There are a large number of fungi in the world, but only some of them can infect the human body. Diseases caused by these microorganisms are called mycoses. People call these diseases fungi. The skin of the feet is most often affected. According to medical research, ringworm is the second most common skin disease. You should start fighting foot fungus as soon as possible. Seeking medical help at the right time, a person will not only quickly get rid of the problem, but also protect loved ones from infection.
Foot fungus signs (symptoms)
At an early stage of the disease, the patient may not be bothered by anything. People attribute mild discomfort in the skin of the feet to many other reasons and do not rush to seek medical help. The first visible symptoms appear when the fungus has spread significantly. The patient experiences:
- redness of the skin of the feet;
- unpleasant smell from the feet;
- itching and burning;
- skin peeling.
The signs of the disease can vary greatly depending on its form. The most common is the intertriginous type. It causes the following symptoms of athlete's foot:
- burning sensation in the legs;
- the appearance of cracks in the skin;
- peeling of the epidermis.
In place of deep cracks, erosive areas may appear. They cause great discomfort to the patient, because they cause severe pain while walking. Then, the skin of the legs becomes very loose, which leads to a significant decrease in local immunity. As a result, secondary infections join the fungal infection, which causes:
- extensive inflammation of the skin of the feet;
- suffocation of affected areas;
- swelling and pain in the legs.
Fungus can also affect the nails. This type of disease is called onychomycosis. Its appearance will be indicated by a change in the color of the plate, its thickness or thinning. If not treated, the fungus leads to the damage of all nails or their complete loss.
Causes of the disease
The disease is caused by several types of parasitic fungi. Most often, the disease appears when affected by dermatophytes or red trichophyton. It is possible to determine how to treat athlete's foot only after identifying the causative agent. They all do very well and reproduce quickly in a moist and warm environment. In this regard, you can become infected when you visit the following public places:
- sauna;
- Swimming pool;
- the soul;
- bath
Infection can also occur through contact with a sick person or with his personal belongings. For example, people who use aliens are at risk of developing athlete's foot:
- towel;
- pumice stones;
- washcloths;
- socks;
- manicure scissors.
Another factor that affects the rapid spread of the disease is the lack of proper foot hygiene. People who wear wet shoes or socks often suffer from mold. High sensitivity to mycoses is observed in those who suffer from:
- increased sweating of the feet;
- endocrine diseases;
- decreased immunity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- varicose veins.
Which doctor should I contact?
It is very difficult to cope with the disease alone. A patient with such a problem requires the help of a qualified specialist. A dermatovenerologist will show you how to cure toenail fungus.
At the first meeting, the specialists will carefully examine the affected areas of the leg. A physician with extensive experience will only need a visual assessment of the skin to make a diagnosis. But even the doctor should know how the disease appeared. To do this, he will conduct a conversation with the patient. The patient must answer the following questions:
- How long ago did the first signs of foot fungus appear?
- Have you had this problem before?
- Do you have any chronic diseases?
- Has the person had contact with sick people?
- Have you visited saunas, steam rooms or swimming pools?
- Do your relatives have fungal infections of the feet?
Based on the information received from the patient, the doctor can determine the true causes of the disease. To understand how to deal with a disease, you need to know exactly what its causative agent is. An examination helps with this. The patient described an itchy skin from the affected area of the leg. After laboratory analysis, specialists accurately determine the causative agent of the disease.
How to treat the disease?
The sooner a person seeks help, the faster the therapy will be for him. The doctor determines how to treat toenail fungus after receiving the results of a diagnostic examination. Experts suggest fighting the disease with drugs. The patient is prescribed antifungal drugs that:
- stop the development of pathogens;
- destroy fungi;
- have an anti-inflammatory effect;
- relief of unpleasant symptoms.
Such products are available in the form of oil, gel, spray, tablets or suspension for oral administration. Special varnishes or plasters can be used for toenail fungus, which also have an antifungal effect. The specialist selects medications for the patient on a strictly individual basis, as many of them have a number of contraindications. It is prohibited to take certain medications for:
- pregnant women;
- nursing mothers;
- children.
To achieve a quick recovery, it is very important to strengthen the immune system. For this, patients are prescribed to take vitamin-mineral complexes and immunostimulants. In advanced cases, when a secondary infection is associated with fungal infections, patients are prescribed antibiotics.
How to cure athlete's foot permanently?
Many patients complain that the disease returns some time after the end of the course of therapy. The reason for this is an incompletely healed primary infection. A common mistake that many people make is to stop therapy when improvements appear. It is very important to continue using the medicine for the entire period prescribed by your doctor. Even if the disease does not appear externally, it is not a fact that the entire infection has already been defeated. To prevent repeated foot injury, you should:
- Strictly follow the specialist's recommendations.
- Do not replace the drugs yourself with analogues.
- Apply the products regularly, without interruption.
During treatment, the patient should wear closed slippers at home. You should not let other family members wear them, because the infection can be transmitted through them. During the treatment of athlete's foot, it is also forbidden to walk on the floor barefoot, or to share washcloths, pumice stones or other bathroom equipment with other people. It is very important during therapy:
- Wash the patient's clothes separately from others.
- Carry out wet cleaning of the house every day.
- Treat the patient's shoes with antifungal agents.
You should also take foot hygiene seriously. They should be washed at least 2 times a day. At the same time, they should be treated with hot water. It is important to change your socks often and wear comfortable and not tight shoes. After recovery, you should definitely throw away the slippers, towels, washcloths and socks that the person used during the illness.
Preventing
By knowing what causes athlete's foot, you can easily prevent it. To avoid this disease, you just need to adhere to the following prevention rules:
- When visiting spas, saunas or pools, use only disposable or personal slippers.
- Do not wear damp or wet shoes.
- If there is a sick person at home, use only personal bathroom equipment.
Certain diseases also increase the risk of fungus. Therefore, by eliminating them at the right time, the appearance of the disease can be avoided. People suffering from:
- flat feet;
- corn;
- hyperhidrosis of the foot.
It is important for people to know that at low temperatures fungi persist for a long time. Therefore, freezing is not scary for him. However, the pathogen dies when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, the decoction can be used for preventive purposes. If you treat the patient's clothes and shoes in this way, the fungi in them will die.