There are a large number of fungi in the world, but only a few of them can infect the human body. The diseases caused by these microorganisms are called mycoses. People call these fungal diseases. The skin on the legs is most affected. According to medical research, mycoses are the second most common skin disease. You need to start fighting foot fungus as early as possible. By timely seeking medical help, a person will not only quickly get rid of the problem, but also protect his loved ones from infections.
Signs of foot fungus (symptoms)
At an early stage in the development of the disease, the patient may not be bothered by anything. People attribute slight discomfort in the skin on their legs to many other reasons and are in no hurry to seek medical help. The first obvious symptoms appear when the fungus has spread significantly. The patient experiences:
- redness of the skin of the feet;
- unpleasant foot odor;
- itching and burning;
- peeling of the skin.
The signs of the disease can vary greatly depending on its form. The most common is the intertriginous type. It causes the following symptoms of foot fungus:
- burning sensation in the feet;
- the appearance of cracks in the skin;
- peeling of the epidermis.
Erosive areas may appear at the site of deep fissures. They bring great discomfort to the patient, as they cause intense pain when walking. Subsequently, the skin on the legs becomes very flaccid, which leads to a significant decrease in local immunity. As a result, secondary infections join the fungal infection, which causes:
- extensive inflammation of the skin of the feet;
- suppuration of affected areas;
- swelling and pain in the legs.
The fungus can also affect the nails. This type of disease is called onychomycosis. Its appearance will be indicated by the change in the color of the plaque, its thickening or thinning. If left untreated, the fungus causes damage to all nails or their complete loss.
Causes of the disease
The disease is caused by several types of parasitic fungi. Most often, the disease occurs when affected by dermatophytes or red trichophyton. It is possible to determine how to treat foot fungus only after identifying the causative agent. They all get along very well and reproduce quickly in moist, warm environments. In this regard, you can become infected by visiting the following public places:
- saunas;
- pools;
- soul;
- baths
Infection can also occur through contact with a sick person or their personal belongings. For example, people who use strangers are at risk of developing foot fungus:
- towels;
- pumice stones;
- cloths;
- socks;
- manicure scissors.
Another factor that influences the rapid spread of the disease is the lack of adequate foot hygiene. People who wear wet shoes or socks often suffer from fungus. High susceptibility to mycoses is observed in those who suffer from:
- increased foot sweating;
- endocrine diseases;
- decreased immunity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- varicose veins.
Which doctor should I contact?
It is very difficult to deal with the disease alone. A patient with this problem requires the help of a qualified specialist. A dermatovenereologist will tell you how to cure foot fungus.
At the first appointment, specialists will carefully examine the affected areas of the foot. A doctor with extensive experience will only need a visual assessment of the skin to make a diagnosis. But the doctor also needs to know how the disease started. To do this, he will talk to the patient. The patient will need to answer the following questions:
- How long ago did the first signs of foot fungus appear?
- Has this problem bothered you before?
- Are there chronic illnesses?
- Has the person had contact with sick people?
- Have you ever visited saunas, Turkish baths or swimming pools?
- Do your relatives have fungal infections on their feet?
Based on the information received from the patient, the doctor can determine the true causes of the disease. To understand how to deal with a disease, you need to know exactly what its causative agent is. An exam helps with this. The patient is prescribed a skin scraping from the affected area of the foot. After laboratory tests, experts accurately determine the causative agent of the disease.
How to treat the disease?
The sooner a person seeks help, the quicker therapy will be for them. The doctor determines how to treat foot fungus after receiving the results of a diagnostic examination. Experts suggest fighting the disease with medication. The patient receives antifungal medications that:
- stop the development of pathogens;
- destroy fungi;
- has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
Such products are offered in the form of ointment, gel, spray, tablets or suspension for oral administration. For toenail fungus, special varnishes or plasters can be used, which also have an antifungal effect. The specialist selects medications for the patient on a strictly individual basis, as many of them have a number of contraindications. It is prohibited to take certain medications for:
- pregnant women;
- breastfeeding mothers;
- children.
To achieve a quick recovery, it is very important to strengthen the immune system. For this, patients are prescribed to take vitamin-mineral complexes and immunostimulants. In advanced cases, when a secondary infection is associated with fungal infections, patients are given antibiotics.
How to cure foot fungus forever?
Many patients complain that the disease returns some time after the end of treatment. The reason for this is an incompletely cured primary infection. A common mistake that many people make is to stop therapy when improvements appear. It is very important to continue applying the medicine for the entire period prescribed by your doctor. Even if the disease does not appear externally, it is not a fact that the entire infection has already been defeated. To prevent recurring leg damage, you need to:
- Strictly follow the specialist's recommendations.
- Do not replace medicines with analogues.
- Apply the products regularly, without interruptions.
During treatment, the patient must wear closed slippers at home. You should not allow other family members to use them as the infection can be transmitted through them. When treating foot fungus, it is also prohibited to walk barefoot on the floor or share washcloths, pumice stones or other bath accessories with other people. It is very important during therapy:
- Wash the patient's clothes separately from other clothes.
- Do wet cleaning of the house daily.
- Treat the patient's shoes with antifungal agents.
You also need to take foot hygiene seriously. They must be washed at least twice a day. At the same time, they must be treated with hot water. It's important to change socks frequently and wear comfortable, non-tight shoes. After recovery, you should definitely throw away the slippers, towels, washcloths and socks that the person used during the illness.
Prevention
Knowing what causes foot fungus, you can easily prevent it. To avoid this disease, simply follow the following prevention rules:
- When visiting baths, saunas or swimming pools, use only disposable or personal slippers.
- Do not wear wet or damp shoes.
- If someone is sick at home, use only personal bath accessories.
Some diseases also increase the risk of fungus. Therefore, by eliminating them in a timely manner, the occurrence of the disease can be prevented. People suffering from:
- flat foot;
- calluses;
- hyperhidrosis in the feet.
It is important for people to know that at low temperatures the fungus persists for a long time. Therefore, freezing is not scary for him. However, the pathogen dies when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, boiling can be used for prevention purposes. If you treat the patient's clothes and shoes in this way, the fungus contained in them will die.