Various types of fungi on human feet are called mycoses. When the skin is affected, the disease is referred to the group of dermatomycosis (epidermophytosis, trichophytosis), since the dermis is translated from Greek by skin. If the nail is affected, the disease is defined as onychomycosis.
Causes of the disease
Foot fungus is a common disease that occurs worldwide. More common in cities than in rural areas. The group at risk of contracting fungus on the feet includes athletes, shower workers and warm-up workshop workers. Children have thinner skin and are not protected from external factors, so they are also susceptible to mycoses. Another reason is the increase in sweating in the feet, due to diseases in the body or a congenital characteristic. Dermatologists believe that the risk of getting fungi on the feet increases with age. Factors that contribute to the disease:
- wear closed and uncomfortable synthetic leather shoes;
- heated environment with high humidity, typical of footwear;
- violation of the blood supply to the extremities;
- frequent visits to crowded places;
- a weak or malfunctioning immune system;
- wearing strangers' shoes.
Rapid infection
Dermatomycosis of the feet is easily transmitted in public places from a sick person to a healthy person. Infection occurs through contact surfaces: floors, household items, personal hygiene items, someone else's shoes. The fungus is transmitted by direct contact, it multiplies very quickly, so it is so easy for them to become infected. The situations of transmission of fungi in hairdressing salons through utensils during the pedicure, as well as towels, are not excluded. The disease affects the skin of the feet. It is especially common in men, as they spend most of their time in closed shoes. Frequent visits to gyms, baths, military service, where it is not always necessary to wear your own shoes - all of this creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. An unventilated area of the room is beneficial for the reproduction of disease-causing fungi. The spread of pathogenic flora is very fast. The location where the fungus predominates are the toes and interdigital spaces. Saunas and baths are characterized by high humidity and high temperatures, which is ideal for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Yeast infection can be direct or indirect. You can get infected directly through direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination involves the use of objects that were used by a sick person.
Manifestations of mycoses
The first symptom of the disease is the appearance of skin scales in the area of the feet. Through these elements, infection occurs. The increase in sweating is a factor favorable to the reproduction of microbes, since the altered composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora.
Dirt residue and sock threads also accumulate between your toes. When a fungal infection is added to the factors listed, redness occurs. The affected area starts to itch unbearably, causing discomfort to the person. The skin begins to peel, which causes painful cracks to appear. When walking, painful unpleasant sensations arise due to the presence of sores on the skin of the foot. The skin starts to thicken and the infection can spread to the nails. If left untreated, ringworm spreads and affects the nails, destroying them. The nail plate first changes its color to a white tint. Afterwards, it can peel. Voids are formed between the nail plate and the nail bed. With a fungus on the feet, an unpleasant odor appears. In winter, when closed shoes are worn, the leg is not ventilated, the intensity of the foot injury increases. For the treatment of this pathology, an accurate formulation of the correct diagnosis is necessary, as there are many types of fungal pathogens.
The main types of diseases
- The type of membrane (intertriginous form) is the most common. A fungal infection is seen between the fifth and fourth toes. Gradually, the skin acquires a scaly structure with elements of fissures. Sometimes, a bacterial infection is linked to the fungus, which causes even more damage to the skin on the legs.
- Moccasin type. Manifested by pain in the foot. Then the skin thickens, thickens and cracks. Serious fungal lesions capture the nails, which over time can start to crumble and peel.
- Vesicular type (dyshidrotic form). It is manifested by the appearance of blisters under the skin, filled with liquid. It often occurs together with a bacterial infection.
Photo of types of fungus on the legs with names
There are several types of fungi, they correspond to various diseases. There are four most common types of fungi that cause damage to the feet.
- Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophytonrubrum) is full of rubrophytosis.
- Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton interdigitale) affects the skin between the toes, involving the entire foot in the disease. It causes epidermophytosis disease.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes leads to complete epidermophytosis.
- Candida albicans is a female fungus. It causes candidiasis in the feet, but this is rare.
Epidermophytosis and trichophytosis (rubromycosis) are cutaneous diseases collectively called mycoses of the feet, caused by parasitic fungi of the dermatophyte genus.
Classification
Dermatophyte fungi:
- microsporum;
- epidermophyton;
- t.
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
- hendersonula;
- altemaria;
- s.
Yeast pathogenic fungi:
- pityrosporum;
- candida;
- cryptococcus;
- malassezia;
- coccidoides;
- histoplasma;
- Ç.
Preventive measures
Since fungi love a hot, humid habitat, this means that it is necessary to violate these conditions in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to avoid fungi, the feet must be clean and dry. It is important to change your socks and dry your shoes on time. There are special antiperspirants on sale that block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is best to choose leather shoes to maintain normal metabolic processes between your feet and the environment. The foot will sweat less and breeding conditions for fungi will not be created. It is advisable to wear socks at home, which you take off and wash, while microbes and dirt accumulate on household shoes.
It is necessary to use only your own things, since you are unaware of the presence of other people's illnesses. Your immunity may not be able to cope with the pathogens and be infected. You need to air your shoes more often. When visiting public places, it is advisable to take personal hygiene items with you. Never walk barefoot on the floor in swimming pools and showers. The use of prophylactic antifungal ointments and creams also helps. After all, swimming pools, changing rooms, saunas and other environments with high humidity are breeding grounds for fungi. At home, in the bathroom, it is better to refuse porous rugs.
Group of risk
There are people who are more susceptible to this disease than others. This can be due to problems in the body, such as:
- overweight;
- violation of blood circulation in the legs;
- flat feet and foot deformities;
- impaired immune system;
- people under stress;
- after treatment with antibiotics.
Diagnosis of fungal disease of the feet
The doctor does a detailed examination of the foot, makes complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to be tested for fungi. A fragment of skin is obtained with a special small scratch on the foot. For analysis, the nail is cut from the site infected with the fungus. The presence of ringworm is determined by special tests. To identify the type of fungus, it is cultivated, that is, it is cultivated. In rare cases, with an advanced stage of the disease, a biopsy may be prescribed for the patient. In this case, the prepared material is examined under a microscope.
Treatment methods
To obtain the results of the treatment, it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of infections, if any, that have associated it. The degree of damage is also taken into account.
The basis of the membrane treatment seems to be the application of antifungal drugs to the affected area. It is convenient to do this even at home. These drugs stop the growth of bacteria or slow the spread of the disease. Many of these drugs are available without a prescription. The action of the substances occurs locally, at the application site on the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of the treatment, if there is no improvement, the medication may not be helping.
If there is no effect of the agent used, it is necessary to consult the dermatologist again to schedule another treatment. You may need to prescribe a stronger medication. In particularly severe cases of the course of the disease, pills are prescribed. Many medications have side effects, so it is necessary to monitor the blood count during treatment with pills. The fungus is very difficult to cure completely, as it can reappear. The treatment should not be interrupted, otherwise the mushrooms may show resistance to the components of the drug that affect them. During treatment, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the foot. With a form of infection similar to moccasin, onychomycosis, that is, damage to the nails, occurs very often. Due to the fact that the skin on the leg is thicker and the penetration of medications is more difficult, this disease is more difficult to cure. In that case, standard drugs "don't work" and additional therapy is prescribed in the form of pills. Onychomycosis - lesion of the toenails by a fungus of the dermatophyte genus. The disease can also be caused by yeasts and molds. There are several types of onychomycosis:
- Distal subungual. Depending on the lesion area of the nail plate, three degrees of damage can be distinguished. If the nail is presented in section and conditionally divided into three parts (in depth), then the lesion up to two thirds of its volume will correspond to the first two stages of the disease. And when more than 2/3 of the nail is affected by the fungus, it is already in the third degree. In this case, the root of the nail (matrix) is involved in the disease process, and sometimes also folds of skin on the sides of the nail, called periungual ridges;
- proximal subungual. The defeat of the posterior part of the nail plate, where the orifice is;
- shallow white. This type of onychomycosis is common in the feet;
- total dystrophic. The last finishing step.
In the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe the removal of the top of the blisters. Then, all the liquid that comes out of them is eliminated. This area is dry, an antifungal cream or a special compress is applied over it. If the presence of a bacterial infection is determined, treatment with antibiotics is prescribed. Sometimes, the disease is accompanied by fever. Acute infections respond better to treatment than fungal and slow processes. In severe cases, hormonal medications are prescribed. Antifungal drugs are taken until complete recovery. It turns out that not all fungi die and, when the drugs are canceled, a relapse of the disease occurs.
If the patient is not treated, the disease will become chronic and he will develop a serious bacterial infection. In addition to the foot, the skin on the toes may be involved in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions for the treatment of nail fungus from tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, in addition to garlic. Washing with common detergents does not always kill pathogenic bacteria. To remove fungi from clothing, clothing should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. We recommend using bleach and hot ironing.