Foot fungus is a seasonal disease and above all it appears in the season of wearing closed shoes. Fungal infections of the feet do not attract as much attention as other types of fungi, such as toenail fungus. This is because the foot is not visible unless you look at it specifically. And the first manifestations, not strong, are attributed to everyday reasons.
The easiest way to test yourself for foot fungus is to smell the shoes! A bad smell is a sign of a fungal infection. Although the fungi themselves do not emit odors, but their waste products. . . Plus the residual products of microorganisms that are placed in wounds formed by a fungal disease. And mostly these are staphylococci. All this taken together is what causes unpleasant odors from shoes and feet.
Combing the skin in the affected area leads to the spread of infection!
When the feet are in warm and closed shoes for a long time, they sweat profusely. Mushrooms, which under normal conditions are not activated, once in an ideal environment for themselves, begin to develop actively. Hence, the second name of this disease appeared - "Athlete's foot". Fungal disease of the feet, and caused by several species of fungi. And since athletes spend most of their time in tight, closed-toe shoes, they mostly suffer from this mycosis.
Athlete's foot is quite common. With it, a fungal infection of the sole of the foot or areas of skin between the toes occurs.
Such mycoses can be caused by the appearance on foot of one of the varieties of a parasitic colony of an infectious and highly contagious disease called a foot fungus.
Fungal diseases that cause extensive skin lesions are provoked by different types of fungi, the nature of which is revealed in the analysis study.
How the fungus appears
On the skin of the feet, the pathology first manifests itself in small areas that are prone to peeling, then the site spreads with uneven edges and the mycosis becomes more pronounced.
The activity of showing symptoms of foot fungus can be fast and quite slow. Because it all depends on how strong a person's immunity is and the type of microorganism that brought about the disease.
The types of foot fungus are quite different and they manifest in their own way, but if a person has any pathological changes in the foot, then you should find out from the specialists what the reason is. Mycologists will explain what a fungus is and teach you how to fight it.
What does the foot fungus look like?
Foot fungus is accompanied, in most cases, by the "athlete's foot" - it looks like furry skin that is barely noticeable. As the pathology spreads, the skin color changes to red, and the changes become more noticeable. Further, foot disease looks like large areas with large flakes of dry skin, sometimes the marks are located on one side, sometimes on both sides of the foot. The localization of foot fungus is usually located in the lower part of the limbs and how the limb looks depends on the degree of development of the pathology.
Species changes are considered as:
- a very dense layer at the bottom;
- flakes begin to remove honey with fingers;
- the skin is inflamed;
- the foot lesion also looks like blisters.
The fungus formed on the feet looks quite expressive, so a person should notice specific manifestations and consult a doctor.
Causes of foot fungus
What to do if a fungus appears? To begin with, it is worthwhile to find out the reasons for its appearance and to think about exactly where the spores can be taken and why the body did not respond properly.
About how the formation of an athlete's foot begins, for reasons that precede the development of pathogenic flora, mycologists say the following: a fungus on the feet of a foot can develop if a person uses socks or shoes of an infected person, andalso do not wear slippers in places where masses of people pass, that is, in public baths, saunas and swimming pools, because there is the most favorable soil for the bacterial front.
How to identify foot fungus
The development of mycoses, a fungal disease provokes to a fairly high degree, and especially quickly such manifestations develop if there is chronic concomitant disease. Foot diseases can be diagnosed independently, but in order not to confuse any skin abrasions with signs of fungus on the feet, it is worth carefully considering the condition of the foot as well as the way the skin looks under the toes.
Foot fungus is quite different in its symptoms, as the types of foot fungus are not limited to just one, and each of them has its own characteristic appearance.
What a foot mushroom looks like
And how the skin fungus might look will determine what species it has. So to say, 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 very dry covering on their feet, but they mean it should be so.
The general symptoms usually look like this:
- appearance of microcracks;
- slight itching, especially between the toes;
- heavy peeling;
- sometimes swelling and pain in places where erosion occurs;
- rarely, but bleeding occurs.
- deep cracks may appear.
How to cure foot fungus
The treatment of foot fungus is a long process, but if the preparatory phase is carried out correctly, that is, when the diagnosis reveals which pathogen is parasitizing in the body, then the therapy can be faster.
It is necessary to treat skin fungus in a comprehensive manner, using both internally administered drugs and external medical pharmacological agents.
The athlete’s foot is curable with careful study of all the affected areas, this should be facilitated by a course of treatment.
For the treatment of fungi, you should consult with mycologists. They will be able to talk in detail about which medicines are able to cope well with the disease.
Treatment of foot disease can be divided into several parts. A key important task is to strengthen the most vulnerable areas and rehabilitate the areas affected by the disease. Importers It is important to know that feet should always be dry and clean:
- and also shoes should be made of breathable materials;
- replaceable cotton socks should become a good absorber that collects moisture;
- after the feet are in the 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 rest of the treatment involves the use of antifungal medications, such as:
- oils with a special composition;
- a cream with a lighter structure than an oil, meaning with a deeper penetration angle inside;
- aerosols, the smallest particles of which penetrate the most difficult places to reach.
And although almost all pharmacological preparations intended for the removal of pathogens are sold in the retail pharmacy network without a special prescription, nevertheless, consultation with an experienced specialist will not only not be superfluous, but, on the contrary, willhelp to have a complex effect on this disease.
The most common reasons why treatment does not work are, first, a troubled treatment regime and improper use of funds.
There are also the following reasons:
- many patients do not understand the severity of the disease and do not accept the proposed treatment;
- about a third of patients do not go to specialists at all and occasionally 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 the treatment on their own.
How to treat foot fungus with folk remedies
You can also treat foot fungus with folk remedies at home.
There is a good tool, you can do it yourself.
Ointment that destroys foot fungus well:
- vinegar essence - 110 grams;
- a live egg;
- butter - 200 grams (it is better to take natural farmers).
Clean with a vacuum cleaner from the kitchen shelf:
- soda;
- drunk coffee;
- ground rolled oats;
- rice flour.
Such components, inserted into the foam, can be excellent helpers when smoothing the skin of the feet. They are great for exfoliating skin particles and freeing up those areas that need to be treated from unnecessary layers.
Compress with anesthetic solution.
A gauze compress is soaked in an anesthetic solution and tightened on the feet overnight. 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 foot disease can be treated with folk remedies, and the skin fungus on the feet will pass without a trace, without the possibility of recurrence.
Consequences of advanced foot skin mycosis
Treatment of skin fungus on the feet 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 appearance of eczema and psoriasis;
- since the skin is severely damaged, the infection penetrates unobstructed 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
Foot fungus, or rather its appearance, can be prevented.
First, it is possible to use oils and folk remedies as additional protection, and then the treatment of fungi, even if it occurs, will be carried out according to a simplified scheme.
And it is also 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.