If you recognize athlete's foot in the initial stage and start treatment in time, there is a high probability of a quick recovery using a minimal amount of antifungal drugs, which for the most part pose a health risk (especially for the liver) during long-term use.Unfortunately, not always and not everyone manages to respond in time to the first signs of the appearance of a fungal infection, since the symptoms in the initial stage are very similar to harmless skin manifestations.You know the feeling when you find a yellow spot on the nail plate on your toe and the first thoughts that come to mind are: nothing, I'll wait, a clean healthy nail will grow, or I hit myself somewhere, it will pass quickly.Or a slight peeling appears in the interdigital folds, which in 90% is attributed to dry skin and begins to be treated with moisturizing creams.But behind all these "harmless" manifestations, the well-known and hated foot fungus is most often hidden.
Provocative factors and sources of infection
Pregnancy can cause the development of fungal diseases, since during this period a woman can experience a sharp decrease in immunity and hormonal imbalance.
Toenail fungus, like many diseases, cannot develop on its own;a favorable environment is necessary for its emergence and progress.There are a number of factors and associated diseases that provoke the appearance of this disease:
- a sharp decrease in immunity;
- lack or violation of personal hygiene;
- increased sweating;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- flat feet;
- vascular diseases of the lower extremities;
- persistent scratches and wounds;
- surgical interventions etc.
We have listed the most popular causes of toenail fungus, but a poor diet or long-term use of antibiotics can also cause toenail fungus to develop.
Infection most often occurs after using the shoes of a sick person or visiting public showers.In recent years, there has also been a rapid increase in the spread of fungus through manicure equipment.Other sources of infection include:
- personal hygiene products for a sick person (loofah, pumice stone);
- belongings of an infected person (socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, pants);
- floors (especially wooden) in bathrooms, showers, gyms.
The causative agents of foot fungus are very resistant to the environment and are distinguished by the fact that they can remain latent for a long time on wood, towels and socks.The period of deterioration is spring and autumn.
How to recognize toenail fungus in the initial stage?
Here, experienced dermatologists recommend paying attention not only to external signs, but also to internal ones.Have you noticed that everyone goes to the baths, pools, sunbathes on the beach, but the fungus affects only a few people?The thing is that its development requires a favorable environment - reduced resistance of the body.This condition can occur in the presence of concomitant diseases or recent medical treatments during which antibiotics or hormonal drugs were used.
Now let's talk about the appearance of fungus on the skin of the feet.The main symptoms include:
- fissures in the interdigital folds;
- skin between toes;
- hardening of the skin on the heels;
- the skin on the feet and toes peels off;
- deformation of the nail plates (thickening or thinning);
- nail color change (yellow, brown, black);
- redness and swelling of the legs;
- the appearance of red spots on the thighs and inside the legs;
- scales on the entire surface of the leg;
- itching of varying intensity (depending on location and pathogen);
- bad breath (more often observed in people suffering from excessive sweating).
With deep mycoses, blisters, crusts and cracks may appear, which are accompanied by itching and severe pain.In some cases, the lesions are located in such places that due to severe pain it is impossible to stand.This can lead to temporary disability and mobility problems.
Varieties and classification
As you already know, mycoses can be caused by different pathogens, based on this, the localization of the lesions can change.Most often, toenail fungus can be caused by:
- dermatomycosis;
- candida mycoses;
- deep mycoses.
All foot mycoses today are considered independent diseases, caused by different pathogens and localized in different areas of the feet, but they are all united under one name - foot fungus.The most common of them:
- Rubrofitiya stop.It comprises approximately 60% of all foot mycoses.It is highly contagious and prevalent among certain segments of the population.The initial stage of rubromycosis of the feet is characterized by lesions between the fingers and folds on the toes.Next, the sole and inner part of the foot are involved in the process.Nail plastic damage with rubrophyta is observed in every third patient.It is often combined with hand fungus, especially with generalized rubromycosis.
- Mycoses of the epidermis.These include two separate diseases - Epidermophytia of the legs and Epidermophytia of the inguinal-femoral folds.In both cases, the lesions are localized on the legs.Epidermophitis of the feet is characterized by lesions of the folds between the toes, the sole and the back of the foot.Less often, the process spreads to the nails (usually the 5th and first fingers).The lesions are covered with scales and crusts.There is itching of varying intensity.In acute cases, general malaise and headache may occur.Inguinal epidermophytia appears as large, scaly patches on the groin, inner legs, thighs and perianal area.The lesions can reach the size of a large plaque and are accompanied by mild itching, peeling and swelling.
- Onychomycosis.The prevalence of fungal nail infections is constantly increasing every year.Only now (according to statistics for mid-2016) 10-18% of Russians have been diagnosed with nail onychomycosis of varying severity.Environmental and social factors play a major role in their development.People with vascular, immune and endocrine system problems are also at risk.Men get sick 1.3 times more often than women.Onychomycosis is very rare in children, with peak prevalence in people aged 50 to 70 years.
- Candidiasis.Rarely, but there are still cases of damage to the feet from Candida fungus.In isolated cases, candidal balanoposthitis can spread from the genitals to the perianal area and inguinal-femoral folds.A little more often, yeast-like fungi are found on the nails.In the initial stage, there is pain in the fold of the nail, and when pressed, pus can be released.Over time, its color acquires a brown-brown shade.
There is also rubrophyta of the smooth skin, but the lesions are less common on the legs.But rubromycosis in the groin is characterized by damage to the inner part of the leg with red spots.
Treatment and prevention
The diagnosis of foot fungus involves examining the clinical picture, taking scrapings from the lesions, performing a microscopic examination (find mycelial threads) and bacterial culture to determine the fungal culture.Before visiting a doctor, do not treat the lesions with any means!Differential diagnosis is carried out with eczema, rash and contact dermatitis.
Treatment of Epidermofitii and rubrofitii in the groin is carried out using external medications (most often Clotrimazole).The prognosis is positive, the duration of treatment rarely exceeds a month.As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat the lesions with solutions containing alcohol;if there is itching, antihistamines may be prescribed.
The situation is more complicated with athlete's foot and onychomycosis, since even in the initial stage they are very difficult to treat and are prone to relapse.The most effective is considered to be a combination of external and systemic drugs, strict adherence to dosage, personal hygiene and disinfection rules.The combination of Diflucan in capsules and terbinafine in the form of an ointment has been shown to be effective (treatment of lesions twice a day for a month).When dealing with athlete's foot, a lot of attention is paid to the treatment of shoes and socks, which can cause a relapse.It is recommended to boil the socks or wash them at a temperature of 90 degrees;insoles and shoes inside should be treated with a chlorhexidine solution.
And most importantly, remember that today foot fungus, detected in the initial stage, can be successfully treated with the help of modern medicines, but onychomycosis and advanced mycosis of the feet can take months and even years to treat.