Fungus on the skin of the foot is one of the most common infections. The fungus on the feet is distinguished by its vitality and ease of development. If you rely on statistics, then 20% of the world's population is infected with the fungus.
What is skin fungus?
Fungal diseases are infectious diseases that affect the skin. The most common type of fungus is mycosis. In medicine this skin disease is divided into several types.
The fungus can adapt to almost any habitat conditions. Mushroom spores can live long in ordinary clothing or footwear. In most cases, fungal infections are exposed to the feet and nail plates on human feet.
How is mycosis progressing?
The causative agents of foot mycosis are the fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. Mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum. Mycosis can be contracted through contact with infected skin or after using personal hygiene items.
Mycosis is characterized by destruction of the skin in the form of peeling. This is due to the fact that the fungus penetrates deep under the skin, causing damage to the epidermis.
Yellow or white spots may appear on the nails. If the fungus affects the toes, then small liquid bubbles will form between them, which will burst, healing is painful. The unpleasant smell of foot fungus is also accompanied. The symptoms of mycosis can vary depending on its type. To do this, you need to read each of them in more detail.
The main forms of mycosis:
- Intercipheral mycosis.
- Flat-hyperkeratotic form.
- Vesicular form.
- Deleted form.
- Nail fungus.
Intercipheral mycosis
The most common localization of the intercostal fungus is the interval between 3, 4, and 5 fingers.
The main symptoms of intercipular mycosis:
- The formation of a crack covered with a thick white layer.
- A small amount of fluid may be released from the crack.
- The appearance of a diaper rash between the fingers.
- Mild itching between fingers.
At first, the fungus between the fingers may be dormant without any symptoms. However, the changes are gradual - the skin becomes dry and rough, acquires a grayish tinge, cracks appear in rough areas.
In addition, there is a so-called "wet" fungus between the toes. This form is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled bubbles. These blisters collapse, creating the effect of a "wet" fungus.
Flat-hyperkeratotic form
The flat-hyperkeratotic form of mycosis is characterized by severe exfoliation and keratinization of the skin. This form of mycosis is very common, although most often it affects people with atopic dermatitis.
The main symptoms of the flat-hyperkeratotic form of mycosis:
- Weak itching.
- The formation of cracks on the skin of the foot.
- Pain.
- Dry skin.
- Skin peeling.
- Erythema with clear borders.
- Yellow scales.
- Onychomycosis - damage to the nail plates.
Vesicular form
The vesicular form of the fungus is the most rare. Only 8% of all patients with mycosis are exposed to this type of disease. The vesicular form is characterized by the formation of a rash with a liquid content inside. When these vesicles rupture, erosion occurs that can become infected.
The main symptoms of vesicular fungus:
- Form red or pink blisters.
- Inside the formations is a transparent colored liquid.
- The size of the blisters can reach a maximum of 1 cm in diameter.
- The rash may be accompanied by a slight itching.
- Wet blisters.
This form of mycosis is dangerous because of the high probability of harmful bacteria and infections getting under the skin. To determine the vesicular form of mycosis, it is necessary to undergo special studies and do a skin abrasion for analysis, as this disease can easily be confused with external symptoms such as eczema or pustular psoriasis.
Deleted form
The deleted form of the fungus is almost always the beginning of the development of foot diseases - mycoses.
In the deleted form of the fungus, there are practically no visible symptoms, however, some of them can still be distinguished:
- The skin peels slightly between the fingers.
- The formation of small cracks between the fingers, which affect only the upper layers of the epidermis.
All these symptoms are not accompanied by itching or pain, therefore they do not cause any discomfort to the person.
Nail fungus
Toenail fungus is also a very common form of this disease. Such fungi do not pose a particular threat to human health, but they can cause a lot of discomfort.
Symptoms of nail fungus:
- Appearance of dryness and flaking of the skin of the feet.
- Itching.
- Redness.
- Change the shape of the nail.
- The color of the nails acquires a grayish-yellowish tinge.
- Break the nail plate.
- Nail brittleness.
- To form a crushed mass under the nail.
- Creating a gap under the nail plate.
- Bad smell.
If the foot fungus has hardened, then the patient's temperature begins to rise. Foot fungus, like any type of mycosis, can provoke the development of psoriasis or eczema.
What does skin fungus look like on the feet?
Although foot fungus is currently a very common disease, not everyone knows exactly what it looks like. Many infected people do not even pay much attention when the first signs of a fungal infection appear. As already mentioned, there are several species of fungi.
Each type has its own symptoms:
- In the initial stage of the infection, redness, slight swelling and cracking appear on the skin.
- Exfoliation of the skin occurs in the middle stage of fungal development. The leg is covered with white, pink or white spots.
- If the disease has already moved to the highest stage of its development, then the nail plates on the toes begin to collapse and change to the usual color. The skin on the feet begins to peel into large pieces. Deep and painful cracks appear.
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Symptoms of foot fungus
To identify fungus on the feet, it is necessary to pay attention to the main symptoms:
- Redness of the damaged areas of the skin.
- Skin peeling.
- Formation of blisters with liquid content.
- The nails change color and shape.
- Fragility and delamination of the nail plate.
Diagnosis
You should consult a dermatologist at the first sign of fungal symptoms. Sometimes a visual examination is not enough to make an accurate diagnosis.
Some symptoms may indicate the presence of another skin disease. Therefore in such cases the specialist should take the scrap and do the microscopy. Only after such studies can we speak clearly about the presence and form of fungal disease.
Treatment
Treatment of fungal disease should be started only after a complete diagnosis by a specialist, who should prescribe various drugs for the treatment of this disease. Treatment of fungus on the feet can consist of several methods.
These methods include:
- Systemic therapy.
- Local therapy.
- Folk remedies.
It is worth looking at each of them in more detail.
Systemic therapy
Systemic therapy involves the use of various antifungal agents. Such drugs penetrate the bloodstream and kill the fungal infection. Such funds can penetrate the nail plate, which can remain for several weeks, gradually killing the fungus.
Effective remedies against foot fungus
Terbinafine and itraconazole are considered to be effective antifungal agents. These systemic drugs can cure a patient in two weeks.
It is important to note that systemic therapy is not prescribed for the following individuals:
- Pregnant woman.
- Breastfeeding mothers.
- Individuals with liver disease.
- Older people with comorbidities.
Ointments and creams
Systemic treatment of fungal diseases is recommended in combination with topical therapy. This method of treatment includes various creams and ointments that can also have anti-fungal effects. However, it is worth noting that if creams and ointments are used without the use of systemic preparations, then the treatment may be ineffective.
Local medicines to fight fungal infections are divided into 20 forms. In addition to creams and ointments, various sprays, gels, foams and varnishes are also used to treat foot fungus.
When using a topical treatment for fungus, keep in mind that it is not necessary to wash your feet during the day after applying any remedy on the skin.
Folk remedies
You can also cure foot fungus with folk remedies. To do this, you need to read them in more detail.
Folk remedies for the treatment of nail fungus:
- A piece of kombucha is applied to the damaged nails at night.
- Attach the cut kalanchoe leaf to the nails overnight.
Folk remedies for fungus between the toes:
- Wash the skin between the fingers and apply with a glass of vodka.
- Prepare a decoction of tablet, tier, absinthe and chamomile. Make foot baths from the prepared broth.
Folk remedies for foot fungus:
- Lubricate the affected areas of the skin with onion juice at night.
- Make a compress of 20% propolis tincture overnight.
Folk remedies for foot fungus:
- Take a foot bath with sea salt twice a day.
- Take foot baths with chamomile, oak bark and calendula extracts three times a day.
Prevention
Foot fungus most often causes sweating. Even in the cold season, the fungal pathogen is well protected. But high temperatures can kill the infection, so one method of prevention is boiling. Another method of prevention is to disinfect shoes with formalin. By this action the fungus dies after 20 minutes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that fungal disease of the skin of the feet does not harm human health. The fungus only creates discomfort. However, this infection should not be ignored. If the disease gets worse, it can lead to pain and the development of other infections.