Symptoms and treatment of foot fungus

Fungal infection very often affects toes or nails. This disease affects adults and children. To avoid the chronicity of the pathology, you need to know the signs of foot fungus and what such a disease looks like.

Main signs of the disease

Among all skin diseases, mycosis of the feet is the most common. You can catch the disease by neglecting basic hygiene rules. Sometimes it is very difficult to cure the fungus.

For each person, foot fungus begins and develops in its own way. Here are the most common signs by which you can recognize foot fungus:

• characteristic cracks appear between the toes;
• You can tell that a fungus has appeared by the characteristic itching on the legs and between the toes;
• the skin of the feet is very dry, often peels and becomes rough;
• blisters appear between the fingers, which burst when destroyed;
• the infection can spread to neighboring areas;
• reddish spots appear on the skin, which cause significant discomfort;
• Fungi on the feet can also be recognized by the unpleasant smell.

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. If you do not do this in advance, the treatment of the fungus will be much more difficult.

Signs of fungus depending on the type of pathogen

This disease develops due to various types of pathogens. Symptoms of foot damage will vary from case to case.

1. If yeast fungus develops on the feet, the nail gradually thins and peels off from the bed. The skin of the foot is hyperemic (takes on a red hue).
2. With the development of epidermophytes, the nail turns yellow and becomes covered with spots. The skin on the feet peels and emits an unpleasant smell. A characteristic symptom of this type of fungus is increased dryness of the skin.
3. When molds appear, the nail plate can suddenly change color. The skin turns red if the pathogen gradually spreads over the entire foot. One is worried about itching and the skin may crack. In this case, pain and other unpleasant sensations appear when walking.

Only a doctor can determine the type of pathogen. This cannot be done at home. And if you practice self-medication, you can only harm yourself. Your feet will suffer from this, and the skin fungus will spread more and more.

Signs of some forms of fungus

Depending on the affected area and the degree of development, several forms of pathology are distinguished. Everyone's symptoms are different. By knowing the early signs of foot disease, you can start timely treatment of mycosis.

1. Interdigital dermatophytosis is the most common stage of the disease. It becomes more active in spring and summer, when the feet sweat the most. Cracks and sores appear between the fingers. You can notice the presence of scales on their skin. The leg looks perfectly healthy. Often a person feels itchy.
2. The deleted form is manifested to the least pronounced degree. Peeling is noticeable between the fingers. At this stage of the disease, a sharp unpleasant smell spreads from the feet: it appears due to increased activity of bacteria.

The disease can appear in different forms. Let's get acquainted with their signs, so that we know how to recognize foot fungus and, if it develops, start treatment. It must be remembered that in an advanced stage of the disease the nail is completely destroyed. Its recovery is almost impossible.

Squamous type

This fungus is characterized by intense peeling of the epidermis. In addition, the areas of skin between the toes and the lateral part of the foot are most intensely affected. There are no signs of the inflammatory process. In the photo of the first signs of foot fungus, areas of hyperemia are noticeable. A flat-celled fungus looks like this:

• the stratum corneum thickens;
• skin shines, sometimes becomes thick;
• the pattern on the skin becomes more distinct;
• the fungus gradually spreads to the fingers, the entire leg and affects the nails;
• sometimes lamellar scales appear on the epidermis;
• The patient does not experience any other unpleasant sensations.

Dyshidrotic type

With this fungus, small blisters filled with fluid appear on the skin. They are usually located on the side of the leg. Then they gradually move to the inside of the fingers. How to recognize foot fungus of the dyshidrotic type:

• the balloon is usually single, but if there are many of them, they merge into one big one;
• if left untreated, the fluid in the blisters gradually darkens;
• If the blister bursts, a crusted erosion appears in its place.

With this type of athlete's foot, there is a very high risk of bacterial infection. The infection enters the body through open skin lesions.

Intertriginous type

This type of fungus is the most common. Initially, a person does not feel any symptoms. Up to a certain point, the skin of the toes does not change. Subsequently, cracks and layers appear. The skin is not affected, but may sweat.

Candidiasis of the feet

The characteristic symptoms of this fungal infection are as follows:

• the lesion is the 3rd or 4th toe;
• the skin is red and swollen;
• There is a blister around the lesion where there is a peeled layer of skin;
• There are pustules and blisters nearby.

If a bacterial infection enters the affected area, this leads to an increase in local temperature. Swelling is noticeable on the skin of the legs. In severe cases, a person experiences general hyperthermia.

Signs of a fungal nail infection

A person's toenails can also be affected. The disease can be distinguished by the following symptoms.

1. Pronounced change in the color of the nail plate. Depending on the type of pathology of the patient, the nail acquires different shades. Sometimes it can change only on part of the nail plate.
2. Nail biting. It happens only in the advanced stage. If the nail is completely infected, it is destroyed.
3. Changes in the structure of the nail.

There are several types of onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection.

1. Atrophic appearance. The nail plate looks very thin. It darkens, sometimes acquires a gray-brown color. The nail gradually separates from its bed. The skin underneath keratinizes and becomes loose.
2. In the normotrophic form of foot fungus, the plate changes color. Spots appear on it - white, yellow, green and even black. The structure of the nail is not affected.
3. In the hypertrophic form, the plaque gradually thickens and becomes porous. The affected area looks very unsightly and in some cases causes pain when walking. Removed crumbles and falls without treatment.

Some types of onychomycosis

Depending on the degree of spread of the disease, its forms are distinguished.

1. Lateral onychomycosis is the most common. First, a small yellow spot appears on the free edge of the nail. In the future, you will notice how it increases and the nail plate thickens. When walking, a person feels discomfort. The spread of an unpleasant odor is noticed. Lateral onychomycosis is difficult to treat.
2. Superficial onychomycosis is characterized by damage to only the upper layers of the plate. It does not compact, but becomes chalky over time.
3. The rarest form of the disease is subungual onychomycosis. The skin thickens noticeably in the nail fold. The nail turns white and loses its transparency.

General principles of treatment

Any treatment of pathology begins with a diagnosis. Only then can a suitable medicine be prescribed. Self-medication usually leads to worsening of the condition of the feet. Let's get acquainted with the most common methods of therapy.

1. At the first signs of a fungal infection, special varnishes, patches, ointments and sprays are used. They should be used for a long time and according to the instructions.
2. If local therapy is ineffective, complex antifungal drugs are prescribed. They are used orally.
3. Surgical removal of the affected nail.
4. Laser therapy.
5. In advanced forms of the disease, systemic drugs are prescribed.

You can avoid the appearance of an unpleasant disease by following the rules of hygiene. You should avoid using foreign products for personal hygiene (towels, slippers). When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Types of mycosis

Fungal infections of the feet usually occur between the toes. It is caused by several types of fungi. This problem is most often inherent in adults, since children's sweat can disarm the fungus.

Mycotic lesions can be of different types:

• candidiasis - occurs when the resistance forces of the body decrease, most often in women;
• epidermophytosis is an exclusively "male" disease that develops due to excessive sweating;
• Rubromycosis is a highly contagious form that can occur even in young children.

Signs and forms of the disease

Signs of a fungal infection can vary depending on the age of the patient, the state of the immune system and the nature of the circulation.

In a person with a strong immune system, the fungus can remain on the skin for several months without showing itself. Slight itching and slight redness of the skin may occur.

Treatment and best remedies

Advanced mycosis is treated with fungicidal tablets and antifungal ointments. The latter are used after washing and drying the feet.

Folk remedies are recommended to be used only in the initial stage of the disease, as well as to relieve itching. They should be used with extreme caution, as some rely on burning the skin and can cause burns.

As for traditional medicine, they are used at the patient's own risk. Particular care should be taken when using formulations containing vinegar, celandine or manganese, as this may cause skin burns.

Along with drug treatment, you can use baths with oak bark, chamomile or sage. A soda bath effectively reduces itching.

Precautions

Although there are effective and inexpensive treatments for athlete's foot on the market, it is best not to let the problem develop. Preventing a yeast infection consists of:

• in daily hygiene;
• wearing individual shoes (especially in public showers, bathrooms and pools);
• regular treatment of shoes from the inside with ammonia;
• daily change of socks;
• strengthening and maintaining immunity.

These are basic, simple measures that anyone can do. But if an infection occurs, in order to prevent a recurrence, it is necessary to treat the fungus of the feet with drugs for another 14 days after the complete disappearance of all symptoms of mycosis.

Fungus on the feet: symptoms and treatment, photo of fungus on the feet

Fungus on the feet is one of the most common diseases in dermatological practice. It occurs mostly in cultures where it is customary to wear shoes most of the time, and affects up to 70% of the adult population.

Most often, foot fungus is observed in the elderly, as well as in those whose immunity is significantly weakened, for example, with diabetes, AIDS, circulatory disorders of the lower extremities and other diseases of this type.

Often, the term "fungus or mycosis of the feet" refers to damage by a fungal mycelium of the plantar skin of the feet, nails and interdigital spaces.

Pathogens

Among the numerous types of fungi, the main causes of mycosis of the feet are the following:

• Trichophyton rubrum,
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes,
• Epidermophyton floccosum.

Other causes of fungal infections of the feet, which are not so common:

• Trichophyton tonsurans is the causative agent of ringworm in children in America,
• candida,
• Scythalidium hyalinum,
• Scythalidium dimidiatum.

All pathogens of fungal infections have adapted to parasitize in the stratum corneum of the skin, producing special enzymes that break down keratin. In addition, their membranes (cell walls) contain mannans - special substances that suppress local immunity and contribute to the development of chronic inflammation.

Routes of infection and factors contributing to disease

It is believed that some types of fungal foot pathogens are capable of maintaining their viability in exfoliated skin scales for up to a year. In order to become infected with fungus, it is enough for such skin scales with the pathogen to stick to the feet and then fall into conditions suitable for reproduction: humidity and heat.

The most common fungal infections of the feet occur:

1. In public places: bathrooms, beach beds, swimming pools, saunas, even just beach sand.
2. In the family: common household shoes, lack of individual towels for the feet, low level of hygiene.
3. Habits: changing shoes, socks, wearing other people's shoes (for example, home slippers of the hosts when visiting).

Factors contributing to infection:

1. Reduction of local defense forces as a result of circulatory disorders (for example, with vasculitis, obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower limbs), some chronic diseases (HIV, other immunodeficiency conditions, diabetes mellitus, etc. ).
2. Prolonged sweating of the feet in athletes during long training sessions, in summer when wearing closed or poorly ventilated shoes.
3. Cracks and macerations on the skin of the feet.

In general, men suffer more often than women, with age the frequency of fungal foot infections increases. A risk group for fungal infections of the feet are:

• miners,
• military personnel,
• orderlies,
• regular visitors to baths and saunas,
• athletes.

Types of diseases

According to the location of the pathological focus on the skin of the leg affected by fungus:

1. Interdigital mycosis (dermatophytosis). It is most often observed in the form of chronic (squamous) or acute (intertriginous) form.
2. Plantar mycosis. It is most often manifested as peeling and keratinization of the skin of the feet.
3. Dyshidrotic dermatophytosis. Bubbles and vesicles form on the skin of the feet, which are often reminiscent of allergic dermatitis.
4. Deep mycosis. In this case, not only the superficial but also the deep layers of the skin are affected.
5. Onychomycosis. Fungal infection of the toenails.

Depending on the type of pathogen, the main fungal diseases of the feet are:

1. Athlete's disease caused by Trichophyton mcntagrophytes.
2. Rubrophytosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum.

Rubrophytosis of the legs: main types and symptoms

Rubrophytosis is the most common fungal disease of the feet. It occurs in almost 70-90% of cases.

Symptoms

The classic form of rubrophytosis is characterized by redness and moderate thickening (lichenification) of the skin. The affected skin is shiny, with an intensified pattern, a dry surface with flour-like scales accumulated in the area of furrows and folds.

Usually, the disease begins with the third or fourth interdigital folds, which are the tightest. The fungus then spreads to other spaces between the toes, the plantar area, and the back of the foot.

The following forms are characteristic of rubrophytia:

Common:

• squamous form (the main symptom is flaky skin),
• keratinizing form - presence of "calluses", thickenings.
• intertriginous (opreloid),
• dyshidrotic (blistering),
• mixed form (diaper rash, blisters).

On foot

Erased squamous rubrophytia has the weakest symptoms and goes almost unnoticed by the patient. Its main symptoms:

1. Interdigital spaces: peeling, presence of flour-like scales, superficial small cracks.
2. There are practically no complaints or a slight itching may bother you.

In this form, rubrophytosis can last quite a long time. However, the progression of the disease is gradually observed, leading to the appearance of hyperkeratotic and mixed forms. Gradually there are:

• increased dryness of the skin of the feet,
• roughening of the skin,
• the appearance of rough calluses on the sole and lateral parts of the leg,
• formation of deep and painful cracks in the area of the heel.

In rubrophytosis of the legs, 3 main types of peeling of the skin are observed:

1. Floury.The natural folds and furrows of the skin seem to be sprinkled with flour.
2. Annular. Red spots with a rim of exfoliated epithelium.
3. Broad lamellar. In this case, the skin peels off in large plates.

In the interdigital spaces

With intense sweating of the feet, wearing poorly ventilated shoes or inadequate treatment, the spaces between the toes periodically begin to get wet. The skin becomes swollen, eroded, with deep cracks. The main complaints of patients at this stage are itching, soreness, burning.

Without timely and effective treatment, the process gradually worsens, which is manifested by increased pain and itching, which intensifies with movement. Large blisters appear on the skin of the interdigital spaces and lateral surfaces of the fingers, which then turn into erosions surrounded by a border of whitish epidermis.

On the nails

Nail plates of the toes with rubrophytosis:

• bold,
• it's falling apart,
• yellowish-gray or with a brown tint,
• indented white spots that subsequently spread over the entire nail.

Sometimes they separate from the nail bed, thicken and take on the appearance of a bird's nail or an ingrown nail, which causes additional discomfort to patients.

Complications of rubrophytosis

As a rule, rubrophytia spreads to other parts of the body: hands, smooth skin, vellus hair. The pathogen enters new areas of the skin by a lymphogenic as well as a contact route (for example, transferred by hands when washing the feet).

1. Hands - damage to palms and nails.
2. Smooth skin - lesions on the face, inguinal-femoral folds, buttocks, legs.

In this case, mycosis manifests itself as round pink-red or pink spots with a tendency to coalesce and peripheral growth. Their surface is covered with scales, and along the edges there is an inflammatory edge with small bubbles and crusts.

If rubrophytia has spread into large folds, itching appears.

Mycosis on the feet: types and symptoms

Mycosis of the feet occurs much less often than rubrophytosis and has the same forms of the disease:

1. Deleted.
2. keratinizing.
3. Diaper rash.
4. With the formation of bubbles.
5. Athlete's nails.

Plaque-like thickenings of bluish-red skin then appear on the lateral surfaces and foot. In the center of the rash there are layers of scales, the boundaries of the lesions are clear. In the spaces between the fingers, the epidermis acquires a whitish hue.

With mycosis of the feet, patients are worried about itching, increased dryness and soreness of the skin.

The opreloid (intertriginous) form of epidermophytosis is characterized by redness, swelling and maceration of the interdigital folds. Cracks often form and pain is felt.

When the pathogen affects the arch of the foot, a dyshidrotic form can often be observed with the formation of blisters, which after opening look like wet erosions of pink or red color.

Athlete's foot most commonly occurs on the big toe (I) and little toe (V). In the thickness of the nail, closer to the free edge, yellowish spots and stripes are formed, which gradually increase and occupy the entire nail. The nail then begins to crumble, sometimes peeling off the nail bed.

Acute epidermophytosis Podvysotskaya

The main symptoms of this form of athlete's foot:

• swelling of the feet, fingers,
• abundant vesicles,
• weeping erosions,
• maceration of the interdigital folds,
• enlarged inguinal lymph nodes,
• increase in body temperature,
• headache,
• difficulty walking due to pain,
• general weakness.

Onychomycosis of the toes: symptoms and types

In addition to the causative agents of rubrophytosis and epidermophytosis, onychomycosis can be caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, as well as some other fungi.

The most typical symptoms of onychomycosis, which begin closer to the free edge of the nail:

• discoloration, loss of natural shine,
• thickening of the nail plate,
• the appearance of subungual hyperkeratosis,
• destruction of the nail, separation from the nail bed.

In onychomycosis, there are 2 main types of nail damage:

1. Normotrophic: streaks of white and yellowish color are visible in the thickness of the nail.
2. Atrophic: thinning, destruction of the nail plate, its separation.

Diagnosis of fungal infections of the feet

A specialist in the treatment of fungal infections of the feet is a dermatologist who, if necessary, can involve other specialists in the treatment.

After talking with the patient, clarifying the complaints and the characteristics of the onset and course of the disease, the doctor will examine the affected surface and prescribe some types of additional tests, for example:

1. Microscopic examination with additional treatment of the material with potassium hydroxide.
2. Wood's lamp examination.
3. Inoculation of questionable biological material on special media for the growth of fungi, as well as on media for bacteria.

Treatment

The treatment of any fungal infection of the feet must be prescribed by a doctor in order to achieve a complete cure.

In general, the treatment of foot mycoses is based on the following principles of therapy:

1. Fighting the infectious agent. In the initial stages of the disease, local drugs are usually prescribed - antifungal ointments, creams, lotions. In severe cases, use systemic antifungal agents.
2. Boosting immunity and improving local blood circulation, treating the underlying disease.
3. Desensitization therapy. Since mycosis of the feet is often accompanied by allergic reactions, anti-allergic drugs are prescribed accordingly, which will help improve the patient's condition.

Treatment at home

• For effective treatment of mycosis of the feet, it is necessary to remember that the fungus multiplies in a moist environment. By excluding the moisture, the fungus will not grow and the chances of healing will increase.
• Protect your family members from fungal diseases. You must explain to them that from now on you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom or shower. After taking a bath or shower, it is necessary to treat the bath itself, the tray and the floor with a disinfectant.
• Wash your feet every day with soap, collecting all the fallen pieces of skin with a napkin so that nothing gets under the nails.
• After washing your feet, be sure to dry the spaces between your toes with toilet paper or a hair dryer, and then apply an antifungal agent prescribed by your doctor. Treatment should continue for several months even in cases where the manifestations of mycosis completely disappear.
• Use powder while wearing shoes.
• Wear white cotton socks (clean daily). Used socks should be boiled or soaked in disinfectant for 10 minutes. Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays.

Prevention of foot mycosis

Timely treatment of diseases that can reduce the body's defenses or disrupt blood circulation.

Conclusion

Athlete's foot is one of the most common fungal skin infections. In most cases, following simple prevention rules helps to avoid the disease, and timely treatment begins to completely get rid of mycosis.