Foot fungus: what it looks like, types of pathology and degree of damage, treatment methods

One of the most unpleasant skin diseases is mycosis. Depending on the extent of the damage, two categories of diseases are distinguished: dermatomycosis and onychomycosis. In the first case the skin is affected, in the second the nails. To successfully eliminate harmful microorganisms, you need to know what foot fungus looks like and how to fight it.

Main types

Experts in the field of dermatology identify several types of foot fungi, which differ from each other in the nature of the impact and causative agent. As for pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of fungal diseases, these can be:

• moldy;
• yeast;
• dermatophytes.

Exposure to these parasites leads to the development of a dangerous condition called rubromycosis, which affects the skin of the feet. Additionally, the disease can vary in clinical manifestations and can be membrane-like, moccasin-like, or vesicular.

The development of the fungus causes excessive saturation of blood vessels, dryness and peeling of the skin. Furthermore, the process itself is slow and without significant symptoms. The first itching or burning sensations are felt only after a serious foot injury. Soon the process of deformation of the nails begins, which causes blisters, crusts, plaques and pustules.

If the necessary measures are not taken, the extent of the damage will be colossal, and the walking process will be accompanied by pain. Knowing what foot fungus looks like and how it manifests itself, the patient can seek help from a specialist in time and avoid dangerous consequences.

When it comes to therapeutic treatment, it is important to know the types of disease. The method of approaching the problem is determined only after a complete examination under a microscope and the drawing up of a clinical picture. Various exfoliating products are used to cleanse the skin of rashes. These include ointments and creams containing salicylic acid. Complex treatment also includes antifungal drugs.

If the extent of the damage is too severe, highly effective compresses and emollients are used. Success in the fight against the disease depends on the patient's responsibility and his willingness to start treatment on time.

Methods of infection

There are many reasons and factors that determine damage to nails from fungal diseases. In most cases, this happens directly, when the nails come into contact with the ground or vegetation, sick people or animals. As for indirect routes, they look like this:

1. If a person uses belongings and personal belongings of a mushroom carrier.
2. If a person comes into contact with things intended for the care of a pet.

There are also many predetermining factors that increase the risk of developing mycosis. These include age-related features, since young children are much more likely to suffer from the disease due to excessively thin skin and the lack of the necessary protective functions in the body.

Additionally, a fungal infection attacks a patient with a deteriorated immune status. If the immune system is weakened, it cannot fight such manifestations, which leads to destructive processes.

Other factors include:

1. Insufficient functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems. Because of this, protection mechanisms are weakened.
2. The development of chronic infectious diseases that negatively affect the immune system, increasing the likelihood of developing fungi.
3. Excessive sweating of the feet. This discomfort is a congenital pathology or the result of wearing uncomfortable shoes.
4. Changes in the composition of sweat. This process creates a fertile ground for fungal microorganisms, which leads to their activation.

Symptoms of rubrophytosis

A parasite called Tr. Mentagrophytesvar is the main causative agent of the dangerous fungal disease rubrophytosis. Due to its small size, it instantly settles in the stratum corneum or granular layers of the skin, provoking the development of allergies and other unpleasant processes. In most cases, the vital activity of the parasite is accompanied by the following reactions:

1. Swelling with a thick crust.
2. The appearance of pustules and swelling.
3. Severe skin corrosion.
4. The appearance of scales and crusts on the skin, which cause pain.
5. Processes of yellowing and deformation of nails.

Also, severe itching and the development of pain when walking cannot be ruled out. During the clinical examination, the specialist draws an overall picture and describes the symptoms while examining the scraper.

If the disease progresses rapidly and worsens, the patient may be prescribed 0. 25% silver nitrate, 1% resorcinol and 10% calcium. Antihistamines are used to combat allergic manifestations. In severe cases, highly effective antifungal drugs combat the symptoms of rubrophytosis.

Candidiasis of the foot

Candidiasis of the foot is rare. The causative agent of the disease is dangerous fungi of the genus Candida, which exist peacefully in any organism, but are conditionally dangerous and do not pose a big threat. But if the number of microorganisms begins to increase, this leads to discomfort and serious health consequences. Other factors contribute to this, including deterioration of the immune system, frequent hypothermia, stressful situations and an unhealthy lifestyle. As for external factors, these include:

1. Prolonged exposure to water causes massive separation of skin layers from each other.
2. Domestic or work accidents.
3. Using shoes of the wrong size or material.

Manifestations of onychomycosis

When trying to understand what fungus on the toes looks like, you need to know about another dangerous type of pathology - onychomycosis. Its development is accompanied by fungal infections of the nails after water procedures in ordinary swimming pools, showers and saunas. In terms of prevalence, the disease is not inferior to mycosis, since scales with dangerous parasites quickly separate from the nail plates and are then found on fabric surfaces, benches or carpets. If there is high humidity in the environment, the parasite not only finds itself in comfortable conditions, but also begins to work on reproducing the colony.

In the initial stages, the pathogen affects the skin of the feet, causing an itchy sensation. As a result, the patient wants to scratch his foot, but this only aggravates the problem. Soon the skin becomes covered with small cracks and scratches, and pathogens begin to settle under the nail and actively multiply.

The likelihood of encountering pathologies increases many times with nail injuries, unbalanced blood circulation and the presence of complex diseases, including diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases.

Depending on the form and degree of damage, nail fungi are divided into three groups:

1. Normotrophic. As it develops, the color of the nails becomes yellowish-brown. The thickness and shape of the nail remain the same.
2. Hypertrophic. This causes a permanent change in color, loss of shine and deformation of the shape of the nail. This type of onychomycosis causes pain and does not allow the patient to move freely. The problem can be aggravated by wearing uncomfortable shoes.
3. Onycholytic. The pathology leads to a change in the shade of the nails, causing them to turn brown. Furthermore, the plates lose their usual strength and begin to delaminate. Deformed layers appear in the exposed areas of the nail bed.

Effective treatment

To treat the disease, the use of local antifungal drugs is practically useless, which is explained by the deep penetration of microorganisms under the nails. Before starting to fight the pathology, it is necessary to locate the fungus. To do this, specialists prescribe keratolytic drugs or patches to the patient. Sometimes the problem is solved mechanically, cutting off the deformed and dead areas of the nail plate with a file or special nippers. When performing this procedure, you need to make sure that the tool is clean.

The most effective way to combat nail fungus is the combined use of plasters and mechanical cleaning of the nails. As a keratolytic agent, you can use a set consisting of a plaster, a nail file and a special ointment. After the nail removal procedure is completed, it is necessary to use systemic antifungal drugs.

Folk remedies

It is quite possible to eliminate fungal infections of the foot without the help of a specialist. However, self-medication must be treated with particular responsibility, understanding that such a process can require a lot of time and effort. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that different mushrooms react in their own way to the action of any drugs or folk remedies. Home medicine, if used incorrectly, can only make the problem worse by helping to target parasites.

To avoid such a development of events and successfully destroy the fungal colony, it is necessary to combine adequate cleansing of the skin with cleansing of the body from pathogenic microorganisms and complete restoration of the epidermal layer. For these purposes, it is advisable to use baths and daily clean the feet and palms with antiseptics. The most effective folk remedies for baths are:

• boric acid;
• Apple cider vinegar;
• hydrogen peroxide.

To prepare a bath you need to take 20 grams of one of the above compounds and dilute it in one liter of boiled water. Next, the feet are immersed in the solution for 20-40 minutes. To notice a significant improvement in the condition of the nails, it is enough to carry out such procedures regularly for several weeks.

To cleanse the skin of redness, itching and burning, it is recommended to wipe the feet daily with a soda mixture with added salt. A good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory scrub can be a blend of equal amounts of minerals and essential oils. The selected components are mixed and the affected areas are covered with the finished mixture.

Tar soap is a serious enemy of fungi. Contains birch tar, long considered one of the most powerful antibacterial substances. It should be applied to the affected areas and washed off after 5 minutes. The course of treatment with this soap lasts two weeks. At the end of the procedure, the skin is treated with zinc cream or ointment.

Hardware solutions

If the problem of nail fungus has significantly worsened and any folk or official remedy practically does not produce results, you can use an innovative solution - hardware treatment. This method is very effective and can be the only salvation in cases where other drugs are powerless.

Among the available techniques, laser treatment with erbium laser is the most common. It cauterizes the mycelium and allows you to eliminate the visible symptoms of nail fungus. In addition, the technology allows you to clean the skin around the nails, between the fingers and on the feet, restoring its elasticity and attractiveness.

If you follow the basic rules of skin care for fungal diseases of the feet, it is quite possible to destroy this dangerous pathology. It is important not to delay treatment for the future and take appropriate measures immediately if questionable symptoms appear.