One of the most common infectious diseases is athlete's foot.Since it can lead to quite serious consequences, it is necessary to carry out the 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 affecting fungal infection
Athlete's foot 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;
- Lack of immunity of various etiologies;
- Poor circulation in the lower extremities;
- Some pathologies of the foot structure (deformation, narrow spaces between the phalanges, diabetic forms, etc.);
- Wearing low-quality or inappropriate shoes;
- Non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules.
The above factors do not lead to fungal diseases, but greatly increase the risk of infection. First of all, this applies to people visiting countries with an increased risk of transmission of athlete's foot.They are the following institutions:
- The swimming pool;
- Sauna;
- Bathroom;
- Gym;
- Fitness centers;
- Beaches etc.
The risk of contracting a fungal infection increases greatly when living in the same room with a person who ignores the treatment process for this disease if the symptoms are severe.The use of common hygiene items (towels, toothbrushes, etc.) is strictly prohibited, as this almost completely guarantees the transmission of fungal spores.
Symptoms of foot fungus
The symptoms of the fungus of the lower extremities depend directly on the form of the disease, but in general we can identify a certain standard list of symptoms that appear most often:
- 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 (bubbles, papules, vesicles);
- Brittleness and gradual destruction of nail plates;
- Thickening of the skin, mainly on the soles of the feet;
- The appearance of cracks in places of thickening;
- The formation of scales that gradually fall from the surface of the foot.
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 the appropriate treatment.
Types and forms of foot fungus
In medical practice, there are only four forms of the spread of foot fungus:
- Interdigital (intertrigen);
- Squamous-hyperkeratotic;
- Vesicular (dyshidrotic);
- Deleted.
The most common type of athlete's foot is the interdigital form, which is most active in summer. The folds between the 3rd and 4th toes, as well as the 4th and 5th toes are often affected. But as the disease progresses, skin manifestations spread to all areas between the phalanges of the foot.At first only a small ulcer or crack appears.It can be either dry or wet.White or green skin is layered along the perimeter, gradually turning into scales.At the same time, the disease does not spread to the back of the leg, being localized only in the front.
The squamous-hyperkeratotic form of nail fungus is a two-process disease.Squamous is a lesion of only the upper layer of the skin, while hyperkeratosis is a further growth of the stratum corneum, which occurs after the previous spread of the fungus.The lesion is located on the sole of the foot, hitting it directly along the rib.First, scales form on it, after which a thick layer of changed skin gradually grows.
After the keratinized part acquires a certain thickness, cracks often appear in the heel area.They bring not only discomfort, but also severe pain while walking.Almost always, if left untreated, this form of foot fungus also affects the nails, causing onychomycosis.Thus, not only the leg is affected, but also other parts of the legs.
The vesicular form of athlete's foot is rarer and less common.It differs in that blisters appear on the lower extremities - various blisters and blisters with a certain liquid inside.As the disease progresses, the fullness of the formations becomes cloudy, after which they burst.After that, pink-red ulcers form, which can even merge with each other.This leads to extensive erosive phenomena occurring on the feet.The biggest problem is the open access of bacteria and other pathogens to these wounds.Therefore, often a sick person, in addition to fungi, can get other diseases.This in turn affects not only the general health, but also the duration and complexity of the treatment.
The erased form of athlete's foot has the mildest symptoms, which are manifested only in the appearance of a small, almost invisible "flour" on the surface of the extremities.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, toenail fungus can also affect the nails, after which a person begins to pay attention to changes in the appearance of his feet.
Diagnosis and treatment of foot fungus
The diagnosis of mycosis of the feet must be carried out 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 scratches;
- Cultural Research;
- DNA research.
Treatment of foot fungus is often carried out with drugs that have a broad 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 often recommend external treatment and systemic therapy for fungus. In the early stages, in most cases, external antimycotic agents are used in available forms.All creams, sprays and varnishes should not be applied to contaminated skin.Studies have shown that this is not worth doing, since in this case they do not bring the desired effect.
The simplest course of treatment is for the interdigital form of the fungus.It can be cured within one to two weeks.To do this, apply external antifungal agents to the affected areas of the skin once a day.It is better to start therapy at this stage than to treat advanced forms of the disease.
In the case of the squamous-hyperkeratotic form, you must first get rid of the keratinization on the sole of the foot.This can be done using a special procedure with a device or home wraps with salicylic ointment.After exposure to a thick layer of altered tissue, it should be gradually removed.After removing the top layer, you can start treating the fungus on your feet with oils.
The vesicular form should not be treated immediately with antifungal drugs until the acute form is eliminated.In some cases, corticosteroid ointments are prescribed, and only after them an antifungal.
Fungicidal foams, creams and ointments are used for the treatment of erased forms of foot fungus.In this case, you can wash your feet only immediately before the next application of the medicine.
Since toenail fungus can penetrate the body itself, and not only develop on the surface, systemic therapy should also be taken.This is especially important when the disease becomes extensive and severe.Doctors often recommend taking antifungal tablets in such cases along with external remedies.Thus, the treatment of foot fungus will have a comprehensive effect and help you deal with the disease faster.
Traditional methods of treatment
Often, the fungus of the skin of the feet does not pose a great danger to human life and health, but it brings some discomfort.That is why infected people are trying to fight this disease with all possible means.This also applies to traditional treatment methods, which are quite effective in some stages of the disease.
Wine vinegar baths have a beneficial effect in 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 completely.Only after that can they be placed in a basin with a vinegar solution for 3-5 minutes.After the procedure, you should wear socks wet with 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 blossoms, oak bark, verbena herb and dried berries.Add 3 tablespoons of this mixture to water and boil on low heat for 15-20 minutes.After that, the juice must be filtered, and the resulting broth is used for creams.
In some cases, special homemade anti-fungal ointments help.Wood ash and pig fat are used for their production.These ingredients must be mixed until a homogeneous mass with a thick consistency is obtained.It should be applied to areas where rashes appear twice a day.
Prevention of foot fungus
To prevent infection with foot fungus, you must follow some rules for the prevention of this disease:
- It is necessary to limit walking barefoot in places with an increased risk of infection, where the 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 surfaces of the shoes once a month;
- It is important to eat properly and get the necessary amount of vitamins;
- Drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking should be stopped;
- Bathroom surfaces must be disinfected and wiped thoroughly;
- Bed linen should be washed well and ironed at high temperatures;
- There is no need to wear someone else's clothes and use personal hygiene products that are not individual;
- It is also important to have a pedicure every six months, as it aims to eliminate the environment in which fungal spores want to penetrate and multiply.
By following all preventive measures, you can practically eliminate the possibility of possible infection.If the fungus penetrates a person's skin, these rules should not be ignored either, so as not to worsen the current situation.
CONCLUSION
It is worth remembering that foot fungus is much easier to prevent than to treat.If the moment of infection has been missed, therapy should be started as soon as possible, before the symptoms develop strongly and lead to serious consequences. If the treatment is carried out in a comprehensive and complete way, after some time the patient will not even remember the unpleasant appearance of his legs that was initially.