If a person has a foot fungus, it is important to start treatment in a timely and proper manner. The fact is that a fungal disease of the skin of the legs is contagious, and if you do not immediately begin to fight the disease, all members of the patient's family are at risk of infection. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, it will depend on the type of pathology, the degree of skin damage, as well as the general condition of the person.
Causes of the appearance of fungus on the legs
When it enters the skin of the legs, the fungus does not always cause mycosis, and in order for the first symptoms to appear, negative factors must affect the human body. The following negative causes influence the development of mycosis:
- weakening of the body's immune forces;
- the use of heavy and toxic drugs;
- non-compliance with the rules of hygiene of the feet and toes;
- the presence of cracks, wounds and abrasions on the toes and feet, through which fungal spores can enter the body.
The places of infection with the fungus are the moist floors of swimming pools, baths and showers in gyms.
A fungal infection enters the body through household contact, when an adult or child comes into contact with a sick carrier or objects that are inhabited by fungal spores. Often, foot fungus can be picked up in public places: locker rooms, showers, swimming pools, on the beach. The disease can also be transmitted by wearing someone else's shoes, in which the spores of the pathogen live. Non-compliance with elementary hygiene rules leads to undesirable consequences that provoke fungal pathologies of the feet and nails. The carrier may not always be able to find out in time that he has a foot fungus, since symptoms appear only in a combination of unfavorable circumstances. But that person is still contagious, and this is dangerous for loved ones who are also at risk of an infectious infection.
Symptoms and types
Mycosis of the feet is of the following forms:
- quasimo;
- dyshidrotic;
- intertriginous;
- onychomycosis;
- candidate
scaly
The initial symptoms of a fungus of this form can be found only on one leg, however, with the progression of the pathology, a manifestation is observed on the other foot. The disease resembles a skin defect in which inflammation is formed, covered with peeling. Scaly foot fungus is not always characterized by itching and discomfort, so for many this disease goes unnoticed and it is impossible to determine without a laboratory test.
If the foot fungus does not heal in time, the infectious lesion passes to the shins, then it will be much more difficult to treat the problem. Also, the fungus can be localized in the calves, however, these complications are rare.
dyshidrotic
The first signs of a fungus on the legs of this form are characterized by the formation of bubbles on the arch of the foot, gradually increasing in size, reaching a diameter of up to 10 mm. After the rash opens, it hurts, erosion occurs in its place. Damaged sites hurt, there are cases of bacterial inflammation. After the skin of the diseased areas heals, the disease passes into a scaly form. With a dyshidrotic variety, the skin of both feet is rarely affected, if timely treatment is not started, a neglected form develops, in which the stages of remission will alternate with exacerbation.
intertrigo
Intertriginous or interdigital foot fungus is the most common form of skin disease.
This type of foot fungus is considered the most common. Most often, the skin between the 4th and 5th fingers is affected. The disease manifests itself in the form of the formation of dead, scaly areas that exfoliate from the normal layer of the epidermis.
If you do not provide timely assistance, the scaly places begin to moisten, the patient feels pain and itching. In addition, wounds and erosions form on the affected areas, which are difficult to remove.
If you do nothing and ignore the symptoms, the disease turns into a chronic form, which is prone to frequent relapses.
onychomycosis
The disease is characterized by the fact that the fungus is localized on the nails and toes. First, the toenail fungus manifests itself in the form of a lesion on the free edge of the nail, on which spots and streaks of a yellowish tint are formed. There are the following types of nail and toe fungus:
- hypertrophic. The nail plate thickens, yellows and is easily destroyed. Under the damaged foci, the affected skin of the finger is visible.
- atrophic. The nail is thinned, quickly destroyed, and the dermis under it is keratinized.
- Onychomycosis caused by fungi. The nail plate becomes thinner, its color becomes black, brown, yellowish or green. The disease is a complication of the previous 2 types of pathology.
candida
The fungus infects the skin between the toes, without proper treatment it leads to bacterial infections.
This type of disease is caused by pathogenic yeast-like fungi, whose name is Candida. Foci of inflammation are often located on the skin between 3-4 or 4-5 fingers. The tissues in these places become inflamed, edema develops, and often a bacterial complication joins.
Candida fungus is a type of microorganism that infects the mucous membranes and outer skin of a person. Normally, Candida is present in the human body in limited amounts. However, with a decrease in immunity, it can show increased activity, causing discomfort to the patient.
If the fungus is not removed at the initial stage, pustules, cracks and erosion form, which are difficult to remove even with the help of powerful drugs.
Diagnostic methods
For leg fungus treatment to be effective, it is important to determine the pathogen and make an accurate diagnosis. To do this, it is worth visiting a doctor, who often after the first visual examination will be able to determine the pathology. If the skin pathology looks suspicious or does not go away with treatment for a long time, it will be necessary to take a blood and urine test, as well as undergo an additional diagnostic study that will help determine the types of pathogens and their susceptibility to drugs. antifungal. To do this, a piece of dermis is removed from the damaged area and examined under a microscope. To check for malignant cells in the tissues, samples of the damaged areas are taken for a biopsy.
What to treat?
There are many fungal diseases, in order to distinguish them and prescribe the correct treatment, laboratory tests are carried out.
To cure foot fungus and prevent recurrence, you should contact a health professional for advice and diagnostic measures. If the diagnosis is made correctly, you can start therapy, in which drugs of systemic and local effects are used.
It is effective to be treated at an unstarted stage, then during the period of therapy you can get by with means for external use in the form of creams, ointments and sprays. It is also possible to treat foot fungus with home remedies. If the disease has affected the deep layers of the dermis and nail plates, it is recommended to use a systemic drug to combat the fungus.
Treatment with folk remedies is effective only in combination with the use of medications; otherwise, the disease threatens with the development of dangerous complications.
drug treatment
An effective and effective drug must be prescribed by a doctor. If you self-medicate and ignore the advice of a specialist, you can lead to serious complications that the most effective remedy will not be able to deal with immediately.
Home remedy therapy.
Treatment of foot fungus with folk remedies at home should be agreed with the doctor. It is important to know that powerful drugs are used to treat foot and nail fungus, the use of folk remedies as an adjunctive therapy is allowed, since it is ineffective to fight the disease on your own at home. There are several recipes that use medicinal herbs that have antimicrobial, disinfectant and healing properties. A folk remedy for a fungus is affordable and inexpensive, but what home method is better to use and what kind of recipe is suitable in a particular case, you need to consult a doctor. The best recipes are below:
- A decoction with chamomile, plantain and succession herbs. Mix the ingredients, each taking 1 tbsp. IPour everything into a saucepan and pour 1 liter of hot water, bring to a boil and simmer for up to 10 minutes. After the broth, strain and wash your hands, feet and other affected body parts before going to bed. The essence of the procedure is to carry it out regularly, then this method will be effective and will help to treat the fungus more quickly.
- Infusion of onion and St. John's wort. Peel the onion and cut it into 4 pieces. St. John's wort must be dried. Pour the onion and 50 g of St. John's wort 2, 5 liters of boiling water. Wrap the container with raw materials and leave it to infuse for a day. At night, apply a compress of the infusion to the affected areas.
Prevention
The best preventive measure in the fight against the fungus that can prevent the disease is to strengthen the protective properties of the body. This method is inexpensive, but the most effective and efficient. Medicated and alternative methods of treatment must be agreed with the doctor, any self-medication can lead to dangerous complications, which are then much more difficult and longer to treat.