If you recognize foot fungus at the initial stage and start treatment on time, there is a high probability of a quick recovery using a minimum amount of antifungal drugs, which for the most part pose a health hazard (especially to the liver) during long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone manages to respond 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 on your toe and the first thoughts that come to mind are: nothing, I’ll cut it off, a healthy clean nail will grow, or I hit myself somewhere, it will pass soon.Or a slight peeling appears in the interdigital folds, which in 90% is attributed to dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.But behind all these “harmless” manifestations, the familiar and hated foot fungus is most often hidden.
Provoking factors and sources of infection
Pregnancy can cause the development of fungal diseases, since during this period a woman may experience a sharp decrease in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Foot fungus, like many diseases, cannot develop 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 wounds;
- surgical interventions, etc.
We have listed the most popular causes of foot fungus, but even poor diet or long-term use of antibiotics can also cause the development of mycoses.
Infection most often occurs after using the shoes of a sick person or visiting public showers.In recent years, there has also been a rapid increase in the spread of mycoses through manicure devices.Other sources of infection include:
- personal hygiene products for a sick person (loofah, pumice stone);
- things of an infected person (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, pants);
- floor (especially wooden) in baths, showers, gyms.
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 to internal signs.Have you noticed that everyone goes to bathhouses, swimming pools, sunbathes on the beach, but the fungus only affects certain people?The thing 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 over the entire surface of the foot;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- foul odor (most often observed in people suffering from excessive sweating).
With deep mycoses, the appearance of bubbles, crusts and cracks may occur, which are accompanied by severe itching and pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that due to severe pain it is impossible to stand on your 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 localization of lesions may vary.Most often, foot fungus can be caused by:
- dermatomycoses;
- candido mycoses;
- deep mycoses.
All foot mycoses today 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:
- Rubrofitiya stop.Accounts for approximately 60% of all mycoses of the feet.It is highly contagious and prevalent 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 inner side of the foot are involved in the process.Damage to the nail plastics with rubrofitii is observed in every third patient.Quite often combined with fungus on the hands, especially with generalized rubromikoze.
- Epidermo mycoses.These include two separate diseases - Epidermofitiya of the feet and Epidermofitiya of the inguinal-femoral folds.In both cases, the lesions are localized on the legs.Epidermofitii of the feet is characterized by lesions of the folds between the toes, soles and dorsum of the foot.Less commonly, 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 Epidermofitiya appears as large scaly patches in the groin, inner legs, thighs and perianal area.The lesions can reach the size of a large plate and are accompanied by slight itching, peeling and swelling.
- Onychomycosis.The prevalence of fungal nail infections is steadily increasing every year.Only now (according to statistics for mid-2016) 10-18% of Russians are diagnosed with onychomycosis of nails of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a great role in their development.Also at risk are people with problems with the vascular, immune and endocrine systems.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 still there are cases of damage to the feet by Candida fungi.In isolated cases, candidal balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal area and inguinal-femoral folds.A little more often, yeast-like fungi are found on 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 brownish-brown tint.
There is also rubrofitiya of smooth skin, but lesions with it are rarely found on the legs.But rubromikozu in the groin is characterized by damage to the inside of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
Diagnosis of fungus on the legs includes examining the clinical picture, taking scrapings from the lesions, conducting a microscopic examination (find mycelium threads) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before visiting a doctor, do not treat the lesions with 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 the lesions with alcohol-containing solutions; if there is itching, antihistamines can be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with mycoses of the feet and onychomycosis, since even at the initial stage they are very difficult to treat and are prone to relapses.The most effective is considered to be a combination of external and systemic drugs, strict adherence to dosage, personal hygiene and disinfection rules.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of an ointment has proven itself to be effective (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When dealing with foot fungus, much attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause a relapse.It is advisable to boil socks or wash them at a temperature of 90 degrees; insoles and shoes inside must be treated with a chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, remember that today foot fungus, detected at the initial stage, can be successfully treated with the help of modern drugs, but advanced onychomycosis and mycosis of the feet can take months and even years to treat.