Various types of fungi on human feet are called mycosis. When the skin is affected, the disease is referred to the group of dermatomycoses (epidermophytosis, ringworm), since the dermis is translated from Greek as skin. If the nail is affected, the disease is referred to as onychomycosis.
Causes of the disease
Foot fungus is a common disease that occurs all over the world. More common in cities than in rural areas. The risk group for contracting foot fungus includes athletes, shower workers, and hot shop workers. Babies have thinner skin that is not protected from external factors, so they are also susceptible to mycosis. Another reason is the increased sweating of the feet, due to diseases of the body or a congenital feature. Dermatologists believe that the risk of getting foot fungus increases with age. Factors contributing to the disease:
- wearing uncomfortable closed leatherette shoes;
- warm environment with high humidity, typical when wearing shoes;
- violation of blood supply to the extremities;
- frequent visits to crowded places;
- a weak or malfunctioning immune system;
- wearing foreign 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, which is why it is so easy for it to become infected. Situations of transmission of fungi in hairdressing salons through tools during a 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, bathrooms, military service, where you do not always have to wear your shoe size - all this creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. An unventilated area of the room is beneficial for fungi that cause reproductive diseases. The spread of pathogenic flora is very rapid. The place where the fungus predominates is the toes and the spaces between the toes. Saunas and baths are characterized by high humidity and high temperatures, ideal for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Fungal infection can be direct and indirect. Directly, you can get infected through direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination involves the use of items that have been used by a sick person.
Manifestations of mycosis
The first symptom of the disease is the appearance of scales in the foot area. Through these elements infection occurs. The increase in sweating is a favorable factor for the reproduction of microbes, since the altered composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora.
Dirt and thread residues from socks also accumulate between the toes. When a fungal infection is added to the listed factors, redness occurs. The affected area begins to itch unbearably, causing discomfort to the person. The skin begins to peel off, causing painful cracks to appear. When walking, there are unpleasant painful sensations due to the presence of wounds on the skin of the foot. The skin begins to thicken and the infection can spread to the nails. If left untreated, mycosis spreads and affects the nails, destroying them. The nail plate first changes its color to a white tint. Subsequently, it can flake off. Voids form between the nail plate and the nail bed. With a fungus on the feet, an unpleasant smell appears. In winter, when wearing closed shoes, 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, since there are many types of fungal pathogens.
The main types of the disease
- The type of membrane (intertriginous form) is the most common. A fungal infection is observed between the fifth and fourth toes. Gradually, the skin acquires a scaly structure with elements of cracks. Sometimes a bacterial infection is attached 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. Severe fungal lesions capture the nails, which over time can begin to crumble, flake off.
- Vesicular type (dyshidrotic form). It is manifested by the appearance of blisters under the skin, filled with fluid. It often proceeds along with a bacterial infection.
Types of mushrooms on the photo of the legs with names
There are various types of mushrooms, they correspond to various diseases. There are four most common types of fungi that cause foot damage.
- Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophytonrubrum) is fraught with rubrophytosis.
- Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophytoninterdigitale) 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 of the feet, but this is rare.
Epidermophytosis and ringworm (rubromycosis) are skin diseases that are collectively called mycosis of the feet, caused by parasitic fungi of the dermatophyte genus.
Classification
Dermatophyte mushrooms:
- microsporum;
- epidermophyton;
- t.
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
- hendersonula;
- altemaria;
- S.
Pathogenic yeast fungi:
- pityrospore;
- candida;
- cryptococcus;
- malassezia;
- coccidoids;
- histoplasm;
- w.
Preventive measures
Since mushrooms love a warm and humid habitat, it means that it is necessary to violate these conditions in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to prevent the formation of fungus, 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 will block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is best to choose leather shoes to maintain normal metabolic processes between the feet and the environment. The foot will sweat less and the conditions for reproduction for the mushrooms will not be created. It is recommended to wear socks at home, which you take off and wash, while microbes and dirt accumulate on your home shoes.
It is necessary to use only your own things, as the presence of other people's diseases is not known. Your immunity may not be able to cope with pathogens and become infected. You need to air your shoes more often. When visiting public places, it is recommended that you bring personal hygiene items with you. Never walk barefoot on the floor in swimming pools and showers. The use of prophylactic antifungal creams and ointments also helps. After all, swimming pools, changing rooms, saunas and other rooms with high humidity are breeding grounds for mushrooms. At home in the bathroom, it is better to refuse porous carpets.
Risk group
There are people who are more susceptible to this disease than others. This can be due to problems in the body, such as:
- excess weight;
- violation of blood circulation in the legs;
- flat feet and foot deformities;
- impaired immune system;
- people under stress;
- after antibiotic treatment.
Diagnosis of fungal disease of the feet
The doctor performs a detailed examination of the foot, asks for complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to be tested for the presence of fungi. A piece of leather is obtained with a specially made minor scratch on the foot. For analysis, the nail is cut from the spot infected with the fungus. The presence of mycosis is determined by special tests. To identify the type of mushroom, it is cultivated, that is, it is grown. In rare cases, with an advanced stage of the disease, the patient may be prescribed a biopsy. In this case, the prepared material is examined under a microscope.
Methods of treatment
To obtain results from the treatment it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of any infections associated with it. The degree of damage is also taken into account.
The basis of membrane treatment appears to be the application of antifungal drugs to the affected area. It is convenient to perform it even at home. These drugs stop the growth of bacteria or slow the spread of the disease. Many of these drugs are available over the counter without a prescription. The action of substances occurs locally, at the site of application on the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of treatment, if there is no improvement, the drug may not help you.
If there is no effect from the agent used, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist again on the appointment of another treatment. A stronger medication may need to be prescribed. In especially severe cases of the course of the disease, tablets are prescribed. Many drugs have side effects, so blood counts need to be monitored during pill treatment. The fungus is very difficult to cure completely, as it can recur. Treatment should not be stopped, otherwise the fungi 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 moccasin-like form of infection, onychomycosis, that is, damage to the nails, occurs very often. Due to the fact that the skin on the leg is thickened and it is more difficult for drugs to get inside, this disease is more difficult to cure. In this case, standard drugs "do not work" and additional therapy is prescribed in the form of pills. Onychomycosis: damage to 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 area of the lesion of the nail plate, three degrees of damage are distinguished. If the nail is presented in one section and conditionally divided into three parts (deep), 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 are affected by the fungus, this is already the third degree. In this case, the nail root (matrix) is involved in the disease process, and sometimes the skin folds on the sides of the nail, called periungual ridges, are also involved;
- proximal subungual. The defeat of the back of the nail plate, where the hole is located;
- superficial white. This type of onychomycosis is common on the feet;
- total dystrophy. The final final stage.
In the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe the removal of the upper parts of the blisters. Then all the liquid flowing out of them is cleared. This area is dried, an antifungal cream or a special compress is applied. If the presence of a bacterial infection is determined, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by fever. Acute infections respond better to treatment than chronic and slow fungal processes. In severe cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed. Antifungal drugs are taken until full recovery. It happens that not all the fungus dies, and when the drugs are canceled, a relapse of the disease occurs.
If the patient is not treated, the disease will become chronic and develop a severe bacterial infection. In addition to the foot, the skin of the toes can be involved in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions for the treatment of nail fungus using tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, as does garlic. Washing with normal detergents does not always kill pathogenic bacteria. To remove mushrooms from clothes, linen should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. We recommend using bleach and hot ironing.