How to independently recognize foot fungus in the early stages

Cutaneous mycoses 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 pathology has characteristic clinical manifestations, but not everyone knows what foot fungus looks like, so few people seek medical help in the early stages.This contributes to the spread of infection.

Symptoms of skin lesions on the toes

Early changes caused by fungal infections are difficult to notice: they do not cause pathological changes in the affected area and do not cause 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 to the next stage.At this stage, flour-like detachment in the interdigital area.The skin becomes red, dry, and cracked.This process is accompanied by severe itching.Feet and heels have a healthy appearance.

Symptoms of fungal infection on toenails

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

1. The nail plate thickens, their color changes: the pale pink color 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, the edges become brittle.They crumble and gradually crumble.
4. Severe itching occurs in the affected area.It distracts you from your daily activities.
5. Irritation and redness form on the skin between the fingers, and then painful cracks.
6. The affected area has an unpleasant sour smell.

It becomes difficult to trim your nails with regular nail clippers.They cannot be processed with a nail file or special tweezers: the plate collapses.

Symptoms of fungus on the soles of the feet

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

It all starts with the squamous form.At this stage, the infection spreads throughout the sole.The skin on it becomes rough and horny, begins to actively peel and itches badly.Outwardly, the feet look like the result of a lack of a regular pedicure (no exception).

Next, the hyperkeratotic form develops.Along the way, a gray thickening forms in the arch.They peel a lot at the edges.Deep cracks appear in place of the old callus.This process causes severe pain.Doctors call this phenomenon "moccasin feet."If you look at the only affected foot from above, it looks like the thick yellow insole is stuck.Fungal infection spreads to the interdigital space and nails.They change color, peel and crumble.

Dyshidrotic form.It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the feet of blisters filled with cloudy fluid.This can only be done in the form of an advanced infection.When the bubbles collapse, weeping erosion appears in their place, which is constantly flowing.Pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate open wounds.Secondary infection 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 fungal signs according to the stage of the 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 the type of fungus that causes the characteristic symptoms (yeast, mold or candida), and on the state of the immune system.

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

1. In the early stages, redness of the affected area, dry skin, and peeling are observed.Patients experience mild itching.
2. The intermediate stage is characterized by the spread of infection throughout the leg.
3. In the advanced form, damage to the nail plate is observed, the skin of the feet is covered with cracks, and the stratum corneum separates in large layers.

In the absence of etiotropic treatment, the infection enters the chronic stage.It is characterized by replacement and suppression.

Differential diagnosis

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

Must do:

1. Scraping from the affected area and subsequent microscopy (with its help, the fungal nature of the infection is confirmed).
2. Sow 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 these laboratory tests, a drug treatment regimen is prepared.

Fungal skin infections must be differentiated from vitiligo, seborrhea, psoriasis, syphilitic leukoderma, and neurodermatitis.For this purpose, skin examination under a stick lamp and PCR are used.

How to fight foot fungus

To combat fungal infections, the following are used:

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

Ointment is applied to the affected area twice a day;First, the skin of the feet must be steamed and cleaned of the stratum corneum.The duration of taking tablets is determined by the attending physician.As a rule, the course of treatment for the initial stage of infection lasts no more than a month;Advanced forms are treated within six months.Traditional medicine can speed up the healing process.Doctors recommend that their patients pay attention to the following recipes.

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

Salt bath and celandine juice.The legs are pre-stabilized in a saline solution (one teaspoon per liter of water), and then lubricated with celandine juice prepared from fresh leaves and grass stems.The procedure ends with the use of antifungal drugs.

Bath soda (20 grams of powder per two liters of water) can relieve inflammation and stimulate ulcer healing.Feet are steamed for fifteen minutes, wiped dry with a towel and treated with etiotropic ointment.

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

To prevent relapse, it is important to prevent reinfection.Wear only dry shoes, choose socks made from natural fabrics, and use only personal pedicure accessories.