Mycosis of the feet is one of the most common fungal infections of the skin.The skin between the toes and the bottom of the foot is often infected.The cause of this disease is a fungus of the genus Trichophyton and Candida.When in contact with the epidermis, they begin to actively multiply.The result of their activity is peeling skin, cracks between the fingers, and diaper rash.At a later stage, the disease affects the nails, they become dull, thicken, the edges begin to collapse, and yellow stripes are observed.The disease can spread to the hands and large skin folds on the body.
Scratching the affected skin or a minor injury allows the fungus to penetrate deeper into the dermis layer.Therefore, the infection spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body.In children and the elderly, fungal skin damage manifests itself in a more acute form and is more difficult to treat.This is due to age-related characteristics of the immune system.
Stress is also a trigger for the development of mycosis.Fungal infections are resistant to adverse external factors and prefer heat and humidity.Showers with interrupted water flow, saunas, old house shoes, rented shoes (skates, rollerblades, ski boots), fleecy carpets in the bathroom are the main breeding grounds for fungi.They penetrate the skin through scratches and calluses.
People with excessive foot sweat are at risk, because with prolonged exposure, sweat destroys the skin and reduces its protective properties.People who have a suppressed form of mycosis with slight peeling of the skin and painless microcracks that can only be seen by a doctor pose a certain danger to others.
Chronic mycosis of the skin of the feet and nail plates often causes autoimmune allergic reactions, including the development of bronchial asthma.It is important to treat mycosis correctly without turning it into a stable chronic form.
Symptoms
The symptoms of foot mycosis are very diverse.Early symptoms: Visible cracks, painful or itchy blisters, diaper rash, and rough skin.Next, the skin area affected by the fungus softens, turns white and begins to peel.Bacterial infection can be added, then blisters turn into ulcers or ulcers.
Itching and burning are constant symptoms of mycosis, some patients complain of pain and an unpleasant smell.
Reason
Mycosis of the feet is caused by several types of parasitic fungi.These microorganisms are found in large numbers on the floor of swimming pools and showers, as well as in public showers.A person can become infected by walking barefoot in such a place.
Wearing other people's shoes, sharing towels and other personal hygiene products is another common way to spread the infection.
Immunity is not developed against fungal diseases, so re-infection occurs as easily as before.
Fungal growth is stimulated by improper foot hygiene: putting socks and shoes on wet feet, not washing socks daily and of poor quality, insufficient ventilation and drying of shoes.
The appearance of mycosis in the hands is caused by the action of fungal toxins circulating in the bloodstream.Also, when brushing the soles of the feet, microorganisms remain under the nails, from where they can be transferred to other parts of the body, including the scalp.People who are exposed to mycosis should always remember the route of this infection.
Risk factors
Although it spreads quickly, not everyone develops foot mycosis.A strong and healthy body can overcome fungal infections on its own.However, it often happens that the immune system prevents the development of the fungus for a long time, and then stress, ARVI or other internal failures occur, and the fungal infection begins to develop rapidly.
It has been observed that people get sick under the following conditions:
- profuse sweat;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- hormonal imbalance;
- taking certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- Chronic dermatological diseases.
Excessive sweat and neglect of personal hygiene rules create an ideal environment for the development of fungi.Sweat causes rapid proliferation of fungal microflora.Inadequate foot hygiene, socks made of synthetic fabrics, too narrow and closed shoes accelerate the development and spread of fungal infections.
Hormonal imbalance is common in teenagers, so they are at risk of developing mycosis.The restructuring of the hormonal system temporarily reduces immunity and can cause profuse sweating.These factors contribute to the growth and spread of pathogenic microflora.
A decrease in immunity can occur due to long-term use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Worms, eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis reduce cell immunity and create favorable conditions for the addition of secondary infections, especially fungi.Mycosis is often a complication of dermatological diseases.Increases the risk of infection: shoes that are too narrow;interested nails;abrasions and wounds on the legs;Diabetes mellitus;Vascular disease.
Form of disease
Deleted form.Early stages of the disease.Symptoms: slight peeling of the skin between the fingers, small cracks in the upper layer of the epidermis.The patient does not feel discomfort and may not suspect that he has mycosis.
Squamous form.The skin between the fingers peels and becomes covered with flat scales, with minor itching.
Hyperkeratotic form.Blue-red papules and plaques appear.The main location of the wound is the arch of the foot.The formation is covered with scales.The formation of individual bubbles is possible.Rashes can merge into groups, forming large lesions.Over time, the entire leg is affected.Yellow hyperkeratotic formations (calluses) covered with cracks may appear.Dry skin, with minor pain and itching.
Intertriginous form.The inflammation is similar to a common diaper rash.The greatest damage is observed on the skin between the fingers.Red swelling appears.Existing symptoms include ulcers and wetting.If left untreated, painful cracks and erosions occur.Patients note pain in the affected area, itching and severe burning.
Dyshidrotic form.Many bubbles are compacted.The localization of the lesion is the arch of the foot.The rash can spread, so prompt treatment is important.If left untreated, blisters can spread to the entire surface of the foot, including the toes.Small blisters can coalesce and develop into larger blisters that can burst.Reddish erosions remain in their place.
Acute form.Increased sensitivity to fungal pathogens and the rapid development of the disease.There is severe redness and swelling on the surface of the feet, and large vesicles and blisters appear.After the opening, large erosion developed in their place;The wounds extend beyond the folds between the fingers.In some cases, weakness, fever, and headache are observed.
Symptoms may vary from person to person.When the first alarming symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
Diagnosis and treatment of mycosis should be carried out by a dermatologist or mycologist.
Diagnostics include:
- detailed examination of the feet;
- taking anamnesis;
- scraping from the affected area of the skin or cutting off a piece of deformed nail;
- tests to detect fungal infections in the body as a whole;
- sowing material on nutrient medium (if necessary);
- Skin biopsy for analysis under a microscope (in rare cases);
- General blood and biochemical tests.
Treatment
Improper or late treatment can cause mycosis to develop into an advanced form.In this case, recovery may take up to six months or more.Therefore, you need to seek the help of a doctor at the first symptoms.First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the pathogen;For this, the doctor takes a scraping from the affected skin.Based on the results, the optimal course of antimycotic therapy is selected.Modern antifungal drugs - creams, gels, ointments, sprays - effectively cope with this disease.They have a wide spectrum of action, are used 1-2 times a day, do not contaminate the skin and linen, and do not have a specific smell.
External means
The choice of medicine depends on the degree of mycosis.For mild forms, only external agents are prescribed;For severe forms, systemic treatment is required.The most popular drugs for external use are terbinafine and naftifine.They act on some pathogenic fungi that cause foot mycosis.Do not cause side effects.Bifonazole and Clotrimazole have rapid action against fungi such as yeast.Thanks to their oily consistency, they effectively soften the skin and eliminate dryness, flaking and itching.These drugs speed up the healing and recovery process of the affected skin.Bifonazole is a complex drug intended to treat foot fungus and nail plate.Eliminates itching, peeling, burning sensation and unpleasant odor.In addition to antifungal agents, it is important to treat the skin with antiseptics regularly.A solution of chlorhexidine or miramistin is good for this.When secondary infection occurs and suppuration appears, antibacterial ointment is prescribed.
Tablet medicine
For the treatment of foot mycosis, the following are used: itraconazole, fluconazole, nystatin.For fungi such as yeast, fluconazole and nystatin are prescribed.The latter is considered an outdated drug and is rarely prescribed.Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride granules are specially designed to combat fungal infections of the feet.The regimen and duration of treatment is determined by the attending physician.
Proposal
Mycosis of the feet is a fungal infection, and the fungus only reproduces in a moist environment.By eliminating moisture, you prevent the infection from spreading.
Try to protect people around you from infection.Make it clear that you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom.Every time after bathing, treat the bathtub or shower tray, as well as the bathroom floor, with disinfectant.
Every day before going to bed, wash your feet with normal soap and warm water, making sure the skin is not too soft.Dry your feet thoroughly with a paper towel or hair dryer, paying special attention to the area between the toes.Do not forget to apply antifungal cream or ointment.Continue treatment as recommended by your doctor, even if your symptoms have disappeared.Antifungal creams and ointments are only used for dry skin.If your feet are prone to sweating, you must wait until the medicine is absorbed.
Wear cotton socks and wash them every day.When washing, use a chlorine bleach solution (not soap) or boil socks for 10 minutes.This way you will eliminate the fungus from your clothes and prevent re-infection.Shoes should be disinfected with an antifungal spray and dried for several days (preferably in the sun).
Prevention of foot fungus
After being outside, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.After being in any risk area, wash your feet with soap, dry with a towel and treat with an antifungal solution.If there is a person in the family with mycosis, he should have separate towels for his face, hands and feet.After that, the bath should be carefully treated with a special bath cleaner.If your feet sweat a lot, you can apply talcum powder or antiperspirant deodorant to them.Do not wear other people's shoes, especially slippers offered by guests, and in turn, do not offer your shoes to others.
Try not to let your feet sweat.In a room where you are staying for more than an hour, try changing your shoes into a replacement shoe.When visiting saunas, public baths, swimming pools, wear rubber slippers, do not walk barefoot in public areas.After showering, swimming in the pool or in the swimming pool, treat your feet with antifungal cream.Wear clean socks and tights every day.Do not let others use your sponges, washcloths, manicure and pedicure accessories.They must be disinfected before use.
Clean the bathtub with a cleaning product and use a strong stream of water before using it.Remove wooden baseboards, as well as cloth rugs and sponges from the bathroom.They retain moisture and can leave flakes of skin and pieces of nail infected with fungus.Use either a special grill (coated with special enamel or plastic) or a rubber mat.
Moisture in the folds between the fingers softens the skin and makes it easier for fungal infections to enter.Wipe the folds between your toes dry with a separate toe towel or dry them with a hair dryer.According to statistics, mycosis is more common in people with flat feet.Therefore, wear comfortable and high-quality shoes with a heel no higher than 4 cm with special orthopedic insoles or soft protrusions that support the arch of the foot.
No matter how complete and competent home foot care is, it is necessary to regularly carry out podiatric care for the skin of the feet and nail plates (medical pedicure).It will help maintain healthy feet and nails, and the doctor will give individual recommendations for home care and prevention.