Types of foot fungus and treatment methods

The most common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the dermatomycosis group is foot fungus.The parasite affects not only the phalanges of the fingers and the nail plates of the lower extremities, but also the folds between the toes and the soles of the feet.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 in this article.

Causes

Parasites reach the skin and, in the presence of a favorable environment, especially heat and high humidity, multiply rapidly, due to which the epithelium is injured and its functionality is impaired.Treatment of skin fungi on the legs is more effective in the early stages of the pathological process.

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

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

You can catch the fungus in the sauna and bathroom, as well as in other similar places where there is high humidity and heat.People often get infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where the instruments are not disinfected.Wearing other people's shoes is another factor that leads to infection.

Factors that lead to the activation of fungi:

• Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
• Dilated 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 serious lack of vitamins and minerals;
• Violation of the immune system, etc.

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

Types and symptoms

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

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite place is in the folds of the skin, the spaces between the toes and the cracks on 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 threatened, and the stratum corneum is actively growing.
2. Trichophyton mentagrophytes in most cases leads to the development of allergies, which are manifested by severe itching and a burning sensation.How to identify this type of fungus?On the foot there is separation of the skin, there are many small cracks that hurt.
3. Trichophyton interdigitele.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If there is no treatment, cracks and erosions appear over time, and the nail plate is also affected.
4. Candida is quite common.Signs of foot fungus: areas of the feet become white, sometimes gray, spots appear that tend to increase in size.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain caused by skin cracking.

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

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

• The early stage of the development of the pathology occurs against the background of itching of the feet, hyperemia of the skin and slight swelling.Small surface cracks are sometimes observed;
• The middle stage is characterized by the appearance of spots that tend to grow, the skin peels, itches and a burning sensation is felt;
• These images reveal extensive damage when there is no treatment.Fungus on the skin of the feet spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly crumbles and collapses.

In the absence of timely treatment, the disease turns into a chronic phase, occasionally the patient improves, but with the slightest stress or a decrease in 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 interrelated, as the therapeutic course is prescribed based on clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.The following drugs are used to smooth out inflammatory processes, swelling and remove excess stratum corneum:

1. The affected area is smeared with salicylic petroleum jelly every day.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 petroleum jelly.Apply the wrap 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 noticed, then it is allowed to use baths with the addition of soda.
5. When ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are used.These drugs contain hormones and should not be used alone or for long periods of time.Application is carried out according to the principle of pulse therapy: they are used for several days, breaks are made during which the effect is evaluated, if there is no effect, they are repeated again, etc.

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

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

How to treat fungus in an advanced stage?If the pathological process has affected a large area and pronounced symptoms appear, then systemic treatment with antifungal drugs is necessary.

During the treatment, it is necessary to follow all the doctor's recommendations, treat the feet daily and take tablets in the required dose.Therapy is continued 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 get infected with the fungus, but it is extremely difficult to cure it.The patient will have to be patient because the process is relatively long.To prevent the appearance of the fungus or its recurrence after treatment, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. When visiting the bathroom or sauna, always take personal slippers with you, so that you don't 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 the footrest with chlorine-containing products.
3. Fungi love heat and moisture, so it is necessary to fight against hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities - use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate and onion peel.
4. Specialized talc will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and occasionally treated with a foot product.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils hydrate the skin and have an antimycotic effect.
6. Disinfection of shoes - first wipe with a cotton pad dipped in 25% formaldehyde solution or 70% vinegar.Then put it in a sealed bag and close it tightly.After a day, take the shoes out and air them out.

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

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