Symptoms and treatment of foot fungus

A fungal infection often affects the toes or nails. This disease affects adults and children. To prevent the pathology from becoming chronic, you need to know the signs of foot fungus and what this disease looks like.

Main signs of the disease

Among all skin diseases, foot mycosis is the most common. You can become infected with the disease by ignoring basic hygiene rules. Sometimes it is very difficult to cure fungus.

For each person, foot fungus begins and develops in its own way. Here are the most common signs by which foot fungus can be recognized:

• characteristic cracks appear between the toes;
• You can tell that a fungus has appeared by the characteristic itching on the feet and between the toes;
• the skin on the feet is very dry, it often peels and becomes rough;
• blisters appear between the fingers, which explode when destroyed;
• the infection can spread to neighboring areas;
• reddish spots appear on the skin, which cause significant discomfort;
• You can also recognize foot fungus by its unpleasant smell.

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. If you don't do this ahead of time, it will be much more difficult to treat the fungus.

Signs of fungus depending on the type of pathogen

This disease develops due to different types of pathogens. Symptoms of foot damage will be different in each case.

1. If the fungus develops on the feet, the nail gradually becomes thinner and detaches from the bed. The skin of the foot becomes hyperemic (takes on a red hue).
2. With the development of epidermophytes, the nail becomes yellowish and covered in spots. The skin on the feet peels off and gives off an unpleasant odor. A characteristic symptom of this type of fungus is increased dryness of the skin.
3. When the fungus appears, the nail plate may suddenly change color. The skin turns red if the pathogen gradually spreads throughout the foot. A person is bothered by itching, and the skin may crack. In this case, pain and other unpleasant sensations appear when walking.

Only a doctor can determine the type of pathogen. This cannot be done at home. And if you practice self-medication, you can only harm yourself. Your legs will suffer from this and the fungus on your skin will spread more and more.

Signs of some forms of fungus

Depending on the affected area and the degree of development, several forms of pathology are distinguished. Everyone's symptoms are different. Knowing the first signs of foot disease, you can start treating mycosis in a timely manner.

1. Interdigital dermatophytosis is the most common stage of the disease. Become more active in spring and summer when your feet sweat more. Cracks and wounds appear between the fingers. You may notice the presence of scales on the skin. The foot looks absolutely healthy. Often a person feels itchy.
2. The erased form appears in the least pronounced extension. Peeling is noticeable between the fingers. At this stage of the disease, a strong, unpleasant odor spreads across the feet: it appears due to increased bacterial activity.

The disease can occur in several ways. Let's learn about its signs so we can identify foot fungus and, if it develops, start treatment. It is important to remember that in the advanced stages of the disease the nail is completely destroyed. It is almost impossible to restore it.

scaly type

This fungus is characterized by intense peeling of the epidermis. Furthermore, it is the areas of skin between the toes and the side of the foot that are most intensely affected. There are no signs of the inflammatory process. In the photo of the first signs of fungus on the feet, areas of hyperemia are visible. Scaly fungus looks like this:

• the stratum corneum becomes thicker;
• the skin shines, sometimes becomes thick;
• the pattern on the skin becomes more distinct;
• the fungus gradually spreads through the toes, throughout the foot, and reaches the nails;
• sometimes lamellar scales appear on the epidermis;
• The patient does not feel any other unpleasant sensations.

dyshidrotic type

With this fungus, small blisters filled with liquid appear on the skin. They are usually found on the side of the foot. Then they gradually move to the inside of the fingers. How to recognize dyshidrotic foot fungus:

• the bubble is usually single, but if there are many of them, they merge into one big one;
• if left untreated, the liquid in the blisters gradually darkens;
• If the bubble ruptures, crusty erosion appears in its place.

With this type of foot fungus, there is a very high risk of bacterial infection. The infection enters the body through open skin lesions.

Intertriginous type

This type of fungus is the most common. At first, the person does not feel any symptoms. Up to a certain point, the skin on your toes does not change. Later, cracks and layers appear. The skin is not affected, but may sweat.

Candidiasis of the feet

The characteristic symptoms of this fungal infection are the following:

• the injury is the 3rd or 4th toe;
• the skin becomes red and swollen;
• There is a blister around the lesion where there is a layer of peeling skin;
• There are pustules and blisters nearby.

If a bacterial infection enters the affected area, it will cause a rise in local temperature. Swelling is noticeable on the skin of the legs. In severe cases, a person experiences general hyperthermia.

Signs of fungal nail infection

A person's toenails may also be affected. The disease can be distinguished by the following symptoms.

1. Marked change in the color of the nail plate. Depending on the type of pathology the patient has, the nail takes on different shades. Sometimes it can change only part of the nail plate.
2. Nail crumbling. This only happens in advanced stages. If the nail is completely infected, it will be destroyed.
3. Changes in the structure of the nail.

There are several types of onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails.

1. Atrophic appearance. The nail plate appears very thin. It darkens, sometimes acquiring a grayish-brown color. The nail gradually detaches from its bed. The skin underneath becomes keratinized and loose.
2. In the normotrophic form of foot fungus, the plaque changes shade. Spots appear on it - white, yellow, green and even black. The nail structure is not affected.
3. In the hypertrophic form, the plaque gradually thickens and becomes porous. The affected area looks very unsightly and in some cases causes pain when walking. On the sides it crumbles and collapses without treatment.

Some types of onychomycosis

Depending on the degree of spread of the disease, its forms are differentiated.

1. Lateral onychomycosis is the most common. A small yellow spot first appears on the free edge of the nail. In the future, you will notice how it increases and the nail plate becomes thicker. When walking, a person feels discomfort. The spread of an unpleasant odor is noticeable. Lateral onychomycosis is difficult to treat.
2. Superficial onychomycosis is characterized by damage only to the upper layers of the plaque. It doesn't thicken, but over time it becomes chalk-like.
3. The rarest form of the disease is subungual onychomycosis. The skin becomes visibly thicker in the nail fold. The nail turns white and loses its transparency.

General treatment principles

Any pathology treatment begins with diagnosis. Only then can a suitable medicine be prescribed. Self-medication often leads to worsening of the condition of the legs. Let's get to know the most common therapy methods.

1. At the first signs of a fungal infection, special varnishes, plasters, ointments and sprays are used. They must be used for a long time and in accordance with the instructions.
2. If local therapy is ineffective, complex antifungal drugs are prescribed. They are used orally.
3. Surgical removal of the affected nail.
4. Laser therapy.
5. In advanced forms of the disease, systemic medications are prescribed.

You can prevent the occurrence of an unpleasant disease by following hygiene rules. You should avoid using other people's personal hygiene products (towels, slippers). When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Types of ringworm

Fungal foot infections often appear between the toes. It is caused by several types of fungi. This problem is more often inherent in adults, as children's sweat can disarm the fungus.

Mycotic lesions can be of several types:

• candidiasis - occurs when the body's resistance decreases, more frequently in women;
• epidermophytosis is an exclusively "male" disease that develops due to excessive sweating;
• Rubromycosis is a highly contagious form that can occur even in young children.

Signs and forms of the disease

Signs of fungal infection may vary depending on the patient's age, the state of the immune system and the nature of blood circulation.

In a person with a strong immune system, the fungus can remain on the skin for several months without manifesting itself. Mild itching and slight redness of the skin may occur.

Treatment and best remedies

Advanced mycosis is treated with fungicidal tablets and antimycotic ointments. The latter are used after washing and drying the feet.

It is recommended to use folk remedies only at the initial stage of the disease, as well as to relieve itching. They must be used with extreme caution, as some rely on cauterizing the skin and can cause burns.

As for traditional medicine, its use is at the patient's own risk. Particular care should be taken when using formulations containing vinegar, celandine or manganese, as they can cause skin burns.

In parallel with drug treatment, baths with oak bark, chamomile or sage can be used. A soda bath effectively reduces itching.

Preventive measures

Although there are effective and inexpensive treatments for foot fungus on the market, it is best not to let the problem develop. Prevention of fungal infection consists of:

• in daily hygiene;
• use of individual shoes (mainly in showers, bathtubs and public swimming pools);
• regularly treat the inside of shoes with ammonia;
• daily change of socks;
• strengthen and maintain immunity.

These are basic and simple measures that anyone can take. But if infection occurs, then to prevent relapses, it is necessary to treat the foot fungus with medications for another 14 days after all symptoms of mycosis have completely disappeared.

Foot fungus: symptoms and treatment, photo of foot fungus

Foot fungus is one of the most common diseases in dermatological practice. It occurs mainly in cultures where it is customary to wear shoes most of the time and affects up to 70% of the adult population.

Most often, foot fungus is observed in the elderly, as well as in those whose immunity is significantly weakened, for example, with diabetes, AIDS, circulatory disorders of the lower extremities and other diseases of this type.

Often, the term "foot fungus or mycosis" refers to damage caused by fungal mycelium to the plantar skin of the feet, nails and interdigital spaces.

Pathogens

Among the numerous types of fungi, the main causative agents of foot mycosis are the following:

• Trichophyton rubrum,
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes,
• Epidermophyton floccosum.

Other agents that cause fungal infections on the feet, which are not so common:

• Trichophyton tonsurans is the causative agent of ringworm in children in America,
• Candida,
• Scytalidium hyalinum,
• Scytalidium dimidiatum.

All pathogens of fungal infections have adapted to parasitize the stratum corneum of the skin, producing special enzymes that break down keratin. In addition, their membranes (cell walls) contain mannans - special substances that suppress local immunity and contribute to the development of chronic inflammation.

Routes of infection and factors contributing to the disease

It is believed that some types of fungal foot pathogens are able to maintain their viability in exfoliated skin flakes for a year. To become infected with a fungus, it is enough for these flakes of skin with the pathogen to stick to the legs and fall into conditions suitable for reproduction: humidity and heat.

The most common foot fungus infections occur:

1. In public places: baths, beach beds, swimming pools, saunas, even beach sand.
2. In the family: shoes in a shared house, lack of individual towels for the feet, low level of hygiene.
3. Habits: changing shoes, socks, wearing someone else's shoes (for example, hosts' slippers when visiting).

Factors contributing to infection:

1. Decrease in local protective forces as a result of circulatory disorders (for example, with vasculitis, obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities), certain chronic diseases (HIV, other immunodeficiency states, diabetes mellitus, etc. ).
2. Prolonged sweating of the feet in athletes during long training sessions, in summer when wearing closed or poorly ventilated shoes.
3. Cracks and macerations in the skin of the feet.

In general, men get sick more often than women; With age, the frequency of fungal foot infections increases. The risk group for fungal infections on the feet are:

• miners,
• military personnel,
• bath attendants,
• regular visitors to baths and saunas,
• athletes.

Types of disease

According to the location of the pathological focus on the skin of the foot affected by the fungus:

1. Interdigital mycosis (dermatophytosis). It is most often seen in chronic (scaly) or acute (intertriginous) form.
2. Plantar mycosis. Most often, it manifests itself as peeling and keratinization of the skin of the foot.
3. Dyshidrotic dermatophytosis. Blisters and vesicles form on the skin of the foot, often resembling allergic dermatitis.
4. Deep mycosis. In this case, not only the superficial but also the deep layers of the skin are affected.
5. Onychomycosis. Nail fungus infection.

Depending on the type of pathogen, the main fungal foot diseases are:

1. Athlete's disease caused by Trichophyton mcntagrophytes.
2. Rubrophytosis, caused by Trichophyton rubrum.

Rubrophytosis of the feet: main types and symptoms

Rubrophytosis is the most common fungal disease of the foot. It occurs in almost 70-90% of cases.

Symptoms

The classic form of rubrophytosis is characterized by redness and moderate thickening (lichenification) of the skin. The affected skin is shiny, with an enhanced pattern, a dry surface with mealy scales accumulated in the area of furrows and folds.

The disease usually begins in the third or fourth interdigital fold, which are the narrowest. The fungus then spreads to other spaces between the toes, the sole and the back of the foot.

The following forms are characteristic of rubrophytia:

Often found:

• scaly form (the main symptom is scaly skin),
• keratinizing form - presence of "calluses", thickenings.
• intertriginous (opreloid),
• dyshidrotic (with blistering),
• mixed form (diaper rash, blisters).

On the foot

Erased squamous rubrophytia has less pronounced symptoms and proceeds almost unnoticed by the patient. Its main symptoms:

1. Interdigital spaces: peeling, presence of mealy scales, small superficial fissures.
2. There are practically no complaints or small itches can be bothersome.

In this form, rubrophytosis can last for a long time. However, the progression of the disease is observed gradually, which leads to the appearance of hyperkeratotic and mixed forms. Gradually there are:

• increased dryness of the skin of the feet,
• skin roughness,
• the appearance of rough calluses on the sole and sides of the foot,
• formation of deep and painful fissures in the heel region.

In rubrophytosis of the feet, 3 main types of skin peeling are observed:

1. Floured.The natural folds and grooves of the skin appear to be dusted with flour.
2. Ring-shaped. Reddish spots with a fringe of exfoliated epithelium.
3. Large lamellar. In this case, the skin peels off in large plates.

In interdigital spaces

During intense sweating of the feet, wearing poorly ventilated shoes or improper treatment, the spaces between the toes begin to periodically become wet. The skin becomes swollen, eroded, with deep fissures. The main complaints of patients at this stage are itching, pain and burning.

Without timely and effective treatment, the process gradually worsens, which is manifested by increased pain and itching, which intensify with movement. Large blisters appear on the skin of the interdigital spaces and on the lateral surfaces of the fingers, which then turn into erosions, surrounded by a whitish border of epidermis.

On the nails

Nail plates of the toes with rubrophytosis:

• thickened,
• crumbling,
• yellowish gray or with a brown tint,
• chiseled white spots that later spread over the entire nail.

Sometimes they separate from the nail bed, thicken and look like a bird's claw or ingrown toenail, which causes additional discomfort to the patient.

Complications of rubrophytosis

As a rule, rubrophytia spreads to other parts of the body: hands, smooth skin, vellus hair. The pathogen enters new areas of the skin lymphogenically, as well as by contact (for example, transferred through hands when washing feet).

1. Hands - damage to palms and nails.
2. Smooth skin - lesions on the face, inguinal-femoral folds, buttocks, legs.

In this case, ringworm manifests itself as round reddish-pink or pink spots that tend to merge and grow peripherally. Its surface is covered with scales and along the edges there is an inflammatory ridge with small blisters and crusts.

If rubrophytia spreads to large folds, itching occurs.

Athlete's foot: types and symptoms

Athlete's foot occurs much less frequently than rubrophytosis and has the same forms of the disease:

1. Wiped out.
2. keratinization.
3. Diaper rash.
4. With the formation of bubbles.
5. Athlete's nails.

Then, plaque-like bluish-red skin thickenings appear on the lateral surfaces and sole of the foot. In the center of the rash there are layers of scales, the boundaries of the lesions are clear. In the spaces between the fingers, the epidermis acquires a whitish hue.

With athlete's foot, patients are bothered by itching, increased dryness and pain in the skin.

The opreloid (intertriginous) form of epidermophytosis is characterized by redness, swelling and maceration of the interdigital folds. Cracks often form and pain is felt.

When the pathogen affects the arch of the foot, a dyshidrotic form can often be observed with the formation of blisters that, after opening, look like wet erosions of pink or red color.

Athlete's foot most often occurs on the big toe (I) and big toe (V). In the thickness of the nail, closer to the free edge, yellowish spots and stripes form, which gradually increase and occupy the entire nail. Then the nail begins to crumble, sometimes peeling away from the nail bed.

Acute Podvysotskaya epidermophytosis

The main symptoms of this form of athlete's foot:

• swelling of feet, fingers,
• abundance of vesicles,
• weeping erosions,
• maceration of interdigital folds,
• enlarged inguinal lymph nodes,
• increased body temperature,
• headache,
• difficulty walking due to pain,
• general weakness.

Onychomycosis of the toes: symptoms and types

In addition to the causative agents of rubrophytosis and epidermophytosis, onychomycosis can be caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida, as well as some other fungi.

The most typical symptoms of onychomycosis, which begin near the free edge of the nail:

• discoloration, loss of natural shine,
• thickening of the nail plate,
• the occurrence of subungual hyperkeratosis,
• destruction of the nail, detachment of the nail bed.

In onychomycosis, there are 2 main types of nail damage:

1. Normotrophic: white and yellowish stripes are visible in the thickness of the nail.
2. Atrophic: thinning, destruction of the nail plate, its detachment.

Diagnosis of fungal infections of the feet

The specialist in the treatment of fungal infections of the feet is a dermatologist who, if necessary, can involve other specialists in the treatment.

After talking with the patient, clarifying the complaints and characteristics of the occurrence and evolution of the disease, the doctor will examine the affected surface and prescribe some types of additional examinations, for example:

1. Microscopic examination with additional treatment of the material with potassium hydroxide.
2. Wood's lamp examination.
3. Inoculation of suspected biological material into special media for fungal growth as well as media for bacteria.

Treatment

Treatment for any fungal foot infection must be prescribed by a doctor to achieve a complete cure.

In general, the treatment of foot mycoses is based on the following therapeutic principles:

1. Fighting the infectious agent. In the initial stages of the disease, local medications are usually prescribed - antifungal ointments, creams, lotions. In severe cases, use systemic antifungal agents.
2. Increasing immunity and improving local blood circulation, treating the underlying disease.
3. Desensitizing therapy. Since foot mycosis is often accompanied by allergic reactions, corresponding antiallergic medications are prescribed, which will help improve the patient's condition.

Home treatment

• To effectively treat foot mycosis, it is necessary to remember that fungi multiply in a humid environment. By excluding moisture, fungi will not develop and the chances of healing will increase.
• Protect your family members from fungal diseases. You must explain to them that from now on you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom or shower. After taking a bath or shower, it is necessary to treat the bathtub itself, the tray and the floor with a disinfectant.
• Wash your feet every day with soap, collecting any fallen pieces of skin with a napkin so that nothing gets under your nails.
• After washing your feet, dry the spaces between your toes with toilet paper or a hairdryer, then apply an antifungal medication prescribed by your doctor. Treatment must be continued for several months, even in cases where the manifestations of mycosis disappear completely.
• Use powder when wearing shoes.
• Wear white cotton socks (cleaned every day). Used socks should be boiled or soaked in disinfectant for 10 minutes. Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays.

Foot mycosis prevention

Timely treatment of diseases that can reduce the body's defenses or impair blood circulation.

Conclusion

Foot fungus is one of the most common fungal skin infections. In most cases, following simple prevention rules helps to avoid the disease, and timely treatment begins to completely eliminate mycosis.