Foot Fungus Symptoms and Treatment

A fungal infection very often affects the toes or nails. This disease affects adults and children. To prevent the pathology from becoming chronic, you need to know the signs of foot fungus and what such a disease looks like.

Main signs of the disease

Among all skin diseases, foot fungus is the most common. You can contract the disease by ignoring basic hygiene rules. Sometimes it is very difficult to cure a fungus.

For each person, foot fungus begins and develops in their own way. Here are the most common signs to recognize foot fungus:

• characteristic cracks appear between the toes;
• You can recognize the appearance of a fungus by the characteristic itching on your feet and between your toes;
• the skin of the feet is very dry, it often flakes and becomes rough;
• blisters appear between the fingers, which burst when destroyed;
• the infection can spread to neighboring areas;
• reddish spots appear on the skin, which cause significant discomfort;
• You can also recognize foot fungus by its unpleasant odor.

As soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. If you don't do this in advance, it will be much more difficult to treat the fungus.

Signs of fungus depending on the type of pathogen

This disease develops due to different types of pathogens. The symptoms of foot injuries differ in each case.

1. If yeast fungus develops on the feet, the nail gradually thins and lifts from the bed. The skin of the foot is hyperemic (turns red).
2. With the development of epidermophytes, the nail turns yellow and becomes covered with spots. The skin on the feet peels off and gives off an unpleasant odor. A characteristic symptom of this type of fungus is increased dryness of the skin.
3. When mold appears, the nail plate may suddenly change color. The skin turns red if the pathogen gradually spreads to the entire foot. A person is bothered by itching and the skin may crack. In this case, pain and other unpleasant sensations appear when walking.

Only a doctor can determine the type of pathogen. This cannot be done at home. And if you practice self-medication, you can only harm yourself. Your legs will suffer and skin fungus will spread more and more.

Signs of certain forms of mushrooms

Depending on the affected area and the degree of development, several forms of pathology can be distinguished. Everyone's symptoms are different. Knowing the first signs of foot disease, you can begin treatment of mycosis in a timely manner.

1. Interdigital dermatophytosis is the most common stage of the disease. It becomes most active in spring and summer, when feet sweat the most. Cracks and sores appear between the fingers. You may notice the presence of scales on their skin. The foot appears absolutely healthy. Often a person feels itching.
2. The erased shape appears in the least pronounced measure. Peeling is visible between the fingers. At this stage of the disease, a strong unpleasant odor spreads from the feet: it appears due to increased bacterial activity.

The disease can present in various forms. Let's get acquainted with their signs in order to know how to identify fungus on the feet and, if they develop, start treatment. It should be remembered that in the advanced stages of the disease, the nail is completely destroyed. It is almost impossible to restore it.

Scaly type

This fungus is characterized by intense desquamation of the epidermis. In addition, it is the skin areas located between the toes and on the side of the foot that are most intensely affected. There are no signs of an inflammatory process. In the photo of the first signs of foot mycosis, areas of hyperemia are visible. The scaly fungus looks like this:

• the stratum corneum thickens;
• the skin shines, sometimes becomes thick;
• the pattern on the skin becomes more distinct;
• the fungus gradually spreads to the fingers, throughout the foot and affects the nails;
• sometimes lamellar scales appear on the epidermis;
• The patient does not experience any other unpleasant sensations.

Dyshidrotic type

With this fungus, small fluid-filled blisters appear on the skin. They are usually found on the side of the foot. Then, they gradually move towards the inner side of the fingers. How to recognize fungus on the feet of the dyshidrotic type:

• the bubble is usually single, but if there are several, they merge into one large one;
• if left untreated, the liquid in the blisters will gradually darken;
• If the blister ruptures, an erosion with a crust appears in its place.

With this type of foot fungus, the risk of bacterial infection is very high. The infection enters the body through open skin lesions.

Intertriginous type

This type of fungus is the most common. At first, the person does not experience any symptoms. To a certain extent, the skin on the toes does not change. Subsequently, cracks and layers appear. The skin is not affected, but it may sweat.

Candidiasis of the feet

The characteristic symptoms of this fungal infection are as follows:

• the lesion is the 3rd or 4th toe;
• the skin is red and swollen;
• There is a bubble around the lesion where there is a layer of peeled skin;
• There are pustules and blisters nearby.

If a bacterial infection enters the affected area, it leads to an increase in local temperature. Swelling is noticeable on the skin of the legs. In severe cases, a person suffers from general hyperthermia.

Signs of fungal nail infection

A person's nails may also be affected. The disease is distinguished by the following symptoms.

1. Marked change in the color of the nail plate. Depending on the type of patient's pathology, the nail takes on varying shades. Sometimes it can only change on part of the nail plate.
2. Nails crumble. This only happens in advanced stages. If the nail is completely infected, it is destroyed.
3. Changes in the structure of the nail.

There are several types of onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails.

1. Atrophic appearance. The nail plate looks very thin. It darkens, sometimes acquiring a grayish-brown color. The nail gradually detaches from its bed. The skin underneath keratinizes and relaxes.
2. With the normotrophic form of the foot fungus, the plaque changes color. Spots appear on it - white, yellow, green and even black. The structure of the nail is not affected.
3. In the hypertrophic form, the plaque gradually thickens and becomes porous. The affected area looks very unsightly and in some cases causes pain when walking. On the sides it crumbles and collapses without treatment.

Some types of onychomycosis

Depending on the degree of spread of the disease, its forms are distinguished.

1. Lateral onychomycosis is the most common. A small yellow spot first appears on the free edge of the nail. In the future, you will notice how it increases and the nail plate thickens. When walking, a person feels discomfort. The spread of an unpleasant odor is noticeable. Lateral onychomycosis is difficult to treat.
2. Superficial onychomycosis is characterized by damage only to the upper layers of the plaque. It does not thicken, but over time it becomes chalk-like.
3. The rarest form of the disease is subungual onychomycosis. The skin thickens noticeably in the nail fold. The nail turns white and loses its transparency.

General principles of treatment

Any treatment of a pathology begins with a diagnosis. Only then can an appropriate remedy be prescribed. Self-medication usually leads to a worsening of the condition of the legs. Let's get acquainted with the most common therapeutic methods.

1. At the first signs of fungal infection, special varnishes, dressings, ointments and sprays are used. They should be used for a long time and according to the instructions.
2. If local treatment is ineffective, complex antifungal drugs are prescribed. They are used orally.
3. Surgical removal of the affected nail.
4. Laser therapy.
5. In advanced forms of the disease, systemic medications are prescribed.

You can avoid the occurrence of an unpleasant disease by following the rules of hygiene. You should avoid using other people's personal hygiene products (towels, slippers). When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Types of mycosis

Fungal foot infections usually appear between the toes. It is caused by several types of fungi. This problem is most often inherent in adults, since children's sweat can disarm the fungus.

Mycotic lesions can be of different types:

• candidiasis - occurs when the body's resistance decreases, most often in women;
• epidermophytosis is an exclusively "male" disease that develops due to excessive sweating;
• Rubromycosis is a very contagious form that can occur even in young children.

Signs and forms of the disease

Signs of a fungal infection may vary depending on the patient's age, the state of the immune system and the nature of the blood circulation.

In a person with a strong immune system, the fungus can remain on the skin for several months without showing up. Mild itching and slight redness of the skin may occur.

Treatment and best remedies

Advanced mycosis is treated with fungicidal tablets and antimycotic ointments. These are used after washing and drying the feet.

It is recommended to use folk remedies only at the initial stage of the disease, as well as to relieve itching. They should be used with extreme caution as some require cauterization of the skin and can cause burns.

As for traditional medicine, it is used at the patient's own risk. Special care should be taken when using formulations containing vinegar, celandine or manganese, as this may cause skin burns.

Along with drug treatment, you can use baths with oak bark, chamomile or sage. A soda bath effectively reduces itching.

Preventive measures

Although there are effective and inexpensive treatments for foot fungus on the market, it is best not to let the problem develop. Prevention of fungal infections consists of:

• in daily hygiene;
• wear individual shoes (especially in public showers, baths and swimming pools);
• regularly treat the inside of shoes with ammonia;
• daily change of socks;
• strengthen and maintain immunity.

These are simple and fundamental measures that everyone can implement. But if an infection occurs, to avoid relapses, it is necessary to treat foot fungus with medication for another 14 days after all symptoms of mycosis have completely disappeared.

Mycosis of the feet: symptoms and treatment, photo of mycosis of the feet

Foot fungus is one of the most common diseases in dermatological practice. It occurs mainly in cultures where it is customary to wear shoes most of the time and affects up to 70% of the adult population.

Most often, foot fungus is observed in elderly people, as well as in those whose immunity is significantly weakened, for example, in cases of diabetes, AIDS, circulatory disorders of the lower extremities and other diseases of thiskind.

Often, the term "foot fungus" refers to lesions caused by fungal mycelium of the plantar skin of the feet, nails and interdigital spaces.

Pathogens

Among the many types of fungi, the main causative agents of foot fungus are:

• Trichophyton rubrum,
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes,
• Epidermophyton floccosum.

Other causative agents of fungal foot infections, which are not so common:

• Trichophyton tonsurans is the causative agent of mycosis in children in America,
• Candidiasis,
• Scytalidium hyalinum,
• Scytalidium dimidiatum.

All pathogens of fungal infections have adapted to parasitize the stratum corneum of the skin, producing special enzymes that break down keratin. In addition, their membranes (cell walls) contain manans - special substances that suppress local immunity and contribute to the development of chronic inflammation.

Routes of infection and factors contributing to the disease

Certain types of fungal foot pathogens are thought to be able to maintain viability in exfoliated skin scales for up to a year. To become infected with a fungus, it is enough for these skin scales containing the pathogen to stick to the paws, then fall into conditions favorable for reproduction: humidity and heat.

The most common infections caused by foot fungus occur:

1. In public places: baths, beach beds, swimming pools, saunas, even just beach sand.
2. In the family: shared shoes, lack of individual towels for the feet, low level of hygiene.
3. Habits: exchanging shoes, socks, wearing someone else's shoes (for example, hosts' slippers during a visit).

Factors contributing to infection:

1. A decrease in local protective forces as a result of circulatory disorders (for example, with vasculitis, atherosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities), some chronic diseases (HIV, other immunodeficiency states, diabetes mellitus, etc. ).
2. Prolonged sweating of the feet in athletes during long training sessions, in summer when they wear closed or poorly ventilated shoes.
3. Cracks and macerations on the skin of the feet.

In general, men get sick more often than women; With age, the frequency of fungal foot infections increases. Risk groups for fungal foot infections are:

• minors,
• military personnel,
• bath attendants,
• regulars of baths and saunas,
• athletes.

Types of diseases

Depending on the location of the pathological focus of the skin of the foot affected by the fungus:

1. Interdigital mycosis (dermatophytosis). It is most often observed in the form of chronic (scaly) or acute (intertriginous) forms.
2. Plantar mycosis. Most often this is manifested by peeling and keratinization of the skin of the foot.
3. Dyshidrotic dermatophytosis. Blisters and blisters form on the skin of the foot, often reminiscent of allergic dermatitis.
4. Deep mycosis. In this case, not only the superficial but also the deeper layers of the skin are affected.
5. Onychomycosis. Fungal infection of toenails.

Depending on the type of pathogen, the main fungal diseases of the feet are:

1. Athlete's disease caused by Trichophyton mcntagrophytes.
2. Rubrophytosis, caused by Trichophyton rubrum.

Rubrophytosis of the feet: main types and symptoms

Rubrophytosis is the most common fungal foot disease. Occurs in almost 70 to 90% of cases.

Symptoms

The classic form of rubrophytosis is characterized by redness and moderate thickening (lichenification) of the skin. The affected skin is shiny, with a raised pattern, a dry surface with mealy scales accumulated in furrows and folds.

Usually, the disease begins in the third or fourth interdigital groove, which is the tightest. The fungus then spreads to other spaces between the toes, the plantar part and the back of the foot.

The following forms are characteristic of rubrophytia:

Frequently encountered:

• scaly form (the main symptom is scaly skin),
• keratinizing form - presence of "corns", thickenings.
• intertriginous (oploid),
• dyshidrotic (with blistering),
• mixed form (diaper rash, blisters).

At the foot

Erased scaly rubrophytia presents the least pronounced symptoms and goes almost unnoticed by the patient. Its main symptoms:

1. Interdigital spaces: desquamation, presence of mealy scales, small superficial cracks.
2. There are hardly any complaints and slight itching may bother you.

In this form, rubrophytosis can last quite a long time. However, progressive progression of the disease is observed, which leads to the appearance of hyperkeratotic and mixed forms. Little by little there are:

• increased dryness of the skin of the feet,
• roughness of the skin,
• the appearance of rough calluses on the sole and lateral areas of the foot,
• formation of deep and painful cracks in the heel.

With rubrophytosis of the feet, 3 main types of skin peeling are observed:

1. Floury.The natural folds and furrows of the skin appear dusted with flour.
2. Ring-shaped. Reddened spots with a fringe of exfoliated epithelium.
3. Wide-lamellar. In this case, the skin peels off in large patches.

In interdigital spaces

During intense sweating of the feet, wearing poorly ventilated shoes or improper treatment, the spaces between the toes periodically begin to get wet. The skin becomes swollen, eroded, with deep cracks. The main complaints of patients at this stage are itching, pain and burning.

Without timely and effective treatment, the process gradually worsens, which is manifested by increased pain and itching, which intensify with movement. Large blisters appear on the skin of the interdigital spaces and lateral surfaces of the fingers, which then turn into erosions, surrounded by a whitish border of epidermis.

On the nails

Nail plates of the toes affected by rubrophytosis:

• thickened,
• crumbling,
• yellowish gray or with a brown tint,
• chiselled white spots which then spread to the entire nail.

Sometimes they separate from the nail bed, thicken and take on the appearance of a bird's claw or ingrown toenail, causing additional discomfort for patients.

Complications of rubrophytosis

As a rule, rubrophytia spreads to other parts of the body: hands, smooth skin, velvet hair. The pathogen enters new areas of the skin lymphogenously, as well as through contact (for example, transferred through hands when washing feet).

1. Hands - damage to palms and nails.
2. Smooth skin - lesions of the face, inguinofemoral folds, buttocks, legs.

In this case, the mycosis manifests itself as round pink-red or pink spots with a tendency to merge and develop peripherally. Their surface is covered with scales, and along the edges there is an inflammatory ridge with small bubbles and crusts.

If rubrophytia has spread to large folds, itching occurs.

Athlete's foot: types and symptoms

Athlete's foot is much less common than rubrophytosis and presents the same forms of the disease:

1. Cleared.
2. keratinizing.
3. Diaper rash.
4. With formation of bubbles.
5. Athlete's nails.

Then bluish-red skin thickenings resembling plaques appear on the lateral surfaces and sole of the foot. In the center of the rash there are layers of scales, the boundaries of the lesions are clear. In the spaces between the fingers, the epidermis acquires a whitish tint.

With athlete's foot, patients are bothered by itching, increased dryness and skin pain.

The oploid (intertriginous) form of epidermophytosis is characterized by redness, swelling and maceration of the interdigital folds. Cracks often form and pain is felt.

When the pathogen affects the arch of the foot, a dyshidrotic form can often be observed with the formation of blisters, which, after opening, resemble wet erosions of pink or red color.

Athlete's foot most often occurs in the big toe (I) and little toe (V). In the thickness of the nail, closer to the free edge, yellowish spots and stripes are formed, which gradually enlarge and occupy the entire nail. Then the nail begins to crumble, sometimes peeling away from the nail bed.

Acute epidermophytosis Podvysotskaya

The main symptoms of this form of athlete's foot:

• swelling of the feet, fingers,
• abundance of vesicles,
• weeping erosions,
• maceration of the interdigital folds,
• enlarged inguinal lymph nodes,
• increased body temperature,
• headache,
• difficulty walking because of pain,
• general weakness.

Onychomycosis of the toes: symptoms and types

In addition to the causative agents of rubrophytosis and epidermophytosis, onychomycosis can be caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, as well as some other fungi.

The most typical symptoms of onychomycosis, which begin closer to the free edge of the nail:

• discoloration, loss of natural shine,
• thickening of the nail plate,
• the occurrence of subungual hyperkeratosis,
• destruction of the nail, separation of the nail bed.

With onychomycosis, there are 2 main types of nail damage:

1. Normotrophic: white and yellowish stripes are visible in the thickness of the nail.
2. Atrophic: thinning, destruction of the nail plate, its separation.

Diagnosis of fungal foot infections

A specialist in the treatment of fungal foot infections is a dermatologist who, if necessary, can involve other specialists in the treatment.

After a conversation with the patient, clarification of complaints and features of the onset and course of the disease, the doctor will examine the affected surface and prescribe certain types of additional examinations, for example:

1. Microscopic examination with additional treatment of the material with potassium hydroxide.
2. Wood's lamp examination.
3. Inoculation of suspicious biological material on special media for the growth of fungi, as well as on media for bacteria.

Treatment

Treatment for any fungal foot infection should be prescribed by a doctor in order to achieve complete recovery.

In general, the treatment of foot fungus is based on the following therapeutic principles:

1. Fight the infectious agent. In the early stages of the disease, local medications are usually prescribed - antifungal ointments, creams, lotions. In severe cases, use systemic antifungal agents.
2. Increase immunity and improve local blood circulation, treating the underlying disease.
3. Desensitizing therapy. Since foot fungus is often accompanied by allergic reactions, antiallergic drugs are prescribed accordingly, which will help improve the patient's condition.

Home treatment

• To effectively treat foot fungus, it is important to remember that fungi multiply in humid environments. By excluding moisture, fungus will not develop and the chances of recovery will increase.
• Protect your family members from fungal diseases. You must explain to them that you can no longer walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom or shower room. After taking a bath or shower, it is necessary to treat the bathtub itself, the tray and the floor with a disinfectant.
• Wash your feet every day with soap, picking up any fallen bits of skin with a towel so that nothing gets under the nails.
• After washing your feet, be sure to dry the spaces between your toes with toilet paper or a hair dryer, then apply an antifungal agent prescribed by your doctor. Treatment should be continued for several months even in cases where the manifestations of mycosis completely disappear.
• Use powder when wearing shoes.
• Wear white cotton socks (cleaned daily). Used socks should be boiled or soaked in disinfectant for 10 minutes. Shoes should be disinfected using antifungal sprays.

Prevention of foot fungus

Rapid treatment of diseases that can reduce the body's defenses or impair blood circulation.

Conclusion

Foot fungus is one of the most common fungal skin infections. In most cases, compliance with simple rules of prevention allows you to avoid the disease, and timely treatment begins to completely eliminate the mycosis.