Fungus on the feet: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Foot fungus is considered to be a very common disease. Everyone is subject to ringworm. The infection occurs by touching an infected area of the skin or a particle of a damaged nail. The doctor must treat the fungus on the feet. He will select an effective remedy that will quickly get rid of the disease.

Causes of the fungus

The fungus on the legs, which must be treated by an experienced specialist, can occur for the following reasons:

1. The pool water, the shower or the sauna are breeding grounds for various infections. When visiting these places, you must bring your personal shoes. Walking barefoot on the floor is not recommended.
2. A moist environment is ideal for the rapid growth and multiplication of the fungus.
3. Dry fungus particles can exist for several years. As soon as they enter a favorable environment, they will begin to actively develop.
4. This disease is often caused by metabolic disorders or problems with the endocrine system.
5. Often, the disease manifests itself in people whose feet are deformed or their blood circulation is impaired.

Fungal symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are determined by its type. There are several forms:

• scaly;
• dyshydrotic;
• intertriga;
• onychomycosis of the feet;
• candidiasis.

Scaly shape

In the beginning, the disease occurs in one leg. If you don't start treatment in time, it changes to the second foot. The symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of redness on the skin;
• peeling of the cover;
• itching (not always associated with the disease).

Often, a sick person with a scaly infection doesn't bother at all. Therefore, with this form, the doctor is consulted only when the infection has spread to both legs.

Dyshidrotic form

This disease is characterized by the appearance of small bubbles (2 to 8 mm in diameter) in the arch of the foot. As a rule, they form where the leg does not touch the ground when walking. After a while, small foci merge into large ones and open up. The result is erosion of the skin.

The process spreads from the arch to the inside of the leg. At the site of the opening of the bubbles, there is a great focus of erosion, followed by diaper rash. Often, the person feels itching and pain in the places where the blisters form.

After the erosion has healed and dried, flaking will occur at this location. If you don't start treatment in time, the dyshidrotic form of the disease will become scaly.

Form intertriga

This disease can occur on its own or in the context of the scaly form of the fungus. Usually, the process starts with cracks in the skin between the fourth and fifth fingers.

The symptoms of the disease should be considered:

• the appearance of a white border resulting from the exfoliation of the epidermis;
• the occurrence of watery wounds between the fingers;
• burning sensation and pain;
• constant itching.

The intertrigious form of fungal infection of the legs has a chronic course. In the winter, the disease decreases and, in the summer, it gets worse. The lack of proper treatment contributes to the loss of the protective properties of the skin and the penetration of streptococcal infection into the body. As a result, a pustular inflammatory process develops.

Onychomycosis of the feet

This disease is an injury to the platinum of the nail. The disease develops from the free edge of the nail. First, spots and yellow streaks appear on the plate.

In hypertrophic onychomycosis, the nail becomes thicker and yellowish. It disintegrates and peels off easily. The skin underneath is thickened.

In the atrophic form of the disease, the nail plate becomes thinner and gradually collapses. A layer of keratinized skin forms under it.

Candida lesion

In this form, the lesions are often located between the third and fourth, as well as between the fourth and fifth fingers. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• the skin is swollen and red in color;
• abscesses or blisters appear close to the focus;
• an edge of the exfoliated upper layer of the skin forms around the redness.

You should consult your doctor as soon as you notice the first signs. They can be itchy, burning, painful or peeling of the skin. After an examination, a specialist will diagnose and prescribe treatment. If you ignore the symptoms, the infection will affect the entire foot, including the nail plate. In that case, it will be difficult to cure the fungus on the legs. Therefore, it is not worth starting the disease.

How to treat foot fungus

A doctor can choose an effective course. It is necessary to consult a specialist and express the symptoms that bother you. An experienced specialist will quickly determine how to treat a fungus on the feet.

Medicines

Many different products can be found in pharmacies.

Specialized drugs are antifungal agents that inhibit the growth of the fungus. They are available in the form of tablets and capsules, ointments and gel, suspension, syrup and solution. The dosage, dosage regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician.

Folk remedies

Fungal diseases are chronic and do not represent a major danger to human health.

Traditional methods of treatment are effective only in the early stages. During this period, the symptoms of the disease are not yet observed, it can be difficult to recognize the fungus. That is why folk remedies are used more than drug treatment.

The most common method of getting rid of the fungus is with a vinegar bath. It has a remarkable antiseptic effect. The bath is done like this:

1. Wash your feet in warm water and pat dry with a towel.
2. Pour a solution of wine vinegar into a bowl.
3. Lower your legs and hold your pelvis for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Remove your legs and put on your socks moistened in a vinegar solution.

Treatment is best done at bedtime. Then, the socks should be removed in the morning.

Baking soda and sea salt baths are also effective in treating feet. They are made like this:

1. Dissolve a tablespoon of salt and soda in a sufficient volume of water.
2. Lower your feet into the solution.
3. After 15 minutes, wash your feet with warm water.

It is best to wash your feet with a decoction of herbs. For this, calendula, medicinal verbena, oak bark are suitable. The broth is made as follows:

1. The ingredients are mixed in equal amounts.
2. 3 tablespoons of the mixture are poured into a glass of water.
3. The container is placed over a small fire.
4. Warms up in 20 minutes.
5. The solution is filtered and cooled.
6. The broth is used to rinse the feet and to make lotions.

You can prepare an ointment for the affected areas of the feet. For this, lard and sieved ashes are collected. The ingredients are mixed until smooth. The ointment is applied to the clean skin of the feet in the morning and at night.

Disease prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, avoid wearing closed shoes all the time. Excessive sweating of the feet often leads to the development of fungal diseases.

It should be borne in mind that the fungus easily tolerates low temperatures. After entering a normal environment, it becomes active and begins to develop quickly. Therefore, freezing is not a prophylaxis or method of fighting bacteria.

Boiling can kill the fungus. To prevent diseases, it is necessary to wash clothes at a high temperature and then iron them.

To avoid yeast infections, you only need to wear your own things and shoes, carefully sterilize the pedicure and manicure tools. By following simple rules, you can protect yourself from a disease so difficult to cure.