Fungal foot infections start in the areas between the toes. Subsequently, the infection can spread to the feet and nail beds. The disease is caused by dermatophyte fungi, molds or yeasts. According to statistics, in our country about 20% of people have foot fungus. The severity of the disease depends on the type of infection, but in any case the disease must be cured, since peeling, severe itching, inflammation and unpleasant odor of the feet cause severe discomfort. We will tell you how to get rid of foot fungus.
What does foot fungus look like?
A fungal infection causes inflammation of the skin where the fungal infection is located. The main types of dermatomycosis of the legs are:
- The fungus on the sole of the foot is scaly, in which the affected area turns red, peels and cracks appear on the skin. The patient often does not feel any discomfort, which contributes to the widespread spread of this type of disease.
- The dyshidrotic foot fungus is localized on the arch of the foot, which is not in contact with the surface of the ground. At the sites of infection, small blisters are formed, which spread to the inner and outer parts of the foot, open, forming erosions and diaper rash on the surface of the skin. The process is accompanied by an itching and burning sensation. After opening the vesicles (bubbles), the disease passes into the scaly form.
- A fungus on the skin of the feet that affects the interdigital space is called the intertriginous form of the disease and is its most common type. It appears in the form of cracks whose edges are covered with a white border of exfoliating epidermis. As a rule, this form has a long-term chronic course and is difficult to treat.
- The fungus on the shin or ankle appears in the form of round spots of pink or red color, covered with skin scales. As the infection progresses, foci of inflammation develop, the process is accompanied by severe itching.
Onychomycosis
This disease is a type of foot fungus characterized by a fungal infection of the nail. You can become infected in public showers, saunas, baths and swimming pools. Scales containing a pathogenic microorganism are quite easily separated from the nail plate and can remain on unpainted floors, carpets, bedding and benches. High humidity not only allows them to survive, but also promotes active reproduction, which significantly increases the risk of infection.
In the initial stage, the infection affects the epidermis of the feet, causing severe itching. In order to alleviate the discomfort, a person begins to comb the infected area, but this only aggravates the situation. Areas of skin affected by the fungus become covered with small scratches and cracks, microorganisms begin to spread, penetrating under the nail plate, and then multiply uncontrollably.
Serious illnesses such as diabetes or HIV, poor circulation or a nail injury significantly increase the risk of infection.
Onychomycosis is divided into 3 types:
- Normotrophic. With this type of onychomycosis, a change in nail color from normal to yellow-brown is observed. The natural shine, shape of the nail and its thickness remain unchanged.
- Hypertrophic. A final change in the color of the nail occurs, its shine disappears, its shape changes, thickening develops and partial destruction begins.
- Onycholytic. The color of the affected nail changes to brown, it becomes thin and begins to break. His gradual separation from the bed begins. Uneven layers may appear on the exposed part of the nail bed.
Treatment of this type of fungus on the palms and soles with topical medications is ineffective because the fungal spores are found under the nail. Before starting treatment, the nail must be removed. This is done using keratolytic drugs and patches are also used. In some cases, it is possible to remove the nail mechanically: the dead parts of the nail are cut off with a nail file or pliers. It is important to remember that all instruments used must be sterile.
The combined use of mechanical removal and keratolytic patches is the most effective way to remove diseased nails. As for keratolytic agents, you can use a ready-made kit containing a broad-spectrum antifungal drug. It contains a special ointment, files for scraping the nail and a patch. After the nail plate is removed, you need to start taking systemic antifungals: an antifungal drug for systemic use, an oral antifungal agent.
Symptoms
Depending on the form of the disease and the location of the inflammation, the infection is accompanied by different symptoms with a number of the following general signs:
- peeling of the skin;
- mild or severe redness of the skin at the site of the lesion;
- itching;
- burning sensation;
- rashes or cracks on the skin.
Blisters between the toes
The main symptom of athlete's foot, caused by the Candida fungus, is the appearance of blisters between the toes, usually between the fourth toe and the little toe. The course of the disease is accompanied by swelling of the skin adjacent to the fingers, areas of pronounced redness with small blisters on their surface. The source of inflammation is surrounded by a border of exfoliated epidermis.
Dyshydric form
Vesicular fungus, or, as it is also called, dyshydric mycosis, is the rarest type of disease. Its main manifestation is made up of numerous vesicles gathered in conglomerates. Vesicles are bubbles filled with pus or nutrient fluid from the inside. When the fluid begins to become cloudy, the blisters burst, leaving ulcers in their place. They begin to merge into a single line, forming pronounced scars on the skin. This happens due to drying and peeling of the skin layers.
About 70% of blister fungus infections are accompanied by allergic skin rashes. Various bacteria and viruses begin to penetrate the ulcers. As a result, the disease becomes mixed and identification of the original pathogen becomes more difficult. Therefore, you should consult a doctor as soon as the main symptoms appear: he will be able to quickly identify the type of foot fungus and begin treatment.
Additionally, this should be done immediately. First of all, before using antimycotic drugs, the acute process must be eliminated. It is better to entrust this task to a specialist: he will be able to carefully puncture the blisters, treat the remaining ulcers with two percent boric acid and apply a brilliant green solution or methylene blue.
Treatment of advanced disease involves the use of corticosteroid ointments. After eliminating the inflammatory process, it is recommended to use topical antimycotic agents. This will remove the pathogen. We continue to consider the names and types of foot fungus.
First signs
Skin disease of the legs is always accompanied by a number of general symptoms, the appearance of which indicates infection of the skin with spores of harmful microorganisms. You should seek help from a dermatologist in the following cases:
- the appearance of cracks or blisters on the skin in the folds of the feet or between the toes;
- significant swelling and thickening of the skin of the feet;
- redness of areas of the skin, their peeling;
- burning or itching sensation.
Duration of treatment
Combined infection of the skin and nail plate requires rehabilitation treatment lasting one to three months. These terms are considered standard for the most medically effective pharmaceutical products.
Pregnancy requires a charming visit to the doctor to choose a way to get rid of mycodine infection. Potent drugs and therapies requiring the use of similar drugs are prescribed only under the supervision of a doctor and in compliance with strict dosages. Many antibacterial tablets that effectively destroy fungi can cause noticeable harm to the fetus. Therefore, whenever possible, during pregnancy, patients are recommended to be treated according to traditional medicine recipes. Many of them make it possible to cope with the disease, but provided that the disease has not reached a complex stage. Only classical medicine can help cope with the advanced form.
Modern drugs allow you to completely restore the health of your legs in two weeks, provided that signs of infection were detected in time.
Causes
Infection occurs for a number of reasons after direct or indirect contact of the patient with the carrier of the infection or his personal belongings, household items. Risk factors for contracting ringworm of the feet include:
- circulation disorders in the legs and associated diseases (varicose veins);
- weakened general or local immunity;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- weakening of the body's defense systems after taking antibiotics;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet;
- presence of minor skin lesions (abrasions, scratches).
Treatment methods
In most cases, it is possible to completely get rid of a disease detected in time in no more than a month. This is a very important point of treatment, since itching, tissue damage and other manifestations disappear, the patient sometimes stops treatment, believing that the disease has been defeated. But remnants of the infection can easily trigger a relapse.
Treatment procedures should be stopped only after permission from the doctor and after passing the necessary tests. This is especially true for advanced forms of the disease. The fungus is firmly "fixed" in the body and it can take at least six months to get rid of it. But the external manifestation of the fungus on the feet in the form of various damage to the skin or nails disappears much earlier, creating the illusion of health. By stopping treatment in this case, the patient is almost guaranteed to cause a relapse.
Treatment of the feet against mycoid infection is carried out comprehensively. To get rid of the disease, local antifungal drugs and tablets are used to eliminate the infectious agent that has penetrated inside the body. To relieve itching, pain, brittle nails and accelerate tissue regeneration, certain medications may be prescribed. It is not recommended to combine them independently with the main therapeutic group, so as not to cause an allergic reaction or poisoning of the body due to the simultaneous use of incompatible drugs.
Curing foot fungus at an early stage is quite simple. Usually, two weeks of treatment is enough to eliminate the symptoms of mycoid infection.
Types of mycoses
Only a dermatologist can accurately determine the type of fungus by visual examination, the data of which is clarified using laboratory tests. Depending on the causative agent of fungal infection (yeast, mold, fungi of the genus Trichophyton or Candida) on the skin of the feet, there are several main types of disease, including:
- candidiasis of the feet;
- athlete's foot;
- trichophytosis (or rumbicosis) of the feet;
- onychomycosis (nail fungus).
Prevention
Simple preventive measures will significantly reduce the risk of infection. You should only use personal belongings and treat your nails with sterile instruments. When visiting public places, such as baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches, you must use your own shoes. Besides, try to choose it so that it is comfortable and allows your feet to breathe. You should worry about prevention in advance so that you do not have to deal with different types of foot fungus later.
How to treat
Treatment of skin fungus on the legs is a complex long-term therapy, in severe cases, including the use of systemic oral agents. For minor lesions, the emphasis is on local therapy using antibacterial and antiseptic agents. In acute forms of the disease, warm baths are prescribed to relieve inflammation and remove dead skin cells. In some cases, it is necessary to treat the patient's shoes and clothes with special compounds to prevent relapses.
System tools
Systemic oral agents are prescribed in case of ineffectiveness of local drugs and in severe advanced forms of the disease. A course of oral antifungal drugs is indicated for fungal infections of the deep layers of the skin: they not only help treat the acute phase, but also prevent the disease from becoming chronic. The treatment regimen, duration of treatment and dosage are selected by the attending physician.
Doctors recognize antifungal medications for systemic use as the best means of systemic treatment of foot fungus. They have an active fungicidal (destructive) and funginistic (suppressing the proliferation of bacteria) effect; their active components can accumulate in the upper layers of the epidermis, nails and hair. Before taking it, be sure to read the instructions for use, as these products have contraindications.
Local remedies
Treatment with topical medications includes not only the use of antifungal creams and ointments, but also the use of special sprays, aerosols and lotions. The form of the drug is recommended by a dermatologist, depending on the type of causative agent of the infection, the severity of the skin lesion of the legs, the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient's body. The duration of treatment with local medication can vary from 2 weeks to 3 months.
For foot fungus and other forms of fungal infections of the skin of the legs, an aerosol, a suspension to apply to the skin or a solution for topical use may be prescribed. The products are either applied directly to the skin damaged by the fungus or applied with damp pads soaked in a medicated solution. All necessary recommendations for use can be obtained from your doctor.
Antifungal ointments
When treating fungus of the skin of the feet, in most cases, an antifungal ointment is prescribed, for example, a cream containing the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride or its analogues. Apply the drug in the form of an ointment or cream to the dry skin of the heels or other areas of localization of inflammation, previously carefully cleaned of dead epidermal cells and any other plaques. For different types of diseases, the duration of treatment can vary from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months.
Experts consider broad-spectrum ointments to be an effective means of combating foot fungus of different forms and stages. The active components of the drug locally fight the fungal infection, thereby suppressing the reproduction of its pathogen. The ointment is applied two to three times a day to washed and affected skin for several weeks or months, depending on the degree of damage to the skin.
Folk remedies
The use of folk remedies is possible only with the consent of the attending physician. The main products for baths, compresses and applications against fungus on the skin of the feet are vinegar, propolis, baking soda, decoctions of medicinal plants and laundry soap. The following procedures are performed:
- Baths with a solution of soda and salt. For 3 liters of water at a temperature of 36-40°C, use 3 tbsp. L. salt and 3 tbsp. I weld. The duration of the procedure is 10 to 15 minutes; after bathing, rinse your feet under lukewarm running water. Used for acute forms of fungi for 7-10 days, twice a day.
- Lotions with herbal decoctions. To prepare a decoction, mix dried oak bark, calendula flowers and verbena leaves in equal proportions. To prepare the decoction 3 tbsp. L. pour a glass of boiling water over the mixture and keep over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Make a compress with the decoction obtained three times a day for 20 to 30 minutes.
Form deleted
Mycosis of the erased form is almost invisible, its symptoms are minimal. These include: slight itching, burning, flour-like flaking, microcracks located in the interdigital areas. If you do not contact a specialist as soon as the first signs of the disease appear, the pathology may develop into a form of onychomycosis, which is much more difficult to treat. In this case, the peeled nail will grow back from one month to six.
Mycoses of the cleared form are treated with local preparations: ointments, creams, foams. They allow you to create a layer on the foot that will protect against infection with other infections. It is not recommended to wash your feet for 24 hours after applying this medication.
Only in extreme cases can systemic treatment be prescribed. The problem is that these drugs are toxic and negatively affect some internal organs, for example, the liver. Therefore, if the use of local remedies has an effect, it is better not to take pills.
Routes of infection
Fungal spores remain viable for a long time in the environment, so it is easy to become infected with the disease in the most unexpected places. But the most favorable conditions for their development are heat and high humidity. For this reason, people visiting the following places are at risk:
- swimming pools;
- thermal baths;
- saunas;
- fitness centers;
- beaches.
Fungus can appear on anything that is there, even if regular disinfection is carried out. Therefore, in such places, you should avoid common objects and make sure to carry replacement shoes with you.
Military personnel are in danger. Most often, army soldiers wear uncomfortable shoes that do not allow air to pass through. As a result, the feet sweat, microtrauma appears into which the fungus penetrates.
There are two types of infection. The first is the direct path through direct contact with the infectious agent when communicating with a sick person, caring for an animal or walking barefoot on the ground and sand. The second - the indirect route leads to infection through objects belonging to infected people or animals.
Preventive measures
Preventing a disease is always easier and safer for health than treating it, even using the most gentle method. In the case of fungal infection, prevention is one of the obligatory norms of life, because it is very easy to become infected. Therefore, to reduce the risk of contracting the disease, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules:
- try to eat healthily and eat as healthily as possible;
- do not use other people’s belongings and personal hygiene products;
- using basic protective equipment in public places, such as replacement shoes and hygienic antibacterial agents;
- wash your feet and change your socks regularly;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- Take regular baths to improve foot health;
- periodically disinfect shoes.
Preventing fungal infections is important not only to prevent them, but also if illness occurs. In this situation, compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards helps to speed up healing and prevent infection of others with the fungus.