How to independently recognize foot fungus in the early stages

Mycoses of the skin are common.They develop as a result of infection with anthropophilic and zooanthropophilic fungi.You can become infected through personal contact by visiting public baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms.Fungal pathologies have characteristic clinical manifestations, but not everyone knows what foot fungus looks like, so few people seek medical help in the initial stages.This contributes to the spread of infection.

Symptoms of skin lesions on the toes

The initial changes caused by a fungal infection are difficult to notice: they do not cause pathological changes in the affected area and do not create discomfort.With a strong immune system, the infection at this stage can subside on its own; with a decrease in the body’s defenses, it will develop and move into the next stage.At this stage, flour-like detachments form in the interdigital area.The skin turns red, becomes dry, and cracks.This process is accompanied by severe itching.The feet and heels have a healthy appearance.

Symptoms of fungal infection on toenails

The affected nails look specific, so it is not difficult to recognize the onset of an infection.The pathological process develops according to the following scenario:

1. The nail plates thicken, their color changes: the pale pink tint disappears, and a yellowish-gray color appears.
2. A gap appears between the stock and the plate.
3. The nail plate gradually begins to peel off, its edges become brittle.They crumble and gradually collapse.
4. Severe itching occurs in the affected area.It distracts you from everyday activities.
5. Irritation and redness form on the skin between the fingers, and then painful cracks.
6. The affected area has an unpleasant sour odor.

It becomes difficult to trim your nails with regular nail scissors.They cannot be processed with a nail file or special tweezers: the plates crumble.

Symptoms of fungus on the soles of the feet

It is more difficult to determine the signs of foot fungus on your own.The development of infection provokes the appearance of formations on the sole that look like calluses.The occurrence of other symptoms is associated with which form of the disease progresses.

It all starts with the squamous form.At this stage, the infection spreads to the entire sole.The skin on it becomes rough and horny, begins to actively peel off and itch severely.Externally, the foot looks like the result of a lack of regular pedicure (unkempt).

Next, the hyperkeratotic form develops.During its course, gray thickenings form on the arches.They are peeling off a lot at the edges.Deep cracks appear in place of old calluses.This process causes severe pain.Doctors call this phenomenon “moccasin foot.”If you look at the sole of the affected foot from above, it seems that a thick yellow-gray insole is stuck to it.The fungal infection spreads to the interdigital space and nails.They change color, peel off and collapse.

Dyshidrotic form.It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the feet of blisters filled with a cloudy liquid.This becomes possible only in advanced forms of infection.When the bubbles collapse, weeping erosions appear in their place, which constantly ooze.Pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate open wounds.Secondary infection significantly worsens the patient’s condition; in this case, it is very difficult to diagnose a fungal infection by external manifestations: the symptoms are similar to the clinical picture of eczema or psoriasis.

Clinical signs of fungus by stage of disease

It may take 3–14 days from the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear.The duration of the incubation period largely depends on what type of fungus provoked the formation of characteristic symptoms (yeast-like, moldy or Candida fungi), and on the state of the immune system.

In its development, a fungal infection goes through three stages:

1. At the initial stage, redness of the affected area, dry skin, and peeling are observed.The patient experiences mild itching.
2. The middle stage is characterized by the spread of infection to the entire foot.
3. In advanced forms, damage to the nail plates is observed, the skin of the feet becomes covered with cracks, and the stratum corneum separates in large layers.

If there is no etiotropic treatment, the infection enters the chronic stage.It is characterized by alternating remissions and exacerbations.

Differential diagnosis

Diagnosis of the disease begins with an examination of the foot by a dermatologist and a history taking.Based on their results, the doctor prescribes additional laboratory tests.

Must be done:

1. Scraping from the affected area and subsequent microscopy (with its help, the fungal nature of the infection is confirmed).
2. Sowing the extracted biological material into special nutrient media.Colonies of pathogenic microorganisms grown in this way make it possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and determine its sensitivity to modern antifungal drugs.Based on this laboratory test, a drug treatment regimen is drawn up.

Fungal skin infections must be differentiated from vitiligo, seborrhea, psoriasis, syphilitic leukoderma, and neurodermatitis.For these purposes, examination of the skin under a Wood's lamp and PCR are used.

How to fight foot fungus

To combat fungal infection, the following are used:

• antifungal ointments;
• antimycotics in tablets;
• traditional medicine.

Ointments are applied to the affected areas twice a day; first, the skin of the feet must be steamed and cleaned of the stratum corneum.The duration of taking the tablets is determined by the attending physician.As a rule, the course of treatment for the initial stages of infection lasts no longer than a month; advanced forms are treated within six months.Traditional medicine can significantly speed up the healing process.Doctors recommend that their patients take note of the following recipes.

Baths with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.You need to pour water at a temperature of 37 degrees into a basin, add 20 grams of table vinegar to it, then put your feet in the water and warm them there for twenty minutes.After this, you need to remove the stratum corneum with pumice, wipe your feet dry and coat the affected areas of the skin with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.At the end of the procedure, the affected areas are lubricated with an antifungal cream prescribed by the doctor.

Salt baths and celandine juice.The feet are pre-steamed in a saline solution (a teaspoon per liter of water), and then lubricated with celandine juice prepared from fresh leaves and stems of grass.The procedure ends with the application of an antifungal drug.

Soda baths (20 grams of powder per two liters of water) can relieve inflammation and stimulate the healing of ulcers.The feet are steamed for fifteen minutes, wiped dry with a towel and treated with etiotropic ointment.

It is important throughout the treatment to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces that the sore feet come into contact with (shoes, clothing, bedding).After treating the affected areas of the skin, you must wash your hands thoroughly and then treat them with any liquid antiseptic.Violation of the number of medications taken and their dosage will lead to increased sensitivity of pathogenic microflora, to the need to extend therapy and make some changes to tablets and ointments.

To prevent relapses, it is important to prevent re-infection.Wear only dry shoes, choose socks made from natural fabrics, and use only personal pedicure accessories.