Foot fungus: causes, symptoms and treatments

Fungal infections (mycoses) are among the dermatological diseases are considered the most common. The infection of pathogens is possible in several ways, and the little symptoms of the disease in an early stage of its development, not all of the cases to time forces you to go to the doctor. As a result of a pathological process covers the greater part of the extremities (more often is the soles of the feet) and spreads deeper into the tissues. Released the fungus in the feet is treatable, but to defeat your infection completely, sometimes requires several months of hard therapy.

The causes of the occurrence of fungi on the feet

The causes of the occurrence of fungi on the feet

Foot fungus develops as a consequence of the penetration into the subcutaneous layers of spores of pathogenic microorganisms. The defeat of the skin of the stop is called dermatomycoses, the destruction of nail plates under the action of a fungus – onychomycosis.

The infection of pathogens occur in one of two ways: direct and indirect. In the first case, the spores of the fungus can be on the floor, tile, and wood surfaces. In the second infection is transmitted through personal items, towels, slippers, towels, and manicure appliances.

Fungal microorganisms for a long time retain their viability in tones that are warm and moist, which is why the infection occurs most often in swimming pools, beaches, bathrooms, gyms and saunas.

The risk of penetration of microorganisms in the skin often goes up, if on android there are crack–, abrasion -, wear -, corn. Susceptibility to the fungus increases under the influence of the predisposition to the disease of the factors, that is:

  • decrease of the resistance of the organism, that is to say, the lack of work of the immune system;
  • the breach of the rules of hygiene;
  • increased sweating;
  • diseases of the endocrine system, which passed with the violation of the processes of change. Mycoses are characteristic of patients with diabetes mellitus;
  • violation of the circulation of the blood in the lower extremities, which may be related to vascular pathologies or deformities of the feet;
  • the use of the tight, poorly ventilated shoes. The walk, while, under such conditions, constantly sweat, will produce wear and abrasion, that is to say, is created suitable for the reproduction of fungi in the environment;
  • age. The fungal infection is characteristic of children and the elderly, these groups of patients with thin skin, and its protective properties reduced, which created conditions for the infiltration of the infection.
  • the excessive dryness of the epidermis. Wet the skin in the fat from the surface of the protective film that prevents the penetration of pathogens. With the increase of the dryness there is the protection that allows the disputes chamber of the mushrooms is easy to penetrate into the interior.

The likelihood of developing a yeast infection is much greater, if on the body acting several cause the disease of factors.

Types of fungi

Of the disease depending on the type of fungus is classified as:

  • of the athlete. It is called flexible Trichophytonmcntagrophytes;
  • the.. Are found in 70 % of cases of mycosis stop.

Depending on the location of the lesion process are distinguished:

  • an infection between the toes (dermatophytosis). Most often develops in the form of intertriginous (acute) infection by fungi;
  • plantar athlete's foot. The main symptoms are scaling of the skin, that the progression of the disease comes in the keratinization;
  • disgidroticheskaya of the stop. The process begins with the formation of eruptions similar in the form of allergic manifestations;
  • deep the form of the mycosis. The infection affects the surface waters and located in the layers of the epidermis of the feet;
  • onychomycosis – fungal defeat Polish of the plates. Rarely happens in isolation, in the majority of cases is a complication of surface water plantar mycosis.
The symptoms of the pathology

The symptoms of the pathology

The initial phase of the disease often happens with clear signs. The appearance of flaky patches, small redness and itching is often not taken seriously, and the use of different external medications for itching and inflammation, reduces the symptoms, but the fungus does not die. That is to say, the infection continues to evolve and gradually becomes chronic. The symptoms of the disease depend on the form of the disease and its duration.

  • interdigital form mycosis characterized by the appearance of redness, and burning between the toes. Inflammatory process not, the infection rarely spreads beyond interdigital intervals. As a rule, in winter the symptoms calm down, and in the summer peak;
  • fungicide defeat happens with desquamation of the epidermis and redness of the individual plots of the feet. Periodically occurs itching;
  • hyperkeratotic form. It is characterized by the formation aqueous papules or plaques cyanotic color with a rough surface. Individual foci may be mixed among themselves, are formed cracks in the heels;
  • disgidroticheskaya form. The main symptoms are the appearance of a large number watery bubbles that with the time appointed, and in their place are the sores. In the stage of implementation of this type of disease is often confused with eczema.
  • onychomycosis is manifested by a color change of the nail plate, the appearance in it of dark or clear spots and stripes, the stratification of the nail and reinforced.

When the feeling of burning, redness, peeling, itching in the feet and shins is required as soon as possible consult a doctor. In the early phase of the disease is easily treatable outside of the media.

The diagnosis

With the suspicion of an infection, you should consult a dermatologist. A physician who is already under the patient's complaints and the inspection will issue a diagnostic. But for confirmation, and to determine the type of excitation laboratory tests are needed. Its realization allows you to adjust the type of organism that you need to select the correct scheme of treatment.

Methods of treatment

The drug therapy is formed from the stage of the disease, patient's age, comorbidity, and complications. The treatment must be comprehensive, consists in the use of foreign and of the system of medicine popular methods.

In addition, the doctor may assign multivitamin complex, improve the functioning of the immune system. To clear itching in the acute phase of the disease to reduce the irritation help to the antihistamines. When you join secondary infection requires a course of therapy with anti-bacterial drugs.

The fungus must be removed and articles of personal use. In the first place, then try shoes of the disinfectant, and it is better at all to replace it by a new one.

When an infection is detected, do not forget that it is possible to the infection by the fungus and other members of the family. Therefore, before recovery you must use only your toiletries, towels and slippers. The spores of fungi or destroyed under the influence of high temperatures, so you need to caress wearable and linens, and even socks.

Local medicines

Local anti-fungal ointments, gels, emulsions, and solutions. Put foreign drugs into the contaminated area of the skin to stop after your treatment. For this it is enough to make for legs tray with potassium permanganate, soda, or economic soap. Procedure time of 15 minutes, after not dry out the skin, and put assigned to the tool.

When onychomycosis before applying the ointment or solution is necessary to remove the upper part of the affected nail. Nail plate is melted with a special keratolytic funds. If it does not, then the components of the ointment not to fall in the lower layers of the nail, that is to say, there where to grow colonies of fungi.

The defeat of the nail tools in the system of fungus, sometimes it is necessary to drink over the course of 12 months and more. The scheme of reception of medicines the patient shall designate a physician.

The apple cider vinegar

Home remedies

How to get rid of foot fungus at home? It is necessary to remember that the use of any type of "soup of the grandmother recipes," as the main therapy, which favors the infection decreases, but does not go away. This makes the fungus with the time, is active again. Therefore, popular anti-fungal media should be combined with medication therapy.

Defeat an infection stop through the pool, whether made with the ointment, the friction.

  • medications anti-fungal properties have tubs with the addition of salt, baking soda, and laundry soap. In 5 liters of hot water is necessary to take 2 tablespoons of salt and baking soda, grate in the solution of a fourth of the piece of laundry soap. In the water the feet hold half an hour, then dry out and are placed on the skin and nails, an antifungal drug;
  • interdigital intervals, and the foci of the infection by fungi on the feet you can lubricate the brea birch. The procedure is better to go in the evening, the feet are put clean socks;
  • the apple cider vinegar must be mixed with the same amount of alcohol solution of iodine. In the resulting liquid-wet the plug and well lubricated they affected stop;
  • the garlic oil. The garlic cloves need to grind on the mash and connect with butter, oil, or pork fat. Received the ointment is used for the treatment of stop.

The treatment of foot fungus popular ways is done several consecutive weeks. It is desirable to change from time to time, this will increase the effectiveness of the therapy.

The prevention of the infection

Prevent infection is not always possible. But you can reduce the risk of fungal infection of micro-organisms to a minimum. You must follow the following rules.

  1. In the public space, which requires a change of shoes, take just my.
  2. Not use bad personal hygiene items.
  3. Have been formed at the foot of the abrasion, of the corn and the rash is treated quickly.
  4. Use only good-quality, well-ventilated shoes.
  5. Observe the rules of hygiene.

The likelihood of developing any type of infection is reduced to the good work of the immunity. To improve the state of the defences, helps the management of the feeding, the treatment with vitamins, temple. It is necessarily necessary, and a time to heal all chronic diseases.

Conclusion

Nail fungus is not dangerous, but it is very unpleasant its manifestations and consequences of the pathology. Fight the infection with modern drugs can, literally, for a few days, but with a condition – a resource appropriate to your doctor.