Skin fungus is the most common dermatological disease. But defeat on the legs is considered the most common. Foot mycoses and onychomycosis are often found in those who visit public places, especially hospitals, saunas, baths, swimming pools and gyms.
Each type of fungus has its own characteristics, signs and treatment methods that you need to know for those who are at risk of getting a fungal infection.
What is foot mycosis?
Mycosis, or ringworm, is a dermatological disease caused by a fungal pathogen. Foot skin fungus is the most common type of this disease, because it is on the feet skin is more sensitive, which, moreover, is always exposed to the external environment affected by fungi.
Risk factors
Athlete's foot is common in men who prefer fully enclosed shoes. Feet start to sweat and the reproductive environment develops. Therefore, most men who have served in the military know firsthand what skin fungus is. In children, fungal infections occur due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, walking barefoot on contaminated ground and non-compliance with hygiene standards in kindergartens.
Often, fungal infections of the feet are also found in women who experience hormonal disorders or decreased immunity during pregnancy. Infection can also occur during a pedicure through tools or towels that are not sterile.
There are common factors that trigger the development of the disease:
- Wearing shoes that are too tight made of synthetic materials.
- Rarely wash feet, wear dirty socks.
- Wearing other people's shoes, using other people's towels and other hygiene items.
- A disease that interferes with blood circulation in the lower part of the leg.
- Immune system disorders.
- Failure to comply with hygiene rules in public places.
- The presence of corns, wounds and cracks on the feet.
- Long-term treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Psychosomatics
The cause of fungus can also be in a person's emotional state. Medical instruction that studies the psychological state of a person and its influence on the development of bodily diseases - psychosomatic - describes a fungal infection with the suppression of negative emotions held inside.
Persistent feelings of revenge, anger, feelings of betrayal, or disappointment can trigger the fungus or prevent a person from fully recovering.
As a result of this situation, human immunity is reduced, pathogens present in the body are activated. People with chronic fungal infections that do not go away with drug treatment should reconsider their internal situation or consult a psychologist.
According to many scientists who have studied the psychosomatic causes of fungus, if you do not work on your character and get rid of negative emotions, then the disease will return again and again.
pathogens
There are a large number of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause human skin lesions, but the following types of fungi are most often localized on the feet:
- Trichophyton rubrum, or Tripchophyton purpureum- causes rubromycosis, a disease that most often affects the skin of the feet and nails, but can also spread to other parts of the body.
- Trichophyton interdigitale, or Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Trichophytons)- causes epidermophytosis, which develops between the fingers, but can also go to the entire leg area.
- Candida- candida rarely occurs on the feet, but can also affect the interdigital spaces, nails and soles of the feet. It develops mainly in women.
Mycosis is an infection, and infection can occur in two ways: directly - directly from an infected person to another person, and indirectly - through floors, shoes, clothes and other household items that have come into contact with an infected person. It is very easy to get infected with fungus on the bottom of the feet - just a second contact with any surface or object touched by a person with a fungal infection is enough.
The mechanism of the development of fungal diseases starts from the moment the spores enter the human skin. If the conditions are favorable, then development, growth and reproduction begin.
Microorganisms begin to secrete enzymes that destroy keratin proteins, and, thus, the stratum corneum of the skin. Therefore, itching and discomfort arise in humans. The infection spreads very quickly, the fungus penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin and infects the surrounding tissue.
If you do not start treatment, then quickly large areas of the skin are affected.
But not always the infection develops immediately after infection, sometimes the fungus remains on the skin or shoes for a long time. But as soon as the body's defenses are reduced, or a warm and humid environment is favorable, the fungus begins to grow rapidly.
General symptoms
Ringworm of the soles of the feet is a very common infection that requires immediate treatment. But not everyone immediately turns to a specialist for help, because they do not pay attention to the main symptoms or believe that these are signs of other dermatological diseases.
Common signs of a skin infection are:
- Redness and peeling of individual areas.
- The appearance of blisters or cracks.
- Itching and burning.
- Dryness and roughness of the skin.
But depending on localization and pathogen, the disease persists with various clinical manifestations. Fungus on the heel begins with redness of the skin and a burning sensation. Over time, bubbles appear, which, bursting, form very painful wounds.
Then cracks and growths with peeling form. With the long course of the disease, an unpleasant smell begins to emanate from the affected area, and the infection spreads to other areas of the feet and nails.
Fungus on the knee is rare, but if cracks appear on or under the knee that do not disappear for a long time, then you need to see a doctor. Usually, the fungus in this area begins imperceptibly - it begins with redness, then the peeling of the skin increases, very rarely bubbles form on the surface of the place, which eventually become covered with scabs.
Damage to the nails - onychomycosis - begins with an infection of the skin of the feet. In this case, itching and cracks may appear on the skin, but sometimes the fungus does not touch the skin, only affecting the nail plate.
level:
- Normotropic- at this stage, only the color of the nail begins to change - it becomes yellow, sometimes with a brown tint.
- Hypertrophic- the healthy shine of the nail disappears, it becomes irregular in shape, thickens and begins to partially collapse. A person may feel pain while wearing tight shoes.
- Onycholytic- the diseased nail is a plate with a layer that collapses, becomes thinner, takes on a brown color. At this stage, detachment from the nail bed begins.
Manifestations of various types of pathology
Candidiasis of the feet only affects the soft areas of the skin and nails, without affecting the feet, it can be of two types:
- vesicular-pustular- in the first stage, redness of the skin with significant edema appears. In the future, the affected area is covered with bubbles filled with liquid or purulent mass, in the process of which they burst, forming erosion. Gradually, the inflammatory process decreases, and peeling increases at the focus.
- Hyperkeratotic- rare, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum with the formation of scaly burgundy furrows.
In most cases, the fungus between the toes is epidermotrophy. Skin changes in this pathology may be present.jpg)
the following form:
- squamous- between the third and fourth fingers, the skin starts to be red and sometimes itchy. Often this stage is neglected.
- Intertriginous- developed from the first stage. Edema develops, cracks form, and lesions spread to neighboring areas. Growths form around the diseased area, making it difficult to wear shoes.
- Acute- a large accumulation of fluid-filled bubbles is formed. Wounds and cracks begin to hurt, the general state of health worsens, the temperature may rise.
When the condition is neglected, interdigital pathology covers the nail and the entire area of the foot, i. e. , foot epidermotrophy develops. External symptoms are similar to weeping eczema, which complicates the diagnosis.
Rubromycosis of the feet is a simultaneous lesion of the interdigital folds. The skin becomes drier, redder, severe peeling begins. If the treatment is not started on time, then the process goes to the soles of the feet, the side of the feet and the surface of the fingers.
Rubromycosis can also affect other parts of the legs: shins, thighs, buttocks, as well as any part of the body and head. Lesions are pink patches covered with scaly skin, vesicles or crusts. They quickly grow in size, merging with each other. Rubromycosis of smooth skin usually occurs in an acute form and is accompanied by severe itching.
"I had a crack on my leg, but I didn't pay attention. The fungus was found during a medical examination at work. The doctor immediately prescribed ointment and pills, he also scolded that he did not apply immediately.
Specifics of traditional treatment
Fungal therapy on the feet is based on the application of external antifungal agents to the lesions. There are many medicines in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, solutions. Their actions are aimed at blocking the vital activity and reproduction of the fungus, as well as slowing down the process of its spread.
Recently, various sprays from fungi have appeared, which are very easy to use for external use in the treatment of skin and nail fungus.
During therapy, you can process shoes and clothes so as not to trigger a re-infection. Disinfectant sprays are ideal for this. Treatment can also be carried out with antiseptics.
You can use an antifungal agent in the form of a solution.
Before using the ointment, you can use a normal salicylic alcohol solution. It actively acts on the fungus, at the same time relieves inflammation and dries the weeping skin area.
In case of damage to the nails, it is recommended to use a special antifungal varnish.
There are many different external medicines and all of them can be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription. But for the treatment to be effective, you need to know how to use external agents correctly:
- Follow the instructions for the frequency of drug use.
- Hard areas must be steamed before applying an external agent.
- With large dry growths, you can bathe with soda.
- Treat the affected area only, without affecting the healthy skin.
- After treatment, wash your hands cleanly, without touching other parts of the body, so as not to spread the infection.
In further cases, you need to take tablets from the fungus at the same time as using external agents.You can not take pills inside without a doctor's recommendation - only a specialist can prescribe drugs, based on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course of the disease.
Treatment of fungal lesions on the feet in the early stages will not take much time, provided that the drugs are used correctly and the instructions are followed. In severe cases, long-term treatment, up to 3-6 months, may be required. If the prescribed medicine does not give the desired effect, then you need to contact a specialist and get a new recommendation.
"Fungus on the bottom of the legs was treated with different ointments for my husband, I tried 8 different pieces, but only tablets from the group of triazole derivatives helped. Well, externally he continued to smear allylamine cream.
Folk treatment methods
Often, unconventional methods are used to treat fungus on nails and feet.But the patient should remember that the drugs are effective in the early stages of the fungus, and in severe cases, they are not always able to help, but, on the contrary, worsen the course of the disease.
Before you get rid of fungus on the feet with folk remedies, you need to visit a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis, because the symptoms can indicate various dermatological diseases.
Herbs from the fungus are used to prepare baths, rubs and lotions:
- Pour a handful of calendula flowers with 50 ml of alcohol and 100 ml of water and leave for a day in a dark place. Use to scrub twice a day. Best for nail infections and skin candidiasis.
- Mix dry mint leaves and fine salt in equal proportions. Apply to the affected area for a day, cover with a bandage. After the time has passed, remove the bandage, wash your feet, dry and repeat. Use only on keratinized nails and skin.
- Five tablespoons of dry celandine pour 100 ml of vodka, leave for two weeks. Use to wipe, trying to avoid contact with healthy skin.
- Mix two tablespoons of thyme in a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and use for lotion.
You can use tar soap from fungus:
- Grate a bar of soap, add a little water and melt in a water bath, add a spoonful of tar and 2 tablespoons of any oil. Mix thoroughly and pour into molds to make healing soap. Use it to wash your feet.
- Mix a tablespoon of powdered soap with 2 teaspoons of baking soda and add a little water to make a thick mixture. Apply to clean feet at night, and apply a bandage over it.
- In the initial course of the disease, it is enough to use soap bubbles from laundry soap on the affected skin area and leave it for 15-30 minutes.
Effective garlic for fungus:
- Apply crushed garlic to the steamed area and secure with a bandage. Keep overnight.
- Within 3 days, insist on a mixture of garlic juice, water and vodka, taken in equal proportions. Apply 1-2 times a day on the affected area.
- Pour 2 finely chopped garlic cloves into a glass of vinegar. Put in a dark place for 2 weeks in a container with a closed lid. Use for scrubs and lotions.
Vinegar can be used for scrubbing or bathing. To prepare a bath, you need to take 100 ml of 9% table or apple cider vinegar for 1 liter of water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, after which you need to remove the soft skin and put on clean socks.
"At work, I walked in shoes for several days, my feet were always sweating, and fungus often appeared on the feet, I immediately began to bathe with vinegar and process all my shoes with it. It passed very quickly. "
Consequences and predictions
Many believe that fungi are harmless, except for aesthetic discomfort. But fungal infections also carry other threats. First of all, there is a danger of the fungus spreading to other areas of the skin.
From the feet, the infection spreads to the skin of the hands, face, body, scalp. This happens if you do not wash your hands after touching the affected skin area or if the patient's immunity is greatly reduced. From the infected person, infection of family members occurs if sanitation rules are not followed.
With a deep wound, it becomes impossible to wear normal shoes, there is severe pain when walking, and when the nail is damaged, the nail bed rises. There is a risk of inflammation of the nerve endings.
Skin lesions, if not treated, trigger the addition of viral and bacterial infections. The following complications often occur:
- Warts.
- Phlegmon.
- Pyoderma.
- Erysipelas.
- Malignant mycosis fungoides.
Skin fungus on the feet with a long course worsens the function of the immune system, the patient becomes more susceptible to allergic manifestations, urticaria, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Often, mycoses are accompanied by atopic dermatitis and eczema. The general condition worsens, weakness occurs, body temperature may rise periodically.
Carrying out a yeast infection can trigger damage to internal organs.
In addition to physical complications, fungal infections lead to psycho-emotional instability. Infected people become irritable, quick-tempered, and often lash out at others. The instability of the nervous system delays recovery, so the patient may need psychological support.
Foot fungus is very easy to cure if you start therapy at the first manifestation of the disease. With the daily use of therapeutic agents, the fungus can be eliminated in 10-14 days. But with an advanced infection, the treatment will be longer and more difficult and will not be done without the use of systemic drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend not to delay a visit to the clinic.