Types of athlete's foot and treatment methods

The most common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the group of dermatomycoses is athlete's foot.The parasite affects not only the phalanges and nail plates of the lower extremities, but also the folds between the fingers and the soles of the feet.The disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and requires long therapy with antifungal drugs.In this article we will look at how to treat athlete's foot and how to recognize it.

Causes

Parasites reach the skin and multiply quickly in favorable environmental conditions, especially heat and high humidity, which damages the epithelium and impairs its functionality.Treatment of skin fungus on the legs is more effective in the early stages of the pathological process.

It is important to know: in most clinical pictures, fungi of the Candida family and trichophytons of certain varieties are the causative agents of mycosis of the feet.

Against the background of a longer course of the disease, the risk of damage to the deeper layers of the skin increases significantly.In advanced cases, parasites can invade the circulatory system, causing dysfunction of internal organs.In such a situation, treatment is very long and difficult; strong medications are used.

You can contract the fungus in the sauna, bathhouse or similar places with high humidity and heat.People often become infected in pedicure and manicure rooms where the instruments are not disinfected.Wearing someone else's shoes is another factor that leads to infection.

Factors leading to activation of fungi:

• Metabolic disorders in the body, excess weight;
• diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2;
• varicose veins of the lower extremities;
• vascular diseases;
• Pathologies of an autoimmune nature (e.g. Raynaud's disease);
• flat feet, poor quality shoes;
• Lack of balanced nutrition, leading to a severe deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
• violation of the immune system, etc.

Infection also occurs under the influence of such circumstances: poor hygiene, sharing washcloths, towels, etc. with a sick person.

Types and symptoms

In medical practice, foot and nail fungus is classified based on the specific pathogen present on the skin.Mixed infections caused by the simultaneous parasitism of two or more fungal species are often diagnosed.When prescribing follow-up treatment, the type of pathogen must be taken into account.

Types of pathogenic microorganisms:

1. Trichophyton rubrum.The parasite's favorite places are skin folds, spaces between the toes and cracks in the heels.The symptoms of this type of athlete's foot are as follows: deep cracks and erosions are observed, the integrity of the skin is impaired, and the stratum corneum is actively growing.
2. In most cases, Trichophyton mentagrophytes leads to the development of allergies, which are manifested by severe itching and burning.How do you recognize this type of fungus?Skin peelings appear on the foot, there are many small cracks that hurt.
3. Trichophyton interdigitele.This parasite settles between the fingers, the interdigital space itches and itches.If no treatment is given, cracks and erosion will occur over time and the nail plate will be affected.
4. Candida is quite common.Signs of athlete's foot: Spots on the feet become white, sometimes gray, and spots appear that tend to get larger.In this case, patients always complain of itching and pain due to cracked skin.

Note: Pathogenic microorganisms are divided into different types: molds, yeasts and dermatophytes.They provoke foot diseases such as rubrophytosis, epidermophytosis, candidiasis and onychomycosis of the feet.Pathologies that are combined in a group called “rubromycosis” in turn mean diseases of the feet.Depending on clinical manifestations, they are divided into subtypes – vesicular, membranous, moccasin-like.

A fungal infection of the feet is accompanied by symptoms that depend on the stage of the foot disease:

• The early stage of development of pathology occurs against the background of itching on the feet, skin hyperemia and slight swelling.Small surface cracks are sometimes observed;
• The middle stage is characterized by the appearance of spots that tend to grow, the skin peels, itches and a burning sensation occurs;
• Significant damage can be seen in these images if no treatment is given.Foot skin fungus spreads to the nail.The nail plate loses its healthy shine, quickly crumbles and collapses.

Without timely treatment, the disease enters the chronic stage, periodically the patient gets better, but at the slightest stress or reduced immunity, the disease manifests itself again.Often the picture is complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection, which requires the use of antibacterial therapy.

Treatment of athlete's foot

The symptoms of athlete's foot and treatment are interrelated, since a therapeutic course is prescribed based on the clinical manifestations and the type of parasite.To balance inflammatory processes, cause swelling and eliminate excess stratum corneum, the following drugs are used:

1. The affected area is lubricated daily with salicylic petroleum jelly.The manipulation is carried out twice a day, the duration of treatment is 7 days.
2. Athlete's foot infections are treated with lotions based on salicylic alcohol and lactic acid.They must be mixed with petroleum jelly.Apply a compress for two days, after which you can easily remove the callused areas.
3. To reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, tar or sulfur ointment is applied to the feet.These products have antiseptic properties and help relieve inflammation and swelling.
4. If slight peeling is observed, the use of baths with the addition of soda is permissible.
5. If the ulcers itch, glucocorticosteroid creams are used.These medications contain hormones and should not be taken alone or for long periods of time.The application is carried out according to the principle of pulse therapy: you use it for several days, take a break during which the effect is assessed, if there is no effect, repeat it again, etc.

Important: If the nail is damaged, it is better to use a keratolytic adhesive plaster or antifungal nail polish.

When asked how to cure athlete's foot, doctors recommend medications in different dosage forms - ointment, emulsion, gel, cream, tablets.

How do you treat an advanced stage fungus?If the pathological process extends over a large area and pronounced symptoms appear, systemic treatment with antifungal drugs is necessary.

During treatment, you must follow all the doctor's recommendations, treat your feet daily and take tablets in the required dosage.Therapy continues until negative laboratory results are available.With nail fungus, it takes so long for a new nail plate to grow back.

Prevention of athlete's foot

It is easy to become infected with a fungus, but extremely difficult to cure it.The patient must be patient as the process is relatively lengthy.To prevent the fungus or its reappearance after treatment, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. When visiting a bathhouse or sauna, you should always carry your personal slippers with you so as not to stand barefoot on the floor.You can only use a personal towel, washcloth, etc.
2. At home, it is necessary to regularly hygienically clean the bathtub and footrest with products containing chlorine.
3. Mushrooms love warmth and moisture, so it is necessary to combat hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities - use baths with chamomile, celandine, potassium permanganate and onion peel.
4. Special talc helps prevent fungus.It can be poured into a sock or shoe and treated regularly with a foot product.
5. Systematically treat the skin of the lower extremities with geranium and tea tree oil.These essential oils moisturize the skin and have an antifungal effect.
6. Disinfecting shoes – first wipe with a cotton pad dipped in a 25% formaldehyde solution or 70% vinegar.Then put it in a sealed bag and close it tightly.After a day, take the shoes out and air them out.

If the focus of a fungal infection is small, the disease can be quickly overcome using antifungal creams and prevention methods.Without treatment, the disease progresses and quickly spreads to healthy areas.

The process of treating fungus is always lengthy.The earlier treatment is started, the faster the patient will recover.For neglected paintings, restoration takes years rather than months.