The most common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the dermatomycosis group is foot fungus.The parasite affects not only the phalanges of the fingers and the nail plates of the lower extremities, but also the folds between the fingers and the sole.The disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and requires a long therapeutic course with antifungal drugs.How to treat foot fungus and how to recognize it, we will see in this article.
Causes
Parasites come into contact with the skin and, in the presence of a favorable environment, in particular, heat and high humidity, they multiply rapidly, as a result of which the epithelium is damaged and its functionality is impaired.Treatment of fungus on the skin of the legs is most effective in the early stages of the pathological process.
It is worth knowing: in most clinical pictures, the causative agent of mycosis of the feet is fungi of the Candida family and trichophytons of certain varieties.
Against the background of a long course of the disease, the risk of damage to the deeper layers of the skin increases significantly.In advanced cases, parasites can penetrate the circulatory system, leading to impaired functioning of internal organs.In such a situation, the treatment is very long and difficult, powerful drugs are used.
You can get the fungus in a sauna and bathhouse, as well as other similar places where there is high humidity and heat.People often become infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where the instruments are not disinfected.Wearing other people's shoes is another factor that leads to infection.
Factors leading to fungal activation:
- Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
- Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities;
- Vascular disorders;
- Pathologies of an autoimmune nature (for example, Raynaud's disease);
- Flat feet, poor quality shoes;
- Lack of a balanced diet, which leads to a serious lack of vitamins and minerals;
- Violation of the immune system, etc.
Infection also occurs under the influence of such circumstances: poor hygiene, sharing cloths, towels, etc.with a sick person.
Types and symptoms
In medical practice, foot and nail fungus is classified according to the specific pathogen present on the skin.Mixed infections are often diagnosed, caused by the simultaneous parasitism of two or more types of fungi.The type of pathogen should be taken into account when prescribing further treatment.
Types of pathogenic microorganisms:
- Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite place is the folds of the skin, the spaces between the fingers and the crevices of the heels.The symptoms of this type of foot fungus are as follows: deep cracks and erosions are observed, the integrity of the skin is compromised, and the stratum corneum actively grows.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes in most cases leads to the development of allergies, which are manifested by intense itching and burning sensation.How to identify this type of fungus?Separation of the skin appears on the foot, there are many small cracks that hurt.
- Trichophyton interdigitele.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If there is no treatment, over time cracks and erosions appear and the nail plate is affected.
- Candida is quite common.Signs of foot fungus: areas of the feet turn white, sometimes gray, and spots appear that tend to enlarge.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain due to cracking of the skin.
Note: pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several types: molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They cause foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and onychomycosis of the feet.In turn, the pathologies that are combined into a group called "rubromycosis" refer to diseases of the feet.They are classified into subtypes according to clinical manifestations: vesicular, membranous, moccasin type.
Fungal foot infection is accompanied by symptoms determined by the stage of the foot disease:
- The initial stage of development of pathology occurs against the background of itching of the feet, hyperemia of the skin and mild swelling.Small surface cracks are sometimes observed;
- The middle stage is characterized by the appearance of spots that tend to grow, the skin peels, itches and there is a burning sensation;
- These images show extensive damage when there is no treatment.Fungus on the skin of the feet spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly crumbles and collapses.
In the absence of timely treatment, the disease enters a chronic stage, periodically the patient improves, but with the slightest stress or decreased immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often, the condition is complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.
Foot fungus treatment.
The symptoms of foot fungus and treatment are interconnected, since a therapeutic course is prescribed depending on the clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.To level out inflammatory processes, swelling and remove excess stratum corneum, the following drugs are used:
- The affected area is lubricated with salicylic petroleum jelly every day.The manipulation is carried out twice a day, the duration of treatment is 7 days.
- Fungal foot infections are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They must be mixed with Vaseline.Apply a compress for two days, after which you can easily remove keratinized areas.
- To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.These products have antiseptic properties and help relieve inflammation and swelling.
- If slight peeling is observed, it is permissible to use baths with the addition of soda.
- When ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are used.These medications contain hormones and should not be used alone or for a long time.The application is carried out according to the principle of pulse therapy: it is used for several days, a break is taken during which the effect is evaluated, if there is no effect it is repeated again, etc.
Important: If the nail is damaged, it is better to use a keratolytic adhesive plaster or antifungal nail polish.
When asked how to cure foot fungus, doctors recommend medications that have several dosage forms: ointments, emulsions, gels, creams and tablets.
How to treat fungus in an advanced stage?If the pathological process has covered a large area and pronounced symptoms appear, then systemic treatment with antifungal drugs is required.
During treatment, you must follow all the doctor's recommendations, treat your feet every day and take tablets in the required dosage.Therapy continues until negative laboratory results are obtained.In the case of nail fungus, it lasts until a new nail plate grows.
Prevention of foot fungus.
It is easy to get infected with a fungus, but it is extremely difficult to cure.The patient will have to be patient since the process is relatively long.To prevent the fungus or its reappearance after treatment, the following rules must be followed:
- When visiting a bathhouse or sauna, you should always take your personal slippers with you so as not to be left barefoot on the floor.You can only use a personal towel, washcloth, etc.
- At home, it is necessary to carry out periodic hygienic cleaning of the bathtub and footrest using products containing chlorine.
- Fungi love heat and humidity, so it is necessary to combat hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities: use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate and onion peels.
- Specialized talcum powder will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and treated periodically with a foot product.
- Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils moisturize the skin and have an antifungal effect.
- Disinfection of shoes: first wipe with a cotton ball moistened in a 25% formaldehyde or 70% vinegar solution.Then place it in a sealed bag and close it tightly.After a day, take out the shoes and air them out.
If the focus of the fungal infection is small, then with the help of antifungal creams and prevention methods, the disease can be quickly overcome.Without treatment, the disease will progress and spread rapidly to healthy areas.
The fungus treatment process is always long.The sooner treatment is started, the faster the patient will recover.In the case of abandoned paintings, restoration does not take months, but years.