What does skin fungus on the legs look like and how does it manifest?

Fungal infections of the feet begin in the area between the toes. The infection can then spread to the feet and nail beds. The disease is caused by dermatophytes, molds or yeasts. According to statistics, about 20% of people in our country have fungus on their feet. The severity of the disease depends on the type of infection, but in any case, the disease must be cured, as peeling of the feet, severe itching, inflammation and bad odor can cause severe discomfort. We'll tell you how to get rid of foot fungus.

What does foot fungus look like?

Fungal infections cause inflammation of the skin where the fungal infection is located. The main types of dermatomycoses of the legs are:

• Fungus on the soles of the feet is scaly, and the affected areas become red, peeling, and have cracks on the skin. Patients usually do not feel any discomfort, which contributes to the widespread spread of this disease.
• Dyshidrotic foot fungus is limited to the arch of the foot and does not come into contact with the floor surface. Small blisters will form at the infected site, spread to the inside and outside of the foot, open, and form erosions and diaper rash on the surface of the skin. This process is accompanied by itching and burning sensations. After the vesicles (bubbles) open, the disease transforms into a scaly form.
• Fungus on the skin of the feet that affects the spaces between the fingers is known as the intertriginous form of the disease and is the most common type. It appears in the form of cracks whose edges are covered with a white edge of a peeling skin. Typically, this form has a long, chronic course and is difficult to treat.
• Fungus on the shins or ankles appears as pink or red round spots covered with skin scales. As the infection progresses, the inflammatory lesions increase in size and are accompanied by severe itching.

Onychomycosis

This disease is a form of foot mycosis, characterized by a fungal infection of the nails. You can get infected in public showers, saunas, bathhouses and swimming pools. Scales containing pathogenic microorganisms can easily detach from the nail plate and may remain on floors, carpets, bedding, and unpainted benches. High humidity not only allows them to survive, but also promotes active reproduction, so the risk of infection increases significantly.The initial infection reaches the surface of the foot and causes severe itching. To ease the discomfort, people begin grooming the infected area, but this only makes the situation worse. Areas of skin affected by the fungus become covered with tiny scratches and cracks, and the microorganisms begin to spread, penetrate under the nail plate, and then begin to multiply uncontrollably.Serious conditions such as diabetes or HIV, poor circulation, or injured nails can greatly increase the risk of infection.There are 3 types of onychomycosis:

• Nutrition is normal. With this type of onychomycosis, a change in nail color from normal to yellowish-brown can be observed. The natural shine, shape and thickness of the nails are maintained.
• Thick. The nail color undergoes a final change, the shine disappears, the shape changes, becomes thicker and begins to partially break down.
• Nail stripper. Affected nails turn brown in color, become thinner, and begin to break. It begins to gradually separate from the bed. An uneven layer may appear on the exposed portion of the nail bed.

Since the fungal spores are located under the nails, treating this fungus on the palms and soles of the feet with topical medications is ineffective. The nails should be removed before starting treatment. This is done with the help of keratolytic medications, and patches can also be used. In some cases, the nail can be removed mechanically: snip off the dead part of the nail with a nail file or nail clippers. It is important to remember that all instruments used must be sterile.The combined use of mechanical removal and keratolysis patches is the most effective method of removing diseased nails. As for keratolytic agents, you can use ready-made kits with broad-spectrum antifungals. It contains a special ointment, a file for scraping nails and a patch. After the nail plate is removed, you should start taking systemic antifungal medications: antifungal medications that are used systemically, and oral antifungal medications.

symptom

Depending on the form of the disease and the location of the inflammation, the infection can be accompanied by different symptoms, including some of the following general signs:

• peeling skin;
• Mild or severe redness of the skin at the affected area;
• itching;
• burning sensation;
• A blistering rash or cracks on the skin.

Blisters between toes

Athlete's foot is caused by Candida, and its main symptom is blisters between the toes, usually between the fourth toe and little toe. The disease process is accompanied by swelling of the skin near the fingers, with obvious red areas and small blisters on the surface. The source of inflammation is surrounded by edges of sloughed epidermis.

dehydrated form

Vesicular fungus, or also known as dehydrating mycosis, is the rarest type of disease. It mainly manifests as numerous vesicles united into clumps. Blisters are air bubbles filled with pus or nutrient fluid. When the fluid begins to turn cloudy, the blisters can burst, leaving ulcers. They begin to coalesce into a line, forming visible scars on the skin. This occurs due to drying and flaking of the skin layers.About 70% of vesicular fungal infections are accompanied by an allergic rash. Various bacteria and viruses begin to invade the ulcer. As a result, diseases become promiscuous and identification of the original pathogen becomes more difficult. Therefore, as soon as the main symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor: he can quickly identify the type of foot fungus and start treatment.And, this should be done immediately. First, the acute process should be eliminated before using antifungal drugs. It is better to entrust this task to a specialist: he can carefully puncture the vesicle, treat the remaining ulcer with two percent boric acid, and use a bright green solution or methylene blue.Treatment of advanced disease involves the use of corticosteroid ointments. After eliminating the inflammatory process, topical antifungal drugs are recommended. This will suppress pathogens. We continue by considering the names and types of foot fungus.

first sign

Skin diseases of the legs are always accompanied by a number of general symptoms, the appearance of which indicates an infection of the skin with spores of harmful microorganisms. You should seek help from a dermatologist if:

• Cracks or blisters in the skin in the folds of your feet or between your toes;
• Coarseness and significant thickening of the skin on the feet;
• Areas of skin that are red and peeling;
• Burning or itching sensation.

treatment duration

Combined skin and nail plate infections require one to three months of recovery. From a medical perspective, these terms are considered the criteria for the most effective medicines.Pregnancy requires regular visits to the doctor to choose a way to get rid of mold infections. Strong medications and therapies that require the use of similar medications should only be prescribed in strict dosages and under the supervision of a physician. Many antibacterial pills that effectively kill fungi can cause significant harm to the fetus. Therefore, whenever possible, during pregnancy, patients are advised to use traditional medicinal recipes for treatment. Many of them allow you to cope with the disease, but only if the disease has not yet reached a complex stage. Only classical medicine can help with advanced forms.

As long as signs of infection are caught promptly, modern medications can restore full health to your legs within two weeks.

reason

Infections can occur for a variety of reasons after patients come into direct or indirect contact with an infected person or their personal belongings and household items. Risk factors for contracting tinea pedis include:

• Leg circulation disorders and related diseases (varicose veins);
• Weakened systemic or local immunity;
• Failure to comply with hygiene rules;
• The body's defense system weakens after taking antibiotics;
• Increased sweating on the skin of the feet;
• Minor skin damage (abrasions, scratches).

treatment method

In most cases, diseases detected in time can be completely eliminated in up to a month. This is a very important point in treatment, as symptoms such as itching and tissue damage disappear, patients sometimes stop treatment, thinking the disease has been defeated. But remnants of the infection can easily trigger a recurrence.The treatment procedure should be discontinued only with the permission of the doctor and after passing the necessary tests. This is especially true for late forms of the disease. The fungus becomes so firmly "fixed" in the body that it sometimes takes at least six months to get rid of it. However, the external manifestations of various damages caused by foot fungus to the skin or nails disappear very early, creating the illusion of health. In this case, if treatment is stopped, the patient is almost certain to suffer a relapse. Comprehensive treatment for fungal foot infections. To eliminate the disease, local antifungal drugs and tablets can be used to eliminate the infectious agents that have penetrated the body. Certain medications may be prescribed to eliminate itching, pain, brittle nails, and speed tissue regeneration. It is not recommended to be used alone in combination with the main treatment group to avoid allergic reactions or body poisoning caused by simultaneous use of incompatible drugs.

Treating foot fungus early on is easy. Usually, two weeks of treatment is enough to clear up the symptoms of a fungal infection.

Types of fungal diseases

Only a dermatologist can accurately determine the type of fungus through visual inspection and clarify the data through laboratory testing. Depending on the causative agent of foot dermatophytes (yeast, mold, Trichophyton, or Candida fungi), there are several main types of the disease, including:

• Candidiasis of the feet;
• Athlete's foot;
• Trichophyton of the feet (or periumbilical disease);
• Onychomycosis (nail fungus).

prevention

Simple preventive measures will significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. You should use only personal items and use sterile tools to treat your nails. Wear your own shoes when going to public places such as baths, saunas, swimming pools, and beaches. By the way, try to choose something that is comfortable and allows your feet to breathe. You should take precautions ahead of time to avoid facing various types of foot fungus later.

How to treat

Treatment of dermatophytes on the legs is a long-term and complex treatment that in severe cases includes the use of systemic oral medications. For minor lesions, the emphasis is on topical treatment with antibacterial and antiseptic agents. In acute forms of the disease, warm baths can relieve inflammation and remove dead skin cells. In some cases, it is necessary to treat the patient's shoes and clothes with special compounds to avoid recurrence.

System Tool

In cases where topical drugs are ineffective and in severe advanced stages of the disease, systemic oral drugs are prescribed. A course of oral antifungals is suitable for fungal infections deep within the skin; they not only help treat the acute phase but also prevent the disease from becoming chronic. The dosing regimen, duration of treatment, and dosage are chosen by the attending physician.Doctors believe that systemic antifungal medications are the best way to treat foot fungus systemically. They have an active fungicidal (destroying) and bacteriostatic (inhibiting bacterial proliferation) effect; their active ingredients accumulate in the upper layers of the epidermis, nails and hair. Always read the instructions for use before taking them, as these products have contraindications.

local remedies

Topical medical treatment includes not only the use of antifungal creams and ointments, but also the use of special sprays, aerosols and lotions. The form of the drug is recommended by a dermatologist, depending on the type of infecting pathogen, the severity of skin lesions on the legs, the stage of the disease and individual characteristics of the patient's body. The duration of topical drug treatment can vary from 2 weeks to 3 months.For foot fungus and other forms of mycoses on the skin of the legs, aerosols, suspensions applied to the skin, or solutions applied topically may be prescribed. These products can be applied directly to fungus-damaged skin or with a damp cotton swab soaked in the solution. All necessary advice on use can be obtained from your doctor.

antifungal ointment

When treating fungus on the skin of the feet, antifungal creams are most often prescribed, such as those containing the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride or its analogues. Apply the medication in the form of an ointment or cream to dry skin on your heels or other areas of inflammation, carefully removing dead skin cells and any other plaque beforehand. Treatment time can vary from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months for different types of disease.Experts agree that broad-spectrum ointments are effective in combating all forms and stages of foot fungus. The active ingredient of the drug acts locally against fungal infections and inhibits the reproduction of pathogens. Apply the ointment to cleansed affected skin daily for several weeks or months, depending on the extent of the skin damage.

folk remedies

Folk remedies may be used only with the consent of the attending physician. The main products used for foot skin baths, compresses and antifungals are vinegar, propolis, baking soda, medicinal plant decoctions and laundry soap. Carry out the following procedure:

• Take a bath with a solution of soda water and salt. For 3 liters of water at 36-40°C, use 3 tablespoons. lake salt and 3 tbsp. I drink soda. The entire process lasts 10-15 minutes; after bathing, rinse your feet with running warm water. For the treatment of acute forms of the fungus, take twice daily for 7-10 days.
• Use herbal decoction lotion. To prepare the decoction, combine dried oak bark, calendula flowers and verbena leaves in equal proportions. Decoction 3 tablespoons. Lake Pour a cup of boiling water over the mixture and heat over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Apply the resulting decoction three times a day for 20-30 minutes each time.

erase form

The eradicated form of mycosis is almost invisible and its symptoms are minimal. These include: mild itching, burning sensation, floury peeling, micro-cracks in the area between the fingers. If you do not contact a specialist at the first signs of the disease, the pathology can develop into onychomycosis, which is much more difficult to treat. In this case, the lost nails will grow back within 1 to 6 months.Cleared forms of mycosis can be treated with topical preparations: ointments, creams, foams. They allow you to create a protective layer on your feet, preventing infection from other infections. It is not recommended to wash your feet within 24 hours after taking the medication.Systemic treatment is only possible in extreme cases. The problem is that these drugs are toxic and can negatively affect certain internal organs, such as the liver. Therefore, if topical treatments are effective, it is best not to take medications.

route of infection

Fungal spores can survive in the environment for long periods of time, making it easy to contract disease in the most unexpected places. But the conditions most favorable for their development are warmth and high humidity. Therefore, people visiting the following locations are at risk:

• swimming pool;
• bathroom;
• sauna;
• gym;
• beach.

Even with regular disinfection, fungus can develop on anything there. Therefore, avoid common objects in these areas and be sure to bring replacement shoes.Military personnel are at risk. Most often, army soldiers wear uncomfortable shoes that do not allow air to pass through them. As a result, the feet sweat, microtrauma occurs, and fungi can penetrate into them.There are two types of infections. The first is direct contact with infectious agents while communicating with sick people, caring for animals, or walking barefoot on the ground and sand. The second is the indirect route, through items belonging to infected people or pets.

Precaution

It is always easier and safer to prevent disease than to treat it, even with the mildest methods. When it comes to fungal infections, prevention is one of the mandatory rules of life because it is so easy to get infected. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease, it is recommended to follow some simple rules:

• Try to eat healthy and eat as healthily as possible;
• Not using other people’s belongings and personal hygiene products;
• Use basic protective equipment in public places, such as replacement footwear and hygienic antimicrobials;
• Wash feet and change socks regularly;
• maintain a healthy lifestyle;
• Bath regularly to improve foot health;
• Disinfect shoes regularly.

Preventing fungal infections is important not only for prevention, but also for the disease to actually occur. In this case, following hygiene standards can help speed healing and prevent others from contracting the fungus.