Types of foot fungus and treatment methods

The most common disease provoked by pathogenic microorganisms from the group of dermatomycosis is foot fungus.The parasite affects not only the phalanges of the fingers and nail plates of the lower extremities, but also the folds between the fingers and the sole.The disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and requires a long therapeutic course with antifungal drugs.How to treat foot fungus and how to recognize it, we will look at this article.

Causes

Parasites get on the skin and, in the presence of a favorable environment, in particular, heat and high humidity, multiply quickly, as a result of which the epithelium is injured and its functionality is impaired.Treatment of skin fungus on the legs is more effective in the early stages of the pathological process.

It is worth knowing: in most clinical pictures, the causative agent of mycosis of the feet is fungi of the Candida family and trichophytons of certain varieties.

Against the backdrop of a prolonged course of the disease, the risk of damage to the deeper layers of the skin increases significantly.In advanced cases, parasites are able to penetrate the circulatory system, which leads to disruption of the functioning of internal organs.In such a situation, treatment is very long and difficult, powerful drugs are used.

You can catch the fungus in a sauna and bathhouse, as well as other similar places where there is high humidity and heat.People often become infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where instruments are not disinfected.Wearing someone else's shoes is another factor leading to infection.

Factors leading to the activation of fungi:

• Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
• Varicose veins of the lower extremities;
• Vascular disorders;
• Pathologies of an autoimmune nature (for example, Raynaud's disease);
• Flat feet, poor quality shoes;
• Lack of a balanced diet, which leads to a severe lack of vitamins and minerals;
• Violation of the immune system, etc.

Infection also occurs under the influence of such circumstances: poor hygiene, sharing washcloths, towels, etc. with a sick person.

Types and symptoms

In medical practice, foot and nail fungus is classified depending on the specific pathogen that is present on the skin.Mixed infections are often diagnosed, caused by the simultaneous parasitism of two or more types of fungi.The type of pathogen must be taken into account when prescribing subsequent treatment.

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite place is in folds of skin, spaces between toes, and cracks in the heels.The symptoms of this type of foot fungus are as follows: deep cracks and erosions are observed, the integrity of the skin is compromised, and the stratum corneum actively grows.
2. Trichophyton mentagrophytes in most cases leads to the development of allergies, which are manifested by severe itching and burning sensations.How to identify this type of fungus?On the foot, skin separation appears, there are many small cracks that hurt.
3. Trichophyton interdigitele.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itch.If there is no treatment, then over time cracks and erosions appear, and the nail plate is affected.
4. Candida is quite common.Signs of foot fungus: areas of the feet become white, sometimes gray, spots appear that tend to get larger.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain resulting from cracking of the skin.

Note: pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several types - molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They provoke foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and onychomycosis of the feet.In turn, pathologies that are combined into a group called “rubromycosis” mean diseases of the feet.They are classified into subtypes depending on clinical manifestations - vesicular, membranous, moccasin-like.

Fungal infection of the feet is accompanied by symptoms that are determined by the stage of the foot disease:

• The early stage of development of the pathology occurs against the background of itching of the feet, skin hyperemia, and mild swelling.Sometimes small surface cracks are observed;
• The middle stage is characterized by the appearance of spots that tend to grow, the skin flakes, itches, and there is a burning sensation;
• Extensive damage is detected in those pictures when there is no treatment.Foot skin fungus spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly crumbles and collapses.

In the absence of timely treatment, the disease enters the chronic stage, periodically the patient gets better, but with the slightest stress or decreased immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often the picture is complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.

Treatment of foot fungus

Symptoms of foot fungus and treatment are interconnected, since a therapeutic course is prescribed based on the clinical manifestations and type of parasite.To level out inflammatory processes, swelling and eliminate excess stratum corneum, the following drugs are used:

1. The affected area is lubricated with salicylic petroleum jelly every day.The manipulation is carried out twice a day, the duration of treatment is 7 days.
2. Fungal foot infections are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They must be mixed with Vaseline.Apply a compress for two days, after which you can easily remove the keratinized areas.
3. To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.These products have antiseptic properties and help relieve inflammation and swelling.
4. If slight peeling is observed, then it is permissible to use baths with the addition of soda.
5. When the ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are used.These medications contain hormones and should not be used alone or for a long time.The application is carried out according to the principle of pulse therapy: they use it for several days, take a break during which the effect is assessed, if there is no effect, repeat it again, etc.

Important: if the nail is damaged, it is better to use a keratolytic adhesive plaster or antimycotic nail varnish.

When asked how to cure foot fungus, doctors recommend drugs that have various dosage forms - ointment, emulsion, gel, cream, tablets.

How to treat fungus at an advanced stage?If the pathological process has covered a large area and pronounced symptoms appear, then systemic treatment with antifungal medications is required.

During treatment, you need to follow all the doctor’s recommendations, treat your feet every day, and take tablets in the required dosage.Therapy continues until negative laboratory results are obtained.With nail fungus, it lasts until a new nail plate grows.

Prevention of foot fungus

It is easy to become infected with a fungus, but it is extremely difficult to cure.The patient will have to be patient as the process is relatively lengthy.To prevent the fungus or its recurrence after treatment, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. When visiting a bathhouse or sauna, you should always carry your personal slippers with you, so as not to stand barefoot on the floor.You can only use a personal towel, washcloth, etc.
2. At home, it is necessary to regularly hygienically clean the bathtub and footrest using products that contain chlorine.
3. Fungi love warmth and moisture, so it is necessary to combat hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities - use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate, and onion peels.
4. Specialized talc will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and periodically treated with a foot product.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils moisturize the skin and have an antimycotic effect.
6. Disinfection of shoes - first wipe with a cotton pad, which is dipped in a 25% solution of formaldehyde or 70% vinegar.Then put it in a sealed bag and close it tightly.After a day, take out the shoes and air them out.

If the focus of fungal infection is small, then using antifungal creams and prevention methods, the disease can be quickly overcome.Without treatment, the disease will progress and quickly spread to healthy areas.

The process of treating fungus is always long.The sooner treatment is started, the faster the patient recovers.In neglected paintings, restoration takes not months, but years.