One of the most common foot diseases is foot fungus or, as it is also called, mycosis. According to medical research statistics, several types of this lesion of the skin and nail plates have been identified.
The main thing is to immediately consult a doctor when a fungus appears in order to have time to protect your body from bacteria and everyone around you.
What do foot fungus look like?
Many have heard that such a disease as mycosis exists and manifests itself in almost 80% of the population, but rarely has anyone encountered this problem in person. There are cases when those infected, simply not paying attention to the symptoms, cannot start treatment in time, which leads to disastrous consequences. But in addition to the infected body, people around it can also suffer.
The stages of localization of bacteria on a person's foot can be studied in more detail through photography, but it should be noted that, in addition to visual effects, there are symptoms that will also vary in the degree of infectivity of the body.
The initial phase of manifestation of foot fungus will not be very noticeable, but a burning sensation, itching and a small area of redness may already indicate that the fungus has begun its active activity.
The next phase is more serious and affects both the foot and the nail plate. The nail begins to change (becomes yellow, gray, thick). Additionally, small white streaks and spots may appear on the nails, which is usually a good reason to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
The last phase is a severe peeling of the skin, the nail slowly begins to move away from the hole, ulcers and ulcers may appear. All this leads to the complete destruction of the upper layer of the epidermis, internal cracks begin to be exposed.
This is what foot mycosis looks like at each stage of development. And as you can see in the photo, the consequences of fungal infection on the nail plates and feet can be sad.
Toe fungus
A fungal infection of the skin between the toes is called athlete's foot and the fungus itself is called Tinea pedis. This fungus is generated by contact with an already infected person, or by the use of other people's hygiene products.
Symptoms of the disease
- The skin between the fingers becomes very dry and vulnerable, small scales appear;
- The appearance of small purulent blisters with fluid on the skin, and if one of them bursts, an unpleasant sensation appears on the skin;
- The nail plates change, the structure becomes more fragile;
- In socks and shoes there may be an unpleasant odor due to the manifestation of fungus, it is quite pungent and specific.
Depending on the degree of development of fungal bacteria, epidermophytosis can occur in four phases:
Mild
At the first signs of peeling on your feet, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. These are the first signs of fungus. A greater development of bacteria occurs at the level of the fingers, between the fingers and in the nails. The following symptoms are redness of the skin, small cracks on the heels and feet, itching and burning in the place of greatest localization of the disease.
Squamous-hyperkeratotic
The scaly-hyperkeratotic phase of the disease is caused by slight swelling of the skin on the feet, which also causes severe peeling of the feet and the skin between the toes.
Intense itching and burning that spreads throughout the entire foot area, including the nails. The color of the nail plate changes from light yellow to grayish, which entails the destruction of the upper layer of the plate.
The hyperkeratotic phase of the fungus presents the following symptoms: rash on the entire skin of the foot, with red to blue blisters, which will later severely peel off and cause pain when walking.
If you do not consult a doctor, the infection cooperates and becomes a serious source of infection. This whole process is accompanied by an unpleasant foot odor.
intertriginousThe phase is characterized by the appearance of deep cracks in the heels, accompanied by pain and the appearance of erosive ulcers. The pain increases significantly, which prevents the person from standing on their leg normally.
DyshidroticThe phase is characterized by small purulent blisters that develop at a tremendous speed, covering the entire area of the foot and toes in just a few days. The pustules can open on their own, causing red erosions to appear. After the skin dries a little, the wounds may release a small amount of fluid.
The main thing is that when fungus appears on the legs, you immediately understand the symptoms and consult a dermatologist in a timely manner. The symptoms of the fungus and a visual examination should give a definitive picture of the process occurring in the legs. But you should not start self-medicating, as this usually leads to ineffective consequences, leading to even more serious localization of the disease.
To prescribe the correct course of treatment, the doctor will need to know the phase of development of the fungus and identify the type of pathogen. But before this, the patient must undergo diagnosis, as a result of which the full picture of the course of the disease will become clear.
How to treat foot fungus
It should be remembered that depending on the phase of the disease, treatment will be prescribed, which must be comprehensive.
Before starting treatment with topical drugs, it will be necessary to relieve inflammatory processes and keratinization phenomena.
To help get rid of unwanted fungal bacteria, you need to know the correct procedures:
- For external use, it is advisable to use creams, ointments, sprays, solutions, varnishes;
- Mandatory course of taking antifungal medications;
- In case of severe burning and itching, you should purchase sedatives to relieve pain symptoms;
- Since the immune system is weakened when fighting the fungus, it will be necessary to take a treatment of vitamins and minerals, which will help the body fight the infection more strongly;
- If concomitant infectious diseases occur, the dermatologist will prescribe antibiotic treatment.
To determine specific medications, the dermatologist must know the full picture of the course of the mycosis; The age of the infected person, the reaction of the fungus to certain medications, as well as the degree of infection of the areas of the foot must be taken into account. consider.
Most medical reference books can clearly show all phases of the progression of foot fungus in the form of a photograph with a description of the symptoms, so that a person can independently determine them. After a visual examination and comparison with photographs of the course of mycosis, the patient should immediately seek help from a specialist.
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