Fungus on the legs is a general name for several types of dermatomycoses, differing in localization and type of fungus. There are four main groups of athlete's 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 foot fungus 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 nearly five hundred species of fungi that exist in nature experience a "revival moment. " They multiply rapidly, form multiple colonies, and spread spores to new areas of the skin.
Fungal 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;
- musty;
- candida.
Prerequisites for the occurrence of foot fungus:
- visiting a pool, sauna, bath, gym, anywhere where you have to move barefoot, and there is also a risk of illness at work;
- using other people's shoes;
- dermatological diseases (neuroderma, psoriasis, eczema);
- organic chronic diseases;
- diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot) and other endocrine diseases;
- flat feet with deformity of the big toe;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet (hyperhidrosis);
- reduced body protection, especially in people with nail fungus (onychomycosis);
- uncontrolled use of antibiotics, hormones and anti-allergic drugs;
- injuries to the skin of the feet in the form of cracks, calluses and calluses.
What does foot 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) appear with the addition of an inflammatory process due to scratching.
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 adequacy of the prescribed drugs). The chronic form is not completely cured, relapses and remissions alternate. Her 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, slowing the spread of the infection. The longer you delay the visit to a specialist, the longer the treatment will be.
Fungus on the feet between the toes
The infection, as a rule, first affects the interdigital folds (especially the tightest among them - between the third and fourth fingers).
Signs of interdigital foot fungus:
- thickened skin is dry;
- furrows and even calluses form;
- the skin on the legs cracks and peels;
- pain and debilitating itching occur.
It happens that the fungus is hidden and manifests itself only by the formation of small cracks between the fingers, slight peeling and slight itching. The patient does not seek help from doctors for a long time, and only when crying appears, the patient begins to worry.
The exudative (wetting) form of foot fungus is:
- intertriginous, occurring as diaper rash;
- dyshidrotic - with the appearance of blisters;
- mixed - intergynous-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 constantly increases in volume. The fluid inside the blisters is highly contagious. You can infect all family members with it at once.
The foot, as it is practically without skin, also risks to "catch" 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 moreless often - the skin on the surface of the heel.
Fungus on the toes
The untreated fungus "crawls" from the interdigital space to the nearest fingers. In principle, all the symptoms characteristic of a mycotic infection of the interdigital folds are also inherent in the skin of the toes - severe itching, etc. They cause a lot of inconvenience.
As a result of endless scratching, the skin on the fingers thickens, becomes inflamed and acquires a bright red color. Stubborn swellings, 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 agent of the disease is dermatophytes and least of all fungi of the genus Candida. The appearance of the nail and the sensations in onychomycosis are not the most pleasant.
Signs of the disease:
- deformation and separation of the nail;
- pain when walking;
- the appearance of turbidity and a yellowish tint on the nail;
- significant thickening of the nail plate;
- destruction of nails.
important! Onychomycosis contributes to the transition of any fungal disease into a chronic form. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, as the spores of the fungus can spread further to the extremities: legs, thighs and even buttocks, abdomen and chest.
Fungus on the feet: causes and symptoms of the disease in a child
Fungus appears on children's feet for several reasons:
- endocrine disorders;
- uncomfortable faux leather shoes that don't fit;
- malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dirty, untrimmed toenails;
- neglecting the rules of personal hygiene when visiting bathrooms and gyms;
- flat feet.
Most often, the fungus affects the skin of children in the spaces between the fingers. Symptoms: peeling, thickening of the nail plate tissue, severe itching. Small erosions and ulcers appear, inflammation of the skin of the legs.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
The correct treatment of mycosis of the feet, as well as its diagnosis, can only be carried out by a dermatologist.
What should the doctor do when diagnosing foot fungus:
- detailed examination of the patient's leg;
- collection of anamnesis (a survey is conducted regarding the symptoms of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases, heredity);
- scraping from the affected skin or cutting off a piece of a deformed nail;
- a special test to confirm the presence of a fungal infection in the body as a whole;
- seeding the material on a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy (a small part of the affected skin is removed) for examination under a microscope (performed in exceptional cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
To test yourself properly, you must:
- do not use antifungal agents without a doctor's prescription;
- do not treat the affected skin with anything for at least three days before the examination;
- It is recommended to use only baby soap without additives;
- do not perform manipulations to remove nails for a week;
- do not take medication;
- if possible, do not smoke;
- Do not drink coffee, lemonade or alcohol before a blood test.
How and with what to treat mycosis of the feet
The treatment prescribed by a 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 lesions. 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 accompanying pathologies and improve blood supply to the feet.
An excellent therapeutic effect has:
- A broad-spectrum antifungal is an excellent treatment for athlete's foot. It is the basis of many antifungal drugs. For local use only. Effective as an ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol. The ointment should be applied in a thin layer on clean and dry soles of the feet three times a day. It is better 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 foot fungus. 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 for disinfection. But a patient with onychomycosis still needs to be treated using not only this, but also other antifungal drugs.
- Antifungal drug for systemic use."To the ground" kills fungi of all kinds. It is used in the form of tablets, cream, spray and solution for oral administration. For adults, the tablets are prescribed for two weeks, taken twice a day. Cream for fungus on the skin of the feet is rubbed intothe damaged areas twice a day. The duration of treatment can vary from a week to a month and a half.
- Antifungal antibiotic. The drug inhibits the proliferation of fungi. It is available as tablets, oral suspension and ointment. The 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 other day. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor. The treatment ends when healthy nails grow back.
- Antimycotic drug. It has a high degree of activity against all groups of mycotic organisms that can provoke foot fungus. It is available in the form of suppositories and tablets, but is used to treat fungal infections of the intestines and female genital organs. It is recommended to apply the ointment once or twice a day for a month.
How to treat foot fungus at home
Treatment of fungal "infection" at home is possible and necessary, but only after consulting a doctor and having the test results and an individually selected set of special drugs. Traditional medicine also treats foot fungus, but it is usually used only as an additional treatment:
Baking soda is used for foot fungus as an emollient (for a sick nail). 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 swab, we form a plate corresponding to the size of the nail. Soak a cotton swab in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and place it on a soft nail. Wrap the compress in cling film or put it on the tip of the finger. 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 that were previously soaked in this solution. The procedure has a disinfecting effect. A simple recipe for treatment at home is a bath with instant coffee. Brew strong coffee in the required amount of water. The drink is allowed to cool slightly and the feet are steamed in it. With regularity - twice a day - the unpleasant smell is removed from the feet and the mycosis is "expelled".
Rules for taking care of personal belongings during illness:
- slippers must have a closed toe and heel;
- you cannot walk barefoot;
- shoes should be treated with antifungal agents twice a day, for example: 40% acetic acid solution;
- wash personal items separately from others;
- Wash bathtubs, sinks, showers with disinfectant solutions after use;
- Daily wet cleaning of the apartment and airing of the room is necessary;
- daily change of socks;
- After recovery, get rid of old underwear, shoes and medications.
Prevention of foot and nail fungus
The answers to the question "How not to get sick? " are simple:
- maintain personal hygiene;
- adhere to a dairy-vegetable diet, eat more vegetables and fruits;
- give up bad habits;
- control your emotional state, avoid stress;
- engage in physical education and sports in the fresh air.