Types of foot fungus and treatment methods

The most common disease provoked by pathogenic microorganisms from the dermatomycosis group is foot fungus.Parasites affect not only the phalanges of the fingers and the bottom nail plate, but also the folds between the fingers 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 see in this article.

Cause

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

Be aware: in most clinical pictures, the causative agents of foot mycosis are fungi of the Candida family and certain types of trichophytons.

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

You can catch fungus in saunas and bathhouses, as well as 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, overweight;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
• Varicose veins on the lower leg;
• Vascular disorders;
• Autoimmune pathologies (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 conditions: poor hygiene, sharing wipes, towels, etc.with sick people.

Types and symptoms

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

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.Favorite places for parasites are skin folds, spaces between the toes, and cracks in the heel.The symptoms of this type of foot fungus are as follows: cracks and deep erosion are observed, the integrity of the skin is affected, 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 burning sensations.How to identify this type of fungus?On the legs, separation of the skin appears, there are many small painful cracks.
3. Trichophyton interdigitale.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If there is no treatment, then over time cracks and erosion appear, and the nail plate is affected.
4. Candida is quite common.Signs of foot fungus: the area of the feet becomes white, sometimes gray, spots appear that tend to become larger.In this case, patients often complain of itching and pain due to skin cracks.

Note: pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several types - molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They cause foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and foot onychomycosis.On the other hand, pathology combined into a group called "rubromycosis" means foot disease.They are classified into subtypes depending on clinical manifestations - vesicular, membranous, moccasin-like.

Fungal infections on the feet are accompanied by symptoms determined by the stage of the foot disease:

• The initial stage of the development of the pathology occurs against the background of itching of the legs, hyperemia of the skin, 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 peels, itches, and there is a burning sensation;
• Extensive damage is detected in the picture when there is no treatment.Toenail fungus spreads to the nails.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly disintegrates and collapses.

If there is no timely treatment, the disease enters the chronic stage, periodically the patient gets better, but with a slight stress or a decrease in immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often the picture is complicated by the addition of bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.

Foot fungus treatment

Symptoms of foot fungus and treatment are interrelated, as the therapeutic course is set based on clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.To flatten the inflammatory process, swelling and remove excess stratum corneum, the following drugs are used:

1. The affected area is lubricated with salicylic petroleum jelly daily.Manipulation is carried out twice a day, the treatment period is 7 days.
2. Fungal infections of the feet are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They must be mixed with Vaseline.Apply the compress for two days, after which you can easily remove the keratin area.
3. To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.This product has antiseptic properties and helps relieve inflammation and swelling.
4. If slight peeling is observed, then it is allowed to use a bath with the addition of soda.
5. When the ulcer itches, glucocorticosteroid cream is used.These drugs 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 where the effect is evaluated, if there is no effect, repeat it again, etc.

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

When asked how to cure foot fungus, doctors recommend drugs that have various dosage forms - ointments, emulsions, gels, creams, tablets.

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

During the treatment, you need to follow all the doctor's recommendations, take care of your feet every day, 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 fungus, but it is very difficult to cure.Patients need to be patient because the process is quite long.To avoid fungus or recurrence after treatment, you must follow the following rules:

1. When visiting a bathhouse or sauna, you should always take your personal slippers with you, so as not to stand barefoot on the floor.You can only use personal towels, washcloths, etc.
2. At home, it is necessary to clean bathtubs and footrests regularly using products that contain chlorine.
3. Fungus loves warmth and moisture, so it is necessary to combat hyperhidrosis on the bottom of the feet - use a bath with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate, and onion peel.
4. Special talc will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into socks or shoes and treated periodically with foot products.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the bottom of the feet with geranium and tea tree oil.This essential oil moisturizes the skin and has an antimycotic effect.
6. Disinfection of shoes - first wipe with a cotton pad, dipped in a solution of 25% formaldehyde or 70% vinegar.Then put it in a sealed bag and close it tightly.After a day, remove the shoes and air them out.

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

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