Foot fungus: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Foot fungus is considered a fairly common disease. All are prone to mycosis. Infection occurs by touching an infected area of skin or a particle of a damaged nail. A doctor should treat foot fungus. He will choose an effective remedy that will quickly get rid of the disease.

Causes of fungi

Foot fungus, which needs to be treated by an experienced specialist, can occur for the following reasons:

1. Swimming pool, shower or sauna are breeding grounds for many infections. When visiting such places, you should bring your own personal shoes. Walking barefoot on the floor is not recommended.
2. A humid environment is ideal for rapid growth and multiplication of fungi.
3. Dried mushroom particles can exist for several years. Once introduced into a favorable environment, they will begin to develop actively.
4. This disease is often caused by metabolic disorders or problems of the endocrine system.
5. Often, the disease occurs in people whose leg is deformed or blood circulation is impaired.

Symptoms of fungus

The symptoms of the disease are determined by its type. There are several forms:

• squamous;
• dyshidrotic;
• interweaving;
• onychomycosis of the feet;
• candidiasis.

Squamous form

In the beginning, the disease occurs in one leg. If you do not start treatment on time, then move on to the second leg. Symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of redness on the skin;
• peeling the cover;
• itching (not always accompanied by disease).

Often, a person who is sick with squamous cell carcinoma has nothing to worry about. Therefore, with this form, a doctor is consulted only when the infection has spread to both feet.

Dyshydrotic forms

This disease is characterized by the appearance of small blisters (from 2 to 8 mm in diameter) in the arch of the foot. As a rule, they are formed in the place where the foot does not touch the floor when walking. After a while, small hearths merge into large ones and open. The result is skin erosion.

The process spreads from the arch to the inside of the foot. At the site of blister opening, a large focus of erosion occurs, and then diaper rash. Often, a person feels itching and soreness in places where blisters form.

Once the erosion heals and dries, peeling will occur in this place. If you do not start treatment on time, then the dyshidrotic form of the disease will develop into squamous cell carcinoma.

Forms of intrigue

This disease can occur on its own or against the background of the squamous form of fungi. Typically, the process begins with cracking of the skin between the fourth and fifth toes.

Symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of a white lip resulting from stratification of the epidermis;
• the appearance of weeping wounds between the toes;
• burning sensation and pain;
• persistent itching.

The intriguing form of foot fungal infection has a chronic course. In winter, the disease subsides, and in summer it worsens. Lack of proper treatment contributes to the loss of the protective properties of the skin and the penetration of streptococcal infection into the body. As a result, a pustular inflammatory process develops.

Onychomycosis of the feet

This disease is a platinum nail wound. The disease develops, starting from the free edge of the nail. First, spots and yellow streaks appear on the plaque.

With hypertrophic onychomycosis, the nail becomes thicker and turns yellow. It crumbles and flakes easily. The skin beneath it is thickened.

In the atrophic form of the disease, the nail plate becomes thinner and gradually collapses. A keratinized layer of skin forms beneath it.

Candidale lesions

In this form, lesions often occur between the third and fourth toes as well as between the fourth and fifth toes. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• the skin is edematous and red in color;
• abscesses or blisters appear near the focus;
• an edge of the layered upper layer of skin forms around the rash.

You should visit your doctor as soon as you notice the first signs. It may be itching, burning, pain or peeling of the skin. After an examination, a specialist will diagnose and prescribe treatment. If you ignore the symptoms, then the infection will affect the entire foot, including the nail plate. In this case, it will be difficult to cure foot fungus. Therefore, it is not worth it to start the disease.

How to treat foot fungus

A doctor can choose an effective course. It is necessary to consult a specialist and express the symptoms that bother you. An experienced specialist will quickly determine how to treat a foot fungus.

medications

Many different products can be found in pharmacies.

Specialized medicines are antifungal agents that inhibit the growth of fungi. They are available in the form of tablets and capsules, oils and gels, suspensions, syrups and solutions. The dosage, dosage regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician.

Folk remedies

Fungal diseases are chronic and do not pose a major risk to human health.

Traditional methods of treatment are effective only in the early stages. During this period, the symptoms of the disease have not yet been noticed, it can be difficult to recognize the fungus. This is why folk remedies are best used in addition to medication treatment.

The most common method to get rid of the fungus is with a vinegar bath. Has a wonderful antiseptic effect. The bathroom is made like this:

1. Wash your feet in warm water and dry them with a towel.
2. Pour a solution of wine vinegar into a tub.
3. Lower your legs and hold in the tub for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Take out your feet and wear socks dipped in a vinegar solution.

Treatment is best done at bedtime. Then the socks should be removed in the morning.

Baking soda and sea salt baths are also effective for treating feet. They are made like this:

1. Melt a tablespoon of salt and soda in a sufficient volume of water.
2. Dip one foot into warm paraffin.
3. After 15 minutes, wash your feet with warm water.

It is better to wash your feet with a decoction of herbs. For this, calendula, medicinal verbena, oak bark are suitable. The soup is made as follows:

1. The ingredients are mixed in equal amounts.
2. Pour 3 tablespoons of the mixture into a glass of water.
3. Put the pot on a small fire.
4. Heat within 20 minutes.
5. The solution is filtered and cooled.
6. The soup is used for rinsing the feet and for lotions.

You can prepare an oil for the affected areas of the feet. For this, pork fat and saturated ash are taken. Mix the ingredients until smooth. The ointment is applied to the clean skin of the feet in the morning and in the evening.

Disease prevention

Every disease is prevented more easily than cured. Therefore, avoid wearing closed shoes all the time. Excessive foot sweating often leads to the development of fungal diseases.

It should be borne in mind that the fungus easily tolerates low temperatures. Upon entering a normal environment, it becomes active and begins to develop rapidly. Therefore, freezing is not a prophylaxis or method to fight bacteria.

Boiling can kill the fungus. To prevent disease, it is necessary to wash clothes at a high temperature and then iron them.

To avoid fungal infection, you should use only your things and shoes, carefully sterilize pedicure and manicure tools. By adhering to simple rules, you can protect yourself from a disease that is very difficult to cure.