Infection with foot fungus occurs through contact with a sick person or animal, as well as through soil, water or plants.It is important to recognize and treat the disease in time.
There are different types of foot fungus, and only a doctor can correctly identify the type by conducting a series of examinations.After which the specialist will prescribe a course that will allow you to quickly cope with the disease.
Intertriginous (interdigital) form
This form of the disease is considered the most common.It is usually activated in the summer.The development of the disease begins with lesions of the skin of the feet between the third and fourth, as well as the fourth and fifth toes, and then gradually spreads to all folds.The main symptoms of this fungus are:
- the appearance of cracks in the skin;
- the presence of a white rim, indicating the detachment of the upper layer of skin;
- the appearance of weeping wounds;
- burning and itching sensation;
- formation of erosions at the site of cracks;
- loosening of the skin as the disease progresses and disruption of its protective functions.
The interdigital form occurs in most cases against the background of the squamous form.This disease is treated with ointments.At the initial stage, you can do without using tablets.
An experienced specialist will tell you what fungi are and select effective therapy for your feet.Antifungal drugs will relieve the disease in one to three weeks.The main thing is not to forget to smear your feet with the prescribed medicine twice a day.
This form of the disease has a chronic course.It is not easy to determine at the initial stage.Therefore, patients often consult a doctor when the disease is present in all folds between the fingers.In this case, treatment may take longer.
Squamous-hyperkeratotic form
This disease in most cases affects one foot and, in the absence of proper treatment, spreads to the other.The skin in this form of the disease undergoes radical changes.The keratinized cells completely cover the foot.The skin of the feet begins to become rough and then crack.With hyperketarosis, the heels are also subject to cracking.The appearance of erosions is accompanied by burning and itching.The patient experiences pain.
The main symptoms of the squamous-hyperkeratic form are:
- skin redness;
- itching and peeling;
- proliferation of keratinized cells;
- the appearance of rough calluses, including on the heels.
This disease can also affect the nail plate.Over time, it loses transparency, changes shade and shape.In advanced stages, the nail often begins to crumble.Treating the disease at this stage is not easy.In this case, in addition to external remedies, the doctor may prescribe a course of pills.Combination drugs are mainly used for treatment.The duration of the course is determined by a specialist.Medicines are selected based on the type of foot fungus to which the patient has been exposed.
Dyshidrotic form
This form is also called vesicular.It is extremely rare.The disease is accompanied by the appearance of blisters or bubbles of small diameter.At first they are solitary, but gradually grow and burst.After which ulcers form.This disease is not easy to treat.It is complicated by the fact that viruses and bacteria easily penetrate into the human body through cracks and erosions.Often, diseases such as eczema, lymphadenitis and others with similar symptoms develop in parallel with the fungus.
You should consult a specialist if the following signs of the disease are observed:
- pain and itching in the affected area of the feet;
- the appearance of erosions and cracks;
- severe peeling of the skin of the feet;
- the appearance of vesicles or blisters on the skin.
Often, in the absence of proper treatment, this disease takes on a bacterial form.In this case, the transparent contents of the vesicles become purulent and cloudy.The patient develops severe headaches and a rise in body temperature.Treatment of this disease involves complex therapy.The doctor prescribes topical antifungal agents and tablets.
Erased form
This type of disease is not immediately recognized.The fact is that the symptoms of the form are erased and practically do not bother the patient.An erased type of fungus is accompanied by flour-like peeling of the skin.It seems that the foot is covered with fine flour.Small cracks appear between the toes, which are almost invisible to the eye.The person experiences mild itching.There is no redness.
It is difficult to treat this form of the disease.Since the patient seeks qualified help only if the erased form develops into onychomycosis.Precious time is lost and recovery may take a long time.
Onychomycosis
In this case, we mean a disease accompanied by fungal infection of the nail plates.There are several varieties of this form of the disease:
- damage by mold fungi;
- hypertrophic form;
- atrophic.
In the first case, the disease develops against the background of other nail lesions.Often the nail plate changes color, becoming black, green or brown.The nail bed becomes inflamed.
In the hypertrophic form of the disease, the plate becomes yellow and thickens.The nail breaks easily, revealing thickened and flaky skin.
With atrophic onychomycosis, the skin under the nail becomes rough and the plate becomes thinner.If treatment is not started in time, the disease can completely destroy the plate and nail bed.
Rubrophytia
This disease is also called rubromycosis.It is characterized by dryness and flaking of the skin, as well as blood vessels.The disease develops gradually, with virtually no symptoms.Therefore, the wearer does not notice it immediately.A burning sensation and itching appears only in the later stages.At this stage the symptoms are as follows:
- the appearance of blisters and bubbles;
- plaques spreading over the entire sole;
- pain when walking, which appears as the number of blisters increases.
A specialist will be able to prescribe treatment only after conducting a series of examinations and studying the clinical picture.The microscopy performed allows us to determine what types of fungi there are and how the feet are infected.Treatment is carried out using exfoliating (keratolytic) agents.The specialist will prescribe an ointment or cream that contains salicylic acid.The course also includes the use of antifungal drugs.In advanced cases, tablets are used in addition to therapy.If it is necessary to eliminate damage to the nail plates, then special formulations are prescribed.
Candidiasis of the feet
This disease is quite rare.Fungi of the genus Candida, which contribute to the development of the disease, are present in the body of every person and are considered conditionally pathogenic.If they actively reproduce, unpleasant consequences are possible.The development of pathogenic fungi is often associated with a decrease in immunity, which develops against the background of regular stress and overwork of the body.Occupational or domestic injuries or frequent wearing of closed shoes in the summer can contribute to the onset of the disease.
Symptoms of candidiasis:
- hyperemia (overflow of blood vessels);
- separation of skin layers from each other;
- itching and peeling;
- the appearance of small flat blisters on the foot;
- pronounced swelling.
Medications are prescribed individually, based on the stage of the disease.As a rule, this is complex therapy, including local and systemic drugs.
It is important to take preventive measures to avoid developing one of the forms of the fungus.They are quite simple:
- do not use someone else's shoes;
- do pedicures and manicures only with sterile instruments;
- choose comfortable shoes that allow your skin to “breathe.”
By adhering to these simple rules, preventing the disease will not be difficult.