Infection with foot fungus occurs through contact with a sick person or animal, as well as through soil, water or plants.It is important to recognize and treat the disease in time.
There are different types of foot fungus and only a doctor can correctly identify the type by conducting a series of tests.After that, the specialist will prescribe a course that will allow you to quickly cope with the disease.
Intertriginous (interdigital) form
This form of the disease is considered the most common.It is usually activated in the summer.The development of the disease begins with lesions on the skin of the feet between the third and fourth, as well as the fourth and fifth toes, then gradually spreads to all folds.The main symptoms of this fungus are:
- the appearance of cracks on the skin;
- the presence of a white edge, which indicates the separation of the upper layer of the skin;
- the appearance of weeping wounds;
- burning and itching sensation;
- formation of erosions at the place of cracks;
- loosening of the skin as the disease progresses and disruption of its protective functions.
The interdigital form occurs in most cases against the background of the squamous form.This disease is treated with ointments.In the initial stage, you can do without using tablets.
An experienced specialist will tell you what the fungus is and choose an effective therapy for your feet.Antifungal medications will relieve the disease for one to three weeks.The main thing is not to forget to smear your feet with the prescribed medicine twice a day.
This form of the disease has a chronic course.It is not easy to determine in the initial stage.Therefore, patients often consult a doctor when the disease is present in all the folds between the fingers.In this case, treatment may take longer.
Squamous-hyperkeratotic form
This disease in most cases affects one leg and in the absence of proper treatment spreads to the other.The skin in this form of the disease undergoes radical changes.Keratinized cells completely cover the leg.The skin on the feet begins to roughen and then crack.In hyperketarosis, the heels are also subject to cracking.The appearance of erosions is accompanied by burning and itching.The patient is in pain.
The main symptoms of the squamous-hyperkeratic form are:
- redness of the skin;
- itching and scaling;
- proliferation of keratinized cells;
- the appearance of rough calluses, including on the heels.
This disease can also affect the nail plate.Over time, it loses transparency, changes its shade and shape.In an advanced stage, the nail often begins to crumble.Treatment of the disease at this stage is not easy.In this case, in addition to external means, the doctor may prescribe a course of pills.Combined drugs are mostly used for treatment.The duration of the course is determined by a specialist.Medicines are chosen based on the type of foot fungus to which the patient has been exposed.
Dyshidrotic form
This form is also called vesicular.It is extremely rare.The disease is accompanied by the appearance of bubbles or bubbles of small diameter.At first they are single, but gradually grow and crack.After which ulcers form.This disease is not easy to treat.This is complicated by the fact that viruses and bacteria easily penetrate the human body through cracks and erosions.Diseases such as eczema, lymphadenitis and others with similar symptoms often develop in parallel with the fungus.
You should consult a specialist if the following signs of the disease are observed:
- pain and itching in the affected area of the legs;
- the appearance of erosions and cracks;
- severe peeling of the skin on the legs;
- the appearance of vesicles or blisters on the skin.
Often, in the absence of appropriate treatment, this disease acquires a bacterial form.In this case, the transparent contents of the vesicles become purulent and cloudy.The patient develops a severe headache and an increase in body temperature.The treatment of this disease includes complex therapy.The doctor prescribes topical antifungal agents and tablets.
Deleted form
This type of disease is not immediately recognized.The fact is that the symptoms of the form are erased and practically do not bother the patient.An obliterated type of fungus is accompanied by a floury peeling of the skin.It looks like the leg is covered in fine flour.Small cracks appear between the toes, which are almost invisible to the eye.The face is slightly itchy.No redness.
Treatment of this form of the disease is difficult.Because the patient seeks qualified help only if the erased form develops into onychomycosis.Valuable time is lost and recovery can take a long time.
Onychomycosis
In this case, we mean a disease accompanied by a fungal infection of the nail plates.There are several varieties of this form of the disease:
- mold damage;
- hypertrophic form;
- atrophic.
In the first case, the disease develops against the background of other lesions of the nails.Often the nail plate changes color, becoming black, green or brown.The nail bed becomes inflamed.
In the hypertrophic form of the disease, the plaque becomes yellow and thickens.The nail breaks easily, revealing thickened and scaly skin.
In atrophic onychomycosis, the skin under the nail becomes rough and the plate thins.If treatment is not started on time, the disease can completely destroy the plate and nail bed.
Rubrophytia
This disease is also called rubromycosis.It is characterized by dryness and scaling of the skin and blood vessels.The disease develops gradually, almost without symptoms.Therefore, the wearer does not immediately notice it.A burning and itching sensation occurs only in the later stages.At this stage, the symptoms are as follows:
- the appearance of blisters and bubbles;
- plaques spreading over the entire sole;
- pain when walking, which occurs as the number of blisters increases.
The specialist will be able to prescribe treatment only after conducting a series of examinations and studying the clinical picture.The performed microscopy allows us to determine what types of fungi are present and how the feet are infected.The treatment is carried out using exfoliating (keratolytic) agents.The specialist will prescribe an ointment or cream that contains salicylic acid.The course also includes the use of antifungal drugs.In advanced cases, tablets are used as an adjunct to therapy.If it is necessary to remove damage to the nail plates, then special formulations are prescribed.
Candidiasis of the feet
This disease is quite rare.Fungi of the genus Candida, which contribute to the development of the disease, are present in the body of every person and are considered conditionally pathogenic.If they multiply actively, unpleasant consequences are possible.The development of pathogenic fungi is often associated with a decrease in immunity, which develops against the background of regular stress and overwork of the body.Occupational or domestic injuries or frequent wearing of closed shoes in the summer can contribute to the onset of the disease.
Symptoms of candidiasis:
- hyperemia (overflow of blood vessels);
- separation of skin layers from each other;
- itching and scaling;
- the appearance of small flat blisters on the legs;
- pronounced swelling.
Medicines are prescribed individually, depending on the stage of the disease.As a rule, this is complex therapy, including local and systemic drugs.
It is important to take preventive measures to avoid the development of one of the forms of the fungus.They are quite simple:
- do not use other people's shoes;
- do pedicure and manicure only with sterile tools;
- choose comfortable shoes that allow your skin to "breathe".
By following these simple rules, preventing the disease will not be difficult.