Foot fungus: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Foot fungus is considered a fairly common disease. Everyone is prone to mycosis. Infection occurs by touching an infected area of skin or a particle of a damaged nail. The doctor must treat the fungus on the feet. He will choose an effective drug that will quickly get rid of the disease.

Causes of the fungus

Foot fungus that needs to be treated by an experienced professional can occur for the following reasons:

1. The water in the pool, shower or sauna are a breeding ground for various infections. When visiting such places, you should wear your personal shoes. Walking barefoot on the floor is not recommended.
2. The humid environment is ideal for rapid growth and reproduction of the fungus.
3. Dried fungus particles can exist for several years. As soon as they find themselves in a favorable environment, they will begin to actively develop.
4. This disease is often caused by metabolic disorders or problems with the endocrine system.
5. The disease often occurs in those people whose foot 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;
• dyshydrotic;
• intertriga;
• onychomycosis of the feet;
• candidiasis.

Squamous form

Initially, the disease appears on one leg. If you do not start treatment on time, it moves to the second leg. The symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of redness of the skin;
• peeling off the lid;
• itching (not always associated with the disease).

Often a person who has a squamous infection does not worry about anything. Therefore, in this form, a doctor is consulted only when the infection has spread to both legs.

Dyshydrotic form

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

The process extends from the arch to the inside of the foot. A large focus of erosion and then a diaper rash occurs at the site of the bubble opening. Often a person feels itching and soreness where the blisters form.

Once the erosion has healed and dried, peeling will occur at this location. If you do not start treatment on time, then the dyshidrotic form of the disease will become squamous.

Form of intertriga

This disease can occur on its own or against the background of the squamous form of the fungus. The process usually begins with cracks in the skin between the fourth and fifth fingers.

The symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of a white edge as a result of exfoliation of the epidermis;
• the appearance of weeping wounds between the fingers;
• burning and pain sensation;
• constant itching.

The integrated form of fungal infection of the feet has a chronic course. In winter the disease subsides and in summer it worsens. The lack of appropriate 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 lesion of the platinum of the nails. The disease develops starting from the free edge of the nail. First, spots and yellow streaks appear on the plate.

In hypertrophic onychomycosis, the nail becomes thicker and yellow. It crumbles and flakes easily. The skin underneath is thickened.

In the atrophic form of the disease, the nail plate thins and gradually collapses. A stratum corneum forms under it.

Candidal lesion

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

• the skin is swollen and red;
• abscesses or blisters appear near the focus;
• around the redness an edge of the exfoliated upper layer of the skin is formed.

You should see your doctor as soon as you notice the first signs. They can be itching, burning, pain or flaking of the skin. After the examination, a specialist will diagnose and prescribe treatment. If you ignore the symptoms, the infection will affect the entire foot, including the nail plate. In this case, it will be difficult to cure the fungus on the feet. Therefore, it is not worth starting the disease.

How to treat fungus on the feet

The doctor can choose an effective course. You need to consult a specialist and voice the symptoms that are bothering you. An experienced specialist will quickly determine how to treat foot fungus.

Medicines

Many different products can be found in pharmacies.

Specialized drugs are antifungal agents that inhibit the growth of the fungus. They are available in the form of tablets and capsules, ointments and gel, suspension, syrup and solution. The dosage, dosing regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the treating physician.

Folk remedies

Fungal diseases are chronic and do not pose a great danger to human health.

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

The most common method of removing the fungus is with a vinegar bath. It has a striking antiseptic effect. The bath is made as follows:

1. Wash your feet in warm water and dry with a towel.
2. Pour a solution of wine vinegar into a basin.
3. Lower your legs and hold in the pelvis for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Take off your feet and put on socks dipped in vinegar solution.

Treatment is best at bedtime. Then the socks should be taken off in the morning.

Baths with baking soda and sea salt are also effective for treating feet. They are made as follows:

1. Dissolve one tablespoon of salt and soda in enough water.
2. Dip your feet into the solution.
3. After 15 minutes, wash your feet with warm water.

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

1. The ingredients are mixed in equal amounts.
2. 3 tablespoons of the mixture is poured into a glass of water.
3. The container is placed on low heat.
4. Heats up within 20 minutes.
5. The solution was filtered and cooled.
6. The broth is used for rinsing the feet and for lotions.

You can prepare an ointment for the affected areas of the feet. For this, take lard and sifted ash. The ingredients are mixed until smooth. The ointment is applied to clean skin of the feet in the morning and evening.

Disease prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, avoid wearing closed shoes at all times. Excessive sweating of the feet often leads to the development of fungal diseases.

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

Boiling can kill fungi. To prevent disease, it is necessary to wash clothes at high temperatures and then iron them.

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