Types and methods of treatment of foot fungus

The most common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the dermatomycosis group is athlete's foot.The parasite affects not only the phalanges of the fingers and the nail plates of the lower extremities, but also the folds between the fingers and the heel.The disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and requires a long therapeutic course with antifungal drugs.How to treat foot fungus and how to recognize it, we will see in this article.

Reasons

Parasites get on the skin and multiply quickly if there is a favorable environment, especially heat and high humidity, as a result of which the epithelium is damaged and its functionality is impaired.Treatment of skin fungus on the legs is more effective in the early stages of the pathological process.

It is worth knowing: in most clinical pictures, the causative agent of mycosis of the feet is fungi of the Candida family and certain species of trichophytons.

Against the background of a long duration of the disease, the risk of damage to the deeper layers of the skin increases significantly.In advanced cases, parasites can penetrate into the circulatory system, which causes internal organs to malfunction.In such a case, the treatment is very long and difficult, strong drugs are used.

You can catch fungus in saunas and baths, as well as in other similar places with high humidity and heat.People often get infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where the tools are not disinfected.Wearing other people's shoes is another factor that causes infection.

Factors that cause the activation of fungi:

• Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
• Varicose veins of the lower extremities;
• Vascular disorders;
• Autoimmune pathologies (for example, Raynaud's disease);
• Flat feet, poor quality shoes;
• Lack of a balanced diet, which leads to a serious lack of vitamins and minerals;
• Violation of the immune system, etc.

Infection also occurs under the influence of such circumstances: non-compliance with hygiene rules, sharing clothes, towels, etc. with a sick person.

Types and symptoms

In medical practice, foot and nail fungus is classified depending on the specific pathogen present on the skin.Mixed infections are often diagnosed, caused by the simultaneous parasitism of two or more species of fungi.The type of pathogen should be taken into account when determining further treatment.

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite places are skin folds, gaps between the toes and cracks on the heels.The symptoms of this type of foot fungus are as follows: deep cracks and erosions are observed, the integrity of the skin is disturbed, the stratum corneum is actively growing.
2. Trichophyton mentagrophytes in most cases cause the development of allergies, which are manifested by severe itching and burning sensation.How to identify these types of mushrooms?There is a separation of the skin on his leg, there are many small cracks that hurt.
3. Trichophyton interdigitale.This parasite is located between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If there is no treatment, cracks and erosions appear over time and the nail plate is affected.
4. Candida is quite common.Symptoms of foot fungus: areas of the feet turn white, sometimes gray, growing spots appear.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain caused by skin cracking.

Note: pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several types - molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They provoke foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and onychomycosis of the feet.In turn, pathologies combined into a group called "rubromycosis" mean diseases of the feet.They are divided into subtypes depending on clinical manifestations - vesicular, membranous, moccasin-like.

Fungal infection of the feet is accompanied by symptoms determined by the stage of the foot disease:

• The early stage of the development of pathology occurs against the background of itching of the legs, skin hyperemia and slight swelling.Sometimes small cracks are observed on the surface;
• The middle stage is characterized by the appearance of growth-prone spots, the skin flakes, itches and there is a burning sensation;
• In the absence of treatment, these images reveal extensive damage.The fungus of the foot skin spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly splits and collapses.

In the absence of timely treatment, the disease passes into a chronic stage, from time to time the patient improves, but with the slightest stress or a decrease in immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often, the picture is complicated by the addition of bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.

Treatment of foot fungus

The symptoms and treatment of foot fungus are interconnected, as the therapeutic course is prescribed based on the clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.The following drugs are used to eliminate inflammatory processes, swelling, and excess stratum corneum:

1. The affected area is lubricated daily with salicylic petroleum jelly.Manipulation is carried out twice a day, the duration of treatment is 7 days.
2. Fungal infections of the foot are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They should be mixed with petroleum jelly.Apply a compress for two days, after which you can easily remove the keratinized areas.
3. To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.These products have antiseptic properties and help to relieve inflammation and swelling.
4. If light peeling is observed, it is allowed to use baths with added soda.
5. When ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are used.These drugs contain hormones and should not be used alone or for long periods of time.The application is carried out according to the principle of pulse therapy: they use it for several days, take a break during which the effect is evaluated, if there is no effect, repeat it again, etc.

Important: if the nail is damaged, it is better to use keratolytic adhesive plaster or antimycotic nail varnish.

When asked how to treat foot fungus, doctors recommend drugs with different dosage forms - ointment, emulsion, gel, cream, tablets.

How to treat fungus in an advanced stage?If the pathological process covers a large area and obvious symptoms appear, systemic treatment with antifungal drugs is required.

During the treatment, you need to follow all the doctor's recommendations, treat your feet every day and take the right dose of tablets.Treatment continues until negative laboratory results are obtained.With nail fungus, it lasts until a new nail plate grows.

Prevention of athlete's foot

It is easy to get infected with a fungus, but it is quite difficult to treat it.As the process is relatively long, the patient should be patient.After treatment, you should follow the following rules to prevent the fungus or its recurrence:

1. When visiting a bath or sauna, you should always take your personal slippers with you to avoid standing barefoot.Only personal towels, washcloths, etc.you can use.
2. At home, it is necessary to regularly clean the bathroom and the floor using products containing chlorine.
3. Fungi love heat and moisture, so it is necessary to fight hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities - use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate and onion peel.
4. Special talc will help prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and periodically treated with a foot product.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils moisturize the skin and have an antimycotic effect.
6. Disinfection of shoes - first wipe with a cotton pad dipped in 25% formaldehyde or 70% vinegar solution.Then put it in a sealed bag and seal it tightly.After a day, remove the shoes and air them out.

If the focus of the fungal infection is small, the disease can be quickly eliminated using antifungal creams and prevention methods.Without treatment, the disease progresses and quickly spreads to healthy areas.

The process of treating fungus is always long.The sooner the treatment starts, the faster the patient recovers.In neglected paintings, restoration takes years, not months.