If you recognize foot fungus at an early stage and start treatment in time, there is a high probability of a quick recovery with a minimal amount of antifungal drugs, which mostly pose a health hazard (especially for the liver) with long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone manages to react in time to the first signs of a fungal infection, because the symptoms in the initial phase are very similar to harmless skin manifestations.You know that feeling when you find a yellow dot on the nail plate on your toe and the first thoughts that come to your mind are: nothing, I'll cut it off, a healthy clean nail will grow back, or I hit myself somewhere, it will pass quickly.Or light peeling appears in the interdigital folds, which in 90% is attributed to dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.However, behind all these "harmless" manifestations, the well-known and hated foot fungus is most often hidden.
Provoking factors and sources of infection
Pregnancy can cause the development of fungal diseases, because during this period a woman can experience a sudden drop in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Fungus on the feet, like many diseases, cannot develop on its own;a favorable environment is necessary for its emergence and development.There are a number of factors and accompanying diseases that provoke the appearance of this disease:
- sharp decrease in immunity;
- lack or violation of personal hygiene;
- increased sweating;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- flat feet;
- vascular diseases of the lower extremities;
- constant scratches and wounds;
- surgical interventions, etc.
We have listed the most popular causes of foot fungus, but even a poor diet or long-term use of antibiotics can also cause the development of mycosis.
Infection most often occurs after wearing the shoes of a sick person or visiting public showers.In recent years, there has also been a sharp increase in the spread of mycosis through manicure machines.Other sources of infection include:
- personal hygiene products for a sick person (loofah, pumice stone);
- belongings of an infected person (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, trousers);
- floor (especially wooden) in bathrooms, showers, gyms.
The causative agents of foot fungus are very resistant to the environment and are characterized 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 in the initial stage?
Here, experienced dermatologists recommend that you pay attention not only to external, but also to internal signs.Have you noticed that everyone goes swimming, pools, sunbathes on the beach, but fungus affects only certain people?The thing is that its development requires a favorable environment - reduced resistance of the organism.This condition can occur in the presence of accompanying 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 toes 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 the inside of the legs;
- scales all over the surface of the feet;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- unpleasant odor (most often occurs in people who suffer from excessive sweating).
In the case of deep mycoses, blisters, crusts and cracks may appear, which are accompanied by severe itching and pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that it is impossible to stand on the leg due to severe pain.This can lead to temporary disability and difficulty moving.
Varieties and classification
As you already know, mycoses can be caused by different pathogens, based on this, the localization of lesions can vary.The most common foot fungus can be caused by:
- dermatomycosis;
- candida mycosis;
- deep mycoses.
Today, all mycoses of the feet are considered independent diseases, caused by different pathogens and localized in different areas of the legs, but they are all united by one name - foot fungus.The most common of them:
- Rubrofitiya stop.It accounts for about 60% of all foot mycoses.It is highly contagious and widespread among certain segments of the population.The initial stage of foot rubromycosis is characterized by lesions between the toes and creases on the toes.After that, the sole and inner side of the foot are involved in the process.Damage to nail plastic by rubrophyta is observed in every third patient.It is often combined with hand fungus, especially generalized rubromycosis.
- Epidermomycosis.It includes two separate diseases - Epidermophytia of the foot and Epidermophytia of the inguinal-femoral folds.In both cases, the lesions are localized on the legs.Epidermophytia of the foot is characterized by fold lesions between the toes, soles and dorsum of the foot.Less often, the process spreads to the nails (usually the 5th and 1st finger).The lesions are covered with scales and crusts.There is itching of varying intensity.In acute cases, general weakness and headache may occur.Inguinal epidermophytia appears as large, scaly patches in the groin, inner legs, thighs, and perianal area.Lesions can reach the size of a large plate and are accompanied by mild 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 nail onychomycosis of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a major role in their development.People with problems with the vascular, immune and endocrine systems are also at risk.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 foot damage caused by Candida fungus.In isolated cases, candidal balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal area and inguinal-femoral folds.Somewhat more often, yeast-like fungi are found on the nails.In the initial stage, there is pain in the fold of the nail, and when pressed, pus can be released.Over time, its color takes on a brown-brown shade.
There is also rubrophytia of smooth skin, but lesions with it are rarely found on the legs.But rubromycosis in the groin is characterized by damage to the inside of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
The diagnosis of foot fungus includes examination of the clinical picture, taking scrapings from the lesions, conducting a microscopic examination (finding mycelial threads) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before visiting the doctor, do not treat the lesions with any means!Differential diagnosis is carried out with eczema, rash and contact dermatitis.
Treatment of epidermophycia and rubrophycia in the groin is carried out with external drugs (most often clotrimazole).The prognosis is positive, the duration of treatment rarely exceeds a month.As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat the lesions with solutions containing alcohol;if there is itching, antihistamines may be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with foot mycoses and onychomycosis, because even in the initial stage they are very difficult to treat and are prone to recurrence.The combination of external and systemic drugs, strict adherence to dosage, rules of personal hygiene and disinfection is considered the most effective.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of ointment has been shown to be effective (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When dealing with foot fungus, great attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause recurrence.Socks should be boiled or washed at a temperature of 90 degrees;insoles and shoes inside must be treated with chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, remember that today foot fungus, detected in the initial stage, can be successfully treated with the help of modern drugs, but advanced onychomycosis and foot mycosis can take months and even years to treat.