infections.
4. People who have an unpleasant odor of their feet and increased skin moisture should often be examined by a doctor. This will allow you to develop the right approach aimed at maintaining hygiene, and if a disease occurs, to identify the problem in the early stages of its development.

Finally

As practice shows, the development of nail fungus is not able to cause significant harm to human health, but only in case of good immunity. If the protective functions of the body are weakened, the multiplication of pathological spores in the tissues of the body can cause a whole host of unpleasant consequences. Therefore, in the presence of the first signs of mycological diseases, it is extremely important to immediately resort to the diagnosis and selection of optimal treatment methods.