Mycosis or fungal infection of the foot is a pathology that occurs in 40% of people. There can be many reasons for the development of infection: from violations of hygiene rules to the development of serious diseases of internal organs and systems. Toenail fungus can be cured using medications and folk methods, but only with prior diagnosis and consultation with a dermatologist.
How to identify toenail fungus
With the development of mycosis of the foot, damage to the skin tissue occurs. The first signs of the disease do not have a pronounced intensity, so they are often perceived as normal hardening and irritation of the skin of the feet.
Despite the prevalence of the pathology, not many people know how to recognize toenail fungus. Mycosis of the feet appears 3-5 days after infection. The longer the fungus progresses, the more pronounced its symptoms will be.
Symptoms of fungal infection of the skin of the feet:
- at the earliest stage, the patient notices severe peeling of the skin, which, even after standard foot treatment and the use of creams, is not completely eliminated;
- itching gradually begins to bother you, which intensifies every day and causes severe discomfort;
- Along with itching, a sour smell appears, which appears when a fungus appears on the skin, accompanied by a strong smell of sweat (due to the dysfunction of the subcutaneous glands, sweating increases);
- There is also a change in the shade of the skin of the leg, the epithelium takes on an unnatural color at the site of the lesion: bluish, green or even gray-black (in advanced cases).
With mycosis of the feet, onychomycosis (fungal infection of the nail plates) often occurs, so the patient's nails may begin to break, deteriorate and change color. In rare cases, general health worsens (the temperature rises, constant weakness and apathy bother you).
Important!It is impossible to independently determine the stage and type of fungus, so if you have a dermatological disease, you should visit an experienced specialist.
Why are toenail fungus dangerous?
Many people suffering from foot fungus do not take it seriously, believing that the disease will pass by itself, or until it causes unbearable pain, they do not seek to get rid of the infection.
Note!The peculiarity of mycosis of the feet is that the fungal infection is contagious, and since a person often walks without shoes, the patient exposes a large number of people to the risk of infection.
Mycosis of the foot does not cause life-threatening complications, however, if the disease is not treated, complications may appear:
- transition of the disease into a chronic form;
- weakened immunity;
- increased risk of developing other skin pathologies.
Dermatologic complications include:
- allergies;
- focal or regional spread of rash;
- generalized skin lesions;
- formation of papules, erythema, eczema.
Complications occur in patients who neglect to treat athlete's foot. If the therapy is started on time, the disease is eliminated without consequences.
What causes toenail fungus?
Mycosis of the feet occurs due to infection. Fungal spores have the ability to maintain vital activity even in the absence of contact with the skin.
Before answering what causes athlete's foot, it should be noted that experts identify several groups of people susceptible to fungal infections.
- with weakened immunity;
- with vascular disease;
- violating hygiene rules.
With athlete's foot, the most common causes of infection are:
- diseases related to lack of immunity;
- rarely changing socks, wearing low-quality shoes;
- visiting public bathing places (without respecting personal hygiene);
- nail fungus;
- increased sweating of the feet.
One of the factors in the development of foot fungus is the psychosomatics of the disease. Experts confirm that a violation of the psycho-emotional state greatly affects the immune system, weakening it. A weak immune system is unable to resist fungi, so the risk of developing mycosis increases.
Is athlete's foot contagious?
Specialists in the dermatological field of medicine have proven that mycosis of the feet is a disease that appears after contact of the skin of the feet with fungal spores.
The peculiarity of this type of infection is the long-term survival of the spores that fall on any surface. Moreover, even on the skin of the foot, fungal spores can remain dormant for many years and when favorable conditions are created, they can be activated.
It is the ability to maintain the activity of the infection in the spore state for many years that poses the greatest risk. It is impossible to completely prevent infection. Fungi grow in a moist environment, so maintaining hygiene standards is the most effective way to prevent infection.
Important!Considering how foot fungus is transmitted, you should also think about the risks of infecting people in contact with the patient, especially those who live with him.
How is athlete's foot transmitted?
Fungal infection is transmitted through family contact. The main method of infection is when the spores enter the healthy skin of the feet.
How is athlete's foot transmitted? There are two types of athlete's foot infection.
- Direct: foot contact with an infected surface, contact with a patient's feet, contact with an animal whose fur contains spores.
- Indirect: contact with personal belongings of a patient with mycosis (socks, shoes, towels, etc. ), contact with care items for an infected animal.
In 60% of cases, the infection occurs when you visit public places (sauna, baths, beaches, etc. ). There is also a risk when performing a pedicure procedure if the items used in salons are not handled properly.
Types of foot fungus
Depending on how athlete's foot is transmitted (to which area the spores attach), different forms of infection can develop.
Dermatologists identify the main forms of toenail fungus, which differ in the location of the affected area.
- Interdigital. Mycosis affects the skin between the toes. With this form, two phases are distinguished: intertrigenous and squamous. Most often, the infection becomes chronic, since the area between the fingers provides the most favorable conditions for the spread of fungal spores.
- Plantar. The epithelial layers on the sole of the foot are affected by mycosis. A characteristic sign is severe keratinization, cracking and peeling of the tissue.
- Dyshidrotic. The most painful form of foot fungus, accompanied by the formation of blisters and blisters on the soles of the feet, which when burst, lead to secondary infection.
- Deep mycosis. With deep mycosis, a large area of the foot is affected with the infection penetrating deep into the skin.
- Onychomycosis. This form can be the cause or consequence of a fungal skin disease on the feet. With onychomycosis, the toenail plates become infected.
The most common form of pathology is interdigital. However, deep and dyshidrotic mycoses, which are difficult to completely cure, are considered dangerous.
Interdigital form
With interdigital fungus, symptoms appear after 2-3 days. Then, the signs of infection become more and more pronounced. It is almost impossible to identify toenail fungus in the initial stage. The signs of the disease are similar to insufficient hydration of the feet.
Note!In case of infectious lesions of the feet, interdigital fungi on children's feet are diagnosed in 70% of cases. Children move a lot, often spend time outside and are often without shoes or socks.
Considering that the signs of the disease in the first days are uncharacteristic, how do you know if there is a fungus? In folk medicine, there is a special method that helps to identify the infection in the initial stage: put your feet in a manganese solution and wait 20 minutes.
If after the procedure the color of the entire skin has changed, but the areas between the fingers remain the same, it is very likely that there are pathogenic microorganisms in the dermis.
Their stages and manifestations
Interdigital mycosis progresses in three stages. Each has characteristics of manifestation. The more advanced the infection, the more obvious the signs. Gradually, the disease brings not only discomfort, but also painful torment.
initial stage
At the initial stage, the patient begins to be bothered by the skin on the leg in the space between the toes. The plantar tissue area from the little toe to the third toe is most affected.
How is the squamous-hyperkeratotic stage manifested?
In the squamous-hyperkeratotic phase, the processes of keratinization and peeling of the affected epithelial particles begin on the surface of the foot. The skin around the localization sites reddens, the burning sensation and the feeling of constant itching intensify.
In the intertriginous stage, swelling is observed between the toes, erosion occurs in the keratinized areas, and suppuration may begin. The symptoms of the previous stage intensify.
Dyshidrotic phase
In the dyshidrotic stage, blisters form, the lesion area increases, spreading further along the leg. Fungal infection also affects the nails.
Interdigital foot fungus should not be allowed to develop; treatment should be started at the first suspicion. In this way, serious complications that lead to the risk of developing purulent infections can be avoided.
How to treat toenail fungus
A dermatologist will answer how to remove toenail fungus. The treatment of the disease can have many nuances, as there are many types of fungal infections. The specialist describes the diagnosis and determines individually what the toenail fungus found in the patient is afraid of.
Two methods are used for fungal foot infections:
- medicinal;
- People
The main one is drug therapy. Home treatment with folk remedies has an additional effect on the pathological process, eliminating the symptoms.
Therapy for mycosis can last several months. It will not be possible to eliminate the disease within two weeks.
Method of treatment
When choosing antifungal drugs, you should think not only about how to quickly cure toenail fungus. Some drugs can only eliminate the signs of the disease without destroying the spores located deep under the epithelial layers. Incompletely treated mycosis can quickly provoke a relapse.
ointment
You can treat nail fungus at home using topical products. Ointments are effective in the initial stage of the disease; in advanced forms they are used in combination with tablets.
Dermatologists recommend ointments containing disinfectant, anti-infective and regenerative substances for foot fungus.
Symptoms and treatment of fungal infection are interconnected, since the use of antifungal ointments aims to eliminate the signs of pathology and provide an antifungal effect together.
Important!The effectiveness of the topical agent is observed in the first stage of treatment, however, with significant leg lesions, the use of oils alone may not be sufficient.
PILL
Systemic antifungal drugs have a general effect. The dose of the active substance in tablets is usually much higher than in ointments. The advantage of the tablet form of the drug is that the drug has a stronger effect and not only eliminates the infection, but also prevents relapses.
If you treat toenail fungus at home, you can take pills, but medicines have contraindications, so taking them is allowed only in consultation with your doctor.
Important! Tablets are contraindicated in childhood, during breastfeeding and during pregnancy.
Antifungal medications rarely cause side effects, have minimal contraindications and allow you to overcome mycosis in the shortest possible time.
Also, for the treatment of fungi, ointments, solutions or sprays are used along with taking tablets.
Traditional method of treatment
There are many methods for removing foot fungus using folk remedies. Considering how foot fungus is transmitted, we can conclude that home therapy methods should be aimed at eliminating the infection from the surface of the foot. Folk remedies also have an antisymptomatic effect.
Note!Treatment with folk remedies is not used as a substitute for medication. Alternative medicine is recommended only as a complementary therapy.
According to reviews, methods for removing foot fungus will help you get the most effectiveness.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide - pharmacy hydrogen peroxide is mixed with alcohol and table vinegar. Everything is in equal proportion. A cotton swab is moistened in the resulting solution and the skin at the site of the leg lesion is generously treated with it. The course of treatment lasts up to 1 month. The procedure should be performed every day in the morning and evening.
Celandine juice
Celandine juice - after the preparatory procedures for cleaning the skin of the feet, make a solution for the bath. After that, they start using celandine juice. When freshly picked, the plant exudes juice from its stem, which eliminates skin infections. Celandine juice is used to treat all affected areas of the leg for a month. The product should be applied 2 times a day.
Soda bath
Foot baths with soda have a preventive and therapeutic effect. Place your feet in a container with two liters of water in which two tablespoons of baking soda are dissolved for a quarter of an hour. Afterwards, the feet are not washed, but simply dried with a towel. Baths are done for at least two weeks.
How to treat foot fungus using folk remedies or medications, of course, is decided by the patient himself, but it is better to prefer joint therapy, which will allow you to achieve quick and lasting results in the fight against mycosis.
Knowing how foot fungus is transmitted, the patient must understand that the treatment of the disease consists, first of all, in prevention. If prevention is not followed, athlete's foot can develop again. To prevent relapse, it is necessary to maintain hygiene, strengthen the immune system and follow the dermatologist's recommendations regarding treatment.