The fungal lesions of the skin and nail plates are the most common dermatological diseases, according to the statistical data of the World Health Association. They deliver a large amount of inconvenience to a person, fetter his household life, violate the usual biorhythm. Treatment of the fungus is long and expensive. Therefore, the earlier diagnostics are made, the faster you can begin treatment, preventing the development of complications.
What is a fungus on the legs?
The fungus of the skin of the legs and nails is an infectious disease that affects the upper layer of the epidermis of the feet and the nail plates of the toes. Onychomycosis (medical name for pathology) occurs due to skin lesions such types of microorganisms as mold, yeast, mushrooms of the Candida type, dermatomycetes, dermatophytes. Data groups of microorganisms are able to live and multiply on the human body, gradually affecting healthy cells. Most often, the fungus is found in men, since their microflora, more suitable for the development of fungal infections.
In a medical classification, there are about 50 different types of fungi. Approximately 85% of fungal lesions are caused by Dermatomycetes. Fungi type Candida become the cause of the disease, about 10% - 12% of cases. The remaining small percentage falls on Mycotic mold microorganisms, which actively multiply with non -compliance with personal hygiene rules.
The intensity of the spread and the degree of progression of fungal diseases depends on many factors: a climate that promotes the reproduction of this type of bacteria; social conditions of human residence; age criterion; individual characteristics of the body; immunity. Most often, people are faced with a fungus, after 50 years, since their level pH is much weaker and is not able to suppress this kind of microorganisms.
The reasons for the formation of the fungus on the legs
The penetration of mycotic organisms into the skin leads to the development of fungal infection. Due to the presence of proteolytic enzymes, fungi easily penetrate the surface tissues of the epidermis, and the protein structure allows them to actively develop and hold in their place.
The immune system of the body is able to independently suppress the pathogenic environment, but sometimes this is not enough. On the surface of the skin, contain special bacteria that support the acid-base balance. The alkaline environment is unfavorable for the development of fungal infections, so mycelium, which falls on healthy skin, dies after a while. But there are a number of factors that enable fungi to get used to the skin:
- mechanical damage to the skin (cuts, scratches, burns);
- aggressive exposure to household chemicals, reducing acid-base balance of the skin (frequent intake of a shower with shampoos or gels, feet deodorants, prolonged contact with water);
- long -term wearing synthetic materials, causing active sweating (synthetic socks, shoes for barefoot);
- Hyperhidrosis - increased sweating associated with the individual characteristics of the body;
- the anatomical features of building the foot, such as flat feet or narrowed gaps between the fingers (worsens the quality of hygiene in these areas), which contributes to poor aeration of the feet;
- too fast growth of nails, growing nails in the skin;
- varicose diseases;
- the climatic features of the region (moderate or cold climate, in which you have to constantly wear closed warming shoes);
- age -related immune and hormonal changes;
- the presence of pathologies affecting the state of the immune system (diabetes, HIV infection, obesity, dystrophy);
- taking antibiotics, cytostatic agents, contraceptives;
- Frequent use of antiseptic agents (gels, napkins, special solutions for skin processing).
The penetration of the fungus into the nail plates of the toes, occurs as follows:
- The fungus penetrates from the free edge of the nail (which is cut). Thus, the development of the disease begins under the nail itself, gradually deforming the free edge and spreading deep into healthy areas. This form of the fungus is the simplest and easily eliminated.
- Dorsal means (from cuticle). This method of damage to the nail plates is less common. It is characteristic only for dermatomicetov. Dorsal defeat entails the rapid destruction of the nail plate as fast as possible.
- By damage to the proximal roller. This is the rarest and most severe shape of the nail fungus. The disease leads to the destruction of the structure of the nail phalanx itself. If you do not start treatment in time, then you can forever lose the nail, since it will not be able to grow again. The use of ointments, gels and liquids in this form of the fungus is absolutely ineffective.
In a large risk group, people who often visit public places are found: sports clubs, public showers, pools, beaches with water bodies, saunas or baths. Also, people who acquire already worn shoes and clothes or change it with friends or acquaintances are highly at risk.
Symptoms of the fungus of the feet and nails on the legs
Symptoms and the course of the disease depends primarily on the type of microorganisms that provoked this disease. Another factor is age than the older person, the more pronounced the symptoms will be, and the process of damage to the skin and nail is significantly accelerated.
Despite the individual course of the disease, regarding the type of bacteria and characteristics of the body, there are general symptoms by which you can recognize a fungal infection:
- In the presence of a fungus on the skin of the legs, tissue compaction occurs, especially on the phalanges of the fingers. As a rule, the skin brightens, becomes dry, begins to peel off. Peeling is accompanied by unpleasant itching. The harbinger of the lesion of the nail plates is the inflammation of the near-nonsense roller. The fungus that affects the skin of the nail roller is accompanied by an inflammatory process. When pressed on the skin, a person feels pain, there is discomfort when wearing closed shoes.
- If it comes to the nails themselves, the symptoms appear gradually. First, you can notice small changes in the color of the nail, it becomes more muddy and is covered with a white haze. If the cause of the fungus became dermatomycetes, it begins to be divided. Further, the color of the nail plates occurs, they become more yellow, after which they begin to compact. After sealing, the nail deformation occurs, the nail phalanxes begin to be spinned, the nail begins to gradually color.
In the process of developing the disease, a person feels a little pain and itching, there is a desire to scratch under a nail. In addition, for the skin fungus, a characteristic unpleasant sour smell, which is very tangible in a tight, closed space.
Treatment of the skin fungus and nails on the legs
Treatment of skin and nail plates is significantly different. Therefore, the presence of both types of fungus involves complex therapy. For the treatment of skin fungus, ointments, gels or creams are most often used:
- Sulfuric ointment. It destroys the protein membranes of fungi, preventing their reproduction. The ointment perfectly relieves itching and eliminates inflammation.
- Zinc ointment. It is often used in the treatment complex of skin fungus, accelerating the healing process of wounds.
- Salicylic ointment. This tool is effective for all types of skin fungus. The course of treatment is only 2 weeks.
For the treatment of more severe forms of fungal infections caused by Mycetic mold, use drugs for taking inside. The essence of this treatment is based on two principles:
- Destroy the fungus in the phase of active development.
- Stop the growth of pathogenic microflora.
Before starting treatment, you should go through all the necessary medical studies and determine the type of microorganisms that caused the fungus. Only on the basis of these data, the doctor will be able to prescribe effective treatment.
Prevention and treatment of fungus on the legs with folk remedies
As already mentioned, the formation of a fungus on the skin of the feet and nails of the legs is associated with the fall of the natural level of the alkaline balance PH5. 5. It is alkaline balance that prevents the development of pathogenic microflora. Therefore, the treatment of the fungus with folk remedies, aimed precisely at increasing the acid-base balance of the skin. Effective home methods of struggle fungus at home can be attributed to the following:
- An alkaline bath. In three liters of warm water, dissolve one tablespoon of ordinary stone salt (even better iodized) and bastard soda. Dip in such a solution of the leg, having previously cleared the skin, and hold for 15 minutes.
- Bath based on vinegar and iodine. Add to a basin with warm water, half a glass of table vinegar and 10 drops of iodine. Lower your legs for 15 minutes. In the absence of time, you can simply moisten two cotton swabs in vinegar and wipe each foot with your nails. If the skin has foci of fungal infection, they should be lubricated with iodine so that the fungus does not spread.
- Lemon juice. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and add a pinch of salt to it. Moisten one cotton swab in the juice and treat all the affected areas of the skin and also nails. Repeat the procedure three times a day.
Such procedures will serve as an excellent prevention of fungus for people who lead an active lifestyle, visiting sports complexes, pools. For preventive purposes, one procedure per week is enough. For the treatment of simple forms of fungal infection, therapy is carried out daily, for one week. Even if such methods do not help eliminate the fungus, they will be able to slow down the development of pathogenic microorganisms, to your visit to the dermatologist.