Athlete's foot is one of the most common fungal skin infections.The skin between the toes and the bottom of the foot is often infected.The cause of the disease is fungi belonging to the genera Trichophyton and Candida.When they come into contact with the epidermis, they begin to actively multiply.The result of their activity is peeling skin, cracked fingers and diaper rash.In later stages, the disease affects the nails, they become dull, thicken, the edges begin to crumble and yellow stripes appear.The disease can spread to the hands and large areas of the body.
Scratching the affected skin or small wounds will allow the fungus to penetrate deeper into the dermis layers.Therefore, the infection spreads through the blood throughout the body.In children and the elderly, fungal skin lesions appear in a more acute form and are more difficult to treat.This is due to age-related characteristics of the immune system.
Stress is also a factor that stimulates the development of fungal diseases.Fungal infections are resistant to adverse external factors and prefer temperature and humidity.Showers with interrupted water flow, saunas, old shoes, rented shoes (skates, roller skates, ski boots), foam carpets in the bathroom are the main breeding grounds for fungi.They enter the skin through scratches and calluses.
People who sweat their feet too much are at risk of getting sick because with long-term exposure, sweat will corrode the skin and reduce its protective properties.People with the cleared form of mycosis with mild skin peeling and small painless cracks that only a doctor can notice pose a particular danger to others.
Chronic fungal diseases of the skin of the feet and nails are often the cause of autoimmune allergic reactions, including the development of bronchial asthma.It is important to properly treat mycosis without turning it into a stable chronic form.
Symptom
Symptoms of athlete's foot are very diverse.Early symptoms: cracks appear, painful or itchy blisters, diaper rash, and rough skin.After that, the fungal skin softens, turns white and begins to peel.Bacterial infection may be added, after which the blisters turn into sores or ulcers.
Itching and burning are frequent symptoms of fungal diseases, and some patients complain of pain and an unpleasant odor.
Reason
Athlete's foot is caused by a number of parasitic fungi.These microorganisms are present in large numbers on swimming pool floors, bathtubs as well as in public bathrooms.A person can become infected by walking barefoot in such places.
Wearing someone else's shoes and sharing towels and other personal hygiene products are another common way of infection.
Immunity is not developed to fight fungal diseases, so reinfection is as easy as the first time.
The development of fungus is stimulated by improper foot hygiene: wearing socks and shoes on wet feet, not washing socks every day and poor quality socks, insufficient ventilation and drying of shoes.
The appearance of fungal diseases on the hands is mainly due to the action of fungal toxins circulating in the blood.In addition, when brushing the soles of the feet, microorganisms remain under the nails, from where they can be transmitted to other parts of the body, including.on the scalp.People susceptible to fungal infections should always remember this route of infection.
Risk factors
Although it spreads quickly, not everyone gets athlete's foot.A healthy body can deal with fungal infections on its own.However, what often happens is that the immune system prevents the development of fungi for a long time, then under stress, ARVI or any other internal weakening occurs and the fungal infection begins to progress rapidly.
It is observed that people get sick faster in the following cases:
- sweating a lot;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- hormonal imbalance;
- taking certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- chronic dermatological disease.
Excessive sweating and neglect of personal hygiene rules create an ideal environment for fungus to grow.Sweat stimulates the rapid growth of fungal microflora.Inadequate foot hygiene, socks made of synthetic fabric, and too tight and tight shoes will accelerate the development and spread of fungal infections.
Hormonal imbalance is common in adolescents, so they are at risk of developing fungal diseases.The restructuring of the hormonal system temporarily reduces immunity and can cause excessive sweating.These factors contribute to the development and spread of pathogenic microflora.
Decreased immunity may occur due to long-term use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Ringworm, eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis reduce cellular immunity and create favorable conditions for the development of further secondary infections, especially fungal ones.Fungal diseases are often complications of dermatological diseases.Increased risk of infection: shoes are too tight;ingrown nails;abrasions and wounds on the feet;diabetes;vascular diseases.
Types of disease
Form deleted.Early 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 uncomfortable and may not suspect that he or she has a fungal disease.
Scale form.The skin between the fingers peels off and is covered with flat, mildly itchy scales.
Hyperkeratosis form.Blue-red flat papules and plaques appear.The main location of the injury is the arch of the foot.The formations are covered with scales.Individual bubbles may form.The rash can coalesce into groups, forming large lesions.Over time, the entire foot is affected.Yellow hyperkeratoses (calluses) covered with fissures may appear.Dry skin, mild pain and itching.
Interwoven form.The inflammation is similar to common diaper rash.The greatest damage is observed on the skin between the fingers.Red bumps appear.Presenting symptoms include ulcers and wetting.If left untreated, deep cracks and erosion will appear.Patients note pain in the affected area, severe itching and burning.
Dyshidrotic form.Lots of compressed bubbles.The location of the injury is the arch of the foot.The rash can spread, so prompt treatment is essential.If left untreated, the blisters will spread to the entire surface of the foot, including the toes.Small blisters can coalesce and grow into larger blisters that can burst.Red erosion remains in their place.
Acute form.Increased sensitivity to fungal pathogens and rapid progression of the disease.The surface of the foot is severely red and swollen, with large vesicles and vesicles appearing.After opening, large erosions develop in situ;the ulcer spreads beyond the crease between the fingers.In some cases, patients experience weakness, fever and headaches.
Symptoms can vary from person to person.When the first alarming symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of athlete's foot
Diagnosis and treatment of fungal diseases must be performed by a dermatologist or mycologist.
Diagnosis includes:
- detailed examination of the feet;
- take a history;
- scrape the affected skin area or cut off a deformed piece of the nail;
- testing to detect fungal infections throughout the body;
- Sow the material on nutrient medium (if necessary);
- skin biopsy for microscopic analysis (in rare cases);
- General blood and biochemical tests.
Treatment
Incorrect or late treatment can lead to the development of severe fungal disease.In this case, recovery can take up to six months or more.Therefore, you need to seek help from a doctor when you have the first symptoms.First of all, it is necessary to accurately identify the pathogen;To do this, your doctor will shave the affected skin area.Based on the results, the optimal course of antifungal treatment is selected.Modern antifungal drugs - creams, gels, ointments, sprays - effectively cope with this disease.They have a wide spectrum of action, are applied 1-2 times a day, do not stain skin and linen, and do not have a characteristic odor.
External means
The choice of medication depends on the stage of mycosis.For mild forms prescribe only external agents;For severe forms, systemic treatment is required.The most common topical medications are Terbinafine and Naftifine.They act on certain pathogenic fungi that cause athlete's foot.Does not cause side effects.Bifonazole and Clotrimazole work quickly against yeast-like fungi.Thanks to their oily properties, they effectively soften the skin and eliminate dryness, peeling and itching.These drugs speed up the healing process and restore the affected skin area.Bifonazole is a complex remedy aimed at treating foot fungus and nail plaques.Eliminates itching, peeling, burning sensations and unpleasant odors.In addition to antifungal drugs, it is important to regularly treat the skin with antiseptics.Chlorhexidine or miramistin solutions are good for this.When secondary infection occurs and pus appears, antibacterial ointment is prescribed.
Pills
To treat fungal diseases of the feet, the following drugs are used: Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Nystatin.For yeast-like fungi, Fluconazole and Nystatin are prescribed.The latter is considered an outdated drug and is rarely prescribed.Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride granules are specially designed to fight fungal infections of the feet.The regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician.
Recommended
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection and fungi only reproduce in moist environments.By removing moisture, you prevent the infection from spreading.
Try to protect people around you from infection.Explain that you cannot walk barefoot in the apartment, especially in the bathroom.Each time after a shower, treat the tub or shower tray as well as the bathroom floor with a disinfectant.
Every day before going to bed, wash your feet with regular soap and warm water, making sure the skin does not become too soft.Dry your feet thoroughly 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 treatment as recommended by your doctor, even if your symptoms have disappeared.Antifungal creams and ointments should only be applied to dry skin.If your feet sweat easily, you must wait until the medicine is absorbed.
Wear cotton socks and wash them every day.When washing, use chlorine bleach (not soap) or boil the socks for 10 minutes.This way you will remove the fungus from your clothes and prevent re-infection.Shoes should be disinfected with an antifungal spray and dried for several days (preferably in the sun).
Prevent foot fungus
After going out, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.After being in any risk area, wash your feet thoroughly with soap, dry with a towel and treat with any antifungal solution.If someone in the family has a fungal disease, they should have separate towels for their face, hands and feet.After that, the bathtub must be thoroughly treated with a special bathtub cleaner.If your feet sweat a lot, you can apply talcum powder or antiperspirant deodorant on them.Do not wear other people's shoes, especially sandals given by guests, and vice versa, do not give your own shoes to others.
Try not to let your feet sweat.In a room where you stay for more than an hour, try to change your shoes into replacement shoes.When going to the sauna, public bath, or swimming pool, wear rubber sandals and do not go barefoot in public areas.After bathing, swimming in a pond or in a pool, treat your feet with antifungal cream.Wear clean socks and tights every day.Do not allow others to use your sponges, washcloths, manicure and pedicure accessories.They must be sterilized before use.
Clean the bathtub with a cleaning product and use a strong stream of water before use.Remove wooden stools, as well as fabric and foam rugs from the bathroom.They retain moisture and can leave behind scaly skin and fungally infected nail fragments.Use a special grill (coated with special enamel or plastic) or a rubber mat.
Moisture in the folds between the fingers softens the skin and makes it easier for fungal infections to penetrate.Dry the creases between your toes with a separate foot towel or dry with a hair dryer.According to statistics, fungal diseases are more common in people with flat feet.Therefore, wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with a heel no higher than 4 cm with a special orthopedic sole or soft protrusions that support the arch of the foot.
No matter how complete and proficient foot care at home is, it is necessary to regularly carry out foot care of the skin of the feet and nail plates (medical pedicure).It will help maintain healthy feet and nails, and your doctor will give individual recommendations for home care and prevention.