Athlete's foot is a common name for several types of dermatomycosis, which differ in the location and type of fungus. There are four main groups of mycosis of the foot:
- the skin of the interdigital spaces;
- toes;
- toenails (onychomycosis);
- the skin of the lower extremities.
What is athlete's foot?
If you believe the statistics, in our country athlete's foot is diagnosed in almost twenty percent of the population. Fungal infections live freely in the environment and sometimes we don't even realize that we can be carriers of the disease.
Under certain favorable conditions, some of the almost five hundred species of mushrooms that exist in nature experience a "moment of revival". They multiply rapidly, forming multiple colonies and spreading spores to new areas of the skin.
Mushroom waste is toxic. As a result of intoxication, the whole body as a whole can suffer.
Mycosis of the feet is caused by microscopic fungi:
- dermatophytes;
- yeast;
- moldy;
- candida.
Prerequisites for the appearance of foot fungus:
- visiting a swimming pool, sauna, bath, gym, wherever you have to move barefoot, and there is also a risk of illness during work;
- using someone else's shoes;
- dermatological diseases (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, eczema);
- chronic organic diseases;
- diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot) and other endocrine disorders;
- flat feet with big toe deformity;
- 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 anti-allergic drugs;
- injuries on the skin of the feet in the form of cracks, corns and calluses.
What do 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.
Very often, the symptoms of the disease (peeling, layering of scales, severe itching) occur with the addition of an inflammatory process due to itching.
Fungal infection of the skin and toenails has two forms - acute and chronic. In the acute form, recovery usually occurs within a few days (taking into account the appropriateness of the prescribed drugs). The chronic form does not recover completely, it alternates between relapses and remissions. Its treatment is aimed at alleviating 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, delaying the spread of infection. The longer you delay the visit to a specialist, the longer the treatment will be.
Fungus of the feet between the toes
The infection, as a rule, first affects the interdigital folds (especially the narrowest between them - between the third and fourth fingers).
Signs of interdigital toenail fungus:
- thickened skin is dry;
- furrows and even calluses are formed;
- the skin of the feet cracks and peels;
- debilitating pain and itching occurs.
It happens that the fungus is hidden and manifests itself only with the formation of small cracks between the fingers, light skin and slight itching. The patient does not seek help from doctors for a long time, and only when crying occurs, the patient begins to worry.
The exudative (wet) form of athlete's foot is:
- intertriginous, appearing as diaper rash;
- dyshidrotic - with the appearance of blisters;
- mixed - interginous-dyhidrotic.
The most dangerous form of fungal infection is considered to be vesicular foot fungus or dyshidrotic mycosis.
It is characterized by the formation of painful vesicles (large blisters) that fuse together and form large erosive areas without any skin covering. As it develops, the erosion constantly increases in volume. The liquid inside the blisters is very sticky. You can infect all family members with it at once.
The leg, being practically skinless, also risks "catching" a severe purulent infection. Recovery is delayed by at least three to four months. The site of localization is usually the skin of the foot, a little less often - the skin between the toes, and even less often - the skin on the surface of the heel.
Fungus on the toes
An untreated fungus "creeps" from the interdigital space to the nearest fingers. In principle, all the characteristic symptoms of fungal infection of the interdigital folds are also inherent in the skin of the fingers - severe itching, etc. They cause a lot of trouble.
As a result of endless scratching, the skin of the fingers thickens, becomes inflamed and turns bright red. Constant swelling, pustules and blisters appear. A pustular rash usually forms 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 the disease are dermatophytes, and at least fungi of the genus Candida. The appearance of the nail and the sensations with onychomycosis are not the most pleasant.
Signs of the disease:
- deformation and separation of the nail;
- pain while walking;
- new appearance and a yellow tint on the nail;
- significant thickening of the nail plate;
- destruction of nails.
Important! Onychomycosis contributes to the transition of any fungal disease to a chronic form. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, because fungal spores can spread further to the extremities: legs, thighs and even buttocks, abdomen and chest.
Toenail fungus: causes and symptoms of the disease in a child
Fungus appears on children's feet for several reasons:
- endocrine disorders;
- uncomfortable, fake leather shoes that don't fit;
- improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dirty, uncut toenails;
- neglecting the rules of personal hygiene when visiting baths and gyms;
- flat feet.
Most often, the fungus affects the skin of children in the spaces between the fingers. Symptoms: skin, thickening of nail plate tissue, severe itching. Erosions and small ulcers appear, inflammation of the skin of the leg.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
Proper treatment of mycosis of the feet, as well as its diagnosis, can only be performed by a dermatologist.
What should a doctor do when diagnosing toenail fungus:
- detailed examination of the patient's foot;
- collection of anamnesis (a study is carried out regarding the symptoms of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases, heredity);
- itching from the affected skin or cutting off part of a deformed nail;
- a special test to confirm the presence of a fungal infection in the body as a whole;
- planting the material in a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy (a small part of the affected skin is cut) for examination under a microscope (performed in exceptional cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
To get tested properly 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 recommended to use only baby soap without additives;
- do not perform nail removal manipulations for a week;
- do not take medications;
- if possible, do not smoke;
- Before having a blood test, do not drink coffee, lemonade or alcohol.
How and with what to treat mycosis of the foot
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 ignored. They will be able to speed up the healing process of lesions. It is impossible to name an effective medicine that can be used for foot fungus, because during the treatment it is important to obtain an antifungal effect, eliminate the accompanying pathologies and improve the blood supply to the feet.
The following have an excellent therapeutic effect:
- A broad-spectrum antifungal is an excellent remedy for athlete's foot. It is the basis for many antifungal drugs. For local use only. Effective as ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol. The ointment should be applied in a thin layer to the clean and dry soles of the feet three times a day. It is best to use one or two months after treatment.
- A product (lotion) to restore and protect the nail plate in case of fungal infection. This spray has proven to be effective against athlete's foot. It mainly serves to prevent fungal diseases. Contains undecylenic acid, which forms immunity against fungal nail diseases. The spray is very easy to apply. It is used on the inner surface of shoes to disinfect them. But a patient with onychomycosis still needs to be treated using not only this, but also other antifungal drugs.
- Antifungal drugs for systemic use."On the ground" kills fungi of all types. It is used in the form of tablets, cream, spray and solution for oral administration. For adults, tablets are prescribed for two weeks, taken twice a day. Cream for fungus on the skin of the leg is rubbed intodamaged areas twice a day. The duration of treatment can vary from a week to a month and a half.
- Antifungal antibiotic. The drug prevents the spread of fungi. Available in the form of tablets, oral suspension and ointment. The ointment is indicated for use only in cases where the nails are 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 other day. The dose is prescribed by the doctor. Treatment ends after healthy nails grow back.
- Antimycotic drugs. It has a high degree of activity against all groups of fungal organisms that can provoke foot fungus. It is available in suppositories and tablets, but is used to treat fungal infections of the intestines and female genitalia. It is recommended that the ointment be applied once or twice a day for up to a month.
How to treat toenail fungus at home
It is possible and necessary to treat a fungal "infection" at home, but only after consulting a doctor and having with you the test results and a set of special medications selected individually. Traditional medicine also treats athlete's foot, but it is usually used only as an additional treatment:
Baking soda is used for toenail fungus as an emollient (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 a cotton pad we form a plate corresponding to the size of the nail. Soak a cotton ball in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and place it on a soft nail. Wrap the compress in cling film or place it on your fingertip. Keep the cotton swab 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 foot fungus 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 previously soaked in this solution. The 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 allowed to cool slightly and the legs are steamed. Regularly - twice a day - the unpleasant smell is eliminated from the feet and the fungus is "expelled".
Rules for the care of personal belongings during illness:
- slippers must have a closed toe and heel;
- you can't walk barefoot;
- shoes should be treated with antifungal agents twice a day, for example: a 40 percent solution of acetic acid;
- wash personal items separately from others;
- Wash bathtubs, basins, shower cabins with disinfectant solutions after use;
- Daily wet cleaning of the apartment and ventilation of the room is required;
- daily change of socks;
- After healing, get rid of old underwear, shoes and medicines.
Prevention of foot and nail fungus
The answers to the question "How not to get sick? " are simple:
- maintain personal hygiene;
- adhere to the dairy-vegetable diet, eat more vegetables and fruits;
- give up bad habits;
- control your emotional state, be careful of stress;
- engage in physical education and sports in the fresh air.