How to independently recognize foot fungus in the early stages

Mycoses of the skin are common.They develop as a result of infection with anthropophilic and zooanthropophilic fungi.You can become infected through personal contact by visiting public baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms.Fungal pathologies have characteristic clinical manifestations, but not everyone knows what foot fungus looks like, so few people seek medical help in the initial stages.This contributes to the spread of infection.

Symptoms of skin lesions on the toes

The initial changes caused by a fungal infection are hardly noticeable: they do not cause pathological changes in the affected area and do not cause discomfort.With a strong immune system, the infection at this stage may subside on its own;as the body's defenses decrease, it will develop and move into the next stage.At this stage, flour-like secretions are formed in the interdigital area.The skin becomes red, dry and cracked.This process is accompanied by severe itching.Feet and heels have a healthy appearance.

Symptoms of a fungal toenail infection

Affected nails look specific, so it is not difficult to recognize the beginning of an infection.The pathological process develops according to the following scenario:

1. The nail plates thicken, their color changes: the pale pink hue disappears and a yellowish-gray color appears.
2. A gap appears between the stock and the plate.
3. The nail plate gradually begins to peel off, its edges become brittle.They crumble and gradually collapse.
4. Severe itching occurs in the affected area.It distracts you from daily activities.
5. Irritation and redness form on the skin between the fingers, followed by painful cracks.
6. The affected area has an unpleasant sour smell.

It becomes difficult to cut your nails with a regular nail clipper.They cannot be processed with a nail file or special tweezers: the plates fall apart.

Symptoms of foot fungus

It is more difficult to determine the signs of foot fungus yourself.The development of an infection provokes the appearance of formations on the sole that look like calluses.The appearance of other symptoms is related to which form of the disease is progressing.

It all starts with the squamous form.At this stage, the infection spreads throughout the foot.The skin on it becomes rough and horny, begins to actively peel off and itches strongly.Outwardly, the foot looks like the result of a lack of regular pedicure (unmaintained).

Then the hyperkeratotic form develops.During its course, gray thickenings are formed on the vaults.They peel a lot around the edges.Deep cracks appear in place of the old calluses.This process causes severe pain.Doctors call this phenomenon "moccasin foot".If you look at the foot of the affected foot from above, it looks like a thick yellow-gray insole is stuck to it.The fungal infection spreads to the interdigital space and nails.They change color, peel and collapse.

Dyshidrotic form.It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the legs of blisters filled with cloudy liquid.This becomes possible only in advanced forms of infection.When the bubbles collapse, weeping erosions appear in their place, which constantly leak.Pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate open wounds.Secondary infection significantly worsens the patient's condition;in this case, it is very difficult to diagnose a fungal infection by external manifestations: the symptoms are similar to the clinical picture of eczema or psoriasis.

Clinical signs of fungi by stage of the disease

It can take 3-14 days from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms.The duration of the incubation period largely depends on what type of fungus provoked the formation of characteristic symptoms (like yeast, mold or Candida fungi) and on the state of the immune system.

In its development, the fungal infection goes through three stages:

1. In the initial stage, redness of the affected area, dry skin and peeling are observed.The patient experiences mild itching.
2. The middle stage is characterized by the spread of the infection to the entire foot.
3. In advanced forms, damage to the nail plates is observed, the skin of the feet is covered with cracks, the stratum corneum is separated in large layers.

If there is no etiotropic treatment, the infection goes into a chronic stage.It is characterized by alternating remissions and exacerbations.

Differential diagnosis

The diagnosis of the disease begins with an examination of the foot by a dermatologist and taking an anamnesis.Based on their results, the doctor prescribes additional laboratory tests.

It should be done:

1. Scraping from the affected area and subsequent microscopy (with its help, the fungal nature of the infection is confirmed).
2. Sowing the extracted biological material in special nutrient media.Colonies of pathogenic microorganisms grown in this way make it possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and to determine its sensitivity to modern antifungal drugs.Based on this laboratory test, a drug treatment scheme is drawn up.

Fungal skin infections must be differentiated from vitiligo, seborrhea, psoriasis, syphilitic leukoderma, and neurodermatitis.For these purposes, skin examination under Wood's lamp and PCR is used.

How to fight foot fungus

To fight fungal infections are used:

• antifungal ointments;
• antifungals in tablets;
• traditional medicine.

Ointments are applied to the affected areas twice a day;first, the skin of the feet must be steamed and cleaned of the stratum corneum.The duration of taking the tablets is determined by the attending physician.As a rule, the course of treatment for the initial stages of infection lasts no more than a month;advanced forms are treated within six months.Traditional medicine can significantly speed up the healing process.Doctors recommend their patients to consider the following prescriptions.

Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide baths.You need to pour water with a temperature of 37 degrees in a basin, add 20 grams of table vinegar to it, then put your feet in the water and warm them there for twenty minutes.After that, you need to remove the stratum corneum with a pumice stone, wipe your feet and smear the affected areas of the skin with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.At the end of the procedure, the affected areas are smeared with an antifungal cream prescribed by the doctor.

Salt baths and celandine juice.The feet are pre-steamed in a saline solution (a teaspoon per liter of water) and then lubricated with celandine juice prepared from fresh leaves and grass stems.The procedure ends with the application of an antifungal drug.

Soda baths (20 grams of powder per two liters of water) can relieve inflammation and stimulate the healing of ulcers.The feet are steamed for fifteen minutes, wiped with a towel and treated with etiotropic ointment.

It is important during the treatment to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces with which the sick feet are in contact (shoes, clothes, bedding).After treating the affected areas of the skin, you should wash your hands well and then treat them with a liquid antiseptic.Violation of the number of drugs taken and their dosage will lead to increased sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora, to the need to extend the therapy and some changes in tablets and ointments.

To prevent relapses, it is important to prevent re-infection.Wear only dry shoes, choose socks made from natural fabrics and use only personal pedicure accessories.