How to cure a fungus on the legs, its symptoms and signs

Cutaneous mycosis is the most common dermatological disease. But the defeat on the legs is considered the most common. Leg yeast infections and onychomycosis are often found in those who frequent public places, especially hospitals, saunas, baths, swimming pools and gymnasiums.

Each type of fungus has its own characteristics, signs, and treatment methods that you should be aware of for those at risk of contracting a fungal infection.

What is foot fungus?

Mycosis, or ringworm, is a skin disease caused by a fungal pathogen. Leg skin fungus is the most common type of this disease, since it is on the legs that the skin is most sensitive, which, moreover, is constantly exposed to the external environment affected by fungus.

Risk factors

Athlete's foot is common in men who prefer fully enclosed shoes. The feet begin to sweat and a breeding environment develops. Therefore, most men who have served in the military know firsthand what a skin fungus is. In children, fungal infections occur due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, barefoot walking on contaminated soil and non-compliance with sanitary standards in kindergartens.

Often, fungal infections of the feet are also found in women with hormonal disorders or decreased immunity during pregnancy. Infection can also occur during a pedicure through non-sterile instruments or towels.

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

1. Wear shoes that are too tight in synthetic materials.
2. Infrequent washing of feet, wearing dirty socks.
3. Wearing someone else's shoes, using someone else's towels and other hygiene items.
4. Diseases that disrupt blood circulation in the lower extremities.
5. Immune system disorders.
6. Non-compliance with hygiene rules in public places.
7. The presence of corns, sores and cracks on the feet.
8. Long-term treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids.

Psychosomatic

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

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

Due to these conditions, human immunity is reduced, pathogens present in the body are activated. People with a chronic fungal infection that does not go away with drug therapy should reconsider their internal condition or consult a psychologist.

According to many scientists who have studied the psychosomatic causes of the fungus, if you do not work on your character and do not get rid of negative emotions, 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 legs:

1. Trichophyton rubrum or Tripchophyton purpureum- cause rubromycosis, a condition that most commonly 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 fingers, but can also affect the entire area of the foot.
3. candidiasis- candida rarely occurs on the feet, but can also affect the interdigital space, the nails and the sole of the foot. It mainly develops in women.

Thrush is an infection and infection can occur in two ways: directly - directly from an infected person to another person, and indirectly - through the floor, shoes, clothing and other household items with which the personinfected came into contact. It is very easy to become infected with a fungus of the lower extremities - only a second contact with a surface or an object touched by a person with a fungal infection is enough.

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

Microorganisms begin to secrete enzymes that destroy keratin proteins and, as a result, the horny layer of the skin. Therefore, itching and discomfort occur in humans. The infection spreads very quickly, the fungi penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and infect the surrounding tissues.

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

But the infection does not always develop immediately after infection, sometimes the fungi remain on the skin or shoes for a long time. But as soon as the body's defenses decrease or a favorable warm and humid environment develops, fungi begin to grow rapidly.

General symptoms

Ringworm of the lower limbs 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 main symptoms or think that these are signs of other dermatological diseases.

Common signs of skin infection are:

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

But depending on the localization and the pathogen, the disease manifests itself in various clinical manifestations. The fungus on the heels begins with reddening of the skin and a burning sensation. Over time, bubbles appear, which, bursting, form very painful sores.

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

Fungus on the knees is rare, but if cracks appear on or under the knee and do not go away for a long time, you need to see a doctor. Usually the fungus in this area begins imperceptibly - it begins with redness, then peeling of the skin intensifies, very rarely bubbles form on the surface of the spot, which eventually become covered with crusts.

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

Steps:

1. Normotroph- 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 becomes irregular in shape, thickens and begins to partially crumble. A person may experience pain when wearing tight shoes.
3. Onycholytic- the diseased nail is a plaque with crumbling layers, becomes thinner, takes on a brown color. At this point, the detachment of the nail bed begins.

Manifestations of different types of pathologies

Candidiasis of the legs only affects 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, during which they burst, forming erosion. Gradually, the inflammatory process decreases, and peeling increases on the foci.
2. Hyperkeratotic- is rare, characterized by a thickening of the stratum corneum with the formation of scaly burgundy furrows.

In most cases, the fungus between the toes is epidermotrophy. The skin changes in this pathology may havethe following forms:

1. scaly- between the third and fourth finger, the skin begins to redden and sometimes itch. Very often, this step is overlooked.
2. Intertriginous- develops from the first stage. Edema develops, cracks form, and the lesion spreads to neighboring areas. Growths form around the diseased area, making it difficult to wear shoes.
3. Acute- large accumulations of liquid-filled bubbles form. Wounds and cracks begin to hurt, the general state of health deteriorates, the temperature may rise.

When the condition is neglected, the interdigital pathology covers the nails and the entire surface of the sole of the foot, that is, the epidermotrophy of the feet develops. The external symptoms resemble those of oozing eczema, which complicates the diagnosis.

Rubromycosis of the feet is a simultaneous lesion of the interdigital folds. The skin becomes drier, reddens, severe peeling begins. If the treatment is not started in a timely manner, the process moves to the sole, the lateral area of the feet and the surface of the fingers.

Rubromycosis can also affect other areas of the legs: shins, thighs, buttocks, as well as all parts of the body and head. The lesions are pink patches covered with scaly skin, blisters, or a crust. They grow rapidly in size, merging with each other. Rubromycosis of smooth skin usually presents in an acute form and is accompanied by severe itching.

"I had cracks on my foot, but I didn't pay attention. The fungus was discovered during a medical examination at work. The doctor immediately prescribed ointment and pills, she also scolded thatshe had not applied immediately. "

The specificities of traditional treatment

The therapy of the fungus on the legs is based on the application of external antifungal agents to the lesions. There are many drugs 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 sprays from the fungus have appeared, which are very convenient to use for external use in the treatment of skin and nail fungus.

During treatment, you can treat shoes and clothes so as not to cause reinfection. Disinfectant sprays are suitable for this. Treatment can also be carried out with antiseptics.

You can use antifungal agents in the form of solutions.

Before applying ointments, you can use a salicylic solution of ordinary alcohol. It actively acts on fungi, simultaneously relieves inflammation and dries up weeping skin areas.

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

There are many different external remedies and all of them can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. But for the treatment to be effective, it is necessary to know how to use external agents correctly:

1. Follow the instructions for how often to apply the medication.
2. Hard areas should be vaporized before applying the external agent.
3. With large dry growths, you can make a bath with soda.
4. Treat only the affected areas, without affecting healthy skin.
5. After treatment, wash your hands thoroughly, without touching other parts of the body, so as not to spread the infection.

In advanced cases, you need to take tablets from the fungus simultaneously with the use of external agents.You can not take pills inside without a doctor's recommendation - only a specialist can prescribe drugs, depending on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course of the disease.

Treatment of a fungal lesion on the legs at an early stage will not take much time, provided that the drugs are used correctly and the instructions are followed. In severe cases, long-term treatment, up to 3 to 6 months, may be required. If the prescribed drugs do not give the desired effect, you need to contact a specialist and get new recommendations.

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

Folk methods of treatment

Very often, unconventional methods are used to treat fungus on the nails and legs.But patients should remember that such remedies are effective at the initial stage of the fungus, and in severe cases they can not always help, but, on the contrary, aggravate the course of the disease.

Before getting rid of the fungus on the feet with folk remedies, you need to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis, since the symptoms may indicate various dermatological diseases.

The herbs of the fungus are used to prepare baths, rubs and lotions:

1. Pour a handful of calendula flowers with 50 ml of alcohol and 100 ml of water and leave for a day in a dark place. Use to scrub twice a day. Ideal for nail infections and cutaneous candidiasis.
2. Mix dry mint leaves and fine salt in equal proportions. Apply to affected areas for a day, securing with a bandage. When the time is up, remove the bandage, wash your feet, pat them dry, and repeat. Use only on nails and keratinized skin.
3. Five tablespoons of dry celandine pour 100 ml of vodka, leave for two weeks. Use to wipe off, trying to avoid contact with healthy skin.
4. Infuse two tablespoons of thyme in a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and use for lotions.

You can use mushroom tar soap:

1. Grate a bar 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 a healing soap. Use to wash your feet.
2. Mix one tablespoon of crushed soap with 2 teaspoons of club soda and add a little water to make a thick mixture. Apply to clean feet at night and apply a dressing on top.
3. At the onset of the disease, it is enough to apply laundry soap foam to the affected areas of the skin and leave for 15-30 minutes.

Garlic effective against fungi:

1. Apply crushed garlic to the steamed areas and secure it with a bandage. Keep overnight.
2. Within 3 days, insist on a mixture of garlic juice, water and vodka, taken in equal proportions. Rub 1 to 2 times a day on the affected areas.
3. Pour 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic into a glass of vinegar. Leave to infuse in a dark place for 2 weeks in a container with a closed lid. Use for rubbing and lotions.

Vinegar can be used for rubbing or bathing. To prepare a bath, 100 ml of table vinegar or 9% apple cider should be taken per 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 a fungus often appears on the foot, I immediately start taking vinegar baths and treating all my shoes with it. It passes very quickly. "

Consequences and predictions

Many believe that the fungus is not harmful, except for aesthetic discomfort. But fungal infections also carry other threats. First, there is a risk of spreading the fungus 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 the patient's immunity is sharply reduced. From an infected person, the infection of family members occurs if sanitation 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 is raised. There is a risk of inflammation of the nerve endings.

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

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

A skin fungus on the legs with a long course worsens the functioning of the immune system, patients become more susceptible to allergic manifestations, urticaria, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Often, fungal infections are accompanied by atopic dermatitis and eczema. The general condition worsens, weakness occurs, body temperature may periodically rise.

Running yeast infections can cause damage to internal organs.

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

Toenail fungus is very easy to cure if you start treatment at the first signs of the disease. With the 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 do without the use of systemic drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend not to delay the visit to the clinic.