If you have problems with your nail plate, it's important to know which doctor treats toenail fungus so you can see a specialist without having to wait for complications.It is unlikely that a person encountering a fungal infection for the first time will understand the name of this specialist.Dermatologists and mycologists deal with fungal problems, so seeing a therapist is not recommended.
What is nail fungus?
Diseases caused by parasitic microorganisms are called pathogenic fungi.The disease affects the horns (nails) and the skin around the feet, develops rapidly, causing discomfort and inconvenience.Living in the body, dangerous parasites poison it with toxins and can worsen the general condition.You can get infected by wearing someone else's shoes, not maintaining good foot hygiene, or walking barefoot on the beach or in a swimming pool.People experiencing such problems need to know which doctor treats nail fungus in order to prevent complications and get the appropriate treatment to get rid of the unpleasant disease.
Symptoms of the disease
Which doctor treats the symptoms of toenail fungus depends on the extent of damage to the plate affected by the fungus and the nature of the damage.The following characteristic signs of the appearance of fungi are distinguished:
- normal type: stripes, spots on the lateral parts of the nail have an ocher or white color, easily separate the plate from the skin, a person has itching of the skin under healthy nails;
- hypertrophy: plates thicken, lose luster, crumble, dull, severely deformed, dark yellow or gray;
- atrophy: gray-brown color, loss of luster, pallor, necrosis and destruction of the nail bed of the toes;
- lateral and distal: discoloration, yellow transverse grooves, crumbling, roughness, exposure of the nail bed on the toes, swelling, redness, thickening, pain in the skin of the foot, severe cases can be characterized by the appearance of pus;
- near: whiten, destroy;
- complete: the toenail is completely destroyed due to lack of treatment;
- White surface: white spots, flaking, peeling, soreness.
Which doctor treats nail fungus?
Knowing which doctor treats nails will be helpful for every patient with toenail fungus.In this case, the therapist will not be helpful;you need to see a specialist.This doctor is a dermatologist, he consults in the early stages of the disease.In more severe cases, consultation with a mycologist is required - this is a specialist who treats nail fungus in a highly targeted way.
Dermatologist
This doctor can prescribe the correct treatment and eliminate nail fungus.His expertise allows him to eliminate skin problems, including viral and infectious lesions, dermatitis, eczema and parasitic diseases.The latter include fungal infections.If the case does not progress, you should contact a dermatologist at your local dermatology clinic or clinic and book an initial examination.As indicated, he may refer the patient to a mycologist.
mycologist
In difficult cases, the answer to the question of which doctor treats toenails is to contact a mycologist.This is the name of the same dermatologist who only treats fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails.It is not available in every clinic or even in every city.Consultation with mycologists includes treatment and prevention of fungal diseases: onychomycosis, candidiasis, microsporia, trichophytosis, epidermophytosis, athlete's foot.You need to contact them after being referred by a dermatologist.
How did the appointment go?
Once you know which doctor treats toenail fungus, don't hesitate to make an appointment.During the first examination, the nail specialist will interview the patient about how long ago the problem appeared, the sensations he experienced and the patient's lifestyle.After collecting information, a preliminary examination of the affected areas of the foot is carried out, a diagnosis is made and the stage of infection is determined.
External signs do not always indicate the species of fungus, so scraping off dead scales will be done for laboratory testing.The resulting medical material is examined under a microscope and placed on a nutrient medium.You need to see a doctor as soon as possible to cure the fungus without causing consequences for the patient and the body.
Repeated consultation
After receiving the tests from the laboratory, a second consultation will be performed.The mycologist or dermatologist will report the cause of development, the presence of fungus, the type of fungus and prescribe the correct treatment.The drug is selected depending on the individual characteristics of the patient.The treatment process is long, so you will have to see a specialist many times to monitor the treatment process and prevent infection in the patient's body.
Treatment options
After studying the cause of the fungus affecting the nail plate of the toe, treatment will be prescribed.Do not choose medication on your own because there is a risk of side effects.The main antifungal drugs and treatments used:
- oral – tablets, capsules for a comprehensive effect on parasites from the inside;
- local effect - external application, including ointments, creams, compresses, drops, varnishes;
- special laser treatment – improves the penetration of agents inside and tissue microcirculation;
- Onychotomies are recommended in severe cases where recovery is not possible.
Popular effective drugs, divided into groups according to their effect on fungal pathogens are:
- Anti-fungal paint.
- Plate removal preparations (sometimes needed to treat fungus).
- Antifungal pills.
- Creams, ointments, sprays.
- Other remedies: medicinal lotions, tea tree oil and others.