Athlete's foot is a common name for various types of dermatomycosis, which differ in the location and type of fungus. There are four main groups of foot mycoses:
- skin of the interdigital spaces;
- toes;
- toenails (onychomycosis);
- Skin of the lower extremities.
What is mycosis of the feet?
If you believe the statistics, almost twenty percent of the population in our country is diagnosed with athlete's foot. Fungal infections live freely in the environment and sometimes we are not even aware that we can be carriers of the disease.
Under certain favorable conditions, some of the nearly five hundred species of fungi found in nature experience a "moment of revival. " They multiply rapidly, forming numerous colonies and spreading spores to new areas of the skin.
Mushroom waste products are poisonous. As a result of poisoning, the entire body can suffer.
Mycoses of the feet are caused by microscopic fungi:
- dermatophytes;
- Yeast;
- moldy;
- Candida.
Prerequisites for the appearance of athlete's foot:
- Visiting a swimming pool, a sauna, a bathhouse, a gym, anywhere where you have to move barefoot, and there is also a risk of illness at work;
- using another person's shoes;
- dermatological diseases (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, eczema);
- organic chronic diseases;
- Diabetes mellitus (diabetic foot) and other endocrine disorders;
- Flat feet with big toe deformity;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet (hyperhidrosis);
- reduced body defenses, especially in people with nail fungus (onychomycosis);
- uncontrolled use of antibiotics, hormones and anti-allergics;
- Injuries to the skin of the feet in the form of cracks, corns and calluses.
What does athlete's foot look like?
The disease manifests itself depending on the type of fungus that has "infected" the skin of your feet and the exact location where it is located.
Very often, in addition to the symptoms of the disease (flaking, flaking, severe itching), an inflammatory process occurs due to scratching.
Fungal infections of the skin and nails of the foot come in two forms: acute and chronic. In the acute form, recovery usually occurs within a few days (taking into account the appropriateness of the prescribed medication). The chronic form is not completely cured; there is an alternation between relapses and remissions. The aim of their treatment is to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
Important! As soon as you suspect the first signs of athlete's foot, run to the doctor! Do not self-medicate as this will delay the spread of the infection. The longer you delay visiting a specialist, the longer the treatment will take.
Athlete's foot between the toes
The infection usually initially affects the interdigital folds (especially the narrowest of them - between the third and fourth fingers).
Signs of interdigital athlete's foot:
- thickened skin is dry;
- furrows and even calluses form;
- the skin of the feet cracks and peels;
- Pain and debilitating itching occur.
It happens that the fungus is hidden and becomes noticeable only by the formation of small cracks between the fingers, slight peeling and slight itching. The patient does not seek medical help for a long time, and only when crying occurs does the patient begin to worry.
The exudative (weeping) form of athlete's foot is:
- intertriginous, occurring like diaper rash;
- dyshidrotic – with the appearance of blisters;
- mixed - interginous-dyshidrotic.
The most dangerous form of fungal infection is vesicular athlete's foot or dyshidrotic mycosis.
It is characterized by the formation of painful vesicles (large blisters) that merge together to form large, erosive areas that do not cover any skin. As erosion develops, its volume continually increases. The fluid in the blisters is highly contagious. You can use it to infect all family members at once.
Since the foot has virtually no skin, there is also a risk of catching a serious purulent infection. Recovery is delayed by at least three to four months. The site of localization is usually the skin of the instep of the foot, somewhat less often the skin between the toes and even more rarely the skin on the surface of the heel.
Fungus on toes
An untreated fungus "crawls" from the interdigital space to the nearest fingers. Basically, all the symptoms characteristic of a mycotic infection of the interdigital folds can also be found in the skin of the toes - severe itching, etc. They cause a lot of inconvenience.
From endless scratching, the skin of the fingers thickens, becomes inflamed and turns a bright red color. Persistent swelling, pustules and blisters occur. A pustular rash usually occurs as a result of a bacterial infection.
Almost always, the process that occurs on the skin of the fingers or between them spreads to the nails.
Onychomycosis or nail fungus
The main cause of the disease are dermatophytes and at least fungi of the genus Candida. The appearance of the nail and the sensations with onychomycosis are not the most pleasant.
Signs of the disease:
- deformation and separation of the nail;
- pain when walking;
- the appearance of cloudiness and a yellowish tint on the nail;
- significant thickening of the nail plate;
- Nail destruction.
Important! Onychomycosis contributes to the transition of any fungal disease into a chronic form. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, because fungal spores can spread further to the extremities: legs, thighs and even buttocks, stomach and chest.
Athlete's foot: causes and symptoms of the disease in a child
Fungus appears on children's feet for several reasons:
- endocrine disorders;
- uncomfortable faux leather shoes that don't fit;
- Malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dirty, untrimmed toenails;
- Neglecting personal hygiene rules when visiting bathhouses and gyms;
- Flat feet.
The fungus most often affects the skin of children between the fingers. Symptoms: peeling, thickening of the nail plate tissue, severe itching. Small erosions and ulcers as well as inflammation of the foot skin occur.
Mycosis of the foot diagnosis
The correct treatment of foot mycosis and its diagnosis can only be carried out by a dermatologist.
What a doctor should do when diagnosing athlete's foot:
- detailed examination of the patient's foot;
- Collect anamnesis (a survey is carried out on symptoms of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases and heredity);
- scraping the affected skin or cutting off a piece of a deformed nail;
- a special test to confirm the presence of a fungal infection throughout the body;
- Sowing the material on a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- Skin biopsy (a small piece of affected skin is cut off) for examination under a microscope (performed in exceptional cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
To be properly tested you need:
- Do not use antifungals without a doctor's prescription.
- Do not treat the affected skin with anything for at least three days before the test;
- It is advisable to use only baby soap without additives;
- Do not perform nail removal manipulations for a week.
- do not take any medications;
- if possible, do not smoke;
- Do not drink coffee, soda, or alcohol before a blood test.
How and with what do you treat foot mycoses?
The treatment prescribed by the doctor is usually complex and consists of tablets and local products (creams, ointments, sprays). Treatment of athlete's foot with folk remedies should not be neglected. They can speed up the healing process of lesions. It is impossible to name an effective remedy for athlete's foot, since in treatment it is important to achieve an antifungal effect, eliminate concomitant diseases and improve blood supply to the feet.
Have an excellent therapeutic effect:
- A broad-spectrum antifungal is an excellent remedy for athlete's foot. It is the basis for many antifungals. For local use only. Effective as an ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol. The ointment should be applied thinly to the clean, dry soles of the feet three times a day. It is better to use it one to two months after treatment.
- A product (lotion) to restore and protect the nail plate in case of a fungal infection. This spray has been proven to be effective against athlete's foot. Mainly used to prevent fungal diseases. Contains undecylenic acid, which creates immunity against fungal nail diseases. The spray is very easy to apply. It is used on the inside of shoes to disinfect them. However, a patient with onychomycosis needs to be treated not only with this, but also with other antifungal drugs.
- Antimycotic for systemic use.""To the ground" kills fungi of all types. It is used in the form of tablets, creams, sprays and solutions for oral administration. Adults are prescribed tablets to be taken twice a day for two weeks. A cream for athlete's foot is administered twice a day inThe damaged areas are rubbed in. The duration of treatment can be between a week and a month and a half.
- Antifungal antibiotic. The drug inhibits the reproduction of fungi. Available in the form of tablets, oral suspension and ointment. The ointment is only suitable for use in cases where the nail is not affected by fungi of the genus Candida.The tablets are taken for three months. The first month – once a day, the second and third – every other day. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor. The treatment ends with the regrowth of healthy nails.
- Antifungal drug. It has high effectiveness against all groups of mycotic organisms that can cause athlete's foot. It is available in suppositories and tablets, but is used to treat fungal infections of the intestines and female genital organs. It is recommended to apply the ointment once or twice a day for up to a month.
How to treat athlete's foot at home
It is possible and necessary to treat a fungal infection at home, but only after consulting a doctor and providing the test results and an individually selected set of special medications. Traditional medicine also treats athlete's foot, but is usually only used as an additional treatment:
Baking soda is used as a softener for athlete's foot (for painful nails). Soak your feet in a soda solution (prepared at one teaspoon per liter of warm water) for 7-9 minutes. We form a plate corresponding to the size of the nail from a cotton pad. Soak a cotton pad in a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution and place it on a soft nail. Wrap the compress in cling film or place it on a fingertip. Leave the cotton swab on the nail for 45-60 minutes. We repeat the manipulation twice a day. If a burning sensation occurs, rinse your finger with water. You will see the effectiveness of the procedure within four days.
Treating athlete's foot with wine vinegar is a simple and inexpensive remedy. Wash your feet at night with warm water without soap and place them in a basin with a strong wine vinegar solution. After five minutes, wipe your feet and put on socks previously soaked in this solution. The procedure has a disinfecting effect. A simple recipe for home treatment is a bath with instant coffee. Brew strong coffee in the required amount of water. The drink is allowed to cool slightly and the feet are steamed in it. Regularly - twice a day - the unpleasant odor on the feet is eliminated and fungal infections are "expelled".
Rules for caring for personal belongings in case of illness:
- Slippers must have a closed toe and heel;
- you can't walk barefoot;
- Shoes should be treated twice a day with antifungal agents, for example: a 40 percent acetic acid solution;
- wash personal items separately from others;
- Wash bathtubs, sinks, and shower stalls with disinfectant solutions after use.
- Daily wet cleaning of the apartment and ventilation of the room is required;
- daily change of socks;
- After recovery, throw away old underwear, shoes, and medications.
Prevention of foot and nail fungus
When asked "How not to get sick? ""The answers are simple:
- pay attention to personal hygiene;
- Stick to a dairy-vegetable diet and eat more vegetables and fruits.
- give up bad habits;
- Control your emotional state, beware of stress;
- Exercise and exercise in the fresh air.