Different types of fungus on human feet are called mycoses. When the skin is affected, the disease is called a group of dermatomycosis (epidermophytosis, trichophytosis) because the dermis is translated from Greek as skin. If the nail is affected, the disease is defined as onychomycosis.
Causes of the disease
Fungus on the feet is a common disease that occurs around the world. More often in cities than in rural areas. The risk group for infection with athlete's foot includes athletes, shower workers and hot shop employees. Children have thinner skin that is not protected from external influences, so they are also prone to mycoses. Another reason is increased sweating of the feet as a result of diseases of the body or a congenital trait. Dermatologists believe that the risk of contracting athlete's foot increases with age. Factors that contribute to the disease:
- wearing closed, uncomfortable artificial leather shoes;
- warm environment with high humidity, typical when wearing shoes;
- Violation of the blood supply to the extremities;
- frequent visits to crowded places;
- a weak or impaired immune system;
- wearing someone else's shoes.
Rapid infection
Dermatomycosis of the feet can easily be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in public places. Infection occurs through contact surfaces: floors, household items, personal hygiene items, other people's shoes. The fungus is transmitted through direct contact, it multiplies very quickly, which is why it is so easy for them to get infected. Situations of transmission of fungi in hairdressing salons through tools during a pedicure, as well as towels, are not excluded. The disease affects the skin of the feet. It's especially common in men as they spend most of their time in closed shoes. Frequent visits to gyms, baths and military service, where you do not always have to wear your own shoe size - all this creates favorable conditions for pathogenic bacteria to multiply. An unventilated area of the room is beneficial for disease-causing fungi to reproduce. The spread of the pathogenic flora is very rapid. The place where the fungus predominates is in the toes and interdigital spaces. Saunas and baths are characterized by high humidity and high temperatures, which is ideal for the development of pathogenic microflora.
A yeast infection can be direct and indirect. You can become infected directly through direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination uses items that have been used by a sick person.
Manifestations of mycoses
The very first symptom of the disease is the appearance of flakes of skin on the foot area. Infection occurs through these elements. Increased sweating is a beneficial factor in the multiplication of microbes, as the changed composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora.
Dirt and thread residues from socks also collect between the toes. If a fungal infection is added to the listed factors, then redness will appear there. The affected area begins to itch unbearably, causing the person discomfort. The skin begins to peel off, causing painful cracks to appear. When walking, unpleasant sensations of pain occur due to wounds on the skin of the feet. The skin begins to thicken and the infection can spread to the nails. If left untreated, the mycosis will spread, affecting and destroying the nails. The nail plate initially changes color to a white shade. It can then peel off. Cavities form between the nail plate and the nail bed. An unpleasant odor appears with a fungus on the feet. In winter, when closed shoes are worn, the leg is not ventilated, the intensity of the foot lesion increases. Treatment of this pathology requires accurate formulation of the correct diagnosis, since there are many types of fungal pathogens.
The main types of diseases
- The membrane type (intertriginous form) is the most common. A fungal infection is seen between the fifth and fourth toes. Gradually the skin acquires a scaly structure with elements of cracks. Sometimes there is a bacterial infection associated with the fungus that damages the skin of the legs even more.
- Moccasin type. Manifested by pain in the foot. Then the skin thickens, thickens and cracks. Severe fungal lesions trap the nails, which over time may begin to crumble and flake off.
- Vesicular type (dyshidrotic form). It is manifested by the appearance of bubbles under the skin that are filled with fluid. It is often associated with a bacterial infection.
Types of mushrooms on the legs photo with names
There are different types of mushrooms, they correspond to different diseases. There are four most common types of fungus that damage the feet.
- Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophyton rubrum) is afflicted with rubrophytosis.
- Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton interdigitale) affects the skin between the fingers and involves the entire foot in the disease. Causes epidermophytosis.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes lead to complete epidermophytosis.
- Candida albicans is a female fungus. Causes candidiasis of the feet, but this is rare.
Epidermophytosis and trichophytosis (rubromycosis) are skin diseases that are collectively known as mycoses of the feet and are caused by parasitic fungi of the genus dermatophytes.
classification
Dermatophyte fungi:
- Microsporum;
- Epidermophyton;
- t.
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
- Hendersonula;
- Altemaria;
- s.
Yeast pathogenic fungi:
- Pityrosporum;
- Candida;
- Cryptococci;
- Malassezia;
- Coccidoids;
- Histoplasm;
- w.
Precautions
Since mushrooms love a warm, humid habitat, it is necessary to violate these conditions in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to prevent fungus, feet need to be clean and dry. It is important that you change your socks and dry your shoes on time. Special antiperspirants are offered that block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is better to choose leather shoes in order to maintain normal metabolic processes between the feet and the environment. The foot sweats less and the conditions for the mushrooms to reproduce are not created. It is advisable to wear socks at home that you take off and wash while your home shoes build up microbes and dirt.
It is necessary to only use your own belongings, as you will not be aware of the presence of other people's diseases. Your immunity may not be able to deal with pathogens and become infected. You need to ventilate your shoes more often. When visiting public places, it is advisable to bring personal hygiene items with you. Never go barefoot on the floor in swimming pools and showers. Using prophylactic antifungal creams and ointments will also help. Swimming pools, changing rooms, saunas and other rooms with high humidity are, after all, breeding grounds for mushrooms. At home in the bathroom it is better to refuse porous carpets.
Risk group
There are people who are more prone to this disease than others. This could be due to problems in the body such as:
- Obesity;
- Violation of blood circulation in the legs;
- Flat feet and deformities of the feet;
- disturbed immune system;
- People under stress;
- after antibiotic treatment.
Diagnosing fungal disease of the feet
The doctor will conduct a detailed examination of the foot and ask for complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to test for fungus. A skin fragment is obtained with a small, specially made scratch on the foot. For analysis, the nail is cut from the area infected with the fungus. The presence of mycosis is determined by special tests. To identify the type of mushroom, it is cultivated, that is, it is grown. In rare cases, the patient may be prescribed a biopsy if the disease is advanced. In this case, the prepared material is examined under a microscope.
Treatment methods
To get results from treatment, it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of infections, if any. The degree of damage is also taken into account.
The basis of membrane-type treatment looks like applying antifungal drugs to the affected area. It is convenient to do this at home as well. These drugs stop bacteria from growing or slow the spread of the disease. Many of these drugs are available over the counter. The action of the substances takes place locally at the place of application on the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of treatment. If there is no improvement, the drug may not help you.
If the agent used has no effect, it is necessary to again consult a dermatologist about the appointment of another treatment. You may need to prescribe a stronger drug. In especially severe cases of the course of the disease, tablets are prescribed. Many drugs have side effects, so it is necessary to monitor blood counts during treatment with pills. The fungus is very difficult to completely cure as it can return. Treatment should not be interrupted, otherwise the fungi may show resistance to the components of the drug that affect them. During treatment, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the foot. With a moccasin-like form of infection, onychomycosis, that is, damage to the nails, is very common. Due to the fact that the skin on the leg is thickened and it is more difficult for drugs to get inside, this disease is more difficult to cure. In this case, the standard drugs "do not work", and additional therapy in the form of pills is prescribed. Onychomycosis - damage to the toenails caused by a fungus belonging to the genus dermatophytes. The disease can also be caused by yeasts and molds. There are several types of onychomycosis:
- Distally subungual. Depending on the area of the lesion of the nail plate, three degrees of damage are distinguished. If the nail is presented in one section and conditionally divided into three parts (in depth), the lesion will be up to two thirds, the volume corresponds to the first two stages of the disease. And if more than 2/3 of the nail is affected by the fungus, then this is already the third degree. In this case, the nail root (matrix) is involved in the course of the disease, and sometimes skin folds on the sides of the nail, so-called periungual ridges;
- proximal subungual. The defeat of the back of the nail plate, where the hole is located;
- superficially white. This type of onychomycosis is common on the feet.
- totally dystrophic. The final final phase.
For the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe the removal of the top of the bladder. Then all the liquid that flows out of them will be obliterated. This area is dried, provided with an antifungal cream or a special compress. If the presence of bacterial infection is detected, an antibiotic regimen is prescribed. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by a fever. Acute infections respond better to treatment than chronic fungal and sluggish processes. In severe cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed. Antifungal drugs are taken until full recovery. It happens that not all of the fungus dies, and when drugs are stopped, the disease relapses.
If left untreated, the patient will become chronic and develop a serious bacterial infection. In addition to the foot, the skin of the toes can also be implicated in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions to treat nail fungus with anti-inflammatory tea tree oil and garlic. Washing with normal detergents doesn't always kill pathogenic bacteria. To remove fungus from clothing, laundry should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. We recommend using bleach and heat ironing.