Various types of fungi on human feet are called mycoses. When the skin is affected, the disease is classified in the group of dermatomycoses (epidermophytosis, trichophytosis), because the dermis is translated from Greek as skin. If the nail is affected, then the disease is defined as onychomycosis.
Causes of disease
Fungus on the feet is a common disease that occurs all over the world. More often in cities than in rural areas. The risk group for foot fungus infection includes athletes, shower workers, and store workers. Children have thinner skin that is not protected from external factors, so they are also susceptible to mycoses. Another reason is increased sweating of the feet as a result of diseases in the body or innate characteristics. Dermatologists believe that the risk of foot fungus infection increases with age. Factors contributing to the disease:
- wearing closed uncomfortable faux leather shoes;
- a warm environment with high humidity, typical of wearing shoes;
- violation of the blood supply to the extremities;
- frequent visits to crowded places;
- weak or defective immune system;
- wearing unfamiliar shoes.
Rapid infection
Foot dermatomycosis is easily transmitted in public places from a sick person to a healthy person. Infection occurs through contact surfaces: floors, household items, personal hygiene items, other people's shoes. The fungus is transmitted by direct contact, it multiplies very quickly, which is why it is so easy for them to become infected. Situations of fungal transmission in hairdressing salons via tools during pedicures, as well as towels, are not excluded. The disease affects the skin of the feet. This is especially common in men, as they spend most of their time in closed shoes. Frequent visits to gyms, bathrooms, military service, where you do not always have to wear your own shoe size - all this creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. The unventilated space in the room is useful for reproductive fungi that cause diseases. The spread of pathogenic flora is very fast. The place where the fungus predominates are 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.
Fungal infection can be direct or indirect. You can be directly infected by direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination involves the use of objects used by a sick person.
Manifestations of mycoses
The first symptom of the disease is the appearance of scales on the foot area. Infection occurs through these elements. Increased sweating is a favorable factor for the reproduction of microbes, because the altered composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora.
Dirt and remnants of thread on socks also collect between the toes. When a fungal infection is added to these factors, redness occurs there. The affected area begins to itch unbearably, causing discomfort to the person. The skin begins to peel, which causes painful cracks. When walking, unpleasant painful sensations occur due to the presence of wounds on the skin of the feet. The skin begins to thicken, and the infection can spread to the nails. If left untreated, mycosis spreads and affects the nails destroying them. The nail plate first changes color to a white hue. It can then be peeled off. Gaps are created between the nail plate and the nail. With fungus on the feet, an unpleasant odor appears. In winter, when wearing closed shoes, the foot is not ventilated, the intensity of foot damage increases. For the treatment of this pathology, an accurate formulation of an accurate diagnosis is necessary, because there are many types of fungal pathogens.
The main types of diseases
- Membrane type (intertriginous form) is the most common. A fungal infection was observed between the fifth and fourth finger. Gradually the skin acquires a scaly structure with elements of cracks. Sometimes a bacterial infection is associated with the fungus, which causes even greater damage to the skin of the feet.
- A moccasin-like type. It is manifested by pain in the foot. Then the skin thickens, thickens and cracks. Severe fungal lesions affect the nails, which over time can begin to disintegrate, peeling.
- Vesicular type (dyshydrotic form). It is manifested by the appearance of blisters under the skin, filled with fluid. It often occurs along with a bacterial infection.
Types of fungus on the feet photos with names
There are different types of fungi, they correspond to different diseases. There are four common types of fungus that cause foot damage.
- Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophytonrubrum) is filled with rubrophytosis.
- Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophytoninterdigitale) affects the skin between the toes, affecting the entire foot in the disease. It causes epidermophytosis.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes leads to complete epidermophytosis.
- Candida albicans is a female fungus. It causes candidiasis of the feet, but it is rare.
Epidermophytosis and trichophytosis (rubromycosis) are skin diseases that are collectively called mycoses of the feet, and are caused by parasitic fungi from the genus Dermatophytes.
Classification
Dermatophyte fungi:
- microsporum;
- epidermophyton;
- t.
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
- hendersonula;
- altemaria;
- s.
Yeast of pathogenic fungus:
- pityrosporum;
- candida;
- cryptococcus;
- malassezia;
- coccidioids;
- histoplasm;
- w.
Preventive measures
Since mushrooms love a warm and humid habitat, this means that it is necessary to violate these conditions in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to prevent fungus, the feet must be clean and dry. It is important to change socks in time and dry your shoes. Special antiperspirants are on sale that will block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is better to choose leather shoes to maintain normal metabolic processes between the feet and the environment. The foot will sweat less, and fungi will not form for reproduction. It is recommended to wear socks that you take off and wash at home, while germs and dirt will accumulate on your house shoes.
It is necessary to use only your own things, because you do not know about the presence of other people's diseases. Your immune system may not be able to deal with pathogens and become infected. Shoes need to be irradiated more often. When visiting public places, it is advisable to bring personal hygiene items with you. Never walk barefoot on the floor in swimming pools and showers. The use of prophylactic antifungal creams and ointments also helps. After all, swimming pools, locker rooms, saunas and other rooms with high humidity are a breeding ground for fungi. At home in the bathroom, it is better to refuse porous rugs.
Risk group
There are people who are more susceptible to this disease than others. This may be due to problems in the body, such as:
- extra pounds;
- violation of blood circulation in the legs;
- flat feet and foot deformities;
- weakened immune system;
- people under stress;
- after antibiotic treatment.
Diagnosis of fungal foot disease
The doctor conducts a detailed examination of the feet, makes complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to be tested for fungi. A piece of skin is obtained with a smaller, specially made scratch on the foot. For analysis, the nail is cut from the site infected with the fungus. The presence of mycosis is determined by special tests. In order to determine the type of fungus, it is grown, that is, grown. In rare cases, with an advanced stage of the disease, a biopsy may be prescribed to the patient. In this case, the prepared material is examined under a microscope.
Methods of treatment
In order to obtain treatment results, it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of infections, if any, that have joined them. The degree of damage is also taken into account.
The base of the membrane type looks like the application of antifungal drugs to the affected area. It is convenient to perform it even at home. These drugs stop the growth of bacteria or slow down the spread of the disease. Many of these medications can be obtained without a prescription. The action of the substances occurs locally, at the site of application to the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of treatment, if there is no improvement, the drug may not help you.
If there is no effect of the used agent, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist again to appoint another treatment. You may need to prescribe a stronger medication. In particularly severe cases of the disease, tablets are prescribed. Many drugs have side effects, so it is necessary to monitor the blood picture during treatment with tablets. The fungus is very difficult to completely cure because it can recur. Treatment should not be interrupted, because otherwise the fungi may show resistance to the components of the drug that affect them. During the treatment, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the feet. In the form of moccasin-like infection, onychomycosis, ie nail damage, very often occurs. Due to the fact that the skin on the leg has thickened and that medications are harder to penetrate inside, this disease is harder to cure. In this case, standard medications "do not work" and additional therapy in the form of tablets is prescribed. Onychomycosis - damage to the toenails by a fungus of the genus Dermatophyte. Both yeasts and molds can cause the disease. There are several types of onychomycosis:
- Distal subungual. Depending on the area of the nail plate lesion, there are three degrees of damage. If the nail is shown in cross section and conditionally divided into three parts (in depth), then the lesion is up to two thirds of the volume will correspond to the first two stages of the disease. And when the fungus affects more than 2/3 of the nail, it is already the third degree. In this case, the root of the nail (matrix) is involved in the disease process, and sometimes the folds of skin on the sides of the nail, called the periungual ridges;
- proximal subungual. Defeat the back of the nail plate, where the hole is;
- superficially white. This type of onychomycosis is common on the feet;
- totally dystrophic. The final stage.
In the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe removal of the bladder tips. Then all the liquid that flows out of them is erased. This area is dried, an antifungal cream or a special compress is applied to it. If the presence of a bacterial infection is determined, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by fever. Acute infections respond better to treatment than chronic fungal and slow processes. In severe cases, hormonal medications are prescribed. Antifungal medications are taken until complete recovery. It happens that not all fungi die, and when the drugs are canceled, there is a recurrence of the disease.
If the patient is not treated, the disease will become chronic and a severe bacterial infection will develop. In addition to the feet, the skin of the toes may also be involved in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions to treat nail fungus using tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as garlic. Washing with regular detergents does not always kill pathogenic bacteria. To remove fungus from clothing, bedding should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. We recommend the use of bleach and hot ironing.