One of the most common diseases caused by parasitic fungi is yeast infection of the feet. In medical practice there are several types of this pathology. It is important to identify the fungus on the foot at the very beginning of its development. Then it will be faster and easier to get rid of it. In this case, you will not need any special treatment, let alone surgery. With weak manifestations of fungal activity, it is enough to use antifungal ointments or baths using folk recipes.
Mushroom and its varieties
![A foot with a fungal infection](/images/articles/335/A%20foot%20with%20a%20fungal%20infection.jpg)
Despite the prevalence of yeast infection, not all infected people know what yeast infection looks like.
Here are the main types of yeast infection:
- Scaly or scaly.
- Intertriginous. It is characterized by the type of intertrigo of the skin.
- Hypertrophic, atrophic and normotrophic onychomycosis. The difficulty in treating these diseases is that all varieties can be combined with each other.
- Dyshidrotic. It is marked by a violation of the work of the sweat glands.
At different stages of development, this pathology looks different. Mycosis of the feet is the common name for two diseases - epidermophytosis and rubromycosis, the development process of which takes place in the same way.
![Dry, scaly skin on the feet is a sign of scaly yeast infection](/images/articles/335/Dry,%20scaly%20skin%20on%20the%20feet%20is%20a%20sign%20of%20scaly%20yeast%20infection.jpg)
Scaly yeast infection
At the initial stage, the fungus manifests itself in the defeat of one foot, and after some time the disease passes to the other.
The skin turns red and then flakes off. The area of the areas of redness in all patients is different and depends on the stage of development. Many people are not bothered even by itching in the affected area, the skin may not peel off. That is why they only turn to a dermatologist when the legs are affected by the last stage of the disease.
Dyshidrotic fungal infection
![Dyshidrotic fungus of the foot](/images/articles/335/Dyshidrotic%20fungus%20of%20the%20foot.jpg)
Anyone who suspects the onset of this disease should know what a foot fungus looks like from any form of development. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of miniature vesicles on the arch of the foot. Very little time passes and they unite to turn into large bubbles, the shell of which is soon broken, and the superficial lesion of the skin becomes visually noticeable.
The pathology can spread throughout the leg with the appearance of areas of diaper rash. In this case, the patient begins to itch, painful sensations appear. Once everything is healed, the peeling begins.
The most unpleasant disease is the formation of a bacterial fungus. In this case, cloudy liquid and pus flow from the bubbles, which burst. At this stage of the development of the pathology, there is a slight increase in temperature and unbearable pain. The skin of the feet is swollen.
The process of the dyshidrotic form of the yeast infection can last for several months. Periods of improvement in the condition of the feet alternate with relapses.
Intertriginous fungus
![Cracked skin between the toes is a symptom of an intertriginous fungus](/images/articles/335/Cracked%20skin%20between%20the%20toes%20is%20a%20symptom%20of%20an%20intertriginous%20fungus.jpg)
This type of fungus on the skin of the feet is the most common. It appears independently or with the scaly form of the pathology. The disease is manifested by cracks in the skin, around which a white rim forms, and then the skin begins to flake. The space between the fingers becomes wet. The patient feels itching and burning. Skin surface defects appear, accompanied by severe pain.
The protective functions of the skin are reduced and it relaxes. This promotes the penetration of the strep infection into the skin. Purulent inflammation appears, characterized by redness, itching, swelling and severe pain.
The intertriginous fungus is most often characterized by a long chronic course of the pathological process. In winter, the pain usually subsides, and in summer it gets worse again.
Onychomycosis or nail fungus
![With onychomycosis, a deformation of the nail plate occurs](/images/articles/335/With%20onychomycosis,%20a%20deformation%20of%20the%20nail%20plate%20occurs.jpg)
When the first signs of the disease appear, the patient's task is to contact a dermatologist in a timely manner, and he will determine how to remove the fungus on the legs.
Onychomycosis of the nails is a more dangerous disease than fungal infection of the feet because it takes much longer to heal.
Varieties of fungal infection affecting the nail plate:
- Atrophic onychomycosis. First, the nail thins, then it collapses.
- Hypertrophic onychomycosis. The thickness of the nail increases, acquiring a yellow color. Growth in length stops. The nail plate begins to crumble and exfoliate.
- Onychomycosis caused by mold. This pathology does not develop on its own. It usually progresses against the background of other diseases. In this case, the nail plate can be painted in any color, from black to green. The periungual roller is often inflamed.
In its neglected form, the disease affects the whole body and even penetrates internal organs. Pathological changes often begin to develop from the edge of the nail plate. Scratches, smudges and other "patterns" appear first.
Processing methods
![Toenail before and after treatment for the fungus](/images/articles/335/Toenail%20before%20and%20after%20treatment%20for%20the%20fungus.png)
Not all patients know how to remove fungus from the feet, but dermatologists do. The main treatment is to block the development of a fungal infection. In order to prevent reinfection of the feet with a fungus, complex treatment is used:
- Outpatient therapy course. Antifungal ointments, creams, sprays are used in the treatment.
- The course of treatment with the use of antimycotic drugs.
- Use of antihistamines. They are taken in case of severe itching and hypersensitivity to irritants causing allergies.
- The course of therapy with the contribution of vitamins and minerals.
- Antibacterial drugs. They are used in case of bacterial infection of the body.
By consulting a doctor, a person will find out how to treat fungus of the nails, heels, and the space between the fingers. With an advanced form of the disease, the doctor usually prescribes complex treatment with the intake of pills and the use of ointments. Systemic drugs are prescribed to patients who have already started a severe course of the process.
For the treatment of a fungal infection on the legs at home, the following folk recipes are used:
- The vinegar. Due to its antiseptic properties, wine vinegar is used for baths.
- Salt and soda. They are dissolved in water in equal amounts and make baths that help eliminate fungus on the feet.
- Oak bark, calendula inflorescences, blackberries. Wash the affected areas of the feet with a decoction of these herbal remedies.
The most effective is the complex treatment of the fungus with the use of ointments and drugs with various pharmacological actions. Treatment will never be necessary if you listen to the recommendations of doctors and periodically apply preventive measures.
Antifungal drugs
The fungus of the feet and interdigital space is eliminated with effective fungicidal drugs.
Since the fungus can manifest itself in any form, a specialist should select an effective remedy to combat this infection. Some drugs are toxic and can cause side reactions; they are taken under the strict supervision of a doctor. A timely positive result of treatment depends on the correct diagnosis not only of the disease, but also on the stage of its development.