If a person has fungus on their feet, it is important to start treatment early and adequately. The fact is that a fungal disease of the skin of the feet is contagious and if you do not immediately start fighting the disease, all members of the patient's family are at risk of becoming infected. The treatment is prescribed by a doctor, it will depend on the type of pathology, the degree of damage to the skin, as well as the general condition of the person.
Causes of foot fungus
When it enters the skin of the feet, the fungus does not always cause fungal infections and in order for the first symptoms to appear, the human body must be affected by negative factors. The following negative causes affect the development of fungal infections:
- weakening of the body's immune forces.
- the use of heavy and toxic drugs.
- non-compliance with the rules of hygiene of the feet and toes.
- the presence of cracks, wounds and abrasions on the toes and feet, through which fungal spores can enter the body.
The spots of infection by the fungus are the wet floors of swimming pools, baths and showers in gyms.
A fungal infection enters the body in a household-contact manner when an adult or child comes in contact with a sick carrier or objects inhabited by fungal spores. Often, foot fungus can be collected in public places - locker rooms, showers, swimming pools, on the beach. The disease can also be passed on when you wear someone else's shoes with pathogen spores. Failure to comply with the basic rules of hygiene leads to side effects that cause fungal pathologies of the feet and nails. The carrier may not always be able to detect in time that he has fungus on his feet, as the symptoms appear only in combination with adverse circumstances. But such a person is still contagious and this is dangerous for loved ones who are also at risk of catching an infectious infection.
Symptoms and types
Foot fungus has the following forms:
- quasi?
- corrosive?
- dissertation;
- onychomycosis?
- candid.
Slate
The initial symptoms of a fungus of this form can be found only in one foot, however, as the pathology progresses, a manifestation is observed in the other foot. The disease resembles a skin defect in which inflammation forms, which is covered by peeling. Squamous cell carcinoma of the foot is not always characterized by itching and discomfort, so for many this disease goes unnoticed and is impossible to diagnose without laboratory examination.
If the foot fungus is not treated in time, the infectious lesion passes to the tibia, then it will be much more difficult to deal with the problem. The fungus can also be found on the calves, however, these complications are rare.
Dyshidrotic
The first signs of a fungus on the feet of this form are characterized by the formation of bubbles in the arch of the foot, which gradually increase in size and reach a diameter of up to 10 mm. After the rash opens, it hurts, erosion appears in its place. The signs of damage hurt, there are cases of bacterial inflammation. After the skin heals in the affected areas, the disease passes into a plaque form. With an irritating variety, the skin on both feet is rarely affected, if early treatment is not started, a neglected form develops, in which the stages of remission will alternate with exacerbation.
dissertations
Endotracheal or interdigital fungus is the most common form of skin disease.
This type of foot fungus is considered the most common. Most often, the skin between the 4th and 5th finger is affected. The disease manifests itself in the form of the formation of dead, scaly areas that are exfoliated from the normal layer of the skin.
If you do not provide timely help, then the peeling spots begin to wet, the patient feels pain and itching. Furthermore, wounds and erosions form in the affected areas, which are difficult to eliminate.
If you do nothing and ignore the symptoms, the disease flows into a chronic form, which is prone to frequent recurrence.
Onychomycosis
The disease is characterized by the fact that the fungus is located on the toenails and toes. First, toenail fungus manifests itself in the form of a lesion of the free end of the toenail, in which spots and yellowish streaks form. There are the following types of toenail and foot fungus:
- Hypertrophic. The nail plate thickens, turns yellow, is easily destroyed. Under the damaged foci, the affected skin of the finger is visible.
- underfed. The nail thins, is quickly destroyed and the skin beneath it becomes keratinized.
- Onychomycosis caused by fungi. The nail plate becomes thinner, its color becomes black, brown, yellowish or green. The disease is a complication of the previous 2 types of pathology.
candida
The fungus infects the skin between the toes, without proper treatment leads to bacterial infections.
This type of disease is caused by yeast-like pathogenic fungi called Candida. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in children between 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 fingers. The tissues in these areas become inflamed, swollen, and often associated with a bacterial complication.
Candida is a type of microorganism that infects a person's mucous membranes and outer skin. Normally, Candida is present in the human body in limited quantities. However, with a decrease in immunity, it may show increased activity, causing discomfort to the patient.
If the fungus is not removed in the initial stage, blisters, cracks and erosion form, from which it is difficult to get rid of even with the help of strong drugs.
Diagnostic methods
In order for the treatment of foot fungus to be effective, it is important to identify the pathogen and make an accurate diagnosis. To do this, it is worth visiting a doctor, who often, after the first visual examination, will be able to determine the pathology. If the skin condition looks suspicious or does not go away with treatment for a long time, you will need to have a blood and urine test, as well as an additional diagnostic test to help determine the types of pathogens and their susceptibility. in antifungal drugs. To do this, a piece of skin is taken from the damaged area and examined under a microscope. For screening for malignant cells in the tissues, samples are taken from the damaged areas for biopsy.
What should I treat?
There are many fungal diseases, in order to distinguish them and to prescribe the right treatment, laboratory tests are performed.
To cure foot fungus and prevent recurrence, you should contact a health professional for advice and undergo diagnostic measures. If the diagnosis is made correctly, you can start treatment, which uses drugs with systemic and local effects.
It is effective to treat at a stage that has not started, then during the treatment you can take it by means for external use in the form of creams, ointments and sprays. It is also possible to treat foot fungus with home remedies. If the disease has affected the deep layers of the skin and the nail plates, it is recommended to use a systemic medicine to fight the fungus.
Folk remedies are effective only in combination with the use of drugs, otherwise the disease threatens to develop dangerous complications.
Drug treatment
An effective and efficient medicine must be prescribed by a doctor. If you self-medicate and ignore the advice of a specialist, you can cause serious complications that the most effective treatment will not be able to deal with immediately.
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of foot fungus with folk remedies at home should be agreed with the doctor. It is important to know that strong drugs are used to treat foot and nail fungus, folk remedies are allowed to be used as adjunctive therapy, as it is ineffective to fight the disease alone at home. There are various recipes that use medicinal herbs that have antimicrobial, disinfectant and wound healing properties. A folk remedy for a fungus is affordable and inexpensive, but what home method is best to use and what kind of prescription is appropriate in a particular case, you should consult a doctor. The best recipes are the following:
- A decoction with herbs of chamomile, plane tree and succession. Mix the ingredients, taking every 1 tbsp large. Put everything in a saucepan and add 1 liter of hot water, bring to a boil and simmer for up to 10 minutes. After the broth, drain and wash the affected hands, feet and other parts of the body before going to bed. The essence of the procedure is to perform it regularly, then this method will be effective and will help in the faster treatment of the fungus.
- Onion and asparagus infusion. Peel the onion and cut it into 4 pieces. The vinegar must dry. Add the onion and 50 grams of St. John's wort 2. 5 liters of boiling water. Wrap the container with raw materials and let it infuse for a day. In the evening, apply a compress of the infusion to the affected areas.
Prevention
The best preventative measure in the fight against the fungus that can prevent the disease is to strengthen the protective properties of the organism. This method is cheap, but the most effective and efficient. Medication and alternative therapies should be agreed with the doctor, any self-medication can cause dangerous complications, which are then much more difficult and longer lasting to treat.