Types of foot fungus and treatment methods

The most common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms of the dermatomycosis group is foot fungus.The parasite affects not only the phalanges of the fingers and the nails of the lower extremities, but also the creases 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.

Causes

Parasites settle on the skin and, in the presence of a favorable environment, in particular heat and high humidity, multiply rapidly, as a result of which the epithelium is damaged and its functionality is impaired.Treatment of skin fungi on the legs is most effective in the early stages of the pathological process.

It is worth knowing: in most clinical pictures, the causative agent of foot mycosis is fungi of the Candida family and trichophytons of some varieties.

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 are able to penetrate the circulatory system, which leads to disruption of the functioning of internal organs.In such a situation, the treatment is very long and difficult, and powerful drugs are used.

You can catch the fungus in a sauna and bathhouse, as well as other similar places where there is high humidity and heat.People often become infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where tools are not disinfected.Wearing someone else's shoes is another factor that leads to infection.

Factors leading to the activation of fungi:

• Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus;
• Varicose veins of the lower limbs;
• Vascular disorders;
• Pathologies of an autoimmune nature (for example Raynaud's disease);
• Flat feet, poor quality shoes;
• Lack of a balanced diet, which leads to a serious deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
• Violation of the immune system, etc.

Infection also occurs under the influence of such circumstances: poor hygiene, sharing of washcloths, towels, etc.With a sick person.

Types and symptoms

In medical practice, foot and nail fungi are classified based on the specific pathogen present on the skin.Mixed infections are often diagnosed, caused by the simultaneous parasitism of two or more types of fungi.The type of pathogen must be taken into account when prescribing subsequent treatment.

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite place is in the folds of the skin, in the spaces between the toes and in the cracks of the heels.Symptoms of this type of foot fungus are as follows: deep cracks and erosions are observed, the integrity of the skin is impaired, and the stratum corneum actively grows.
2. Trichophyton mentagrophytes in most cases leads to the development of allergies, which manifest themselves with severe itching and burning sensations.How to identify this type of mushroom?On the foot, separation of the skin appears, there are many small cracks that hurt.
3. Trichophyton interdigitele.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If no treatment is carried out, cracks and erosions appear over time and the nail plate suffers.
4. Candida is quite common.Signs of mycosis on the feet: the areas of the feet become white, sometimes grey, spots appear and tend to enlarge.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain resulting from cracked skin.

Note: Pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several types: molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They cause foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and onychomycosis of the feet.In turn, pathologies gathered in a group called “rubromycosis” mean foot diseases.They are classified into subtypes depending on the clinical manifestations: vesicular, membranous, moccasin-like.

Fungal infection of the feet is accompanied by symptoms determined by the stage of the foot disease:

• The initial stage of development of the pathology occurs against the background of itching of the feet, skin hyperemia and mild swelling.Sometimes small surface cracks are observed;
• The intermediate phase is characterized by the appearance of spots that tend to grow, the skin flakes, itches and there is a burning sensation;
• In those images, extensive damage is seen when no treatment exists.Foot skin fungus spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, crumbles and collapses quickly.

In the absence of timely treatment, the disease enters the chronic phase, periodically the patient improves, but with the slightest stress or decrease in immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often the picture is complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.

Foot fungus treatment

Symptoms of mycosis of the foot and treatment are interconnected, since a therapeutic course is prescribed depending on the clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.To level inflammatory processes, swelling and eliminate excess stratum corneum, the following drugs are used:

1. The affected area is lubricated every day with salicylic petroleum jelly.Manipulation is carried out twice a day, the duration of treatment is 7 days.
2. Fungal foot infections are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They need to be mixed with petroleum jelly.Apply a compress for two days, after which you can easily remove keratinized areas.
3. To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.These products have antiseptic properties and help relieve inflammation and swelling.
4. If light peeling is observed, it is allowed to use baths with the addition of soda.
5. When ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are 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: it is used for several days, a break is taken during which the effect is evaluated, if no effect is achieved, it is repeated again, etc.

Important: If the nail is damaged it is better to use a keratolytic adhesive plaster or antifungal nail polish.

When asked how to cure foot fungus, doctors recommend drugs that have various dosage forms: ointment, emulsion, gel, cream, tablets.

How to treat advanced stage fungi?If the pathological process has covered a large area and pronounced symptoms appear, systemic treatment with antifungal drugs is necessary.

During treatment you need to follow all the doctor's recommendations, treat your feet every day and take the tablets in the required dose.Therapy continues 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 a fungus, but it is extremely difficult to cure it.The patient will have to be patient as the process is relatively long.To prevent the fungus or its recurrence after treatment, you must adhere to 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 a personal towel, washcloth, etc.
2. At home it is necessary to regularly clean the bathtub and footstool hygienically using products that contain chlorine.
3. Mushrooms love heat and humidity, so it is necessary to combat hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities: use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate and onion peels.
4. Specialized talc will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and treated periodically with a foot product.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils moisturize the skin and have an antifungal effect.
6. Disinfecting shoes: Clean first with a cotton ball soaked in a solution of 25% formaldehyde or 70% vinegar.Then place it in a sealed bag and seal it tightly.After a day, take off your shoes and air them out.

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

The process of treating mushrooms is always long.The earlier treatment is started, the faster the patient will recover.In neglected paintings, restoration takes not months, but years.