One of the most common infectious diseases is foot fungus.Since it can lead to quite serious consequences, it is necessary to carry out appropriate treatment as soon as possible.It should be based on the type of disease, the time of onset of symptoms and the presence of other pathological processes in the body.
Factors that influence fungal infection.
Foot fungus is the most common fungal infection on Earth.This is due to the fact that there are many factors that have a beneficial effect on the development of the disease:
- Endocrinological diseases, including diabetes mellitus;
- Immunodeficiency of various etiologies;
- Poor circulation in the lower extremities;
- Some pathologies of the structure of the foot (deformation, narrow spaces between the phalanges, diabetic form, etc.);
- Wearing low quality or inappropriate footwear;
- Failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards.
The above factors do not cause fungal diseases, but they significantly increase the risk of infection. First of all, this applies to people who visit places with an increased risk of foot fungus transmission.They are the following institutions:
- swimming pools;
- saunas;
- Spa;
- Gyms;
- fitness centers;
- Beaches, etc.
The risk of contracting a fungal infection increases greatly when living in the same room with a person who is unaware of the treatment process for this disease if the symptoms are severe.It is strictly prohibited to use regular hygiene items (towels, toothbrushes, etc.), as this almost completely guarantees the transmission of fungal spores.
Symptoms of foot fungus.
The symptoms of fungus in the lower extremities directly depend on the form of the disease, but in general we can identify a standard list of symptoms that occur most frequently:
- Itching of the skin;
- Inflammatory process on the surface of the epidermis;
- Dryness and peeling of the upper layers of the skin;
- The appearance of certain formations on the skin of the legs (blisters, papules, vesicles);
- Fragility and gradual destruction of nail plates;
- Thickening of the skin, mainly on the soles of the foot;
- The appearance of cracks in places of thickening;
- Formation of scales that gradually fall from the surface of the leg.
Often, the symptoms of foot fungus appear gradually, and not all at once, so it is very important to pay attention to the problem at the first sign, make a diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.
Types and forms of foot fungus.
In medical practice, there are only four ways of spreading foot fungus:
- Interdigital (intertriginous);
- Squamous-hyperkeratotic;
- Vesicular (dyshidrotic);
- Erased.
The most common type of foot fungus is the interdigital form, which is most active in the summer. The folds between the third and fourth fingers, as well as the fourth and fifth fingers, are often affected. But as the disease progresses, the skin manifestations extend to all areas located between the phalanges of the foot.At first only a small ulcer or crack appears.It can be dry or wet.White or greenish skin is laid in layers along the perimeter, gradually turning into scales.At the same time, the disease does not spread to the back of the foot, but is localized only in the front part.
The scaly-hyperkeratotic form of nail fungus is a two-process disease.Squamosis is a lesion of only the upper layer of the skin, while hyperkeratosis is an additional growth of the stratum corneum, which occurs after preliminary spread of the fungus.The injury is located on the sole of the foot, impacting it directly along the rib.First, scales form, after which a thick layer of altered skin gradually grows.
Once the keratinized part acquires a certain thickness, cracks often appear in the heel area.They not only cause discomfort, but also severe pain when walking.Almost always, if left untreated, this form of foot fungus also affects the nails and causes onychomycosis.Therefore, not only the foot itself is affected, but also other parts of the legs.
The vesicular form of foot fungus is the rarest and least common.It differs in that vesicles appear on the lower extremities: several bubbles and blisters with a certain liquid inside.As the disease progresses, the fullness of the formations becomes cloudy and then bursts.After this, pinkish-red ulcers form, which can even merge with each other.This leads to extensive erosive phenomena that occur on the legs.The biggest problem is the free access of bacteria and other pathogens to these wounds.Therefore, often a sick person, in addition to the fungus, can contract other diseases.This in turn affects not only general health, but also the duration and complexity of treatment.
The erased form of foot fungus has the mildest symptoms, which manifest themselves only in the appearance of a small, almost imperceptible "flour" on the surface of the limbs.In some cases, microcracks appear, which are only noticeable with prolonged examination or magnification.These symptoms are accompanied by slight itching or burning.As in other stages, foot fungus can also affect the nails, after which the person begins to pay attention to changes in the appearance of their feet.
Diagnosis and treatment of foot fungus.
Diagnosis of mycosis of the legs should be made by a qualified mycologist. If there is no such specialist, you should contact a dermatologist.The following methods are used for diagnosis:
- Taking and microscopic analysis of scrapings;
- Cultural Research;
- DNA research.
Treatment of foot fungus is often carried out with drugs that have a wide spectrum of action, so it is not necessary to determine which pathogen became the causative agent.It is only important to determine that the lesion is fungal in nature.
Doctors usually recommend both external treatment and systemic therapy for the fungus. In the early stages, in most cases, external antifungal agents are used in available forms..All creams, sprays and varnishes should not be applied to dirty skin.Studies have shown that it is not worth doing this, since in this case they do not produce the desired effect.
The simplest treatment is for the interdigital form of the fungus.It can be cured in one or two weeks.To do this, apply external antifungal agents to the affected skin areas once a day.It is better to start therapy at this stage rather than treating advanced forms of the disease.
In the case of the scaly-hyperkeratotic form, the keratinization of the sole of the foot must first be eliminated.This can be done using a special procedure with a device or at home with wraps with salicylic ointment.After exposure to a thick layer of altered tissue, it should be scraped off gradually.After removing the top layer, you can start treating foot fungus with ointments.
The vesicular form should not be treated immediately with antifungal drugs until its acute form has been eliminated.In some cases, corticosteroid ointments are prescribed and only then an antifungal.
To treat erased forms of foot fungus, fungicidal foams, creams and ointments are used.In this case, you can wash your feet only immediately before the next application of the medicine.
Since foot fungus can even penetrate into the body itself and not only develop on the surface, systemic therapy must also be carried out.This is especially important when the disease becomes extensive and severe.Doctors usually recommend taking antifungal tablets together with external agents in these cases.Therefore, foot fungus treatment will have a comprehensive effect and help you cope with the disease faster.
Traditional methods of treatment
Often, fungus on the skin of the feet does not pose a great danger to human life and health, but it does cause some discomfort.That is why infected people try to fight this disease by all possible means.This also applies to traditional treatment methods, which are quite effective at some stages of the disease.
Baths with wine vinegar have a beneficial effect on the treatment of foot fungus. This is due to the fact that this substance has an antiseptic effect. Before taking such baths, you should wash and dry your feet well.Only after this can they be placed in a container with a vinegar solution for 3-5 minutes.After the procedure, it is advisable to put socks soaked in the same solution on your feet, which should not be removed until the morning.
Washing the affected areas of the feet with a decoction of medicinal herbs is one of the oldest methods used in the treatment of foot fungus.To do this, mix equal amounts of calendula inflorescences, oak bark, verbena and dried blackberries.Add 3 tablespoons of this mixture to the water and simmer for 15-20 minutes.After that, the liquid must be filtered and the resulting broth used for lotions.
In some cases, special homemade anti-fungal ointments help.Wood ash and pork fat are used to make it.These components must be mixed until a homogeneous mass of thick consistency is obtained.It should be applied to areas where rashes occur twice a day.
Prevention of foot fungus.
To prevent foot fungal infection, certain rules for the prevention of this disease must be followed:
- It is necessary to limit walking barefoot in places of increased risk of infection, where infection most often occurs;
- People in certain professions (military, athletes, factory workers and miners) must use protective creams;
- It is necessary to disinfect both the inner and outer surface of the footwear once a month;
- It is important to eat well and take the necessary amount of vitamins;
- You should stop drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes;
- Bathroom surfaces should be disinfected and thoroughly cleaned;
- Bed linen should be washed and ironed thoroughly at high temperatures;
- It is not necessary to wear other people's clothing and use personal hygiene products that are not individual;
- It is also important to perform a pedicure every six months, as it aims to eliminate the environment in which fungal spores like to penetrate and multiply.
By following all preventative measures, you can virtually eliminate the possibility of possible infection.If the fungus penetrates the skin of a person, these rules should also not be ignored so as not to aggravate the current situation.
Conclusion
It is worth remembering that foot fungus is much easier to prevent than to treat.If the time of infection has been missed, treatment should be started as soon as possible, before symptoms develop strongly and have serious consequences. If the treatment is carried out comprehensively and completely, after a while the patient will not even remember the unpleasant appearance of his legs that he had initially.