Mycosis of the feet is one of the most common fungal infections of the skin.The skin between the toes and the underside of the foot often become infected.The cause of the disease is fungi of the genus Trichophyton and Candida.Upon contact with the epidermis, they begin to actively multiply.The result of their activity is peeling of the skin, cracks between the fingers, and diaper rash.At a later stage, the disease affects the nails, they become dull, thicken, the edges begin to crumble, and yellow stripes are noted.The disease can spread to the hands and large folds of skin on the body.
Scratching the affected skin or minor injuries allows the fungi to penetrate deeper into the layers of the dermis.Thus, the infection spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body.In children and older people, fungal skin damage manifests itself in a more acute form and is more difficult to treat.This is due to age-related characteristics of the immune system.
Stress is also a trigger for the development of mycosis.The fungal infection is resistant to adverse external factors and prefers heat and moisture.Showers with disrupted water flow, saunas, old house shoes, rented shoes (skates, rollerblades, ski boots), fleecy rugs in bathrooms are the main breeding grounds for fungi.They penetrate the skin through scratches and calluses.
People with excessive sweating of the feet are at risk, because with prolonged exposure, sweat corrodes the skin and reduces its protective properties.People with an erased form of mycosis with slight peeling of the skin and painless microcracks that can only be noticed by a doctor pose a particular danger to others.
Chronic mycosis of the skin of the feet and nail plates is often the cause of autoimmune allergic reactions, including the development of bronchial asthma.It is important to properly treat mycosis without transforming it into a stable chronic form.
Symptoms
The symptoms of mycosis of the feet are very diverse.Initial symptoms: cracks appear, painful or itchy blisters, diaper rash, and roughening of the skin.Subsequently, the areas of the skin affected by the fungus soften, turn white and begin to peel off.A bacterial infection may be added, then the blisters transform into ulcers or ulcers.
Itching and burning are constant symptoms of mycosis, some patients complain of pain and an unpleasant odor.
Reasons
Mycosis of the feet is caused by several types of parasitic fungi.These microorganisms are present in large numbers on the floors of swimming pools and baths, as well as in public showers.A person can become infected by walking barefoot in such places.
Wearing someone else's shoes, sharing towels and other personal hygiene products is another common way to spread infection.
Immunity is not developed against fungal diseases, so re-infection occurs as easily as the initial one.
The growth of the fungus is stimulated by improper foot hygiene: putting socks and shoes on wet feet, not washing socks daily and of poor quality, insufficient ventilation and drying of shoes.
The appearance of mycosis on the hands is mainly due to the action of fungal toxins circulating in the bloodstream.Also, when combing the soles, microorganisms remain under the fingernails, from where they can be transferred to other parts of the body, incl.on the scalp.People susceptible to mycoses should always remember this route of infection.
Risk factors
Despite its rapid spread, not everyone develops mycosis of the feet.A strong and healthy body can cope with a fungal infection on its own.However, it often happens that the immune system restrains the development of the fungus for a long time, and then stress, ARVI or any other internal failure occurs, and the fungal infection begins to progress rapidly.
It has been observed that people get sick faster under the following circumstances:
- profuse sweating;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- hormonal imbalances;
- taking certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- chronic dermatological diseases.
Excessive sweating and neglect of personal hygiene rules create an ideal environment for the development of fungus.Sweat provokes the rapid proliferation of fungal microflora.Insufficient foot hygiene, socks made of synthetic fabric, too narrow and closed shoes accelerate the development and spread of fungal infection.
Hormonal imbalances are common in adolescents, so they are at risk of developing mycosis.The restructuring of the hormonal system temporarily reduces immunity and can cause profuse sweating.These factors contribute to the growth and spread of pathogenic microflora.
A decrease in immunity can occur due to long-term use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis reduce cellular immunity and create favorable conditions for the addition of a secondary infection, in particular fungal.Mycosis is often a complication of dermatological diseases.Increase the risk of infection: shoes that are too narrow;ingrown nails;abrasions and wounds on the feet;diabetes mellitus;vascular diseases.
Forms of the disease
Erased form.Initial stage of the disease.Symptoms: slight peeling of the skin between the fingers, small cracks in the upper layer of the epidermis.The patient does not feel discomfort and may not suspect that he has mycosis.
Squamous form.The skin between the fingers peels off and becomes covered with flat scales, with minor itching.
Hyperkeratotic form.Flat blue-red papules and plaques appear.The main location of the lesion is the arch of the foot.The formations are covered with scales.The formation of individual bubbles is possible.The rash can merge into groups, forming large lesions.Over time, the entire foot is affected.Yellow hyperkeratotic formations (calluses) covered with cracks may appear.The skin is dry, with minor pain and itching.
Intertriginous form.The inflammation is similar to regular diaper rash.The greatest damage is observed on the skin between the fingers.Reddish swelling appears.The existing symptoms include ulcers and wetting.If left untreated, painful deep cracks and erosions appear.Patients note pain in the affected area, itching and severe burning.
Dyshidrotic form.Lots of compacted bubbles.Localization of lesions is the arches of the feet.The rash can spread, so prompt treatment is essential.If left untreated, the blisters spread to the entire surface of the foot, including the toes.Small blisters can coalesce and develop into larger blisters that can burst.Reddish erosions remain in their place.
Acute form.Increased sensitivity to fungal pathogens and rapid progression of the disease.There is severe redness and swelling on the surface of the feet, and large vesicles and blisters appear.After opening, large erosions develop in their place;the sores extend beyond the folds between the fingers.In some cases, weakness, fever, and headaches are noted.
Symptoms may vary from person to person.When the first alarming symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of mycosis of the foot
Diagnosis and treatment of mycosis should be carried out by a dermatologist or mycologist.
Diagnostics include:
- detailed examination of the foot;
- taking anamnesis;
- scraping from the affected areas of the skin or cutting off a piece of a deformed nail;
- a test to detect fungal infections in the body as a whole;
- sowing the material on a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy for analysis under a microscope (in rare cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
Treatment
Incorrect or late treatment can lead to mycosis developing into an advanced form.In this case, recovery may take up to six months or more.Therefore, you need to seek the help of a doctor at the first symptoms.First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the pathogen; for this, the doctor takes a scraping from the affected skin.Based on the results, the optimal course of antimycotic therapy is selected.Modern antifungal drugs - creams, gels, ointments, sprays - effectively cope with the disease.They have a wide spectrum of action, are applied 1-2 times a day, do not stain the skin and linen, and do not have a specific odor.
External means
The selection of drugs depends on the stage of mycosis.For mild forms, only external agents are prescribed; for severe forms, systemic treatment is required.The most popular drugs for external use are Terbinafine and Naftifine.They act on a number of pathogenic fungi that cause mycosis of the feet.Do not cause side effects.Bifonazole and Clotrimazole have a rapid action against yeast-like fungi.Thanks to their oily consistency, they effectively soften the skin and eliminate dryness, flaking and itching.These drugs speed up the healing and restoration process of affected skin.Bifonazole is a complex remedy aimed at treating foot fungus and nail plates.Eliminates itching, flaking, burning sensation and unpleasant odor.In addition to antifungal agents, it is important to regularly treat the skin with antiseptics.A solution of chlorhexidine or miramistin is good for this.When a secondary infection occurs and suppuration appears, antibacterial ointments are prescribed.
Tablet drugs
For the treatment of mycosis of the feet, the following are used: Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Nystatin.For yeast-like fungi, Fluconazole and Nystatin are prescribed.The latter is considered an outdated drug and is rarely prescribed.Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride granules are specially designed to combat fungal infections of the feet.The regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician.
Recommendations
Mycosis of the foot is a fungal infection, and fungi reproduce only in a moist environment.By eliminating moisture, you prevent the infection from spreading.
Try to protect people around you from infection.Explain that you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom.Every time after taking a shower, treat the bathtub or shower tray, as well as the bathroom floor, with a disinfectant.
Every day before going to bed, wash your feet with regular soap and warm water, making sure that the skin does not become too soft.Dry your feet thoroughly with a paper towel or hairdryer, paying special attention to the area between the toes.Don't forget to apply antifungal cream or ointment.Continue treatment as recommended by your doctor, even if your symptoms have disappeared.Antifungal creams and ointments are applied only to dry skin.If your feet are prone to sweating, you must wait until the medicine is absorbed.
Wear cotton socks and wash them every day.When washing, use a chlorine bleach solution (not soap) or boil the socks for 10 minutes.This way you will eliminate fungi from your clothes and prevent re-infection.Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays and dried for a couple of days (preferably in the sun).
Prevention of foot fungus
After being outside, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. After being in any of the risk areas, wash your feet thoroughly with soap, dry with a towel and treat with any antifungal solution. If there is a person in the family with mycosis, he should have separate towels for the face, hands and feet.Afterwards, the bath should be thoroughly treated with a special bath cleaner. If your feet sweat a lot, you can apply talcum powder or antiperspirant deodorant to them. Do not wear someone else’s shoes, especially slippers offered by guests, and in turn, do not offer your shoes to others.
Try not to let your feet sweat.In a room where you stay for more than an hour, try to change your shoes into replacement shoes. When visiting a sauna, public shower, swimming pool, wear rubber slippers, do not walk barefoot in public areas. After a shower, swimming in a pond or in a pool, treat your feet with antifungal cream. Wear clean socks and tights every day.Do not allow others to use your sponges, washcloths, manicure and pedicure accessories.They must be disinfected before use.
Clean the bathtub with a cleaning product and use a strong stream of water before using it. Remove wooden footstools, as well as fabric and sponge rugs from the bathroom.They retain moisture and may leave behind skin flakes and pieces of nails infected with fungus.Use either a special grill (coated with special enamel or plastic) or a rubber mat.
Moisture in the folds between the fingers softens the skin and makes it easier for fungal infections to enter.Wipe the folds between your toes dry with a separate foot towel or dry them with a hairdryer. According to statistics, mycoses are more common in people with flat feet.Therefore, wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with heels no higher than 4 cm with a special orthopedic insole or a soft protrusion that supports the arch of the foot.
No matter how complete and competent home foot care is, it is necessary to regularly carry out podiatric care for the skin of the feet and nail plates (medical pedicure).It will help maintain healthy feet and nails, and the doctor will give individual recommendations for home care and prevention.