Foot fungus is a common name for several types of dermatomycosis, which differ in location and type of fungus. There are four main groups of foot fungus:
- skin of interdigital spaces;
- toes;
- nails (onychomycosis);
- skin of the lower limbs.
What is foot fungus?
If statistics are to be believed, 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 may be carrying the disease.
Under certain favorable conditions, some of the nearly five hundred species of mushrooms that exist in nature experience a "moment of rebirth". They multiply rapidly, forming numerous colonies and spreading their spores to new areas of the skin.
Fungal waste is toxic. As a result of poisoning, the whole body can suffer.
Foot fungus is caused by microscopic fungi:
- dermatophytes;
- yeast;
- moldy;
- candidiasis.
Prerequisites for the appearance of foot fungus:
- visit a swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse, 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 deformity of the big toe;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet (hyperhidrosis);
- reduction in the body's defenses, particularly in people with nail fungus (onychomycosis);
- uncontrolled use of antibiotics, hormones and antiallergic drugs;
- injuries to the skin of the feet in the form of cracks, corns and calluses.
What does foot fungus look like?
The disease manifests itself depending on the type of fungus that has "infected" the skin on your feet and where exactly it is located.
Very often, the symptoms of the disease (desquamation, stratification of scales, severe itching) are combined with an inflammatory process due to scratching.
Fungal infection of the skin and toenails occurs in two forms: acute and chronic. In the acute form, recovery usually occurs within a few days (taking into account the adequacy of the prescribed medications). The chronic form is not completely cured, it alternates between relapses and remissions. Its treatment aims to alleviate 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, which will delay the spread of infection. The longer you wait to see a specialist, the longer the treatment will take.
Foot fungus between the toes
As a rule, the infection first affects the interdigital folds (especially the tightest of 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 feet cracks and peels;
- debilitating pain and itching appear.
It happens that the fungus is hidden and only manifests itself 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 he cries does he begin to worry.
The exudative (wetting) form of foot fungus is:
- intertriginous, resembling diaper rash;
- dyshidrotic - with the appearance of blisters;
- mixed - interginous-dyshidrotic.
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) which coalesce and form large erosive areas without any skin coverage. As erosion progresses, it constantly increases in volume. The liquid in the blisters is very contagious. You can infect everyone in the family at the same time.
The foot, being practically skinless, also runs the risk of "contracting" a serious purulent infection. Healing is delayed by at least three to four months. The site of localization is usually the skin of the instep, a little less often - the skin between the toes, and even less often - the skin of the heel surface.
Fungus on toes
An 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 of the fingers thickens, becomes inflamed and acquires a bright red color. Persistent 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 agent of the disease is dermatophytes and at least fungi of the genus Candida. The appearance of the nail and the sensations associated with onychomycosis are not the most pleasant.
Signs of the disease:
- deformation and separation of the nail;
- pain when walking;
- the appearance of cloudiness 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. Don't delay your visit to the doctor, as fungal spores can spread more to the extremities: legs, thighs and even buttocks, stomach and chest.
Foot fungus: causes and symptoms of the disease in a child
The fungus appears on children's feet for several reasons:
- Endocrine disorders;
- uncomfortable faux leather shoes that don’t fit;
- poor functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dirty, uncut nails;
- neglect of personal hygiene rules when visiting public baths and gyms;
- flat foot.
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, inflammation of the skin of the foot appear.
Foot fungus diagnosis
Correct treatment of foot fungus, as well as its diagnosis, can only be carried out by a dermatologist.
What a doctor should do when diagnosing foot fungus:
- detailed examination of the patient's foot;
- collect anamnesis (a survey is conducted on the symptoms of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases, heredity);
- scratching the affected skin or cutting off a piece of deformed nail;
- a special test to confirm the presence of a fungal infection throughout the body;
- sow the material on a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy (a small piece of affected skin is cut off) 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 advisable to only use baby soap without additives;
- do not perform nail removal manipulations for a week;
- do not take medications;
- if possible, do not smoke;
- Before having your blood drawn, do not drink coffee, lemonade or alcohol.
How and with what to treat foot fungus
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 ignored. They will be able to speed up the healing process of the lesions. It is impossible to name an effective remedy that can be used for foot fungus, since during treatment it is important to achieve an antimycotic effect, eliminate concomitant pathologies and improve blood supply to the feet.
The following have an excellent therapeutic effect:
- A broad-spectrum antifungal is an excellent remedy for foot fungus. It is the basis of many antimycotic drugs. For local use only. Effective as an ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol. The ointment should be applied in a thin layer to the clean, dry soles of the feet three times a day. It is best to use it a month or two after treatment.
- A product (lotion) to restore and protect the nail plate in case of fungal infection. This spray has proven itself against foot fungus. Mainly serves to prevent fungal diseases. Contains undecylenic acid, which forms immunity against fungal nail disease. The spray is very easy to apply. It is used on the inside surface of shoes to disinfect them. But a patient with onychomycosis should always be treated with not only this drug, but also other antimycotic drugs.
- Antifungal drug for systemic use."Ground" kills fungi of all kinds. 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. TheCream against fungus on the skin of the foot is rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The duration of treatment can be from a week to a month and a half.
- Antifungal antibiotic. The drug inhibits the proliferation of fungi. Available in the form of tablets, oral suspension and ointment. The ointment is indicated only in cases where the nail is not affected by fungi of the genus Candida. .The 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 medication ends as healthy nails grow back.
- Antimycotic medication. It exhibits a high degree of activity against all groups of fungal organisms that can cause foot fungus. It is available in the form of suppositories and tablets, but is used to treat fungal infections of the intestines and female genitals. It is recommended to apply the ointment once or twice a day for no more than a month.
How to Treat Foot 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 results of tests and a set of individually selected special medications. Traditional medicine also treats foot fungus, but it is usually only used as an adjunct:
Baking soda is used against foot fungus as a softener (for a painful nail). Place your feet in a soda solution (prepared at the rate of one teaspoon per liter of warm water) for 7 to 9 minutes. From cotton we form a plate corresponding to the size of the nail. Dip a cotton ball in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution 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 to 60 minutes. We repeat the manipulation twice a day. If a burning sensation appears, 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. In the evening, wash your feet in warm water without soap and place them in a basin with a strong solution of wine vinegar. After five minutes, dry your feet and put on socks previously soaked in this solution. The procedure has a disinfectant 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 odor of the feet is eliminated and the fungus is "expelled".
Rules for caring for personal belongings in case of 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 percent solution of acetic acid;
- wash personal items separately from others;
- Wash bathtubs, sinks, shower stalls with disinfectant solutions after use;
- Daily wet cleaning of the apartment and ventilation of the room are necessary;
- daily change of socks;
- After you recover, get rid of old underwear, shoes and medications.
Prevention of foot and nail fungus
To the question "How not to get sick? "the answers are simple:
- maintaining personal hygiene;
- stick to a dairy-vegetable diet, eat more vegetables and fruits;
- give up bad habits;
- control your emotional state, beware of stress;
- practicing physical education and outdoor sports.