If you recognize foot fungus in the initial stage and start treatment in time, there is a high probability of a quick recovery, using a minimum amount of antifungal drugs, which for the most part pose a health hazard (especially to the liver) with long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone manages to react in time to the first signs of the appearance of a fungal infection, since the symptoms in the initial stage are very similar to harmless skin manifestations.You know the feeling when you find a yellow spot on the nail plate of your toe and the first thoughts that come to mind are: nothing, I'll cut it off, a healthy clean nail will grow back, or I've hit something, it'll be gone soon.Or a slight peeling appears in the interdigital folds, which in 90% is due to dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.But behind all these "harmless" manifestations, the familiar and hated foot fungus is most often hidden.
Provocative factors and sources of infection
Pregnancy can cause the development of fungal diseases, because during this period a woman can experience a sharp decrease in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Toenail fungus, like many diseases, cannot develop on its own;a favorable environment is necessary for its emergence and development.There are a number of factors and concomitant diseases that provoke the appearance of this disease:
- sharp decrease in immunity;
- non-observance or non-observance of personal hygiene;
- increased sweating;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- flat feet;
- vascular diseases of the lower extremities;
- persistent abrasions and wounds;
- surgical interventions, etc.
We have listed the most common causes of foot fungus, but even improper nutrition or prolonged use of antibiotics can also cause the development of mycosis.
Most often, infection occurs after using the shoes of a sick person or visiting public showers.In recent years, there has also been a rapid increase in the spread of mycosis through manicure devices.Other sources of infection include:
- personal hygiene products for a sick person (loofah, pumice stone);
- belongings of an infected person (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, trousers);
- floor (especially wood) in bathrooms, showers, gyms.
The causative agents of foot fungus are very resistant to the environment and are distinguished by the fact that they can remain latent for a long time on wood, towels and socks.The period of exacerbation is spring and autumn.
How to recognize foot fungus in the initial stage?
Here, experienced dermatologists recommend paying attention not only to external, but also to internal signs.Have you noticed that everyone goes to the baths, pools, sunbathes on the beach, but the fungus affects only certain people?The fact is that a favorable environment is needed for its development - reduced resistance of the body.This condition can occur in the presence of concomitant diseases or recent medical procedures during which antibiotics or hormonal drugs were used.
Now let's talk about the manifestation of fungus on the skin of the feet.The main symptoms include:
- cracks in the interdigital folds;
- peeling between the fingers;
- hardening of the skin on the heels;
- the skin on the feet and toes peels off;
- deformation of the nail plates (thickening or thinning);
- change in nail color (yellow, brown, black);
- redness and swelling of the legs;
- the appearance of red spots on the thighs and the inside of the legs;
- scales all over the surface of the leg;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- unpleasant odor (most often observed in people suffering from excessive sweating).
In deep mycoses, bubbles, crusts and cracks may appear, which are accompanied by severe itching and pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that due to severe pain it is impossible to stand on your leg.This can lead to temporary disability and mobility problems.
Varieties and classification
As you already know, mycoses can be caused by different pathogens, based on this, the localization of the lesions can vary.Most often, foot fungus can be caused by:
- dermatomycoses;
- candidomycoses;
- deep mycoses.
All foot mycoses today are considered independent diseases caused by different pathogens and localized in different areas of the feet, but they are all united by one name - foot fungus.The most common of them:
- Rubrophytia stop.This accounts for about 60% of all foot mycoses.It is highly contagious and prevalent among certain segments of the population.The initial stage of rubromycosis of the feet is characterized by lesions between the toes and toe folds.Subsequently, the sole and inner side of the leg are involved in the process.Damage to the nail plasty with rubrofitii is observed in every third patient.Quite often it is combined with hand fungus, especially with generalized rubromycosis.
- Epidermo mycoses.They include two separate diseases - epidermophyta of the legs and epidermophyta of the inguinal-femoral folds.In both cases, the lesions were localized on the legs.Epidermophytia of the feet is characterized by lesions of the folds between the toes, the soles and the back of the foot.Less commonly, the process spreads to the nails (usually the 5th and 1st toes).The lesions are covered with scales and crusts.There is itching of varying intensity.In acute cases, general malaise and headache may occur.Inguinal epidermophytia appears as large, scaly patches on the groin, inner legs, thighs, and perianal area.The lesions can reach the size of a large dinner plate and are accompanied by mild itching, scaling and swelling.
- Onychomycosis.The prevalence of fungal nail infections is steadily increasing every year.Only now (according to statistics for the middle of 2016) 10-18% of Russians are diagnosed with nail onychomycosis of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a large role in their development.People with problems with the vascular, immune and endocrine systems are also at risk.Men get sick 1.3 times more often than women.Onychomycosis is very rare in children, with peak prevalence in people aged 50 to 70 years.
- Candidiasis.Rarely, but still there are cases of damage to the legs from Candida fungi.In individual cases, candidal balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal area and inguinal-femoral folds.A little more often, yeast-like fungi are found on the nails.In the initial stage, there is pain in the nail fold, and when pressed, pus can be released.Over time, its color acquires a brown-brown hue.
There is also rubrophytia of smooth skin, but lesions with it are rarely found on the legs.But rubromikozu in the groin is characterized by damage to the inside of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
Diagnosis of foot fungus includes examining the clinical picture, taking scrapings from the lesions, conducting a microscopic examination (detection of mycelial threads) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before visiting a doctor, do not treat the lesions with any means!Differential diagnosis is carried out with eczema, rashes and contact dermatitis.
Treatment of epidermophytia and rubrophytia in the groin is carried out with external drugs (most often clotrimazole).The prognosis is positive, the duration of treatment rarely exceeds one month.As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat the lesions with solutions containing alcohol;if there is itching, antihistamines may be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with mycosis of the feet and onychomycosis, because even in the initial stage they are very difficult to treat and tend to relapse.The most effective is the combination of external and systemic drugs, strict adherence to the dosage, the rules of personal hygiene and disinfection.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of an ointment has been shown to be effective (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When dealing with foot fungus, a lot of attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause a recurrence.It is recommended to boil or wash the socks at a temperature of 90 degrees;insoles and shoes should be treated with a chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, do not forget that today foot fungus detected in the initial stage can be successfully treated with the help of modern drugs, but advanced onychomycosis and mycosis of the feet can take months and even years to treat.