Fungus on the skin today is becoming one of the most common diseases that dermatologists encounter literally every day. Almost half of all skin diseases with which patients go to medical institutions are related to fungal infections.
Thus, fungal diseases are in solid second place among skin pathologies, giving first place to diseases of a pustular nature.
Infectious fungi, settling on the skin, add a lot of trouble to their carrier - they spoil the appearance due to the appearance of all sorts of:
In this case, the infectious disease causes unpleasant and painful sensations, accompanied by constant itching, burning, and malaise.
It is no coincidence that fungal infection has become so widespread. The reason for this was the constant relocation of people from one region to another, the deterioration of the environmental situation in many areas due to industrial development, and the increase in the number of socially disadvantaged segments of the population.
As a result, a powerful imbalance has formed between human needs and actual living conditions.
As for medical factors, the lack of awareness of the population about the need to observe hygiene rules and the role of fungal diseases in human life plays a role here.
Often people do not pay attention to the first signs of a fungal disease, considering this disease to be frivolous. Also, fungi can easily infect those who have problems with the cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems.
Often, doctors themselves, under the influence of advertising, recommend regular use of antifungal drugs, which, if used for too long, form the body’s addiction to the formation of fungi, as a result of which it becomes difficult to fight fungal diseases.
Today, it has become fashionable to constantly use antibacterial cosmetic and hygiene products, which lead to disruption of the biological balance of the skin.
Today, science has identified more than one and a half million different fungi, among which about five hundred species are the most dangerous for the human body.
On the territory of Russia and neighboring countries there are no more than a hundred infectious fungi that cause all kinds of diseases on nails, skin and hair. The most common causative agents of infection are:
Most often, of all types of fungi, dermatophytes, which are caused by the fungi trichophyton and epidermophyton, are active. Diseases due to the activity of yeast or mold fungi occur in only five percent of cases. Information about what athlete's inguinal is is very informative.
However, today you can often find skin diseases caused by mixed types of fungi.
Depending on age, a person perceives the onset of the disease differently. In some cases, the body may be resistant to the treatment of fungi or the disease becomes chronic.
In particular, the infection can negatively affect a person’s appearance, lead to disability, depression or a deterioration in a person’s mental state.
Infection of the skin with a fungal infection occurs as a result of contact with a patient, use of common things, objects or premises where a person infected with a fungus could be located.
Microparticles that fall off the affected skin surface can remain on clothing, shoes and surrounding objects. In particular, there is a high probability of infection in baths, saunas, showers, gyms, and solariums.
Therefore, when visiting such public places, you must always be prepared for the possibility that there could be a person infected with a fungus there, and follow the rules of personal hygiene.
Not everyone can become infected with a fungus. For the fungus to enter the human body, it is necessary that the infected microparticles have close contact with healthy skin. Thus, the fungus can be easily transmitted through wet and sweaty skin.
For this reason, the fungus most often appears on the soles of the feet or the interdigital folds of the feet. To prevent this from happening, you need to use rubber slides and wash them frequently.
In particular, you cannot use other people’s towels, washcloths, toothbrushes and other personal hygiene items.
After the fungus has penetrated the human skin, there are three periods of development of the fungal infection - the incubation period, the growth of the fungus and its disappearance. However, when a fungus comes into contact with the skin, an infection does not develop in all cases.
A person can live for months and years without knowing that there is a fungus in his body. Thus, the occurrence of a fungal disease is possible in the event of a sharp weakening of the body and decreased immunity due to illness or nervous exhaustion.
Due to the fact that a person does not know about the existence of the fungus, it can easily spread among the people around him. Most often, the fungus occurs on the nails or feet.
A fungal infection can spread for several reasons:
A mycotic infection can manifest itself differently on the skin, depending on the type of fungus.
Pityriasis versicolor can be recognized by the formation of various pink and brown spots on the surface of the skin that are slightly flaky. Inflammation and itching of the skin are not present.
The spots can expand and merge with each other, forming extensive foci of the disease. Neoplasms can spread on the back, sides and chest; you can read more about it in the article about versicolor versicolor, symptoms and treatment.
Dermatomycetes Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton cause diseases on nails and hair. In particular, such diseases include rubromycosis, foot fungus, trichophytosis, fungus in the groin area, ringworm and fungus on the fingernails and toenails.
Foot fungus occurs quite often and is often chronic in those people who refuse treatment or do not monitor the condition of their feet.
The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale. The first type of fungus affects almost all areas of the skin - hair, nails, feet. The second type of fungus appears exclusively on the feet, and foot fungus can be treated with folk remedies.
Rubromycosis of the feet is caused by the activity of the fungus T. rubrum. The infection can form on the smooth surface of the skin, nails, hands, feet, as well as in the area where vellus hair is present.
Once in the body, the fungus does not manifest itself for a long time. Most often, the fungus affects the skin of the feet. Infection begins with the appearance of fungus in the interdigital folds, after which the fungus spreads to the area of the soles and sides of the feet. The skin affected by the fungus becomes covered with tiny scales, especially in the area of folds.
As a result, the skin forms peculiar white lines. There is no pain or itching. Once formed on the feet, skin fungus can gradually spread to the nails. Infection can also occur in the reverse order - from the nails to the feet. Rubromycosis affects all nail plates, regardless of the location of the fingers, destroying the plates like any nail fungus.
Rubromycosis of the hands is similar to rubromycosis of the feet. Infection with the fungus usually occurs from the feet, hands and nails.
Signs of infection look the same as on the feet, which, however, appear less weakly, since the skin of the hands is taken care of more carefully. The skin of the hands in places where there are infectious foci forms ridges that can spread to the back of the hands.
The nail plate changes noticeably and takes on a different relief. Fungus on the hands can also appear due to frequent scratching of painful places on the legs.
Dermatomycosis of the groin area occurs due to the activity of the fungus Epidermophyton flocosum. The fungus, as a rule, is activated in the area of the inner thighs and in the folds of the groin, manifesting itself in the form of a red-pink rash. The resulting spots have the shape of a ring or circle. Elevations and sometimes bubbles form around the lesions.
Often, fungal infection of the groin area occurs as a result of the formation of a fungal disease on the feet or hands, which spreads to other areas of the skin. Symptoms of a fungal disease in the groin area include itching and burning, which intensify when sweating. If this disease is not treated, the fungus can spread and the disease becomes chronic.
Fungal skin diseases (dermatomycosis) are caused by pathogenic fungi that parasitize the skin and mucous membranes.
The source of infection is sick people. Infection often occurs when using someone else's slippers, a washcloth, a basin for washing feet, or simply in a bathhouse or shower. Sweating of the feet, abrasion of the skin, and varicose veins of the legs contribute to infection.
The first signs are inflammation and peeling of the skin in infected areas. Peeling is replaced by bubbles of different sizes, which, when bursting, form inflamed, weeping areas, painful and itchy. The skin becomes loose and separates in layers. Then all manifestations pass, but the fungus continues to live in the stratum corneum of the skin. The disease takes a chronic course. Affected nails become dull, thick, with yellow spots, and begin to crumble.
Scientists have discovered about 500 species of pathogenic fungi that cause dermatomycosis (read more about the classification of fungal skin diseases). The largest percentage of diseases is due to dermatophytosis, which is caused by dermatophyte fungi; The choice of drugs for the treatment of fungal infections depends on their type.
For the treatment of trichophytosis, a disease of hair, skin and nails caused by the fungi Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton tonsurans, the following is prescribed:
For the treatment of athlete's foot caused by the fungus Trichophyton interdigitale, the following is prescribed:
For the treatment of inguinal athlete's foot caused by the fungus Epidermophyton floccosum, the following is prescribed:
For the treatment of onychomycosis (nail lesions), the following drugs are prescribed:
Candidiasis, caused by the yeast Candida albicans, affects the skin and mucous membranes. Pharmacotherapy of candidiasis:
The yeast-like fungus Pityrosporum orbiculare causes pityriasis versicolor (lichen versicolor), for its treatment the following is prescribed:
For fungal skin diseases at home, you can use the following recipes:
The disease mycosis of the skin is a fungal infection of the skin (see photo). The most common types are:
Mycosis of the skin, photo
Mycosis can be transmitted not only from humans, but also from animals - cats, dogs, rodents, cows, etc. Recently, the role of skin lesions by candida has increased significantly. There are several explanations for this:
In some cases, mycoses of the skin and nails occur with minimal clinical symptoms. Therefore, patients do not consult a doctor for help in a timely manner, which contributes to the disease becoming chronic. This creates significant difficulties for subsequent treatment.
With mycosis of the scalp, not only the skin, but also the hair is involved in the pathological process. The severity of involvement depends on the specific form of the disease.
Therefore, for early diagnosis of mycosis of the skin, a person needs to regularly examine his body, without waiting for intense subjective manifestations (itching and burning) to appear.
The causes of mycosis of the skin are fungi. With candidiasis they are opportunistic. Candida constantly lives on human skin, but under certain conditions they cause disease. In all other cases, mycosis is associated with pathogenic fungi.
Infection with mycosis occurs in different ways:
The presence of predisposing factors in a person significantly increases the likelihood of the disease. These factors include:
mycosis of the skin on the face photo
Skin infection with fungus during mycosis has its own specific symptoms, depending on the specific type of pathogen. However, there are also general signs, knowledge of which will help a person suspect a fungal infection:
photo of mycosis of the skin of the foot between the toes
The symptoms of mycosis of the skin of the feet and mycosis of the skin of the hands are significantly different from those discussed above, so we will dwell on them separately. Most often, interdigital folds are involved in the pathological process, but there may be inguinal, popliteal and others.
The main signs of the disease are:
Accurate diagnosis of this type of mycosis is made using microscopic examination. It makes it possible to identify fungal spores on the skin.
The main direction in the treatment of mycosis of the skin is antifungal therapy. Depending on the type of disease and the depth of the lesion, these drugs are prescribed locally or systemically. Often you have to combine these methods with each other.
At the same time, the prescription of keratolytic agents is required. They improve the process of skin renewal in areas where it is affected. A dermatologist selects effective medications; self-medication only wastes time.
It should be remembered that treatment of mycosis of the skin with folk remedies does not give results, so you should contact a specialist if you suspect this disease.
The most common skin mycosis in children is microsporia. Popularly this disease is called lichen. The causative agent is fluffy microsporum. It parasitizes the skin of domestic animals, causing infection.
However, in 2% of cases the disease can be transmitted from a sick child.
Infection with fungi occurs through close contact with animals or objects contaminated with spores. A common way to infect children is by playing in the sandbox. Microspores persist in sand for a long time, because they are very stable in the environment (can remain viable for up to 10 years).
Rashes on smooth skin with microsporia appear a week after infection. Their characteristic features are:
Treatment of mycosis in children depends on the involvement of vellus hair in the pathological process. If they are intact (healthy), then only local antifungal agents are prescribed:
If vellus hair is also affected, then Griseofulvin cannot be prescribed. This antimicrobial agent is metabolized in the liver, so throughout the treatment period biochemical blood tests are performed to monitor liver functions, and a gentle diet is prescribed.
The drug Griseofulvin for mycosis of the skin
Simultaneously with Griseofulvin, the child is lubricated with keratolytics (salicylic or benzoic acid). They exfoliate infected areas of the epidermis and promote its renewal.
To assess the effectiveness of treatment for microsporia, the doctor examines the child’s skin with a fluorescent lamp. In addition, microscopic analyzes of scrapings from lesions can be performed to identify fungi.
Analyzes are carried out several times:
Microsporia is considered cured if:
Not only treatment of mycosis of the skin with drugs contributes to recovery.
A number of important requirements must also be met:
Prevention of skin mycoses is carried out in several areas:
• Redness and peeling on the soles of the feet or between the toes
• Irritation causing unpleasant itching
The causative agents of fungal foot disease are most often hyphomycetes, which parasitize the skin and hair. They prefer moist areas of the skin. Moisture from sweating feet and closed shoes in which the skin does not breathe are ideal for their reproduction and vital activity.
There are over 100 thousand species of mushrooms. They form their own cosmos in the world of plants and animals. Most mushrooms are very undemanding, so the parasites present among them create a major medical problem. Treatment for fungal foot disease often lasts several months, with no guarantee that the disease will not recur in the near future.
People with excessive sweating of the feet are especially likely to become victims of fungal foot infections. In the predisposition to cooling of the skin and increased sweating of the feet, a mental factor often plays a role, suppressed conflicts and problems, increased nervous excitability, self-doubt and worries that cause an uncontrolled release of sweat.
Old and reliable - help yourself!
• Baking powder paste for dough
It helps against itching and prevents the development of fungi. Mix powdered baking powder with a small amount of lukewarm water and rub this mixture into the affected areas. The duration of the procedure is 3 minutes, then rinse off the paste. After this, dry your feet well and powder them with powder or potato starch.
• Ointments containing imidazole and naphthidine
These ointments are reliable fungal killers that you can buy at the pharmacy without a prescription. The range of their side effects is insignificant, but the range of varieties of fungi they destroy is very wide. Inexpensive drugs against foot skin fungi include: Atcutrimazole, Clotrimazole Maurer, Fungitsit-ratiopharm and Antifungol.
In good weather and whenever possible, you should wear breathable footwear (such as sandals). This will deprive the living environment of fungi of moisture. When changing shoes, let them dry thoroughly.
• Variable temperature foot baths
It is very important to improve blood circulation in the legs. Baths with variable water temperatures are suitable for this. Place your feet first in hot water for 5 minutes, then in a bowl of cold water for 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure 2 times. Then you need to dry your feet well.
• Baths with medicinal additives
Baths with variable water temperatures can be carried out using healing additives. Chamomile and oak bark are suitable for this. To prepare a decoction of oak bark: 3 tbsp. l. bark, pour 1 liter of boiling water and boil for 30 minutes, then strain and add the broth to the foot bath.
Prevent illness and stay healthy
• Run barefoot on the ground more often! Walking in a wet meadow will improve blood circulation in your feet and reduce sweating. In addition, it will strengthen the body's defenses.
• Change your socks daily! No synthetic socks or synthetic lined shoes! After a shower or bath, dry the area between your toes well!
• Wear special shoes in the swimming pool and sauna! Never walk on the floor barefoot in a hotel room. After a bath, be sure to shower your feet.
• Foot fungus is contagious! Therefore, use your own washcloth and towel.
Skin is the largest human organ. It protects the body from external manifestations of the environment. There are many skin diseases. In first place are pustular diseases, and in second place are fungal diseases.
Filamentous pathogenic fungi are the simplest plants that cause diseases. In the vast majority of cases, hair, nail plates, skin, and mucous membranes are attacked. In some cases, damage to internal organs is possible.
General manifestations of mycoses:
Fungal skin diseases are dangerous because fungi begin to release toxic substances that poison the human body. As a result, changes in the skin, complications caused by viruses or bacteria, and exacerbation of existing chronic diseases may occur. They cause both physical and psychological discomfort to humans. In particularly difficult cases, generalized fungal infection of the entire body may occur.
Most often, infection occurs after contact with a sick person or with objects that could have gotten infected with fungal spores. Animals can also carry fungal diseases. Often, infection can occur when using someone else's shoes, personal hygiene items, or in a shared shower or bathhouse. This is especially true for mycoses that affect the feet and inguinal-femoral folds.
If you scratch the affected area, a secondary infection may occur, or suppuration may occur.
Saprophytic microflora can cause disease when the body's protective functions are weakened. People who do not maintain body hygiene and do not keep their clothes clean are susceptible. Also at risk are people who are overweight or suffer from excessive sweating.
On a note! Most often, mycoses are diagnosed in people suffering from diabetes and hyperhidrosis.
A dermatologist treats fungi. Based on the clinical picture and type of mycosis, he selects effective drugs that have a detrimental effect on the fungus. It is not possible to do this on your own, since the culture of mycoses can only be determined after microscopic and cultural studies.
Toenail fungus is extremely common. The most susceptible to this disease are people who have excessive sweating of their feet and who neglect the rules of hygiene. Most often, athletes, visitors to swimming pools, saunas and public beaches suffer from mycosis of the feet. The situation is worsened by dry skin of the feet, cracked heels, and the presence of other endocrine disorders. If the skin on your feet is healthy, the risk of infection becomes much lower. The most common fungus is between the toes, which is very difficult to cure due to its specific location. The lesions are localized in areas of constant folding of the skin, which leads to regular friction, high humidity and the development of a favorable environment for the proliferation of infection.
Nail fungus at the initial stage manifests itself in the form of slight peeling between the toes, which may be accompanied by itching and redness. Often, after drinking water, the itching becomes stronger. The fungus can develop into a squamous form of the disease. The skin in this area becomes thicker, frostiness appears, and hyperemia may occur. All this is accompanied by itching and burning. Many people successfully treat nail fungus with folk remedies using well-known herbs such as celandine or burdock.
Dyshidrotic forms affect the arches of the feet. The disease is expressed by the appearance of large dense blisters. After they burst, non-healing erosions remain, causing the patient quite painful sensations. The skin around the lesion swells and its pigmentation changes. After getting wet, a sensation of cutting pain occurs.
Also, foot fungus can be of an interiginal form. This type of disease is characterized by maceration and the appearance of eroded cracks of varying depths. The person experiences itching and pain. If rubromycosis of the feet occurs, the skin becomes dry, mucoid peeling appears, and the affected area acquires a scalloped outline.
In addition to the feet, fingers and toes are also susceptible to the disease. In this case, the disease occurs 3-7 times less often. Sometimes the hands suffer from “two feet and one hand” syndrome. Dermatologists call this when a person washes diseased feet with an unprotected hand and transfers fungal spores to other parts of the body.
But the most common fungus on the hands is called candidiasis - 25% of all cases of disease. Women who spend most of their time doing housework are most susceptible to it. This yeast fungus is sometimes even called “housewives’ disease.” People whose hands constantly interact with liquids also often get sick: cleaners, builders, swimming pool employees, and so on.
At the initial stage of development of candidiasis, the skin on the hands dries and cracks, then a secondary infection and inflammatory process may occur. Most often, the fungus is transmitted during a handshake with a sick person, provided that there are lesions on the healthy person’s skin. You can catch candidiasis by using contaminated gloves or by visiting a nail salon that is poorly disinfected.
One thing to remember about this disease is that Candida is present in every person’s body. Sometimes they can become active and affect the skin not only on the hands. The disease can occur on the nails, hair, mucous membranes, mouth or genitals of a person.
Currently, there are 500 species of fungi known to cause human diseases. Most of them belong to dermatophyte fungi.
Common fungal skin diseases:
Much attention is paid to mycoses affecting the groin and genital area in men and women. We are talking about candidal balanoposthitis, which can cause red spots, ulcers, white plaque with a pungent odor, redness and other inflammatory symptoms on the head of men, and thrush, which affects the labia in women. The causative agent is fungi of the genus Candida.
Antifungal drugs can effectively combat the manifestations of the disease. Here are some of them:
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies also gives positive results. Wine vinegar is an excellent treatment for lesions on the legs. A solution of salt and baking soda helps a lot. Strong coffee allows you to treat your arms and legs. Fungal diseases can also be cured with lemon or onion or tomato juices.
Rye flour can help with ringworm. It is enough to vigorously rub it into the affected area. An ointment made from wood ash and pork fat, composed in equal proportions, also treats lichen, scabies and lichen ulcers and scaly skin.
You can also use tools such as:
A sick person should contact a dermatologist, who will help determine the diagnosis and prescribe a suitable medication for treatment. In addition, you can use traditional methods. It should be remembered that timely treatment of a fungal disease allows complete healing.
People have suffered from fungal diseases of the skin and nails at all times, but until the beginning of the 19th century they did not suspect that red flaky spots and changes in nails are caused by microorganisms that have mycelium (mycelium), that is, they are fungi. Pathogenic fungi affect both the smooth skin of the hands and feet and the nails - the horny plates adjacent to the base, called the nail bed. Fungal diseases are based on infection by pathogenic fungi, manifested by inflammation, itching, layering of scales and changes in the structure of the skin, hair and nails.
Fungal diseases of the extremities cause a person a lot of problems, make them experience discomfort, not only physical, associated with painful sensations, but also psychological - arms and legs affected by infection look extremely unaesthetic and force a person to hide the lesions on the body. The situation is aggravated by the fact that diseases caused by microscopic fungi are contagious and create ideal conditions for the development of secondary infection . Fungal diseases of the hands and feet cannot be started, because the infection quickly spreads to other parts of the body and can easily cause a generalized (covering the entire body) fungal infection.
Causes. Infection of the skin of the hands with a fungus occurs as a result of contact with carriers of the infection, namely sick people and animals. In addition, personal belongings of an infected person are a source of danger: cosmetics, manicure accessories, gloves and towels. If there is damage to the skin (wounds, scratches, abrasions), the likelihood of developing fungal diseases of the hands increases significantly. Surprisingly, the habit of frequently washing your hands contributes to the development of mycosis, since it disrupts the natural microflora of the skin , because antibacterial substances added to soap destroy all types of microorganisms, both pathogenic and beneficial. The disease will develop if a person has a weakened immune system, for example, by long-term use of antibacterial drugs, hormonal and antitumor drugs. Fungal diseases of the skin of the hands often progress against the background of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, chronic lack of sleep and an unbalanced diet.
Symptoms. A fungal disease of the skin of the hands first appears between the fingers, then moves to the back of the hand, and as it progresses it also covers the nails. Skin affected by the fungus thickens, becomes dehydrated and loses its elasticity. Sometimes, due to the numerous small scales covering the skin, the skin of the hands looks as if it has been sprinkled with flour, while the skin lines do not smooth out, but, on the contrary, become more noticeable and clear. There are several forms of fungal skin diseases of the upper extremities:
With all the forms of fungal disease of the skin of the hands described above, severe itching is observed.
Kinds. The most common causative agents of fungal diseases of the hands are dermatophyte fungi (families T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes), as well as Candida yeast fungi). Fungal diseases affecting the smooth skin of the hands:
Dermatophytosis: the disease can be acute or chronic; begins with a few blisters and a slight local inflammatory process, usually between the fingers. If the initial signs are missed, then swelling and loosening of the skin tissue occurs, which soon dry out and crack . This process is accompanied by peeling and detachment of epidermal scales, as well as the appearance of weeping spots and cracks. The worst thing is that a fungal infection is easily accompanied by a secondary infection, causing the formation of deep ulcers. In such cases, treatment of hand fungus becomes more complicated and delayed.
Candidiasis . This type of fungal infection begins with damage to the fingers, interdigital spaces and periungual ridges. The skin in the affected area becomes swollen, red and painful. The favorite place for localization of the fungus is between the middle and ring fingers , and candidiasis of the hands (thrush on the hands) can be localized only in this place for a long time and only after quite a long time can it spread to other folds between the fingers and even develop into candidiasis of the palms.
Treatment. First of all, the doctor analyzes the patient’s complaints, conducts a visual examination of the skin and performs a laboratory analysis of skin scrapings. To make a diagnosis, mycological (presence of fungus), serological (presence of antibodies) and some other types of research of biological material are required . The variety of tests performed is justified by the need to exclude other dermatological diseases, for example, psoriasis and pityriasis rosea, which have similar symptoms but require a different approach to treatment.
In the initial stages of the disease, the use of antifungal ointments (for example, Mycozoral, Candida, Exoderil and Fluconazole) is sufficient. In advanced cases, external remedies will not be enough - you will need to take antifungal drugs (capsules or tablets). The duration of treatment is several months, after which a course of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation treatment should be carried out to improve the condition of the skin - this can be mesotherapy and irradiation with a UV lamp. After treating fungal diseases of the hands, patients are advised to consume less sugar and give preference to vegetables, lean meat and fish. To boost immunity and accelerate skin healing, you should take a course of vitamin therapy (choose complexes and dietary supplements containing vitamins A, C and group B).
Attention! You cannot self-medicate using antifungal drugs, as they have many contraindications. The specialist prescribes drug treatment taking into account the patient’s characteristics and necessarily includes compounds that compensate for the side effects of antifungal drugs. There are many “folk” methods for treating hand fungus, but if baths with celandine, chamomile or a series of chamomile do not bring harm, then you should refrain from using tea tree oil, tar, vinegar and solid oil on your own. In any case, until the nature of the disease and the extent of damage to the skin are clear.
Cause. Direct contact of the fungal pathogen on the foot is the main cause of the development of the disease. You can become infected with foot fungus in bathhouses, locker rooms at fitness centers, and while taking water treatments in swimming pools and hotel bathrooms. Those who wear someone else's shoes, for example, flip-flops and slippers, as well as people who do not hesitate to use someone else's towel or washcloth are at risk of developing a fungal foot disease . Even if the fungus gets on the skin of the foot, there is a chance to protect yourself from the disease, but the presence of cracks, scratches and microtraumas on the skin, neglect of hygiene rules, reuse of socks and wearing poorly dried shoes reduce it to zero. Fungal diseases of the feet often develop in people suffering from vascular diseases, obesity, flat feet and diseases of the leg joints.
Symptoms. Fungal diseases of the feet begin with superficial peeling of the skin on the fingers and in the interdigital areas. After some time, the skin begins to turn red and becomes covered with small cracks. Many patients ignore these signs, so they are not bothered by itching and other unpleasant sensations. There are different forms of fungal diseases of the feet, differing in the characteristics of the course and external manifestations of the disease . For example, the squamous form is characterized by itching, swelling, clear skin lines and peeling of the skin of the feet; the affected areas become very dry and covered with whitish scales and acquire a specific shine. A hyperkeratotic form of mycosis of the feet is often diagnosed on the feet, which is characterized by a red (with a blue tinge) rash that is dry to the touch, as well as plaques and scabs with a flaky surface; then the skin thickens, becomes covered with dark scales, between which bubbles with serous fluid form. This form is characterized by painful sensations and a putrid odor, clearly noticeable when the feet sweat. If a fungal infection of the legs is localized in the skin folds, then weeping, inflamed lesions form on the skin, erosions and cracks appear. Patients experience severe pain, due to which they sometimes cannot even walk, for example, with the dyshidrotic form of the disease, aggravated by the appearance of blisters on the toes and the outer surface of the foot.
Kinds. Fungal diseases of the feet are caused by fungi:
Trichophyton rubrum (Trichophyton rubrum) : most often “populates” the toes, areas between the toes and the soles of the feet. This is the most common type of fungal infection, diagnosed in more than 60% of cases (according to some sources, 90% of cases).
Trichophyton Mentagrophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes ): when infected with this type of fungus, the skin begins to peel off, and an allergic reaction of the epidermis develops.
Trichophyton interdigitale : a fungus that causes mycoses of the toes and nails.
Candida (Candida) - manifest themselves when the body’s defenses (immunity) decrease, caused by long-term use of all kinds of medications, especially antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and hormonal agents. With candidiasis, cracks and light spots appear on the skin of the foot, which itch and itch.
Treatment of fungal foot disease is based on the combined use of local (creams, ointments, sprays) and systemic (tablets, capsules) drugs. Before starting treatment, a scraping is made from the affected area of the skin to determine the type of fungus that caused the disease.
Attention! It is recommended to have follow-up examinations every month with the specialist who prescribed the treatment. After completion of all therapeutic measures, the skin is scraped again.
In order to avoid recurrence of fungal foot disease, you should:
Onychomycosis (fungal nail disease) affects approximately 20% of the world's population. Nail fungus affects not only adults; experts note that the disease is increasingly being diagnosed in adolescents and children. Fungal nail disease is considered a contact disease, characterized by the complexity of treatment and frequent relapses . Most often, onychomycosis affects the toenails, less often the fingernails; There are cases when the disease simultaneously affects the nails of the upper and lower extremities.
Symptoms. Fungal diseases of the nails are manifested by delamination and fragility of the nail plate, which gradually thickens and changes its contours. A nail affected by a fungal infection changes color, and can either lighten and become white or darken, acquiring a brown tint and even turn green. In advanced forms of fungal diseases, the fingernails and toenails crumble, and the periungual fold becomes red, swollen and painful when pressed.
Stages of fungal nail diseases
Distal-lateral. In the first photo: the fungus has affected the edge of the nail bed; the lateral edges and the free edge of the nail plate become yellow; the nail has lost its transparency; the nail began to move away from the bed. In the second photo: subungual hyperkeratosis (keratinization of the nail bed) has been added; The nail becomes thicker the deeper the fungus penetrates into the nail plate. In the third photo: the nail is completely affected - degeneration of the plate is observed.
Superficial white form. The fungus affects the top of the nail; first, small white spots appear, which, growing, cover the entire surface of the plate; the nails become rough and loose - it seems that they are covered with a layer of plaque that is easily scraped off. The disease affects only the toenails.
Proximal subungual form . The fungus colonizes the tissues surrounding the nail; soft tissue (ridge) swells (swells), turns red and becomes shiny; then the cuticle separates from the nail plate, leading to dystrophic changes in the latter. Specific grooves appear on the nail; when the process is started, the plate moves away from the nail bed.
Total dystrophic form . It happens with advanced fungal nail disease. The nail becomes uneven, thickens and turns gray. Partial, and in most cases complete destruction of the nail is obvious.
Causes. Fungi that affect the nail plates thrive in a neutral and slightly alkaline environment, and in an acidic environment their development stops, but they still persist, turning into spore forms. It can be assumed that the skin acidity level, normal for humans, pH 5.5, is, although not critical (an environment with a pH of 6-6.7 is considered uncomfortable for fungi), but also not very conducive to reproduction. The situation changes if sweating increases (which is very typical for the palms and soles) and the acidity of the integument shifts to the alkaline side, and comfortable conditions are created for the development of a fungal infection on the nails and skin of the extremities.
Fungal disease of the fingernails can most often be contracted through manicure accessories, as well as using someone else's towel or gloves. As for fungal diseases of the toenails, the greatest risk of infection is in baths, showers and swimming pools. It should be remembered that even a tiny flake of skin or a peeled fragment of a nail is a source of fungi and their spores , so you can become infected even in an establishment that is exemplary in terms of sanitation. Literally everyone has a risk of infection with a fungus, however, fungal diseases of the toenails and hands are not scary for those with strong immunity and absolutely healthy people, but people with circulatory problems in the lower extremities, as well as those with excess weight and deformities of the feet need to be extremely careful.
Kinds. Nails are most often affected by:
Yeast fungus of the genus Candida. The disease is characterized by thinning and peeling of the nail plate; The color of the nail changes - first it turns yellow and then turns brown. The changes also affect the nail fold, which thickens and turns red.
Dermatophyte. The disease develops if the nail is infected with dermatophyte fungi. Initially, gray or yellow spots (stripes) appear on the nail. Next, the edge of the nail plate begins to turn yellow, which indicates detachment from the nail bed. There is a direct relationship between the number of spots and the degree of infection of the nail.
Mold fungus. Causes a drastic change in the color of the nails, which can turn brown, green or even black. In some cases, the color of the nail plates does not change, but black spots form on them. Mold fungus does not penetrate inside the nail, so it is easier to get rid of it than the types of fungi listed above that affect the nails of the hands and feet.
Treatment. It begins with a visit to a podiatrist (a specialist who deals with diseases of the feet and nails) or a dermatologist, who will conduct laboratory diagnostics of pieces of nails taken from the patient . The material, pre-treated with an alkali solution, is examined under a microscope for the content of groups of spores and fungal threads of different thicknesses and shapes. Next, the material is placed in a nutrient medium, the pathogen is isolated and its sensitivity to antifungal drugs is determined.
Therapy methods are selected depending on the type, degree and form of the lesion; nail growth rate; the patient has chronic diseases. If the “root” is not involved in the process and it is obvious that the nail is not completely affected, but only partially (up to half the area) - in such situations, most likely, it will be possible to get by with local treatment with ointments, creams and special nail polishes, which include fungicides (substances that suppress the development of microorganisms) and components that soften the nail plate.
Some effective formulations for treating fungal nail disease:
For fungal nail diseases, it is not always convenient to use creams and solutions; in some cases it is better to replace them with medicinal varnish, this could be: Amorolfine (Loceryl) or Ciclopirox. The varnish is applied to the nail degreased with alcohol and, when dry, forms a film on the surface that prevents the flow of air necessary for the fungus to function . The same film protects the nail from re-infection.
Treatment of fungal nail diseases will go faster if local treatment is supported by systemic drug therapy, for which the following is used :
Tablets Terbinafine, Griseofulvin, Fluconazole, Itraconazole, etc. You need to be prepared for the fact that antifungal drugs require long-term use (three to four months) and their effect on the body persists after treatment (up to nine months), protecting against relapse of the disease. These and similar medications should not be taken during pregnancy, lactation, or if you have liver or kidney diseases.
Attention! Currently, there are a huge number of drugs that help cure fungal nail diseases. In order for them to bring real relief and not aggravate existing diseases of the internal organs, they must be selected by a specialist!
Fungal diseases of the nails of the feet and hands take a long time to treat; a medical pedicure (this procedure only complements, but does not replace medications!). The essence of cosmetic manipulation is the treatment of the nail with a diamond cutter.
If a fungal disease (onychomycosis) has led to deformation of the nail, the nail plate can be removed , but such a radical method does not always provide a cosmetic effect: if the nail bed is damaged during surgery, the growing nail will not adhere to it.
Laser treatment is a popular and effective technique, especially in the initial stages of the disease. The laser beam has a detrimental effect on dermatophyte fungi, although at least eight sessions will be required to completely destroy them.