If you recognize a foot fungus at the initial stage and start treatment in time, there is a high probability of a quick cure using a minimal amount of antifungal drugs, most of which pose a health risk (especially for the liver) with long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone manages to react in time to the first signs of the appearance of a fungal infection, since the symptoms at the initial stage are very similar to harmless skin manifestations.You know the feeling when you find a yellow spot on the nail plate of your toe and the first thoughts that come to mind are: nothing, I'll cut it off, a clean and healthy nail will grow, or I bump somewhere, it will pass soon.Or slight peeling appears in the interdigital folds, which is 90% attributed to dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.But behind all these “harmless” manifestations, most often the familiar and hated foot fungus hides.
Provoking factors and sources of infection
Pregnancy can provoke the development of fungal diseases, because during this period a woman may experience a sharp decrease in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Foot fungus, like many diseases, cannot grow on its own;a favorable environment is necessary for its appearance and progression.There are a number of factors and concomitant diseases that provoke the appearance of this disease:
- a sharp decrease in immunity;
- lack or violation of personal hygiene;
- increased sweating;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- flat feet;
- vascular diseases of the lower extremities;
- constant abrasions and injuries;
- surgical procedures, etc.
We have listed the most common causes of foot fungus, but even poor diet or prolonged use of antibiotics can also cause fungus to develop.
Infection most often occurs after using a sick person's shoes or after visiting public showers.In recent years, there has also been a rapid increase in the spread of fungus through manicure devices.Other sources of infection include:
- personal hygiene products for sick people (loofah, pumice stone);
- items of an infected person (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, pants);
- floor (especially wooden) in baths, showers, gymnasiums.
The causative agents of foot fungus are very resistant to the environment and are distinguished by the fact that they can remain latent for a long time on wood, towels and socks.The period of exacerbation is spring and autumn.
How to recognize foot fungus at the initial stage?
Here experienced dermatologists recommend paying attention not only to external, but also internal signs.Have you noticed that everyone goes to public baths, swimming pools, sunbathes on the beach, but the fungus only affects some people?The fact is that its development requires a favorable environment - reduced body resistance.This condition can occur in the presence of concomitant diseases or recent medical treatments during which antibiotics or hormonal drugs were used.
Now let's talk about the manifestation of fungus on the skin of the feet.The main symptoms include:
- cracks in the interdigital folds;
- peeling between fingers;
- hardening of the skin on the heels;
- the skin on the feet and fingers peels off;
- deformation of the nail plates (thickening or thinning);
- change in nail color (yellow, brown, black);
- redness and swelling of the feet;
- the appearance of red spots on the thighs and inside of the legs;
- scales all over the surface of the foot;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- foul odor (seen most often in people suffering from excessive sweating).
In case of deep mycoses, bubbles, crusts and cracks may appear, accompanied by itching and intense pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that due to severe pain it is impossible to stand on the leg.This can lead to temporary disability and mobility problems.
Varieties and classification
As you already know, mycoses can be caused by different pathogens, based on this, the location of the lesions may vary.Most commonly, foot fungus can be caused by:
- dermatomycosis;
- Candido mycoses;
- deep mycoses.
Today, all foot fungus are considered independent diseases, caused by different pathogens and localized in various areas of the legs, but they are all united by one name: foot fungus.The most common of them:
- Stop Rubrofitiya.Accounts for approximately 60% of all foot fungus infections.It is highly contagious and widespread among certain segments of the population.The initial stage of rubromikoza of the feet is characterized by lesions between the toes and folds on the toes.Subsequently, the sole and the inner side of the foot are involved in the process.Damage to nail plastics with rubrofitii is observed in every third patient.Quite often associated with fungus on the hands, especially with generalized rubromikosis.
- Epidermal mycoses.These include two distinct diseases: epidermofitia of the feet and epidermofitia of the inguinofemoral folds.In both cases, the lesions are located on the legs.Epidermal foot disease is characterized by damage to the folds between the toes, the soles of the feet and the dorsum of the foot.More rarely, the process spreads to the nails (usually the 5th and 1st toes).The lesions are covered with scales and crusts.There is itching of varying intensity.In acute cases, general malaise and headache may occur.Inguinal epidermophysis appears as large, scaly patches in the groin, inner legs, thighs, and perianal region.The lesions can reach the size of a large plaque and are accompanied by mild itching, scaling and swelling.
- Onychomycosis.The prevalence of fungal nail infections is steadily increasing each year.Only now (according to statistics from mid-2016) 10-18% of Russians are diagnosed with nail onychomycosis of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a big role in their development.People with problems with the vascular, immune and endocrine systems are also at risk.Men get sick 1.3 times more often than women.Onychomycosis is very rare in children, with peak prevalence in people aged 50 to 70 years.
- Candidiasis.Rarely, but there are nevertheless cases of foot lesions caused by Candida fungi.In isolated cases, Candida balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal region and inguinofemoral folds.A little more often, yeast-like fungi are found on the nails.At the initial stage, there is pain in the nail fold, and when pressed, pus may be released.Over time, its color acquires a brown-brown tint.
There is also smooth skin rubrofitiya, but associated lesions are rarely found on the legs.But groin rubromikozu is characterized by lesions on the inside of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
Diagnosis of fungus on the legs includes examining the clinical picture, taking scrapings of the lesions, performing a microscopic examination (finding threads of mycelium) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before consulting a doctor, do not treat the lesions by any means!Differential diagnosis is carried out with eczema, rashes and contact dermatitis.
Treatment of Epidermofitii and rubrofitii in the groin is carried out using external medications (most often clotrimazole).The prognosis is positive, the duration of treatment rarely exceeds one month.As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat lesions with alcohol-containing solutions;in case of itching, antihistamines can be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with foot fungus and onychomycosis, because even at the initial stage they are very difficult to treat and prone to relapse.The most effective is considered to be a combination of external and systemic drugs, strict adherence to the rules of dosage, personal hygiene and disinfection.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of an ointment has proven itself (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When it comes to foot fungus, much attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause a relapse.It is advisable to boil the socks or wash them at a temperature of 90 degrees;insoles and shoes inside should be treated with chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, remember that today foot fungus, detected at the initial stage, can be successfully treated using modern drugs, but advanced onychomycosis and foot mycosis can take months or even years to treat.