Foot fungus infection occurs through contact with a sick person or animal, as well as through soil, water or plants.It is important to recognize and treat the disease in time.
There are different types of foot fungus, and only a doctor can correctly identify the type by performing a series of tests.After which the specialist will prescribe a course that will allow you to quickly cope with the disease.
Intertriginous (interdigital) form
This form of the disease is considered the most common.It is usually activated in summer.The development of the disease begins with damage to the skin of the feet between the third and fourth toes, as well as the fourth and fifth toes, and then gradually spreads to all folds.The main symptoms of this fungus are:
- the appearance of cracks on the skin;
- the presence of a white edge, indicating the peeling of the upper layer of the skin;
- the appearance of oozing sores;
- burning and itching sensation;
- formation of erosions at the cracks;
- sagging of the skin as the disease progresses and disruption of its protective functions.
The interdigital form in most cases occurs against the background of the scaly form.This disease is treated with ointments.At the initial stage, you can do without tablets.
An experienced specialist will explain to you what fungi are and select an effective treatment for your feet.Antifungal medications will relieve the condition within one to three weeks.The main thing is not to forget to smear your feet with the prescribed medicine twice a day.
This form of the disease has a chronic course.This is not easy to determine at the initial stage.Therefore, patients often consult a doctor when the disease is present in all the folds between the fingers.In this case, processing may take longer.
Scaly-hyperkeratotic form
This disease in most cases affects one foot and, in the absence of proper treatment, spreads to the other.The skin in this form of the disease undergoes radical changes.Keratinized cells completely cover the foot.The skin on the feet begins to become rough and then crack.With hyperketarosis, heels are also prone to cracking.The appearance of erosions is accompanied by burning and itching.The patient experiences pain.
The main symptoms of the scaly-hyperkeratic form are:
- redness of the skin;
- itching and peeling;
- proliferation of keratinized cells;
- the appearance of rough calluses, including on the heels.
This disease can also affect the nail plate.Over time, it loses its transparency, changes color and shape.In advanced stages, the nail often begins to crumble.Treating the disease at this stage is not easy.In this case, in addition to external remedies, the doctor may prescribe a course of pills.Combination drugs are mainly used for treatment.The duration of the course is determined by a specialist.Medications are selected based on the type of foot fungus the patient has been exposed to.
Dyshidrotic form
This form is also called vesicular.This is extremely rare.The disease is accompanied by the appearance of blisters or bubbles of small diameter.At first they are solitary, but gradually grow and burst.After which ulcers form.This disease is not easy to treat.The situation is complicated by the fact that viruses and bacteria easily enter the human body through cracks and erosions.Often, diseases such as eczema, lymphadenitis and others with similar symptoms develop alongside the fungus.
You should consult a specialist if the following signs of the disease are observed:
- pain and itching in the affected area of the feet;
- the appearance of erosions and cracks;
- severe peeling of the skin of the feet;
- the appearance of vesicles or blisters on the skin.
Often, in the absence of proper treatment, this disease takes a bacterial form.In this case, the transparent contents of the vesicles become purulent and cloudy.The patient develops severe headaches and increased body temperature.Treatment of this disease involves complex therapy.The doctor prescribes topical antifungal agents and tablets.
Form deleted
This type of disease is not immediately recognized.The fact is that the symptoms of the form are erased and practically do not bother the patient.An erased type of fungus is accompanied by flour-like peeling of the skin.It appears that the foot is covered in fine flour.Small cracks appear between the toes, almost invisible to the naked eye.The person feels slight itching.There is no redness.
It is difficult to treat this form of the disease.Since the patient seeks qualified help only if the erased form develops into onychomycosis.Valuable time is lost and recovery can take a long time.
Onychomycosis
In this case, we mean a disease accompanied by fungal infection of the nail plates.There are several varieties of this form of the disease:
- mold damage;
- hypertrophic form;
- atrophic.
In the first case, the disease develops against the background of other nail damage.Often the nail plate changes color and becomes black, green or brown.The nail bed becomes inflamed.
In the hypertrophic form of the disease, the plaque turns yellow and thickens.The nail breaks easily, revealing thickened, scaly skin.
With atrophic onychomycosis, the skin under the nail becomes rough and the plate becomes thinner.If treatment is not started on time, the disease can completely destroy the plate and nail bed.
Rubrophytia
This disease is also called rubromycosis.It is characterized by dryness and flaking of the skin, as well as blood vessels.The disease develops gradually, with virtually no symptoms.Therefore, the wearer does not notice it immediately.Burning and itching appear only in later stages.At this stage the symptoms are as follows:
- the appearance of blisters and bubbles;
- plates spreading over the entire sole;
- pain when walking, which appears as the number of blisters increases.
A specialist will be able to prescribe treatment only after carrying out a series of examinations and studying the clinical picture.The microscopy performed makes it possible to determine what types of fungi exist and how the feet are infected.Treatment is carried out using exfoliating (keratolytic) agents.The specialist will prescribe an ointment or cream containing salicylic acid.The course also includes the use of antifungal drugs.In advanced cases, tablets are used as an addition to treatment.If it is necessary to eliminate damage to the nail plates, special formulations are prescribed.
Candidiasis of the feet
This disease is quite rare.Fungi of the genus Candida, which contribute to the development of the disease, are present in the body of every person and are considered conditionally pathogenic.If they actively reproduce, unpleasant consequences are possible.The development of pathogenic fungi is often associated with a decrease in immunity, which develops against the background of regular stress and overwork of the body.Workplace or domestic accidents or frequent wearing of closed shoes in summer can contribute to the onset of the disease.
Symptoms of candidiasis:
- hyperemia (overflow of blood vessels);
- separation of layers of skin from each other;
- itching and peeling;
- the appearance of small flat blisters on the foot;
- pronounced swelling.
Medicines are prescribed individually, depending on the stage of the disease.As a rule, it is a complex therapy including local and systemic drugs.
It is important to take preventive measures to avoid developing any of the forms of the fungus.They are quite simple:
- do not use someone else's shoes;
- perform pedicures and manicures only with sterile instruments;
- choose comfortable shoes that allow your skin to “breathe”.
By adhering to these simple rules, it will not be difficult to prevent the disease.