Skin fungus is the most common dermatological disease. But the defeat in the legs is considered the most common. Mycosis of the legs and onychomycosis are often found in those who frequent public places, in particular hospitals, saunas, baths, swimming pools and gyms.
Each type of fungus has its own characteristics, signs and treatment methods that you need to know for those who are at risk of getting a fungal infection.
What is mycosis of the feet?
Mycosis, or ringworm, is a dermatological disease caused by a fungal pathogen. Leg skin fungus is the most common type of this disease, since it is on the legs that the skin is most sensitive, which, moreover, is constantly exposed to the external environment affected by the fungi.
Risk factors
Athlete's foot is common in men who prefer completely closed shoes. The feet begin to sweat and a reproductive environment develops. Therefore, most of the men who have served in the army know firsthand what a skin fungus is. In children, fungal infections occur due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, walking barefoot on contaminated ground, and non-compliance with sanitary rules in nurseries.
Often, fungal infections of the feet are also found in women with hormonal disorders or a decrease in immunity during pregnancy. Infection can also occur during a pedicure through unsterile instruments or towels.
There are common factors that provoke the development of the disease:
- Wearing too tight shoes made of synthetic materials.
- Infrequent foot washing, dirty socks.
- Wear someone else's shoes, use someone else's towels and other hygiene items.
- Diseases that disrupt blood circulation in the lower limbs.
- Disorders of the immune system.
- Failure to comply with hygiene rules in public places.
- The presence of calluses, wounds and cracks on the feet.
- Long-term treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Psychosomatics
The causes of the fungus can also be in a person's emotional state. Medical direction studying the psychological state of a person and its influence on the development of bodily diseases - psychosomatic - explains fungal infections by suppressing negative emotions held within it.
Constant feelings of resentment, anger, feelings of betrayal, or frustration can trigger the fungus or prevent a person from fully recovering.
As a result of these conditions, human immunity is reduced, pathogens present in the body are activated. People with a chronic fungal infection that does not go away with drug treatment need to reconsider their internal state or consult a psychologist.
According to many scientists who have studied the psychosomatic causes of the fungus, if you don't work on your character and get rid of negative emotions, the disease will return again and again.
pathogens
There are a large number of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause human skin lesions, but the following types of fungi are most often localized on the legs:
- Trichophyton rubrum, or Tripchophyton purpureum- cause rubromycosis, a disease that most often affects the skin of the feet and nails, but can also spread to other parts of the body.
- Trichophyton interdigitale, or Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Trichophytons)- cause epidermophytosis, which develops between the toes, but can also extend to the entire area of the foot.
- Candida- Candida rarely occurs on the feet, but can also affect the interdigital space, nails and sole of the foot. It mainly develops in females.
Mycosis is an infection, and infection can occur in two ways: directly - directly from an infected person to a person, and indirectly - through the floor, shoes, clothes and other household items that the infected person came into contact with. It is very easy to get infected with a fungus of the lower extremities - a second contact with any surface or object touched by a person with a fungal infection is enough.
The mechanism of development of fungal diseases begins from the moment when the spores enter the human skin. If conditions are favorable, development, growth and reproduction begin.
Microorganisms begin to secrete enzymes that destroy keratin proteins and, consequently, the stratum corneum of the skin. Hence, itching and discomfort arise in humans. The infection spreads very quickly, the fungi penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and infect the surrounding tissues.
If treatment is not started, large areas of the skin are affected very quickly.
But the infection does not always develop immediately after infection, sometimes the fungi remain on the skin or shoes for a long time. But as soon as the body's defenses decrease or a favorable warm and humid environment develops, the fungi begin to develop rapidly.
General symptoms
Ringworm of the lower limbs is a very common infection that requires immediate treatment. But not everyone immediately turns to a specialist for help, as they do not pay attention to the primary symptoms or believe that these are signs of other dermatological diseases.
Common signs of skin infection are:
- Redness and peeling of individual areas.
- The appearance of blisters or cracks.
- Sensation of itching and burning.
- Dryness and roughness of the skin.
But depending on the localization and the pathogen, the disease proceeds with various clinical manifestations. The fungus on the heels begins with a redness of the skin and a burning sensation. Over time, bubbles appear, which, on bursting, form very painful sores.
Then cracks and growths with peeling form. With a long course of the disease, an unpleasant smell begins to emanate from the affected area, and the infection passes to other areas of the feet and nails.
Fungus on the knees is rare, but if cracks appear above or below the knee that do not disappear for a long time, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Usually, the fungus in this area begins imperceptibly: it begins with redness, then peeling of the skin intensifies, very rarely bubbles form on the surface of the stain, which eventually become covered with crusts.
Damage to the nails - onychomycosis - begins with the infection of the skin of the feet. In this case, itching and cracking may appear on the skin, but sometimes the fungi do not touch the skin, affecting only the nail plate.
Stages:
- normotrophic- at this stage, only the color of the nail begins to change - it turns yellow, sometimes with a brown tinge.
- Hypertrophic- the healthy shine of the nail disappears, takes an irregular shape, thickens and begins to partially collapse. A person may experience pain while wearing tight shoes.
- Onycholitic- the diseased nail is a foil with crumbling layers, it becomes thinner, takes on a brown color. At this stage, detachment from the nail bed begins.
Manifestations of different types of pathology
Candidiasis of the legs affects only the soft areas of the skin and nails, without affecting the feet, it can be of two types:
- vesicular-pustular- in the first stage, redness of the skin appears with pronounced edema. In the future, the affected area is covered with bubbles filled with liquid or purulent mass, in the process they burst, forming erosion. Gradually, the inflammatory process decreases, and peeling increases on the foci.
- Hyperkeratotic- it is rare, characterized by a thickening of the stratum corneum with the formation of burgundy scaly furrows.
In most cases, the fungus between the toes is epidermotrophy. They may have skin changes in this pathology.jpg)
the following forms:
- scaly- between the third and fourth toes, the skin begins to redden and sometimes itch. Very often this phase is neglected.
- Intertriginal- develops from the first stage. Edema develops, cracks form, and the lesion spreads to nearby areas. Growths form around the diseased area, making it difficult to put on shoes.
- Acute- large accumulations of liquid-filled bubbles form. Wounds and cracks begin to hurt, the general state of health worsens, the temperature can rise.
When the condition is neglected, interdigital pathology covers the nails and the entire area of the sole of the foot, i. e. epidermotrophy of the feet develops. External symptoms are similar to weeping eczema, which complicates the diagnosis.
Rubromycosis of the feet is a simultaneous lesion of the interdigital folds. The skin becomes drier, reddened, a strong peeling begins. If the treatment is not started in a timely manner, the process moves on to the sole, lateral area of the feet and the surface of the toes.
Rubromycosis can also affect other areas of the legs: shins, thighs, buttocks, as well as any part of the body and head. The lesions are pink patches covered with scaly skin, blisters, or a scab. They quickly grow in size, merging with each other. Smooth skin rubromycosis usually proceeds in an acute form and is accompanied by severe itching.
"I have cracks on my foot, but I didn't pay attention. The fungus was discovered during a medical examination at work. The doctor immediately prescribed an ointment and pills, he also scolded for not applying immediately. "
The specificities of traditional treatment
Leg fungus therapy is based on the application of external antifungal agents to the lesions. There are many drugs in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, solutions. Their action is aimed at suppressing the vital activity and reproduction of fungi, as well as slowing down the process of their spread.
Recently, various sprays from the fungus have appeared, which are very convenient to use for external use in the treatment of skin and nail fungus.
During therapy, you can process shoes and clothes so as not to provoke a reinfection. Disinfectant sprays are suitable for this. Treatment can also be carried out with antiseptics.
You can use antifungal agents in the form of solutions.
Before applying ointments, you can use ordinary salicylic alcohol solution. Actively acts on fungi, simultaneously relieves inflammation and dries weeping skin areas.
In case of damage to the nails, it is recommended to use special antifungal paints.
There are many different external remedies, and all of them can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription. But in order for the treatment to be effective, you need to know how to use external agents correctly:
- Follow the instructions for the frequency of application of the drug.
- Hard areas must be steam treated before applying the external agent.
- With large dry growths, you can take a bath with soda.
- Treat only the affected areas, without affecting healthy skin.
- After treatment, wash your hands thoroughly, without touching other parts of the body, so as not to spread the infection.
In advanced cases, it is necessary to take tablets from the fungus simultaneously with the use of external agents.You can not take the pills inside without the recommendation of a doctor - only a specialist can prescribe drugs, based on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course of the disease.
Treatment of a fungal lesion on the legs at an early stage will not take long, provided that the drugs are used correctly and the instructions are followed. In severe cases, long-term treatment, up to 3-6 months, may be required. If the prescribed drugs do not give the desired effect, then you need to contact a specialist and get new advice.
"The fungus of the lower limbs was treated with different ointments for my husband, I tried 8 different pieces, but only the tablets from the group of triazole derivatives helped. Well, externally he continued to smear allylamine cream.
Folk methods of treatment
Most often, unconventional methods are used to treat fungus on the nails and legs.But patients should remember that such remedies are effective in the initial stage of the fungus, and in severe cases, they can not always help, but, on the contrary, aggravate the course of the disease.
Before getting rid of the fungus on the feet with folk remedies, it is necessary to visit a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis, since the symptoms can indicate various dermatological diseases.
Mushroom herbs are used to make baths, rubs, and lotions:
- Pour a handful of calendula flowers with 50 ml of alcohol and 100 ml of water and leave for a day in a dark place. Use to scrub twice a day. Ideal for nail infections and skin candidiasis.
- Mix the dried mint leaves and salt up in equal proportions. Apply to the affected areas for a day, fixing with a bandage. After the time has elapsed, remove the bandage, wash the feet, dry and repeat. Use only on nails and keratinized skin.
- Five tablespoons of dry celandine pour 100 ml of vodka, leave for two weeks. Use to clean, trying to avoid contact with healthy skin.
- Prepare two tablespoons of thyme in a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and use for lotions.
You can use mushroom tar soap:
- Grate a bar of soap, add a little water and melt in a bain-marie, add a tablespoon of tar and 2 tablespoons of oil if necessary. Mix thoroughly and pour into molds to make a healing soap. Use it to wash your feet.
- Mix a tablespoon of chopped soap with 2 teaspoons of soda and add a little water to make a thick mixture. Apply to clean feet at night and apply a bandage on top.
- In the initial course of the disease, it is enough to apply soap suds from laundry soap to the affected areas of the skin and leave for 15-30 minutes.
Effective garlic for mushrooms:
- Apply crushed garlic to the steamed areas and secure it with a bandage. Keep all night.
- Within 3 days, insist on a mixture of garlic juice, water and vodka, taken in equal proportions. Rub 1-2 times a day on the affected areas.
- Pour 2 finely chopped garlic cloves into a glass of vinegar. Infuse in a dark place for 2 weeks in a container with a closed lid. Use for scrubbing and lotions.
Vinegar can be used for scrubbing or bathing. To prepare a bath, you need to take 100 ml of 9% table vinegar or apple cider vinegar per 1 liter of water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, after which it is necessary to remove the softened skin and put on clean socks.
"At work, I walk in shoes for days, my feet sweat constantly and often a fungus appears on my foot, I immediately start taking vinegar baths and wash all my shoes. It passes very quickly. "
Consequences and forecasts
Many believe that the fungus is not harmful, except for aesthetic discomfort. But fungal infections carry other threats as well. First of all, there is a danger that the fungus will spread to other areas of the skin.
From the feet, the infection passes to the skin of the hands, face, torso, scalp. This happens if you do not wash your hands after touching the affected areas of the skin or if the patient's immunity is significantly reduced. Infection of family members occurs from an infected person if the sanitary rules are not followed.
With deep injuries, it becomes impossible to wear habitual shoes, there is severe pain when walking, and when the nails are damaged, the nail bed rises. There is a risk of inflammation of the nerve endings.
Skin lesions, if left untreated, result in the addition of viral and bacterial infections. The following complications often occur:
- Warts.
- Phlegmon.
- Pyoderma.
- Erysipelas.
- Malignant mycosis fungoides.
A fungus of the skin of the legs with a long course worsens the functioning of the immune system, patients become more susceptible to allergic manifestations, urticaria, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Often mycoses are accompanied by atopic dermatitis and eczema. The general condition worsens, weakness occurs, the body temperature can periodically rise.
Running yeast infections can cause damage to internal organs.
In addition to physical complications, fungal infections lead to instability of the psycho-emotional state. Infected people become irritable, short-tempered, and often lash out at others. Nervous system instability slows recovery, so patients may need psychological support.
Toe fungus is very easy to cure if you start therapy at the very first manifestations of the disease. With the daily use of therapeutic agents, the fungus can be eliminated in 10-14 days. But with an advanced infection, the treatment will be longer and more difficult and will not do without the use of systemic drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend not to delay the visit to the clinic.