If you recognize foot fungus at an early stage and start treatment in time, there is a high probability of a quick recovery using a minimum amount of antifungal drugs, which mostly pose a health hazard (especially to the liver) during long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone can respond in time to the first signs of the appearance of a fungal infection, because the symptoms in the early stages 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 thought that comes to mind is: nothing, I will cut it, 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 associated with dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.But behind all these "harmless" manifestations, the common and hated foot fungus is most often hidden.
Trigger factors and causes of infection
Pregnancy can cause the development of fungal diseases, because during this period a woman may experience a sudden decrease in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Athlete's foot, like many diseases, cannot develop by itself;A favorable environment is required for its appearance and development.There are several factors and concomitant diseases that trigger the appearance of this disease:
- sudden decrease in immunity;
- lack or violation of personal hygiene;
- increased sweating;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- flat feet;
- vascular disease of the lower leg;
- persistent abrasions and cuts;
- surgical intervention, etc.
We have listed the most popular causes of foot fungus, but a poor diet or long-term antibiotic use can also cause the development of mycoses.
Infection most often occurs after using the shoes of a sick person or visiting a public bath.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 sick people (loofah, pumice stone);
- belongings of infected people (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, trousers);
- floors (especially wood) in baths, showers, gyms.
The causative agent of athlete's foot is very resistant to the environment and is distinguished by the fact that they can remain latent for a long time on wood, towels, and socks.The aggravation period is spring and autumn.
How to recognize foot fungus in the early stages?
Here, experienced dermatologists recommend paying attention not only to external, but also to internal signs.Have you noticed that everyone goes to the bath house, the swimming pool, sunbathe on the beach, but the fungus attacks only certain people?The problem is that its development requires a favorable environment - reducing the body's resistance.This condition can occur in the presence of concomitant diseases or recent medical treatment where antibiotics or hormonal drugs are used.
Now let's talk about the manifestation of fungus on the skin of the feet.The main symptoms include:
- cracks in interdigital folds;
- peeling between fingers;
- hardening of the skin on the heel;
- peeling skin on feet and fingers;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning);
- nail color change (yellow, brown, black);
- redness and swelling of the legs;
- the appearance of red spots on the thighs and the inside of the legs;
- scales on the entire surface of the foot;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- bad breath (most often observed in people who suffer from excessive sweating).
With deep mycoses, the appearance of foam, crusts and cracks may occur, which is accompanied by itching and severe pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that due to severe pain it is impossible to stand on your feet.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.Often, athlete's foot can be caused by:
- dermatomycoses;
- candida mycoses;
- deep mycoses.
All foot mycoses today are considered independent diseases, caused by different pathogens and localized in various areas of the foot, but they are all united under one name - foot fungus.The most common of them:
- Rubrofitiya stopped.About 60% of all foot mycoses.It is highly contagious and prevalent among certain segments of the population.The initial stage of foot rubromycosis is characterized by lesions between the toes and the folds of the toes.After that, the sole and the inside of the foot are involved in the process.Damage to the nail plastic with rubrofitii was observed in every third patient.Often combined with fungus on the hands, especially with generalized rubromycosis.
- Epidermo mycoses.This includes two separate diseases - Epidermophytia of the legs and Epidermophytia of the inguinal-femoral fold.In both cases, the lesions are localized to the legs.Epidermophytii of the feet is characterized by lesions on the folds between the toes, the soles of the feet and the dorsum of the feet.Less commonly, the process spreads to the nails (usually the 5th and 1st toes).Lesions are covered with scales and crusts.There is itching with varying intensity.In acute cases, general lethargy and headache may occur.Inguinal Epidermophytiya appears as large scaly patches on the groin, inner legs, thighs and perianal area.Lesions can reach the size of large plates and are accompanied by slight itching, peeling and swelling.
- Onychomycosis.The prevalence of fungal nail infections is increasing every year.Only now (according to statistics for mid-2016) 10-18% of Russians are diagnosed with nail onychomycosis of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a large 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 there are still cases of damage to the legs by Candida fungi.In isolated cases, candidal balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal area and the inguinal-femoral fold.A little more often, yeast-like fungi are found on the nails.In the early stages, there is pain in the nail fold, and when pressed, pus may be released.Over time, the color acquires a brownish brown color.
There is also smooth skin rubrofitiya, but lesions with it are rarely found on the feet.But rubromycozu in the groin is characterized by damage to the inside of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
Diagnosis of foot fungus includes examining the clinical picture, taking a scraping from the lesion, conducting a microscopic examination (looking for mycelial threads) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before visiting the doctor, do not treat the lesion in any way!Differential diagnosis is carried out with eczema, rash and contact dermatitis.
Treatment of Epidermofitii and rubrofitii in the groin is carried out using external drugs (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 lesion with a solution containing alcohol;if there is itching, antihistamines can be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with foot mycoses and onychomycosis, because even in the early stages 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 dosage, rules of personal hygiene and disinfection.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of an ointment has been proven effective (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When dealing with foot fungus, a lot of attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause relapse.It is advisable to boil the socks or wash them at a temperature of 90 degrees;insoles and shoes inside must be treated with chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, remember that today's foot fungus, detected at an early stage, can be treated successfully with the help of modern drugs, but advanced onychomycosis and mycosis of the foot can take months and even years to treat.