Foot fungus (athlete's foot, ringworm) is an infection that the lesions of the skin of the feet, fingers, interdigital areas. Often, the pathology is combined with a lesion of the nail – onychomycosis. Cause fungal infection of microscopic fungi, dermatophytes, moulds and strains of yeast.
If it is not treated, the fungus spreads from the feet to the whole of the limb. This increases the risk of development of erysipelas, the formation of warts and the frequency of allergic reactions of the skin and mucous membranes. The body stops to take antibiotics, which complicates the treatment of other diseases.
Causes of foot fungus
Contagious foot fungus tend to cause fungi-Ascomycota. Some strains cause rubrofitii and rubromikoz, occupying more than 70% of the diagnoses in the fungus. Approximately 10% of the total population of the planet suffers from athlete's foot.
Fungi and yeast-like fungi that affect the limbs with less frequency, which represent 1.5% of the cases.
For what reasons is the infection of foot fungus:
- Somatic pathology.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Hypothermia of the feet.
- Diabetes with the symptom of the foot diabetic.
- Dermatological diseases – psoriasis, neurodermatitis, eczema.
- Hallux valgus and other foot pathology.
- Visit public places where you have to walk around barefoot (saunas, swimming pools, fitness).
- Excessive sweating of the skin of the feet (hyperhidrosis congenital or due to other diseases).
- Reduce immunity in children and the elderly. In the 2nd group of patients with a fungus, often face men, if the nails in your feet are already affected with onychomycosis.
- The misuse of antibiotic therapy, corticosteroids, cytostatics, immunosuppressive agents. Factor negatively affects the immune system and increases the incidence of infection by fungi.
- A professional factor in the development of mycosis means infection of employees baths, swimming pools, metallurgical and coal industry, athletes, soldiers.
- Injury to the skin that leads to the appearance of calluses, cracks, corns.
Favorite places to stop for a fungus followed by the formation of warts become sites of corns and hyperkeratosis. The localization is caused by the deterioration of the immunity local, the loss of control over the development of human papillomavirus infection.
Clinical forms of foot fungus
External symptoms of foot fungus vary depending on the type of stress that began the process, and the degree of involvement of the skin, nails and leg hair. Athlete and rubromikoz similar current, so that the doctors put them in "athlete's foot".
Types of foot fungus dermatologists are the following:
- Scales.
- The presence of skin lesions, similar to diaper rash).
- Not performance sweat glands.
- Onychomycosis that flows through normotroficheskie, atrophic or hypertrophic type.
Describe what it looks like a foot fungus in the scaly form. In the initial phase of redness and flaking. Alteration zones in different areas. Itching does not occur in all patients.
The majority of patients do not notice any signs of athlete's foot. In the clinic, do not apply, and it gives the disease the opportunity to change the scales in the form disgidroticheskaya.
When disgidroticheskaya foot fungus visible symptoms will be multiple vesicles with a diameter of 2 – 8 mm. They coalesce in large bags, are open to the shape of the erosion.
With the arch of the foot the fungus spreads to the interior and exterior sides. In addition to extensive erosion, instead of the explosion of the bottles formed diaper rash. Patients complain of pain and itching and notice the peeling.
If it is not treated, a fungal infection is complicated by bacterial infection. Signs of infection secondary are the opacity of the contents of the bubbles with the transformation into a purulent mass, increase in body temperature, swelling and significant redness.
Intertriginosny foot mycosis is the most common. Is developed, either independently or in the background of the squamous shape. It affects the skin between the fingers, 4 and 5 feet, rarely develops in the space between the 3 and 4 fingers.
The main symptoms intertriginous foot fungus:
- Itching and burning sensation.
- Cracks in the skin of a white bezel (the border is formed from the flaking of the epidermis).
- Oozing between the fingers of the limb affected.
- Replacement cracks, erosions, and with a strong, painful areas.
- Detachment of the skin, with the consequent reduction of the immunity local. In the flexible structure of the streptococci to penetrate and cause inflammation of the skin with pus. Tissues swell, redden, increasing the pain. The General condition of the patient deteriorates.
Symptoms of Candida of foot injury are interdigital erosion, resulting from over activity of a fungus of the genus Candida. Alteration of focus are visible between 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 fingers of the lower extremities.
Sores on the skin are inflamed. Of healthy tissue, which separates the "belt" of the epidermis, that has disappeared. Problematic neighbourhood make up the pustules and the bubble eruption.
If the fungus attacks the nails on the toes, the patient is diagnosed as "onychomycosis". In the initial phase of pathology of the free edge of the nail of the big toe are yellow stripes and spots. Hypertrophic onychomycosis is characterized by thickening and brittleness of the plate, which can be seen sloughing of the skin.
In atrophic collapses onychomycosis of the nail of the structure. Under the change of hardened plaque exposed skin. If onychomycosis develops because of injury to the foot mold, the nail plate turns brown, black, green or yellow. The process is accompanied by paronychia – purulent inflammation of the nail bed.
Diagnosis and treatment of foot mycosis
Foot fungus treatment was carried out in the best way possible, a doctor should visit during the first signs of the disease. Since symptoms of fungal infection are not specific and coincide with the clinical picture of other dermatological disorders, a specialist needs to differentiate it from psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, systemic lupus erythematosus.
To identify the causative organism and determine its belonging to any class of fungi, the patient is carried out:
- Scraping of the nails.
- Microscopy.
- Microbiological.
- DNA screening of the material.
Decide how to treat foot fungus or the space between the fingers and nails, a dermatologist is considering the feasibility of systemic and combination therapy.
But without fail, the patient receives the appointment in relation to the external treatment. The base of antimycotic therapy is the use of agents antifungals various effects and medicines to improve local blood circulation, and eliminate comorbidities.
To prevent reinfection, the patient is recommended disinfection of personal belongings and household accessories of common use.
System foot fungus treatment
The products of the system action tablets and capsules for athlete sample with moderate and severe process. Because of the many side effects their reception is carried out under strict medical supervision.
For the elimination of fungi from the foot antifungals administered to two groups:
- The azole.
- Allylamines.
Also in the treatment of athlete's foot found the use of agents antifungals with fungicidal effect. Working in the growth of deletion and the complete destruction of parasites.
Antifungals local action
When considering how to treat foot fungus, also we have to say about the effectiveness of the use of drugs local action. The simplicity in the treatment of the skin and offers a multitude of dosage forms of antifungal. Are ointments, lotions, sprays, creams, drops and dust against foot fungus.
In the absolute defeat of the nail to appoint its removal. The aim is to deduce a colony of fungi that damaged the plate, and increase the efficiency of the use of antifungal ointments. Removal is performed both surgically sterile, or the use of plasters and ointments, anti-fungal capable of destroying the machine Polish.
Antifungal traditional medicine
According to dermatologists, folk remedy for foot fungus without pharmacy medicines valid for use in the early stages of mycosis when there are pronounced symptoms. In other cases, traditional medicine can only Complement the core medical prescription. An integrated approach guarantees the patient to a rapid depreciation of the inflammatory axis and support local immunity.
Recipes home treatment of athlete's foot with the help of folk remedies:
- Wash with herbal decoction. Oak bark, nuts, berries, grass, verbena and flowers of calendula mixed in equal amounts.3 tablespoons phyto collection simmer gently, 200 ml of water. After 20 minutes, the composition is filtered and in the form of heat is used to wash the problem areas and the application of compresses.
- Ointment of wood ash. Sifted wood ash is combined with pork fat to make a thick too greasy. Feet the product is applied morning and night after the cleansing routine.
- Ointment of copper sulphate and sulphur yellow. The drug is prepared in pork fat, mix the ingredients in the amounts equal. Too bring to the boil, and then bring in a dark room and wait until it cools down. Leg handling sulphur vitriol ointment exercise several times a day.
- Baths with milk and tea. An armful of fresh herbs pour 2 – 3 liters of boiling water and wrap the capacity of the old blanket. After 3 to 4 hour infusion of the plant is filtered and used for foot baths. Session time is 45 minutes. The bath takes place once every 2 – 3 days while the fungal infection is not down.
- Coffee baths. If you are looking for a simple recipe for "how to treat foot fungus at home" come to the rescue of instant coffee. Drink firmly installed in the proper amount of water poured into the basin and soar feet. The number of treatments – 1 – 2 a day. Task – to destroy the pathogenic flora, and eliminate the odors that give off the affected feet.
- Baths with wine vinegar. Before you go to sleep wash your feet with hot water and placed in a tray with a strong solution of wine vinegar. After 3 – 5 minutes and clean the feet wear socks soaked in this solution. The procedure gives antiseptic effect.
In addition, it is necessary to disinfect the floors of rooms and a bathroom, shower and toilet. In the future, it is desirable to avoid staying in wet conditions of the common areas.
Prevention
The best preventative measure in the fight against the fungus that can prevent the disease — the strengthening of the protective properties of the organism. This method is a low-cost, nevertheless, the most effective and efficient manner. Traditional medicine and treatments must be agreed with the doctor, no medication could lead to dangerous complications, that after fighting a lot harder and longer.
To avoid reinfection it is necessary to respect the rules of personal hygiene, be sure to disinfect the clothes of bed and towels that were in use. In order that the treatment was timely and effective, it is necessary to consult with a doctor.