Fungus on the feet is a seasonal disease and most of all manifests itself in the season of wearing closed shoes. Fungal infections of the feet do not attract as much attention as other types of fungus, such as toenail fungus. This is because the foot is not visible unless you specifically look at it. And the first, not strong manifestations, are attributed to everyday reasons.
The easiest way to test yourself for foot fungus is to sniff your shoes! A bad smell is a sign of a fungal infection. Although the fungi themselves do not emit a smell, but their waste products . . . Plus the waste products of microorganisms that have settled in wounds formed by a fungal disease. And mostly these are staphylococci. All of this taken together is what causes unpleasant odors from shoes and feet.
Combing the skin on the affected area leads to the spread of infection!
When feet are in warm, closed shoes for a long time, they sweat profusely. The fungus, which under normal conditions is not activated, once in an ideal environment for itself, begins to actively develop. Hence the second name of this disease - "Athlete's foot" appeared. Fungal disease of the feet, and caused by several types of fungi. And since athletes spend most of their time in tight, closed shoes, they mostly suffer from this mycosis.
The athlete's foot is quite common. With it, a fungal infection of the sole of the foot or areas of the skin between the toes occurs.
Such mycoses can be caused by the appearance on the foot of one of the varieties of a parasitic colony of an infectious and highly contagious disease called a fungus on the feet.
Fungal diseases, causing extensive skin lesions, are provoked by various types of fungi, the nature of which is revealed in the study of analyzes.
How does the fungus manifest
On the skin of the legs, pathology manifests itself initially in small areas that are prone to peeling, then the spot spreads with uneven edges and mycosis becomes more pronounced.
The activity of the manifestation of symptoms of fungus on the legs can be both lightning-fast and quite sluggish. Because it all depends on how strong a person's immunity is and on the type of microorganism that brought this ailment.
The types of foot fungus are quite different and they manifest themselves in their own way, but if a person has any pathological changes on the feet, then you should find out from specialists what is the reason. Mycologists will explain what a fungus is and teach you how to fight it.
What does foot fungus look like?
Fungus of the feet is accompanied, in most cases, by the "athlete's foot" - it looks like barely noticeable flaky skin. As the pathology spreads, the color of the skin changes to red, and the changes become more noticeable. Further, the disease of the feet looks like large areas with large flakes of dry skin, sometimes the signs are located on one side, sometimes on both sides of the foot. The localization of the foot fungus is usually located at the bottom of the limbs, and how the limb looks depends on the degree of development of the pathology.
Considered are species differences such as:
- a very dense stratum corneum on the sole;
- flakes begin to peel off honey with fingers;
- the skin is inflamed;
- the lesion of the feet also looks like bubbles.
The fungus formed on the legs looks quite expressive, so a person should notice specific manifestations and consult a doctor.
Causes of the foot fungus
What to do if a fungus appears? To begin with, it is worth finding out the reasons for its appearance and thinking about where exactly the spores could be picked up and why the body did not respond properly.
About how the formation of the athlete's foot begins, about the reasons that precede the development of pathogenic flora, mycologists say the following: fungus on the feet of the feet can develop if a person uses socks or shoes of an infected person, and also does not wear slippers in places where masses of people pass, namely, in public baths, saunas and swimming pools, because it is there that the most favorable soil for the bacterial front.
How to identify fungus on the feet
The development of mycoses, a fungal disease provokes at a fairly high rate, and especially quickly such manifestations develop if there are concomitant chronic diseases. Diseases of the feet can be determined independently, but in order not to confuse every abrasion of the skin with signs of fungus on the legs, it is worth carefully considering the condition of the cover, as well as how the skin looks under the toes.
Fungus of the legs is quite diverse in its symptoms, since the types of fungus on the legs are also not limited to only one, and each of them has its own characteristic manifestation.
What does a fungus look like on the foot
And how the skin fungus on the legs may look will determine what its species is. So to speak, the mycelium will leave its "calling card" upon arrival.
Sometimes people with a history of such a pathology do not even know about it, they just see a too dry cover on their legs, but they mean that it should be so.
General symptoms usually look like this:
- the appearance of microcracks;
- slight itching, especially between the toes;
- severe peeling;
- sometimes swelling and pain in places where erosion occurs;
- infrequently, but bleeding occurs.
- deep cracks may appear.
How to cure foot fungus
Treatment of the fungus on the feet is a long process, but if the preparatory stage is carried out correctly, that is, when diagnosing it is found out which pathogen parasitizes in the body, then therapy can be faster.
It is necessary to treat skin fungus in a comprehensive manner, using both drugs that are taken internally and external medical pharmacological agents.
The athlete's foot is treatable with careful study of all affected areas, this should be facilitated by a course of treatment.
About how to treat the fungus, you need to consult with mycologists. They will be able to tell in detail about which drugs are able to cope well with the disease.
Treatment of foot disease can be divided into several parts. An important overriding task is to strengthen the most vulnerable areas and rehabilitate areas affected by the disease. It is important to know that the feet must always be dry and clean:
- and also shoes should be made of materials that breathe;
- cotton replaceable socks should become a good absorbent that collects moisture;
- after the feet have been in shoes all day, it is necessary to rinse them thoroughly and lubricate them with a special agent prescribed by a doctor.
It is also good to use special powders that help keep your feet dry.
The next part of treatment involves the use of antifungal medications, such as:
- ointments with a special composition;
- a cream with a lighter texture than an ointment, which means that with a deeper angle of penetration inside;
- aerosols, the smallest particles of which penetrate the most difficult places to access.
And although almost all pharmacological preparations intended for the removal of pathogens are sold in the retail pharmacy network without a special prescription, nevertheless, the consultation of an experienced specialist will not only not be superfluous, but, on the contrary, will help to have a complex effect on this disease.
The most common reasons for which treatment does not give an effect are, first of all, a disturbed treatment regimen and irregular use of funds.
There are also the following reasons:
- many patients do not understand the seriousness of the disease and do not accept the proposed treatment;
- about a third of the sick do not go to specialists at all, and from time to time they use self-medication, which, for obvious reasons, does not bring relief;
- many patients do not believe that it is necessary to accurately diagnose a type of pathogen;
- many, as soon as the first positive results are achieved, stop treatment on their own.
How is foot fungus treated with folk remedies
You can also treat fungus on the feet with folk remedies at home.
There is one good tool, you can do it yourself.
Ointment that well destroys mycosis of the feet:
- vinegar essence - 110 grams;
- one raw egg;
- butter - 200 grams (it is better to take natural farmer's).
Scrub with absorbents from the kitchen shelf:
- soda;
- drunk coffee;
- ground rolled oats;
- rice flour.
Such components, incorporated into the lather, can be excellent helpers when sanding the skin of the feet. They are great for exfoliating skin particles and freeing those areas that need to be treated from unnecessary layers.
Compresses with anesthetic solution.
A gauze compress is soaked in an anesthetic solution and is strengthened on the leg at night. In the morning, the bandage is removed, and the affected areas are treated with a decoction of chamomile. Repeat for 7 days.
If you study the topic well, then the disease of the feet can be treated with folk remedies, and the skin fungus on the legs will pass without a trace, without the possibility of relapse.
Consequences of advanced mycosis of the skin of the legs
Treatment of skin fungus on the legs should be comprehensive and timely, otherwise the following complications may occur:
- the parasitic elements themselves, as well as the products that remain after their vital activity, increase the risk of allergies in patients;
- the course of dermatitis can be complicated by the occurrence of eczema and psoriasis;
- since the skin is severely injured, the infection penetrates unhindered into the lower layers of the epidermis and provokes the onset of lymphostasis.
With the athlete's foot, warts appear much more often and hyperkeratosis can form.
Preventive measures
Fungus of the feet, or rather its occurrence, can be prevented.
Firstly, it is possible to use ointments and folk remedies as additional protection, and then the treatment of the fungus, even if it occurs, will take place according to a simplified scheme.
And also it is necessary to perform the following steps:
- eat as prescribed by a healthy lifestyle;
- observe hygiene procedures;
- strengthen the body's immune defenses;
- apply preventive precautions.