Mycosis of the feet is one of the most common fungal skin infections.The skin between the toes and the bottom of the foot often becomes infected.The cause of the disease is fungi of the genus Trichophyton and Candida.Upon contact with the epidermis, they begin to actively multiply.The result of its activity is peeling skin, cracks between the fingers and diaper rash.At a later stage, the disease affects the nails, they become dull, thicken, the edges begin to crumble, and yellow streaks become noticeable.The disease can spread to the hands and large folds of skin on the body.
Scratching the affected skin or sustaining minor injuries allows the fungi to penetrate deeper into the layers of the dermis.Thus, the infection spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body.In children and older people, fungal skin damage manifests itself more acutely and is more difficult to treat.This is due to age-related characteristics of the immune system.
Stress is also a trigger for the development of mycosis.The fungal infection is resistant to adverse external factors and prefers heat and humidity.Showers with interrupted water flow, saunas, old household shoes, rented shoes (skates, roller skates, ski boots) and wool rugs in bathrooms are the main breeding grounds for fungi.They penetrate the skin through scratches and calluses.
People with excessive foot sweating are at risk because with prolonged exposure, sweat corrodes the skin and reduces its protective properties.People with an erased form of mycosis with slight peeling of the skin and painless microcracks, which only a doctor can notice, pose a special danger to others.
Chronic mycosis of the skin of the feet and nails is often the cause of autoimmune allergic reactions, including the development of bronchial asthma.It is important to adequately treat mycosis without transforming it into a stable chronic form.
Symptoms
The symptoms of foot mycosis are very diverse.Initial symptoms: cracks, painful or itchy blisters, diaper rash, and rough skin appear.Subsequently, the areas of the skin affected by the fungus soften, turn white and begin to peel off.A bacterial infection can add up, then the blisters turn into ulcers or ulcers.
Itching and burning are constant symptoms of mycosis;Some patients complain of pain and unpleasant odor.
Reasons
Mycosis of the feet is caused by several types of parasitic fungi.These microorganisms are present in large numbers on the floors of swimming pools and bathrooms, as well as in public showers.A person can become infected if they walk barefoot in these places.
Wearing someone else's shoes, sharing towels and other personal hygiene products is another common way to spread infections.
Immunity against fungal diseases does not develop, so reinfection occurs as easily as the initial one.
The growth of the fungus is stimulated by improper foot hygiene: putting on socks and shoes with wet feet, not washing socks daily and poor quality, insufficient ventilation and drying of footwear.
The appearance of mycosis on the hands is mainly due to the action of fungal toxins that circulate through the bloodstream.In addition, when combing plants, microorganisms remain under the nails, from where they can be transferred to other parts of the body, incl.on the scalp.People susceptible to mycoses should always remember this route of infection.
Risk factors
Despite its rapid spread, not all people develop foot mycosis.A strong and healthy body can cope with a fungal infection on its own.However, it often happens that the immune system inhibits the development of the fungus for a long time, and then stress, ARVI or any other internal failure occurs, and the fungal infection begins to progress rapidly.
It has been observed that people get sick faster in the following circumstances:
- profuse sweating;
- non-compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- hormonal imbalances;
- taking certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- Chronic dermatological diseases.
Excessive sweating and non-compliance with personal hygiene rules create an ideal environment for the development of fungus.Sweat causes the rapid proliferation of fungal microflora.Insufficient foot hygiene, synthetic fabric socks and shoes that are too narrow and closed accelerate the development and spread of fungal infections.
Hormonal imbalances are common in adolescents, which puts them at risk of developing mycosis.Restructuring of the hormonal system temporarily reduces immunity and can lead to profuse sweating.These factors contribute to the growth and spread of pathogenic microflora.
Decreased immunity may occur due to prolonged use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Ringworm, eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis reduce cellular immunity and create favorable conditions for the emergence of secondary infection, particularly fungal infection.Mycosis is often a complication of dermatological diseases.Increases the risk of infection: shoes that are too tight;ingrown toenails;abrasions and wounds on the feet;diabetes mellitus;vascular diseases.
Forms of the disease.
Shape erased.Initial stage of the disease.Symptoms: slight peeling of the skin between the fingers, small cracks in the upper layer of the epidermis.The patient does not feel discomfort and may not suspect that he has mycosis.
Scaly shape.The skin between the fingers peels off and is covered with flat scales, with a slight itch.
Hyperkeratotic form.Blue-red papules and flat plaques appear.The main location of the injury is the arch of the foot.The formations are covered with scales.The formation of individual bubbles is possible.The rash may coalesce into groups and form large lesions.Over time, the entire foot is affected.Yellow hyperkeratotic formations (calluses) covered with cracks may appear.The skin is dry, with slight pain and itching.
Intertriginous form.The inflammation is similar to normal diaper rash.The most damage is seen in the skin between the fingers.A reddish swelling appears.Existing symptoms include ulcers and enuresis.If left untreated, deep, painful erosions and cracks appear.Patients notice pain in the affected area, itching and severe burning.
Dyshidrotic form.Many compacted bubbles.The location of the lesions is the arches of the feet.The rash can spread, so timely treatment is essential.If left untreated, blisters spread over the entire surface of the foot, including the toes.Small blisters can merge and become larger blisters that can burst.In their place, reddish erosions remain.
Acute form.Increased sensitivity to fungal pathogens and rapid disease progression.There is severe redness and swelling on the surface of the feet and large vesicles and blisters appear.After opening, large erosions develop in their place;The sores extend beyond the folds between the fingers.In some cases weakness, fever and headaches are observed.
Symptoms can vary from person to person.When the first alarming symptoms appear, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis.
The diagnosis and treatment of mycosis should be carried out by a dermatologist or mycologist.
Diagnoses include:
- detailed examination of the foot;
- taking anamnesis;
- scrape affected areas of skin or cut off a piece of deformed nail;
- a test to detect fungal infections in the body as a whole;
- sow the material in a nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy for analysis under a microscope (in rare cases);
- General and biochemical blood test.
Treatment
Incorrect or late treatment can cause mycosis to develop into an advanced form.In this case, recovery may take up to six months or more.Therefore, you should seek help from a doctor at the first symptoms.First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the pathogen;To do this, the doctor scrapes the affected skin.Based on the results, the optimal course of antifungal therapy is selected.Modern antifungal drugs (creams, gels, ointments, sprays) effectively cope with the disease.They have a wide spectrum of action, are applied 1-2 times a day, do not stain the skin or underwear and do not have a specific odor.
External media
The selection of medications depends on the stage of the mycosis.For mild forms, only external agents are prescribed;for severe forms, systemic treatment is required.The most popular drugs for external use are Terbinafine and Naftifine.They act on a series of pathogenic fungi that cause mycosis of the feet.Do not cause side effects.Bifonazole and clotrimazole have rapid action against yeast-like fungi.Thanks to their oily consistency, they effectively soften the skin and eliminate dryness, peeling and itching.These medications accelerate the healing and restoration process of the affected skin.Bifonazole is a complex remedy intended to treat foot fungus and nail plates.Eliminates itching, peeling, burning sensation and unpleasant odor.In addition to antifungal agents, it is important to periodically treat the skin with antiseptics.A solution of chlorhexidine or miramistin is good for this.When a secondary infection occurs and suppuration appears, antibacterial ointments are prescribed.
Medicines in tablets
For the treatment of foot mycosis, the following are used: itraconazole, fluconazole, nystatin.For yeast-like fungi, fluconazole and nystatin are prescribed.The latter is considered an obsolete drug and is rarely prescribed.Polyhexamethyleneguanidine hydrochloride granules are specially designed to combat foot fungal infections.The regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the treating doctor.
Recommendations
Foot mycosis is a fungal infection and fungi reproduce only in a moist environment.By removing moisture, you prevent the infection from spreading.
Try to protect people around you from infections.Explain that you cannot walk barefoot around the apartment, especially in the bathroom.Every time you shower, treat the bathtub or shower tray, as well as the bathroom floor, with a disinfectant.
Every day before going to bed, wash your feet with plain soap and warm water, making sure the skin is not too soft.Dry your feet well with a paper towel or hair dryer, paying special attention to the area between the toes.Don't forget to apply antifungal cream or ointment.Continue the treatment recommended by your doctor, even if your symptoms have disappeared.Antifungal creams and ointments are applied only to dry skin.If your feet are prone to sweating, you should wait until the medication is absorbed.
Wear cotton socks and wash them every day.When washing, use a bleach solution (not soap) or boil the socks for 10 minutes.This way you will eliminate the fungus from your clothes and avoid reinfections.Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays and dried for a couple of days (preferably in the sun).
Prevention of foot fungus.
After being outdoors, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.After being in any of the risk areas, wash your feet thoroughly with soap, dry with a towel and treat with any antifungal solution.If there is a person with mycosis in the family, you should have separate towels for your face, hands and feet.Afterwards, the bathtub must be thoroughly treated with a special bathroom cleaner.If your feet sweat a lot, you can apply talcum powder or antiperspirant deodorant.Do not wear someone else's shoes, especially slippers offered by guests, and in turn, do not offer your shoes to other people.
Try not to let your feet sweat.In a room where you stay for more than an hour, try changing your shoes with spare shoes.When visiting a sauna, public shower, or swimming pool, wear rubber slippers and do not walk barefoot in public areas.After a shower, swimming in a pond or pool, treat your feet with an antifungal cream.Wear clean socks and stockings every day.Do not allow other people to use your sponges, cloths and manicure and pedicure accessories.They must be disinfected before use.
Clean the bathtub with a cleaning product and use a strong jet of water before using it.Remove wooden stools, as well as cloth and sponge rugs, from the bathroom.They retain moisture and can leave skin flakes and fungal-infected nail patches.Use a special grill (coated with enamel or special plastic) or a rubber mat.
Moisture in the folds between the fingers softens the skin and makes it easier for fungal infections to enter.Dry the folds between your toes with a separate foot towel or dry them with a hair dryer.According to statistics, mycoses are more common in people with flat feet.Therefore, wear high-quality, comfortable shoes with heels no more than 4 cm with a special orthopedic insole or a soft bump that supports the arch of the foot.
No matter how complete and competent the foot care at home is, it is necessary to periodically carry out podiatric care for the skin of the feet and nail plates (medical pedicure).It will help maintain healthy feet and nails, and the doctor will give you individual recommendations for care and prevention at home.