Foot mycosis is one of the most common fungal infections of the skin.The skin between the toes and the bottom of the foot often becomes infected.The cause of the disease are fungi of the genus Trichophyton and Candida.Upon contact with the epidermis, they begin to multiply actively.The result of their activity is peeling of the skin, cracks between the fingers and diaper rash.At a later stage, the disease affects the nails, they become dull, thicken, the edges begin to crumble and yellow stripes appear.The disease can spread to the hands and large folds of skin on the body.
Scratching affected skin or minor wounds allows fungi to penetrate deeper into the layers of the dermis.Thus, the infection spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body.In children and the elderly, fungal damage to the skin manifests itself more acutely and is more difficult to treat.This is due to age-related characteristics of the immune system.
Stress is also a trigger for the development of ringworm.The fungal infection is resistant to adverse external factors and prefers heat and moisture.Showers with interrupted water flow, saunas, old shoes, rented shoes (skates, skates, ski boots), shaggy carpets in bathrooms are the main breeding grounds for fungi.They penetrate the skin through scratches and calluses.
People with excessive foot sweating are at risk, as with prolonged exposure, sweat corrodes the skin and reduces its protective properties.People with an erased form of ringworm with slight peeling of the skin and painless microcracks that can only be noticed by a doctor pose a particular danger to others.
Chronic mycosis of the skin of the feet and nail plates is often the cause of autoimmune allergic reactions, including the development of bronchial asthma.It is important to properly treat ringworm without turning it into a stable chronic form.
Symptoms
The symptoms of foot mycosis are very diverse.Initial symptoms: cracks, painful or itchy blisters, diaper rash and roughness of the skin appear.Subsequently, the areas of skin affected by the fungus soften, turn white and begin to peel.A bacterial infection can be added and the blisters turn into ulcers or ulcers.
Itching and burning are constant symptoms of mycosis, some patients complain of pain and an unpleasant odor.
Reasons
Foot mycosis is caused by several types of parasitic fungi.These microorganisms are present in large numbers on the floors of swimming pools and bathtubs, as well as in public showers.A person can become infected by walking barefoot in these places.
Wearing someone else's shoes, sharing towels and other personal hygiene products is another common way to spread infections.
Immunity against fungal diseases is not developed, so reinfection occurs as easily as the initial one.
The growth of the fungus is stimulated by inadequate foot hygiene: putting socks and shoes on wet feet, not washing daily and poor quality socks, insufficient ventilation and drying of shoes.
The appearance of ringworm on the hands is mainly due to the action of fungal toxins that circulate in the bloodstream.In addition, when combing the soles, microorganisms remain under the nails, from where they can be transferred to other parts of the body, incl.on the scalp.People susceptible to mycoses should always remember this route of infection.
Risk factors
Despite its rapid spread, not everyone develops foot mycosis.A strong, healthy body can deal with a fungal infection on its own.However, it often happens that the immune system restrains the development of the fungus for a long time, and then stress, SARS or any other internal failure occurs, and the fungal infection begins to progress rapidly.
It has been observed that people get sick more quickly under the following circumstances:
- profuse sweating;
- non-compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- hormonal imbalances;
- take certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- chronic dermatological diseases.
Excessive sweating and neglect of personal hygiene rules create an ideal environment for the development of fungus.Sweat causes the rapid proliferation of fungal microflora.Insufficient foot hygiene, synthetic fabric socks, too narrow and closed shoes accelerate the development and spread of fungal infections.
Hormonal imbalances are common in teenagers, so they are at risk of developing ringworm.The restructuring of the hormonal system temporarily reduces immunity and can cause profuse sweating.These factors contribute to the growth and spread of pathogenic microflora.
A decrease in immunity can occur due to prolonged use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Ringworm, eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis reduce cellular immunity and create favorable conditions for the appearance of a secondary infection, particularly fungal.Ringworm is often a complication of dermatological diseases.Increase the risk of infection: shoes that are too narrow;ingrown nails;abrasions and wounds on the feet;diabetes mellitus;vascular diseases.
Forms of the disease
Form deleted.Initial stage of the disease.Symptoms: slight peeling of the skin between the fingers, small cracks in the upper layer of the epidermis.The patient does not feel discomfort and may not suspect that they have ringworm.
Scaly form.The skin between the toes peels off and becomes covered with flat, slightly itchy scales.
Hyperkeratotic form.Blue-red papules and flat plaques appear.The main location of the injury is the arch of the foot.The formations are covered with scales.The formation of individual bubbles is possible.The rash may merge into groups, forming large lesions.Over time, the entire foot is affected.Yellow hyperkeratotic formations (calluses) covered with fissures may appear.The skin becomes dry, with minor pain and itching.
Intertriginous form.The inflammation is similar to normal diaper rash.The greatest damage is seen on the skin between the toes.A reddish swelling appears.Existing symptoms include ulcers and enuresis.If left untreated, deep, painful cracks and erosions appear.Patients notice pain in the affected area, itching and severe burning.
Dyshidrotic form.Lots of compressed bubbles.The location of the lesions is the arches of the feet.The rash can spread, so immediate treatment is essential.If left untreated, blisters spread over the entire surface of the foot, including the toes.Small bubbles can coalesce and evolve into larger bubbles that can burst.Reddish erosions remain in their place.
Acute form.Increased sensitivity to fungal pathogens and rapid disease progression.There is intense redness and swelling on the surface of the feet, and large vesicles and blisters appear.After opening, large erosions develop in its place;the sores extend beyond the folds between the fingers.In some cases, weakness, fever and headaches are observed.
Symptoms can vary from person to person.When the first alarming symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
The diagnosis and treatment of ringworm should be carried out by a dermatologist or mycologist.
Diagnoses include:
- detailed examination of the foot;
- take anamnesis;
- scrape the affected areas of the skin or cut off a piece of deformed nail;
- a test to detect fungal infections in the body as a whole;
- sow the material on nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy for microscopic analysis (in rare cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
Treatment
Incorrect or delayed treatment can lead to mycosis evolving into an advanced form.In this case, recovery may take up to six months or more.Therefore, it is necessary to seek help from a doctor at the first symptoms.First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the pathogen;To do this, the doctor takes a scraping of the affected skin.Based on the results, the optimal course of antimycotic therapy is selected.Modern antifungal drugs - creams, gels, ointments, sprays - effectively cope with the disease.They have a broad spectrum of action, are applied 1 to 2 times a day, do not stain the skin and linen and do not have a specific odor.
External means
The selection of medications depends on the stage of mycosis.In mild forms, only external agents are prescribed;for severe forms, systemic treatment is required.The most popular medications for external use are Terbinafine and Naftifine.They act on various pathogenic fungi that cause foot mycoses.Do not cause side effects.Bifonazole and Clotrimazole have rapid action against yeast-like fungi.Thanks to their oily consistency, they effectively soften the skin and eliminate dryness, flaking and itching.These medications speed up the healing and restoration process of affected skin.Bifonazole is a complex remedy aimed at treating fungus on the feet and nail plates.Eliminates itching, peeling, burning sensation and unpleasant odor.In addition to antifungal agents, it is important to regularly treat the skin with antiseptics.A solution of chlorhexidine or miramistin is good for this.When a secondary infection occurs and suppuration appears, antibacterial ointments are prescribed.
Tablet medicines
For the treatment of foot mycosis, the following are used: Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Nystatin.For yeast-like fungi, Fluconazole and Nystatin are prescribed.The latter is considered an outdated medicine and is rarely prescribed.Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride granules are specially developed to combat fungal infections of the feet.The regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician.
Recommendations
Foot mycosis is a fungal infection and fungi reproduce only in a moist environment.By eliminating moisture, you prevent the infection from spreading.
Try to protect those around you from infections.Explain that you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom.Always after bathing, treat the bathtub or shower tray, as well as the bathroom floor, with a disinfectant.
Every day before going to bed, wash your feet with regular soap and warm water, being careful not to make the skin too soft.Dry your feet well with a paper towel or hairdryer, paying special attention to the area between your toes.Don't forget to apply antifungal cream or ointment.Continue treatment as recommended by your doctor, even if symptoms have disappeared.Antifungal creams and ointments are only applied to dry skin.If your feet tend to sweat, wait until the medicine is absorbed.
Wear cotton socks and wash them every day.When washing, use a chlorine bleach solution (not soap) or boil the socks for 10 minutes.This way you will eliminate fungus from your clothes and avoid reinfections.Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays and dried for a few days (preferably in the sun).
Preventing foot fungus
After leaving, wash your hands well with soap.After passing through any of the risk areas, wash your feet well with soap, dry with a towel and treat with any antifungal solution.If there is someone in the family with ringworm, they should have separate towels for their face, hands and feet.Afterwards, the bath must be carefully treated with a special bath cleaner.If your feet sweat a lot, you can apply talcum powder or antiperspirant deodorant to them.Do not wear someone else's shoes, especially slippers offered by guests, and in turn, do not offer your shoes to other people.
Try not to let your feet sweat.In a room where you are staying for more than an hour, try changing your shoes for replacement shoes.When visiting a sauna, public shower, swimming pool, wear rubber slippers, do not walk barefoot in public areas.After bathing, swimming in a lake or pool, treat your feet with antifungal cream.Wear clean socks and tights every day.Do not allow other people to use your sponges, cloths and manicure and pedicure accessories.They must be disinfected before use.
Clean the bathtub with a cleaning product and use a strong stream of water before using it.Remove wooden footrests, as well as fabric and sponge mats, from the bathroom.They trap moisture and can leave skin flakes and nail bits infected with fungus.Use a special grill (coated with enamel or special plastic) or a rubber mat.
Moisture in the creases between the toes softens the skin and makes it easier for fungal infections to enter.Dry the creases between your toes with a separate foot towel or dry them with a hairdryer.According to statistics, mycoses are more common in people with flat feet.Therefore, wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with a heel no higher than 4 cm and a special orthopedic insole or soft ridge that supports the arch of the foot.
No matter how complete and competent home foot care is, it is necessary to regularly carry out podiatric care for the skin of the feet and nails (medical pedicure).It will help maintain healthy feet and nails, and the doctor will give individual recommendations for home care and prevention.