Athlete's foot is an infectious disease that is transmitted from person to person. Athlete's foot is the most common type of fungus in adults. Both women and men and even children are affected.
Mycosis (fungus) is a skin disease caused by parasitic fungi. It can be easily picked up through contact with an infected person or through objects and things that the patient has been in contact with. Fungi love a warm and humid environment, so public places like saunas, spas, water parks, beaches, and swimming pools are considered potentially dangerous. English doctors call this disease "athlete's foot symptom" because athletes wear closed, poorly breathing shoes in which moisture accumulates.
Mycoses are very insidious, despite the seeming simplicity of the disease, they are difficult to cure and prone to relapses.
Recognize as early as possible
Treatment of mycosis is a rather lengthy and complex process, so it is important to determine as early as possible what the fungus on the legs looks like, the reasons for its appearance and how to act. The fungus usually first appears between the toes. Then the infection, if left untreated, invades the nail plate and leads to the destruction of the nail. If the cause is an infection in a foot care salon, then the disease begins with the nail plates.
Often, after infection, the fungus makes itself felt soon enough, and you immediately understand that "something" is wrong. But the manifestations of the fungus on the legs can have a different character: hidden or pronounced. That is why it is necessary to find out howFungus on the legs starts, what it looks like and how to recognize it.
What are the first symptoms of toe fungus?
After contact with the skin, the fungus on the legs goes through an incubation period (3-14 days, depending on the person's immunity), during which the disease does not manifest itself.
The first symptoms that should make you think about a visit to the dermatologist may include:
- The skin on the legs looks red or covered with spots, itches, burns. This causes terrible discomfort, you want to constantly scratch your legs. This sign of athlete's foot is detected in 99% of cases of the disease.
- thickening or roughness of the skin of the feet. Often this sign of toe fungus is ignored as it looks like a callus or corns.
- Blisters with liquid on the affected areas of the skin. If the patient combs them, infection can penetrate them, and then the blisters burst, fester and erode, ulcers and abscesses appear on the skin.
- Cracks appear between the toes. Most often, the defeat of athlete's foot begins in the spaces between the fingers (between the first and second or fourth and fifth). Cracks can cause discomfort or even pain.
- If treatment is not started on time, the skin of the legs becomes rough and looks scaly, while excessively dry skin of the legs is observed - a sure sign that you have a fungus. Later, the affected areas of skin (toes, heel, foot) appear softened, covered with a whitish coating.
- Feet smell bad.
- The skin of the legs looks sickly shiny.
- edema appear. This indicates that you have chronic fungus on your feet.
interdigital infection
The onset of an interdigital infection begins with the skin between the toes looking too pale, soft and wet, and can present with symptoms such as burning skin and a faint foot odor. If the infection is not treated, a bacterial infection will join the fungal infection. And this, in turn, leads to bad foot odor.
Interdigital infection can be complicated even with treatment. Cracking and peeling develop until the skin becomes very dense and thick.
If no measures are taken, then the infection passes to the nail plates, which contributes to their rejection and waste.
vesicular infection
A less common type of fungal infection of the legs. It usually begins with the sudden appearance under the skin of the legs of areas filled with liquid contents, resembling bubbles. Blisters are most common on the back of the foot, but they can also occur between the toes or in the heel area and on the sole of the foot.
This type of disease can develop after the primary infection. In addition, a secondary infection can affect both the same areas as the primary infection (on the skin of the legs) and other parts of the body. Integuments in these cases usually begin to be peeled.
moccasin-like fungus
This fungus begins the manifestation of pain in the foot. Then, as the disease progresses, the skin on the sole of the foot gradually thickens and then begins to tear.
Fungal diseases in this form often affect the nails, which subsequently thicken, begin to crumble or even fall out altogether.
Manifestation of symptoms and type of fungus
The manifestations of toenail fungus symptoms depend on the type as well as the degree and depth of the fungal infection.
Symptoms of nail fungus include the following manifestations:
- the nail looks cloudy, loses its shine;
- the color of the nail changes from yellow to black;
- the surface looks rough, and the nail itself begins to crumble;
- the nail is pathologically thickened or, on the contrary, extremely thinned;
- there is a painful curvature of the nail plate;
- the cuticle around the diseased nail is either unaffected by the fungus or looks slightly inflamed.
With fungal diseases, it becomes very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to trim nails without prior preparation, since they are too thick. If the thickened nail presses on the skin underneath, pain may occur.
A fungal infection is a very complex disease, removing it is not easy, especially if the disease is running. Therefore, if you notice that "something" is happening, you should immediately consult a doctor, because only the initial stages of this disease are easier and faster to treat.
Urgently to the doctor!
If you notice signs of athlete's foot, don't expect it to go away on its own. The longer you have athlete's foot, the more difficult it is to heal and the worse it is for your entire body. Prolonged mycosis can lead to weakening of immunity, allergic reactions, exacerbation of chronic diseases. Therefore, at the first suspicion, contact a dermatologist or mycologist. The doctor conducts an examination, determines the degree of the disease, the structure of the affected skin or nail, and takes tissue swabs for analysis. Thus, the doctor will determine the presence of a fungal infection on the legs, its nature and prescribe the appropriate treatment, tablets, syrups or injections (in the most difficult cases).
So if you have a very sore sole of your foot, maybe an old fungus has grown back, see a doctor right away. It is very important to immediately start treating the fungus in order to recover from an unpleasant disease yourself and protect others.
The initial stage of nail fungus
Onychomycosis is a common pathology in which pathogenic microorganisms multiply in the depths of the nails and adjacent tissues. As a result, the nail plate is gradually deformed. The early stages of nail fungus can be treated effectively.
Subject to recommendations, patients recover within a few months. Other preventive measures will help keep your nails healthy.
What is the initial phase like?
Symptoms in the early stages of the disease look the same on the arms and legs. First, the nail plate changes shade. From pink, it becomes yellowish and dull, sometimes changing to a grayish color. It is possible to change the structure of the plate - tubercles or other bulges appear on it.
Longitudinal stripes, yellow spots or spots are noticeable on the nails in the future. The plate begins to expand and thicken, at the same time becoming brittle. The skin next to the nail also suffers from fungi, becomes inflamed and reddens. Most often, spore infection occurs on the legs, initially onychomycosis develops on the big toe (but there are exceptions).
In the early stages of the disease, the fungus affects only one side of the nail plate. There are the following types of lesions:
- distal form - the upper part of the nail is affected;
- side view - the mushroom is located on the sides of the plate;
- superficial lesion - the surface of the plate suffers;
- proximal form - the periungual role is affected.
In the photo you can see the appearance of the nails at the initial stage of onychomycosis.
How is the treatment
If you suspect onychomycosis, you should seek advice from a dermatologist. The doctor will examine the nails, if necessary, make a scraping for the presence of mycelial fungi. After diagnosis, the doctor will tell you how to treat the disease.
Local therapy is aimed at eliminating inflammation and restoring blood supply to the diseased nail. Preparations can be in the form of varnishes, sprays, lotions. They are applied to the affected nail plates and to the skin around them.
The best-known antifungals:
- paints. They are applied several times a week. Active ingredients penetrate deep into the nail. They are among the strongest antifungals;
- Cream. Developed for the treatment of skin and periungual ridges. They are treated with healthy nails to protect them from invading the fungus;
- Drops. The drugs are applied to diseased nails. 1 - 2 drops;
- Lotion kills fungi on the surface layers of the nail.
Sprays are used as a convenient prophylactic against onychomycosis. They work on the soles of the feet, fingers and shoes.
In addition to local treatment, doctors conduct systemic therapy. The patient takes antifungal tablets or capsules. They kill the infection and help to quickly cope with the pathology.
other treatments
- Laser therapy - the effect of laser beams on microorganisms. In the initial stages of the disease, it is enough for the patient to undergo only three to four procedures. The method not only kills pathogenic fungi, but also improves blood circulation.
- Ozone therapy - an ozone injection is injected into the skin near the affected nail plates. Cells are saturated with ozone, resist infection. Immunity in the body increases. However, this procedure is effective only in the initial stages of the disease.
Both methods complement traditional treatment only at the initial stage. They are prescribed along with pills and topical treatments.
How traditional medicine can help
To cure the fungus in the early stages, the advice of traditional healers will help. Your advantage is that natural products without chemical additives are used.
The main treatment methods include:
- Apple cider vinegar - dilute in equal parts with warm water. Take a bath, hold it for 15 minutes. Do the procedure every day until all symptoms disappear. But apple cider vinegar is only good for treating athlete's foot.
- In the first stages of onychomycosis, ordinary hydrogen peroxide actively suppresses the fungus. Soak your fingers in water with added soda (one tablespoon to two liters of hot water). Soak cotton pads in peroxide, place on the affected nails and fix with a plaster. Wear the compress for at least 40 minutes.
- Tea tree essential oil helps in the treatment. This antiseptic is used as an additional remedy for all degrees of disease. Rub a few drops of the extract into the affected nail plates, do not wash off the oil. Carry out therapy from 2 weeks until complete healing. But this method is not suitable for children and women in an interesting position.
- Soda baths will help in the fight against fungus. Dilute a tablespoon of soda and a few drops of liquid soap (or grated laundry soap) in two liters of hot water. Dip your hands or feet in the solution. Leave them on for 15-20 minutes. Then treat your nails with medication or antiseptics.
- Regular treatment of nail plates with iodine will help get rid of onychomycosis. Lubricate the nail with an iodine solution every day. You can make antiseptic baths - add a bottle of iodine to three liters of water and hold your feet or hands in it for 10 minutes.
After baths and other folk remedies, nails, fingers and the skin between the fingers should be thoroughly dried. Then put your socks on.
What are the complications
If the problem is ignored, the fungus will not go away on its own, microorganisms will constantly multiply.
This has consequences:
- complete deformation of the nail plate;
- the disease becomes chronic;
- the infection spreads to healthy nail plates;
- the immune system will decrease, a favorable environment will be created for the development of other viral or bacterial infections.
prevention rules
Treatment of onychomycosis is lengthy and requires financial investment. Preventive measures will help protect yourself from the fungus, although they cannot be called a panacea against the disease.
These include:
- Don't wear other people's things or shoes. Treat them with antifungals as a last resort;
- use only personal hygiene products - towels, scissors, nail file;
- walk in public places (saunas, baths or swimming pools) only in rubber shoes;
- Don't try on new shoes barefoot in a store or market, wear socks.
Relapses are a common occurrence. It is observed in 6 - 8% of cases from the number of recovered.
Conclusion
Fungal diseases affect people, regardless of age and gender. Not everyone knows what the fungus looks like at the initial stage and does not care about changes on the nails. Treatment in the early stages of the disease is simple, new and healthy nails grow in place of the affected nails.
Therapy is prescribed by a dermatologist, in addition to local methods, comprehensive treatment with antifungal drugs is carried out. In the initial stages of onychomycosis, in addition to traditional medicines, folk recipes can also be used.