Fungus on the feet is a seasonal disease and mostly manifests itself in the season of wearing closed shoes. Fungal infections of the feet do not attract as much attention as other types of fungi, such as toenail fungus. This is because the foot is not visible unless you look at it specifically. And the first, not strong manifestations, are attributed to everyday causes.
The easiest way to get tested for foot fungus is to sniff your shoes! Bad smell is a sign of a fungal infection. Although the fungi themselves do not emit odor, but their waste products. . . Plus the waste products of microorganisms that have settled in wounds formed by fungal disease. And mostly these are staphylococci. All this taken together is what causes unpleasant odors from shoes and feet.
Combing the skin of the affected area leads to the spread of the infection!
When the feet are in warm, closed shoes for a long time, they sweat profusely. Fungi, which under normal conditions are not activated after being in an ideal environment for themselves, begin to actively develop. Therefore, the second name of this disease appeared - "Athletic foot". A fungal disease of the feet and caused by several types of fungi. And because athletes spend most of their time in tight, closed shoes, they suffer mostly from thismycosis.
The athlete's foot is quite common. It causes a fungal infection of the soles of the feet or areas of skin between the toes.
Such mycoses can be caused by the appearance on the feet of one of the varieties of a parasitic colony of an infectious and highly contagious disease called foot fungus.
Fungal diseases that cause extensive skin lesions are provoked by different types of fungi, the nature of which is established in the study of analyzes.
How the fungus manifests itself
On the skin of the feet the pathology manifests itself initially in small areas that are prone to peeling, then the spot spreads with uneven edges and the mycosis becomes more pronounced.
The activity of the manifestation of symptoms of fungus on the feet can be both lightning and quite slow. Because it all depends on how strong a person's immunity is and the type of microorganism that brought this disease.
The types of fungus on the feet are quite different and they manifest themselves in their own way, but if a person has any pathological changes in the feet, then you need to find out from specialists what the cause is. Mycologists will explain what a fungus is and teach you how to fight it.
What does foot fungus look like?
The fungus on the feet is accompanied, in most cases, by the "athlete's foot" - it looks like barely noticeable flaky skin. With the spread of the pathology, the skin color changes to red and the changes become more noticeable. In addition, foot disease looks likelarge areas with large scales dry skin, sometimes the signs are located on one side, sometimes on both sides of the foot. The location of the foot fungus is usually located in the lower extremities and how the limb looks depends on the degree of pathology.
Species differences are considered as:
- very dense horny layer of the sole;
- the scales begin to peel with honey with your fingers;
- the skin is inflamed;
- the defeat of the legs also looks like bubbles.
The fungus formed on the feet looks quite expressive, so one should notice specific manifestations and consult a doctor.
Causes of foot fungus
What to do if a fungus appears? To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand the reasons for its appearance and to think about exactly where the spores can be taken and why the body does not react properly.
About how the formation of an athlete's foot begins, the reasons preceding the development of pathogenic flora, mycologists say the following: fungus on the feet of the feet can develop if a person uses socks or shoes of an infected person, and also does not wear slippers. places where masses of people pass, namely in public baths, saunas and swimming pools, because that is where the most favorable soil for the bacterial front.
How to identify foot fungus
The development of mycoses, a fungal disease provokes at a fairly high rate and especially quickly such manifestations develop if there are concomitant chronic diseases. Foot disease can be identified independently, but in order not to confuse any abrasion of the skin with signs of fungus on the feet, it is worth considering carefully the condition of the roof, as well as what the skin under the toes looks like.
Foot fungus is quite diverse in its symptoms, as the types of foot fungus are also not limited to one and each of them has its own characteristic manifestation.
What does foot fungus look like?
And what the skin fungus on the feet may look like will determine what it looks like. So to speak, the mycelium will leave its "business card" on arrival.
Sometimes people with a history of such pathology do not even know about it, they just see too dry coverage of their feet, but keep in mind that it must be so.
The general symptoms usually look like this:
- the appearance of microcracks;
- mild itching, especially between the toes;
- strong peeling;
- sometimes swelling and pain in places where erosion occurs;
- rarely, but bleeding occurs.
- deep cracks may appear.
How to treat fungus on the feet
The treatment of fungus on the feet is a long process, but if the preparatory stage is carried out correctly, ie the diagnosis reveals which pathogen parasitizes in the body, then the therapy can be faster.
It is necessary to completely treat the skin fungus, using both internally taken drugs and external medical pharmacological agents.
The athletic foot is treatable by careful examination of all affected areas, this should be facilitated by a course of treatment.
About how to treat the fungus, you should consult with mycologists. They will be able to talk in detail about which drugs are able to cope well with the disease.
The treatment of foot diseases can be divided into several parts. An important key task is to strengthen the most vulnerable areas and rehabilitate the areas affected by the disease. It is important to know that your feet should always be dry and clean:
- and shoes must be made of breathable materials;
- removable cotton socks should become a good absorbent that collects moisture;
- after the feet have been in shoes all day, it is necessary to rinse them thoroughly and lubricate them with a special agent prescribed by a doctor.
It is also good to use special powders that help keep your feet dry.
The next part of the treatment includes the use of antifungal drugs, such as:
- ointments with a special composition;
- cream with a lighter texture than ointment, which means with a deeper angle of penetration inside;
- aerosols, the smallest particles of which penetrate the most difficult places of access.
And although almost all pharmacological preparations intended for the removal of pathogens are sold in retail pharmacies without a special prescription, however, consultation with an experienced specialist will not only not be superfluous, but, conversely, will help to obtain a complex effect onthis disease.
The most common reasons why the treatment does not work are, above all, a disturbed treatment regimen and irregular use of funds.
There are also the following reasons:
- many patients do not understand the severity of the disease and do not accept the proposed treatment;
- about a third of patients do not go to specialists at all and occasionally use self-medication, which for obvious reasons does not bring relief;
- many patients do not believe that it is necessary to accurately diagnose a type of pathogen;
- many, as soon as the first positive results are achieved, stop the treatment on their own.
How to treat foot fungus with folk remedies
You can also treat foot fungus with folk remedies at home.
There is a good tool you can do yourself.
Ointment that well destroys mycosis of the feet:
- vinegar essence - 110 grams;
- one raw egg;
- butter - 200 grams (it is better to take a natural agricultural).
Scrub with absorbents from the kitchen shelf:
- Carbonated drinks;
- drunken coffee;
- ground oval oats;
- Rice flour.
Such components introduced into the foam can be excellent helpers in sanding the skin of the feet. They are great for exfoliating skin particles and releasing those areas that need to be treated from unnecessary layers.
Compresses with anesthetic solution.
A gauze compress is soaked in an anesthetic solution and strengthened on the legs at night. In the morning, the bandage is removed and the affected areas are treated with a decoction of chamomile. Repeat for 7 days.
If you study the topic well, then the disease of the feet can be treated with folk remedies, and the fungus on the skin of the feet will pass without a trace, without the possibility of recurrence.
Consequences of advanced mycosis of the skin of the feet
Treatment of skin fungus on the feet should be comprehensive and timely, otherwise the following complications may occur:
- the parasitic elements themselves, as well as the products that remain after their vital activity, increase the risk of allergies in patients;
- the course of dermatitis can be complicated by the appearance of eczema and psoriasis;
- as the skin is severely injured, the infection penetrates unhindered into the lower layers of the epidermis and provokes the appearance of lymphostasis.
With athlete's foot, warts appear much more often and hyperkeratosis can form.
Precautions
Fungus on the feet or more precisely their appearance can be prevented.
First, it is possible to use ointments and folk remedies as additional protection, and then the treatment of the fungus, even if it occurs, will be carried out according to a simplified scheme.
And you also need to perform the following steps:
- eat as prescribed by a healthy lifestyle;
- observe hygienic procedures;
- strengthen the body's immune defenses;
- apply preventive precautions.