Various types of fungus on human feet are called mycoses. When the skin is affected, the disease is referred to the group of dermatomycosis (epidermophytosis, trichophytosis), since the dermis is translated from Greek as skin. If the nail is affected, then the disease is defined as onychomycosis.
Causes of the disease
Fungus on the feet is a common disease that occurs all over the world. More common in cities than in rural areas. The risk group for contracting foot fungus includes athletes, shower workers, and hot shop workers. Children have thinner skin, which is not protected from external factors, so they are also susceptible to mycoses. Another reason is increased sweating of the feet, as a result of diseases in the body or a congenital feature. Dermatologists believe that the risk of contracting foot fungus increases with age. Factors contributing to the disease:
- wearing closed uncomfortable leatherette shoes;
- warm environment with high humidity, typical when wearing shoes;
- violation of blood supply to the limbs;
- frequent visits to crowded places;
- a weak or malfunctioning immune system;
- wearing strangers shoes.
Rapid infection
Dermatomycosis of the feet is easily transmitted in public places from a sick person to a healthy person. Infection occurs through contact surfaces: floors, household items, personal hygiene items, someone else's shoes. The fungus is transmitted by direct contact, it multiplies very quickly, which is why it is so easy for them to get infected. Situations of the transmission of fungus in hairdressing salons through tools during a pedicure, as well as towels, are not excluded. The disease affects the skin of the feet. It is especially common in men, as they spend most of their time in closed shoes. Frequent visits to gyms, baths, military service, where you do not always have to wear your own shoe size - all this creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. An unventilated area of the room is beneficial for disease-causing fungi for reproduction. The spread of pathogenic flora is very fast. The place where the fungus predominates is the toes and interdigital spaces. Saunas and baths are characterized by high humidity and high temperatures, which is ideal for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Fungus infection can be direct and indirect. Directly, you can get infected through direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination involves the use of objects that have been used by a sick person.
Manifestations of mycoses
The very first symptom of the disease is the appearance of skin scales in the feet area. Through these elements, infection occurs. Increased sweating is a favorable factor for the reproduction of microbes, since the altered composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora.
Dirt and thread residue from socks also collects between the toes. When a fungal infection is added to the listed factors, redness occurs there. The affected area begins to itch unbearably, causing discomfort to the person. The skin begins to peel off, causing painful cracks to appear. When walking, there are unpleasant painful sensations due to the presence of wounds on the skin of the foot. The skin begins to thicken, and the infection can spread to the nails. If mycosis is left untreated, it spreads and affects the nails, destroying them. The nail plate first changes its color to a white tint. Subsequently, it can flake off. Voids form between the nail plate and the nail bed. With a fungus on the legs, an unpleasant odor appears. In winter, when closed shoes are worn, the leg is not ventilated, the intensity of the lesion of the feet increases. For the treatment of this pathology, an accurate formulation of the correct diagnosis is necessary, because there are a lot of types of fungal pathogens.
The main types of disease
- The membrane type (intertriginous form) is the most common. A fungal infection is observed between the fifth and fourth toes. Gradually, the skin acquires a scaly structure with elements of cracks. Sometimes a bacterial infection becomes attached to the fungus, which causes even more damage to the skin of the legs.
- Moccasin-like type. Manifested by pain in the foot. Then the skin thickens, thickens and cracks. Severe fungal lesions capture the nails, which over time can begin to crumble, flake off.
- Vesicular type (dyshidrotic form). It is manifested by the appearance of blisters under the skin, filled with liquid. It often proceeds along with a bacterial infection.
Types of fungus on the legs photo with names
There are various types of fungi, they correspond to various diseases. There are four most common types of fungus that cause damage to the feet.
- Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophytonrubrum) is fraught with rubrophytosis.
- Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophytoninterdigitale) affects the skin between the fingers, involving the entire foot in the disease. Causes epidermophytosis disease.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes leads to complete epidermophytosis.
- Candida albicans is a female fungus. Causes candidiasis of the feet, but this is rare.
Epidermophytosis and trichophytosis (rubromycosis) are skin diseases that are collectively called mycoses of the feet, caused by parasitic fungi of the genus dermatophytes.
Classification
Dermatophyte fungi:
- microsporum;
- epidermophyton;
- t.
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
- hendersonula;
- altemaria;
- s.
Yeast pathogenic fungi:
- pityrosporum;
- candida;
- cryptococcus;
- malassezia;
- coccidoides;
- histoplasma;
- w.
Preventive measures
Since fungi love a warm, humid habitat, it means that it is necessary to violate these conditions in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to prevent fungus, feet must be clean and dry. It is important to change your socks and dry your shoes on time. There are special antiperspirants on sale that will block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is better to choose leather shoes to maintain normal metabolic processes between the feet and the environment. The foot will sweat less, and the conditions for reproduction will not be created for the fungi. It is advisable to wear socks at home, which you take off and wash, while microbes and dirt will accumulate on home shoes.
It is necessary to use only your own things, since you do not know about the presence of other person's diseases. Your immunity may not be able to cope with pathogens and become infected. You need to air your shoes more often. When visiting public places, it is advisable to take personal hygiene items with you. Never walk barefoot on the floor in swimming pools and showers. The use of prophylactic antifungal creams and ointments also helps. After all, swimming pools, changing rooms, saunas and other rooms with high humidity are breeding grounds for fungus. At home in the bathroom, it is better to refuse porous rugs.
Risk group
There are people who are more susceptible to this disease than others. This may be due to problems in the body, such as:
- excess weight;
- violation of blood circulation in the legs;
- flat feet and deformities of the feet;
- impaired immune system;
- people under stress;
- after antibiotic treatment.
Diagnostics of the fungal disease of the feet
The doctor conducts a detailed examination of the foot, asks complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to be tested for fungus. A skin fragment is obtained with a minor, specially made, scratch on the foot. For analysis, the nail is cut from the place infected with the fungus. The presence of mycosis is determined by special tests. To identify the type of fungus, it is cultivated, that is, it is grown. In rare cases, with an advanced stage of the disease, the patient may be prescribed a biopsy. In this case, the prepared material is examined under a microscope.
Treatment methods
In order to get results from the treatment, it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of infections, if any have joined it. The degree of damage is also taken into account.
The basis of membrane-type treatment looks like applying antifungal drugs to the affected area. It is convenient to carry out even at home. These medications stop the growth of bacteria or slow the spread of the disease. Many of these drugs are available over the counter without a prescription. The action of the substances occurs locally, at the site of application to the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of treatment, if there is no improvement, the drug may not be helping you.
If there is no effect from the agent used, then it is necessary to consult a dermatologist again about the appointment of another treatment. You may need to prescribe a stronger drug. In especially severe cases of the course of the disease, tablets are prescribed. Many drugs have side effects, so it is necessary to monitor blood counts during treatment with pills. The fungus is very difficult to completely cure, as it can recur. Treatment should not be interrupted, otherwise the mushrooms may show resistance to the components of the drug that affect them. During treatment, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the foot. With a moccasin-like form of infection, onychomycosis, that is, damage to the nails, very often occurs. Due to the fact that the skin on the leg is thickened and it is more difficult for drugs to penetrate inside, this disease is more difficult to cure. In this case, the standard drugs "do not work" and additional therapy in the form of pills is prescribed. Onychomycosis - damage to the nails of the feet by a fungus of the genus dermatophytes. The disease can also be caused by yeasts and molds. There are several types of onychomycosis:
- Distal subungual. Depending on the area of the lesion of the nail plate, three degrees of damage are distinguished. If the nail is presented in a section and conditionally divided into three parts (in depth), then the lesion up to two-thirds of its volume will correspond to the first two stages of the disease. And when more than 2/3 of the nail is affected by the fungus, this is already the third degree. In this case, the root of the nail (matrix) is involved in the process of the disease, and sometimes also folds of the skin on the sides of the nail, called periungual ridges;
- proximal subungual. The defeat of the back of the nail plate, where the hole is;
- superficial white. This type of onychomycosis is common on the feet;
- total dystrophic. The last finishing stage.
In the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe the removal of the tops of the blisters. Then all the liquid that flows out of them is blotted out. This area is dried, an antifungal cream or a special compress is applied to it. If the presence of a bacterial infection is determined, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by a fever. Acute infections respond better to treatment than chronic fungal and sluggish processes. In severe cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed. Antifungal medications are taken until complete recovery. It happens that not all of the fungus dies, and when medications are canceled, a relapse of the disease occurs.
If the patient is left untreated, the disease will become chronic and he will develop a severe bacterial infection. In addition to the foot, the skin of the toes may be involved in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions for the treatment of nail fungus using tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as garlic. Washing with regular detergents does not always kill pathogenic bacteria. To remove fungus from clothes, linen should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. We recommend using bleach and hot ironing.