How to cure athlete's foot, symptoms and signs

Skin fungus is the most common dermatological disease. But the defeat of the legs is considered the most common. Athlete's foot and onychomycosis are common in those who visit public places, particularly hospitals, saunas, baths, swimming pools and gyms.

Each type of fungus has its own characteristics, signs and treatment methods that you should know for those who are at risk of contracting a yeast infection.

What is athlete's foot?

Mycosis or ringworm is a dermatological disease caused by a fungal pathogen. Fungus on the skin of the feet is the most common type of this disease, because it is the skin of the feet that is more sensitive, which is also constantly exposed to the external environment affected by fungi.

Risk factors

Athlete's foot is common in men who prefer fully enclosed shoes. The feet begin to sweat and a breeding ground is created. That's why 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 soil and non-compliance with sanitary standards in kindergartens.

Often, fungal infections of the feet also occur in women with hormonal disorders or reduced immunity during pregnancy. Infection can also occur during a pedicure using non-sterile tools or towels.

There are common factors that provoke the development of the disease:

1. Wearing shoes made of synthetic materials that are too tight.
2. Rarely washing feet, wearing dirty socks.
3. Wearing other people's shoes, using other people's towels and other hygiene items.
4. Diseases that disrupt blood circulation in the lower limbs.
5. Disorders of the immune system.
6. Non-compliance with hygiene rules in public places.
7. The presence of calluses, wounds and cracks on the feet.
8. Long-term treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids.

Psychosomatics

The causes of the fungus can also be in the emotional state of a person. The medical field that studies the psychological state of a person and its influence on the development of bodily diseases - psychosomatics - explains fungal infections by suppressing negative emotions held inside.

Constant feelings of resentment, anger, feelings of betrayal, or feelings of frustration can unlock the fungus or prevent a person from fully recovering.

As a result of these conditions, human immunity decreases, pathogens present in the body are activated. People with a chronic fungal infection that does not go away after drug treatment should review their internal state 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 skin lesions in humans, but the following types of fungi are most often localized on the feet:

1. Trichophyton rubrum, or Tripchophyton purpureum- cause rubromycosis, a disease that most often affects the skin of the feet and nails, but can also spread to other parts of the body.

2. Trichophyton interdigitale or Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Trichophytons)- cause epidermophytosis, which develops between the toes, but can also cover the entire area of the foot.
3. Candida- Candida rarely appears on the feet, but can also affect the interdigital space, the nails and the soles of the feet. It develops mainly in females.

Mycosis is an infection, and infection can occur in two ways: directly - directly from infected person to person and indirectly - through the floor, shoes, clothes and other household items with which the infected person has come into contact. It is very easy to get infected with a fungus on the lower extremities - it is enough to have a second contact with any surface or object touched by a person with a fungal infection.

The mechanism of development of fungal diseases begins from the moment when the spores enter the human skin. If the conditions are favorable, then development, growth and reproduction begin.

Microorganisms begin to release enzymes that destroy keratin proteins and, accordingly, the stratum corneum of the skin. Consequently, people experience itching and discomfort. The infection spreads very quickly, the fungus penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and infects the surrounding tissues.

If you do not start treatment, large areas of the skin are affected very quickly.

But not always the infection develops immediately after the infection, sometimes the fungus remains on the skin or shoes for a long period of time. But as soon as the body's defenses decrease or a favorable warm and moist environment is created, the fungus begins to develop rapidly.

General symptoms

Ringworm of the lower extremities 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 primary symptoms or think that these are signs of other dermatological diseases.

Common signs of a skin infection are:

1. Redness and peeling of individual areas.
2. The appearance of blisters or cracks.
3. Itching and burning sensation.
4. Dryness and roughness of the skin.

But depending on the localization and the pathogen, the disease proceeds with different clinical manifestations. Heel fungus starts with reddening of the skin and a burning sensation. Over time, bubbles appear, which, bursting, form very painful wounds.

Then cracks and growths with peeling are formed. With a long course of the disease, an unpleasant odor begins to radiate from the affected area, and the infection spreads to other areas of the feet and nails.

Fungus on the knees is rare, but if cracks appear on or below the knee that do not disappear for a long time, then you should see a doctor. Usually, the fungus in this area begins imperceptibly - it starts with redness, then the peeling of the skin increases, very rarely bubbles form on the surface of the spot, which eventually become covered with scabs.

Nail damage - onychomycosis - begins with an infection of the skin of the feet. In this case, itching and cracks on the skin may appear, but sometimes the fungus does not touch the skin, affecting only the nail plate.

Stages:

1. Normotrophic- at this stage, only the color of the nail begins to change - it becomes yellow, sometimes with a brown tint.
2. Hypertrophic- the healthy shine of the nail disappears, it acquires an irregular shape, thickens and begins to partially crumble. One may feel pain while wearing tight shoes.
3. Onycholithic- the diseased nail is a plate with crumbling layers, it thins, acquires a brown color. At this stage, separation from the nail bed begins.

Manifestations of various types of pathology

Candidiasis of the feet affects only the soft areas of the skin and nails, without affecting the feet, it can be of two types:

1. vesicular-pustular- at the first stage, redness of the skin with pronounced edema appears. In the future, the affected area is covered with bubbles filled with liquid or purulent mass, in the process they burst, forming erosion. Gradually, the inflammatory process decreases and peeling increases on the foci.
2. Hyperkeratotic- occurs rarely, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum with the formation of scaly wine-red furrows.

In most cases, the fungus between the toes is epidermotrophy. Skin changes in this pathology may be presentthe following forms:

1. squamous- between the third and fourth toe, the skin starts to redden and sometimes itch. Very often this stage is neglected.
2. Intertriginous- develops from the first stage. Edema develops, fissures form, and the lesion spreads to adjacent areas. Growths form around the affected area, making it difficult to wear shoes.
3. Sharp- large accumulations of fluid-filled bubbles form. Wounds and cracks begin to hurt, the general state of health deteriorates, the temperature may rise.

If the condition is neglected, the interdigital pathology covers the nails and the entire area of the foot, i. e. epidermotrophy of the feet 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 in time, then the process goes to the sole, the lateral area of the feet and the surface of the toes.

Rubromycosis can also affect other areas of the legs: shins, thighs, buttocks, as well as any parts of the body and head. The lesions are pink spots 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 got cracks on my leg but I didn't pay attention. The fungi were discovered during a medical examination at the workplace. The doctor immediately prescribed ointment and pills, she also scolded herself for not applying immediately.

The specificity of traditional treatment

Treatment of foot fungus 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 action is aimed at suppressing the vital activity and reproduction of fungi, as well as slowing down the process of their spread.

Recently, various antifungal sprays have appeared that are very convenient to use for external use in the treatment of skin and nail fungus.

During the therapy, you can process shoes and clothes so as not to provoke a re-infection. Disinfection sprays are suitable for this. The treatment can also be carried out with antiseptics.

You can use antifungal agents in the form of solutions.

Before applying ointments, you can use an ordinary alcoholic salicylic solution. It actively acts on the fungus, simultaneously relieving inflammation and drying the teary areas of the skin.

In case of nail damage, it is recommended to use special antifungal varnishes.

There are many different external remedies 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 properly use external means:

1. Follow the instructions for the frequency of administration of the drug.
2. Hard areas should be steamed before applying the external agent.
3. For large dry growths, you can make a soda bath.
4. Treat only the affected areas without affecting healthy skin.
5. After treatment, wash your hands thoroughly without touching other parts of the body to avoid spreading the infection.

In advanced cases, you should take tablets from the fungus simultaneously with the use of external means.You cannot 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 a fungal lesion of the feet at an early stage will not take much time, provided that the drugs are used correctly and the instructions are followed. In severe cases, prolonged treatment of up to 3-6 months may be necessary. If the prescribed drugs do not give the desired effect, then you should contact a specialist and get new recommendations.

"The fungus on the lower limbs was treated with various ointments for my husband, I tried 8 different pieces, but only tablets from the group of triazole derivatives helped. Well, he continued to apply allylamine cream externally.

Folk methods of treatment

Unconventional methods are often used to treat nail and foot fungus.But patients should remember that such drugs are effective in the initial stage of the fungus, and in severe cases they cannot always help, and on the contrary, worsen the course of the disease.

Before getting rid of foot fungus with folk remedies, you should visit a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis, as the symptoms may indicate various dermatological diseases.

Herbs from the fungus are used to make baths, rubs and lotions:

1. Pour a handful of marigold flowers with 50 ml of alcohol and 100 ml of water and leave for a day in a dark place. Use for rubbing twice a day. Best for nail infections and skin candidiasis.
2. Mix dry mint leaves and fine salt in equal proportions. Apply to the affected areas for a day, securing with a bandage. After the time is up, remove the bandage, wash your feet, dry and repeat. Use only on nails and keratinized skin.
3. Pour five tablespoons of dry celandine with 100 ml of vodka, leave for two weeks. Use for wiping, trying to avoid contact with healthy skin.
4. Boil two tablespoons of thyme in a cup of boiling water, leave for an hour and use for lotions.

You can use tar soap from fungi:

1. Grate a piece of soap, add a little water and melt in a water bath, add a spoonful of tar and 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix well and pour into molds to make medicated soap. Use to wash feet.
2. Mix a tablespoon of crushed 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 on top.
3. In the initial course of the disease, it is enough to apply soap foam from laundry soap to the affected areas of the skin and leave for 15-30 minutes.

Effective garlic for fungus:

1. Apply crushed garlic to the steamed areas and secure them with a bandage. Keep all night.
2. Within 3 days, insist a mixture of garlic juice, water and vodka, taken in equal proportions. Rub 1-2 times a day on the affected areas.
3. Pour 2 finely chopped garlic cloves into a cup of vinegar. Infuse in a dark place for 2 weeks in a container with a closed lid. Use for rubs and lotions.

Vinegar can be used for rubbing or bathing. To prepare a bath, you need to take 100 ml of 9% mass or apple cider vinegar for 1 liter of water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, after which you need to remove the softened skin and put on clean socks.

"At work I walk in shoes for days, my feet are constantly sweating and foot fungus often appears, I immediately start making baths with vinegar and treat all my shoes with it. It goes by very quickly. "

Implications and predictions

Many believe that fungi are not harmful, except for aesthetic discomfort. But fungal infections 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 passes to the skin of the hands, face, torso, scalp. This happens if you do not wash your hands after touching the affected areas of the skin or if the patient's immunity is greatly reduced. From an infected person, infection of family members occurs if sanitary rules are not followed.

With deep lesions, it becomes impossible to wear usual shoes, there is severe pain when walking, and when the nails are damaged, the nail bed rises. There is a risk of inflammation of nerve endings.

Skin lesions, if left untreated, provoke the addition of viral and bacterial infections. The following complications often occur:

1. Warts.
2. Phlegmon.
3. Pyoderma.
4. Erysipelas.
5. Malignant mycosis fungoides.

Fungi on the skin of the feet with a long course worsen the functioning of the immune system, patients become more susceptible to allergic manifestations, urticaria, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Mycoses are often accompanied by atopic dermatitis and eczema. The general condition worsens, weakness appears, the body temperature may periodically rise.

Ongoing fungal infections can cause damage to internal organs.

In addition to physical complications, fungal infections lead to psycho-emotional instability. Infected people become irritable, short-tempered, and often lash out at others. Nervous system instability slows recovery, so patients may need psychological support.

Toe fungus is very easy to treat if you start therapy at the first signs of the disease. With 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 managed without the use of systemic drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend not to delay the visit to the clinic.