Fungus grows on my feet

There are a huge number of fungi in the world, but only a few can infect the human body. Diseases caused by these microorganisms are called mycoses. People call these diseases fungi. The skin of the legs is most commonly affected. According to medical research, fungal diseases are the second most common skin disease. You need to start fighting foot fungus as early as possible. By seeking prompt medical help, a person can not only get rid of the problem quickly but also protect loved ones from infection.

Signs (Symptoms) of Foot Fungus

In the early stages of disease development, patients may not be bothered by anything. People attribute minor skin discomfort on their legs to many other causes and are not eager to seek medical help. The first noticeable symptoms appear when the fungus spreads significantly. Patient experience:

• redness of the skin on the feet;
• Bad odor coming from the feet;
• itching and burning sensation;
• The skin peels off.

The symptoms of the disease can vary widely depending on its form. The most common is the intertriginous type. It can cause the following symptoms of foot fungus:

• burning sensation in feet;
• Cracks appear in the skin;
• The skin peels off.

In deep cracks, areas of erosion may occur. They cause severe discomfort to the patient, as they cause significant pain when walking. Subsequently, the skin on the legs becomes very loose, resulting in a significant decrease in local immunity. As a result, secondary infections join the fungal infection, resulting in:

• widespread inflammation of the skin on the feet;
• Suppuration of the affected area;
• Swelling and pain in the legs.

Fungus can also affect nails. This type of disease is called onychomycosis. Its appearance will be indicated by color changes, thickening or thinning of the board. If left untreated, the fungus can cause all nails to become damaged or fall off completely.

disease cause

The disease is caused by a variety of parasitic fungi. Most commonly, the disease occurs when affected by dermatophytes or Trichophyton rubrum. Only after identifying the causative factors can you determine how to treat foot fungus. They all perform well and reproduce quickly in moist and warm conditions. Therefore, you may become infected when visiting the following public places:

• sauna;
• swimming pool;
• soul;
• Bathing place

Infection can also occur through contact with a sick person or their personal belongings. For example, people who use strangers are at risk for foot fungus:

• towel;
• pumice;
• towel;
• sock;
• Nail scissors.

Another factor that affects the rapid spread of disease is a lack of proper foot hygiene. People who wear wet shoes or socks often suffer from fungus. People with the following conditions are highly susceptible to fungal diseases:

• Increased sweating of the feet;
• endocrine diseases;
• decrease in immunity;
• diabetes;
• Varicose veins.

Which doctor should I contact?

Coping with this disease alone is very difficult. Patients with such problems require help from qualified specialists. A dermatologist can tell you how to treat foot fungus.During your first appointment, a specialist will carefully examine the affected area of your foot. An experienced doctor can make a diagnosis simply by performing a visual assessment of the skin. But doctors also need to know how the disease arises. To do this, he will have a conversation with the patient. Patients need to answer the following questions:

1. How long ago did the first signs of foot fungus appear?
2. Has this problem bothered you before?
3. Are there any chronic diseases?
4. Has this person been in contact with a sick person?
5. Have you ever been to a sauna, steam room or swimming pool?
6. Does your relative have a fungal foot infection?

Based on the information received from the patient, the doctor can determine the real cause of the disease. In order to know how to deal with a disease, you need to know exactly what its causative agent is. Checking can help with this. Doctors advise patients to scrape the skin from the affected areas of their feet. After laboratory tests, experts accurately identified the causative agent of the disease.

How is the disease treated?

The sooner a person seeks help, the sooner treatment will occur. Your doctor decides how to treat foot fungus after receiving the results of the diagnostic tests. Experts recommend medication to combat the disease. The patient is prescribed the following antifungal medications:

• prevent the development of pathogens;
• eliminate fungi;
• Has anti-inflammatory effects;
• Relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Such products are available as ointments, gels, sprays, tablets or suspensions for oral administration. For fungus on toenails, you can use special varnishes or plasters, which also have antifungal properties. Specialists choose drugs strictly on the basis of the patient's individual situation, since many of them have numerous contraindications. Certain medicines are prohibited for:

• Pregnant women;
• breastfeeding mothers;
• children.

For a quick recovery, it is important to strengthen your immune system. For this, patients need to take vitamin-mineral complexes and immune stimulants. In advanced cases, when secondary infections are related to fungal infections, patients need to take antibiotics.

How can we completely cure athlete's foot?

Many patients complain of recurrence of the disease some time after completing treatment. The reason for this is that the primary infection is not completely cured. A common mistake many people make is to stop treatment when improvement occurs. It is very important to continue using this medication for the entire period prescribed by your doctor. Even if the disease does not appear from the outside, it does not mean that the entire infection has been defeated. To prevent further leg injuries, you need to:

• Strictly follow expert advice.
• Do not substitute a similar drug for your own medicine.
• Apply product regularly, without interruption.

During treatment, patients must wear closed slippers at home. You should not let other family members wear them because infection can be spread through them. When treating athlete's foot, you also should not walk barefoot on the floor or share towels, pumice stones, or other bathing products with others. During treatment it is very important to:

• Wash the patient's clothes separately from other people's clothes.
• Wet clean the house daily.
• Treat the patient's shoes with an antifungal agent.

You also need to take foot hygiene seriously. It must be washed at least 2 times a day. At the same time, it should be treated with hot water. It's important to change your socks frequently and wear comfortable, non-tight shoes. After recovery, be sure to throw away the slippers, towels, bath towels, and socks used by the patient during the illness.

prevention

By understanding what causes foot fungus, you can easily prevent it. To avoid this disease, you just need to follow the following preventive rules:

• Use only disposable or personal slippers when going to the bathroom, sauna or swimming pool.
• Do not wear wet or damp shoes.
• If you have a sick person in your home, use only personal bathing products.

Some diseases also increase the risk of fungal infections. Therefore, eliminating them in time can avoid the occurrence of diseases. People with:

• flatfoot;
• corn;
• Hyperhidrosis of the feet.

One must know that fungi can survive for a long time at low temperatures. So, freezing is not scary to him. However, pathogens die when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, boiling can play a preventive role. If you treat a patient's clothes and shoes like this, the fungus inside will die.