Toenail fungus is a common name for several types of dermatomycosis, differing in location and type of fungus. There are four main groups of foot mycosis:
- interdigital space skin;
- toes;
- toenails (onychomycosis);
- lower skin.
What is foot mycosis?
If you believe the statistics, in our country foot fungus is diagnosed in almost twenty percent of the population. Fungal infections live freely in the environment and sometimes we don't realize that we can be disease carriers.
Under certain favorable conditions, some of the nearly five hundred species of fungi that exist in nature experience a "moment of awakening. "They multiply rapidly, forming numerous colonies and spreading spores to new areas of the skin.
Fungal waste is toxic. As a result of intoxication, the whole body as a whole can suffer.
Foot mycosis is caused by microscopic fungi:
- dermatophytes;
- yeast;
- moldy;
- candida.
Prerequisites for the occurrence of athlete's foot:
- visit swimming pools, saunas, bathhouses, gyms, wherever you have to move barefoot, and there is also a risk of illness at work;
- using other people's shoes;
- dermatological diseases (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, eczema);
- organic chronic diseases;
- diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot) and other endocrine disorders;
- flat feet with big toe deformities;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet (hyperhidrosis);
- decreased body defenses, especially in people with nail fungus (onychomycosis);
- uncontrolled use of antibiotics, hormones and antiallergic drugs;
- injuries to the skin of the feet in the form of cracks, corns and calluses.
What does toenail fungus look like?
The disease manifests itself depending on the type of fungus that has "infected" the skin of your feet and the exact location where it is located.
Often, the symptoms of the disease (flaking, scaly layers, severe itching) occur with the addition of the inflammatory process due to scratching.
Fungal infections of the skin and toenails have two forms - acute and chronic. In the acute form, recovery usually occurs in a few days (taking into account the adequacy of prescribed drugs). The chronic form does not heal completely; it alternates between relapse and remission. The treatment is aimed at smoothing the symptoms of the disease.
Important! As soon as you suspect the first signs of foot fungus, run to the doctor! Do not self-medicate, slow the spread of infection. The longer you delay a visit to a specialist, the longer the treatment will take.
Fungus between the toes
The infection, as a rule, first affects the interdigital folds (especially the tightest of them - between the third and fourth fingers).
Symptoms of interdigital toenail fungus:
- dry thickened skin;
- furrows and calluses are formed;
- cracked and peeling skin on the feet;
- debilitating pain and itching appear.
It happens that the fungus is hidden and manifests itself only with the formation of small cracks between the fingers, slight peeling and mild itching. The patient did not seek help from the doctor for a long time, and only when the crying occurred, the patient began to worry.
The exudative (wetting) form of foot fungus is:
- intertriginous, occurs like a diaper rash;
- dyshidrotic - with the appearance of blisters;
- mixed - interginous-dyshidrotic.
The most dangerous form of fungal infection is considered vesicular foot fungus or dyshidrotic mycosis.
It is characterized by the formation of painful vesicles (large blisters) that coalesce and form large, erosive areas without any skin covering. As it develops, erosion always increases in volume. The fluid inside the blister is highly contagious. You can infect all family members with it at once.
Feet, practically without skin, also run the risk of "catching" a severe purulent infection. Recovery is delayed for at least three to four months. The site of localization is usually the skin of the back of the foot, a little less often - the skin between the toes, and less often - the skin on the surface of the heel.
Fungus on the toes
Untreated fungus "crawls" from the interdigital space to the nearest finger. Basically, all the characteristic symptoms of a mycotic infection of the interdigital folds are also present on the skin of the toes - severe itching, etc. They cause a lot of trouble.
As a result of endless scratching, the skin of the fingers thickens, becomes inflamed and acquires a bright red color. Persistent swelling, pustules and blisters appear. A pustular rash is usually formed as a result of a bacterial infection.
Almost always, the process that occurs on the skin of the fingers or between them spreads to the nails.
Onychomycosis or nail fungus
The main causative agents of this disease are dermatophytes, and at least fungi of the genus Candida. The appearance of nails and sensations with onychomycosis is not the most pleasant.
Symptoms of the disease:
- nail deformation and separation;
- pain when walking;
- appearance of turbidity and yellowish color on nails;
- significant thickening of the nail plate;
- nail destruction.
Important! Onychomycosis contributes to the transition of any fungal disease into a chronic form. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, because the fungal spores can spread further to the legs: legs, thighs and even the buttocks, abdomen and chest.
Foot fungus: causes and symptoms of the disease in children
Fungus occurs on children's feet for several reasons:
- endocrine disorders;
- uncomfortable, ill-fitting faux leather shoes;
- improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dirty and uncut toenails;
- neglecting the rules of personal hygiene when visiting bathhouses and gyms;
- Flat feet.
Most often, the fungus affects the skin of children in the space between the fingers. Symptoms: peeling, thickening of nail plate tissue, severe itching. Small erosions and ulcers, inflammation of the skin of the feet appear.
Diagnosis of mycosis of the feet
The correct treatment of foot mycosis, as well as its diagnosis, can only be done by a dermatologist.
What should a doctor do when diagnosing foot fungus:
- detailed examination of the patient's feet;
- collecting anamnesis (survey conducted on disease symptoms, as well as the presence or absence of chronic, hereditary diseases);
- scraping from the affected skin or cutting a piece of deformed nail;
- special tests to confirm the presence of a fungal infection in the body as a whole;
- sowing material on nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy (a small piece of affected skin is cut) for examination under a microscope (performed in exceptional cases);
- General blood and biochemical tests.
To get the test right you need:
- do not use antifungal agents without a doctor's prescription;
- do not treat the affected skin with anything at least three days before the test;
- It is advisable to use only baby soap without additives;
- do not do nail removal manipulations for a week;
- not taking medication;
- if possible, do not smoke;
- Before taking a blood test, do not drink coffee, lemonade, or alcohol.
How and with what to treat foot mycosis
The treatment prescribed by the doctor is usually complex, consisting of tablets and local products (creams, ointments, sprays). Treatment of foot fungus with folk remedies should not be neglected. They will be able to speed up the healing process of the lesion. It is impossible to name one effective drug that can be used for foot fungus, because during the treatment it is important to obtain an antimycotic effect, eliminate concomitant pathologies and increase blood supply to the feet.
The following have an excellent therapeutic effect:
- Broad-spectrum antifungals are excellent remedies for athlete's foot. It is the basis for many antifungal drugs. For local use only. Effective as an ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol. The ointment should be applied in a thin layer to clean, dry soles of the feet three times a day. It is best to use a month or two after treatment.
- Product (lotion) to restore and protect the nail plate in case of fungal infection. This spray has been proven effective against athlete's foot. Mainly works to prevent fungal diseases. Contains undecylenic acid, which forms immunity against fungal nail disease. The spray is very easy to use. It is used on the inner surface of shoes to disinfect. But patients with onychomycosis still need to be treated using not only this, but also other antimycotic drugs.
- Antifungal drug for systemic use."To the ground" kills all types of fungi. It is used in the form of tablets, creams, sprays and solutions for oral administration. For adults, tablets are prescribed for two weeks, taken twice a day. Cream for fungus on the skin of the feet is applied to the damaged area twicetimes a day. The duration of treatment can range from a week to a month and a half.
- Antifungal antibiotics. This medicine prevents the reproduction of fungi. Available in tablet, oral suspension and ointment form. Ointment is indicated for use only in cases where the nail is not affected by fungi of the genus Candida.Tablets are taken for three months. The first month - once a day, the second and third - every day. The dose is prescribed by the doctor. The treatment ends when the healthy nail grows back.
- Antimycotic drugs. It has a high level of activity against all groups of mycotic organisms that can cause athlete's foot. It is available in suppositories and tablets, but is used to treat fungal infections of the intestines and female genital organs. It is recommended to apply the ointment one to two times a day for up to a month.
How to treat athlete's foot at home
It is possible and necessary to treat a fungal "infection" at home, but only after consulting a doctor and having test results and a special set of individually selected drugs. Traditional medicine also treats toenail fungus, but is usually used only as an additional treatment:
Baking soda is used for toenail fungus as a softener (for sore nails). Place your feet in a soda solution (prepared at the rate of one teaspoon per liter of warm water) for 7-9 minutes. From the cotton pad we form a plate corresponding to the size of the nail. Soak a cotton pad in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and place it on the soft nail. Wrap the compress in cling film or place it on your fingertips. Keep the cotton on the nail for 45-60 minutes. We repeat the manipulation twice a day. If a burning sensation occurs, rinse your finger with water. You will see the effectiveness of the procedure within four days.
Treating athlete's foot with wine vinegar is a simple and inexpensive remedy. At night, wash your feet with warm water without soap and place them in a basin with a strong solution of wine vinegar. After five minutes, wipe your feet and put on socks that were previously soaked in this solution. This procedure has a disinfecting effect. A simple recipe for home treatment is a bath with instant coffee. Brew strong coffee in the required amount of water. The drink is left to cool slightly and the feet are steamed in it. Regularly - twice a day - the unpleasant smell from the feet is eliminated and the mycosis is "expelled".
Rules for taking care of personal belongings during illness:
- slippers must have closed toes and heels;
- you can't walk barefoot;
- shoes should be treated with an antifungal agent twice a day, for example: 40 percent acetic acid solution;
- wash personal items separately from others;
- Wash the bathtub, basin, shower cabin with a disinfectant solution after use;
- Daily wet cleaning of the apartment and ventilation of the room is required;
- change socks daily;
- After recovery, throw away underwear, shoes and old medicines.
Prevention of foot and nail fungus
To the question "How not to get sick? " the answer is simple:
- maintain personal hygiene;
- stick to a dairy vegetable diet, eat more vegetables and fruits;
- abandon bad habits;
- control your emotional state, be careful with stress;
- engage in physical education and sports in the fresh air.