How to independently recognize foot fungus in the early stages

Myxosis of the skin is common.They develop as a result of infection with anthropophilic and zooanthropophilic fungi.You can get infected through personal contact by public baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms.Fungal pathologies have characteristic clinical manifestations, but not everyone knows what foot fungus appears, so few people seek medical help in the initial stages.This helps spread the infection.

Symptoms of skin lesions on the toes

Initial changes caused by a fungal infection are difficult to see: they do not cause pathological changes in the affected area and do not cause discomfort.With a strong immune system, the infection at this stage can go away on its own;With a decrease in the body's defenses, it will develop and move to the next stage.At this stage, flour-like sets appear in the interdigital area.The skin becomes red, dry and cracked.This process is accompanied by severe itching.Legs and heels have a healthy look.

Symptoms of fungal nail infection

Affected nails look special, so it is not difficult to recognize the beginning of the infection.The pathological process develops according to the following scenario:

1. Nail plates thicken, color changes: the pale pink color disappears and a yellowish-gray color appears.
2. A gap appears between the stock and the plate.
3. The nail plate begins to peel off gradually, the edges become brittle.They fall and gradually collapse.
4. Severe itching occurs in the affected area.Distracts from daily activities.
5. Irritation and redness of the skin between the fingers, followed by painful cracks.
6. The affected area has an unpleasant sour smell.

It becomes difficult to trim your nails with regular nail clippers.They cannot be processed with a nail file or special tweezers: the plates collapse.

Symptoms of foot fungus

It is more difficult to identify the symptoms of fungus in yourself.The development of the infection leads to the appearance of the soles, which look like warts.The appearance of other symptoms develops what form of the disease.

It all starts with the foamy form.At this stage, the infection spreads throughout the sole ie.The skin on it becomes rough and horny, begins to actively peel and itches.Externally, the foot looks like the result of a lack of regular pedicure (untouchable).

Next, a hyperkeratotic form develops.During the course, gray thicknesses appear on the arches.They rob a lot of things on the edges.Deep cracks appear in place of old bells.This period causes severe pain.Doctors call this phenomenon "moccasin foot".If you look at the bottom of the affected foot, you will see that a thick yellow-gray insole is attached to it.Fungal infection spreads to the interdigital space and nails.They change color, peel and collapse.

Dyshidrotic form.It is characterized by the appearance of blisters filled with a cloudy liquid on the skin of the legs.This is possible only in advanced forms of infection.When the bubbles collapse, weeping erosions appear in places where there is constant ooze.Pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate open wounds.Secondary infection significantly worsens the patient's condition;In this case, it is very difficult to diagnose a fungal infection by external manifestations: the symptoms are similar to the clinical picture of eczema or psoriasis.

Clinical signs of fungi with the stage of the disease

It can take 3-14 days from the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear.The duration of the incubation period depends mainly on the type of fungus that causes the characteristic symptoms (yeast-like, mold-like, blasphemy or candida fungi) and the state of the immune system.

A fungal infection goes through three stages in its development:

1. In the initial stage, redness of the affected area, dry skin and peeling are observed.The patient experiences mild itching.
2. The middle stage is characterized by the spread of the infection to the entire leg.
3. In advanced forms, damage to the nail plates is observed, the skin of the feet is covered with cracks and the stratum corneum separates in large layers.

If there is no etibiotropic treatment, the infection enters the chronic phase.It is characterized by alternating remissions and complications.

Differential diagnosis

Diagnosis of the disease begins with an examination of the foot by a dermatologist and taking a history.Based on the results, the doctor prescribes additional laboratory tests.

It should be done:

1. Removal from the affected area and subsequent microscopy (with its help, the fungal nature of the infection is confirmed).
2. Transferring the extracted biological material to a special nutrient medium.Colonies of pathogenic microorganisms grown in this way make it possible to determine the causative agent of the disease and determine its sensitivity to modern antifungal drugs.Based on this laboratory test, a drug treatment regimen is drawn up.

Mungal skin infections must be distinguished from vitiligo, seborrhea, psoriasis, syphilitic leukoderma and neurodermatitis.For these purposes, skin examination under a tree's lamp and PCR is used.

How to fight foot fungus

The following are used to combat fungal infection:

• antifungal ointment;
• Antimicrobial in tablets;
• traditional medicine.

Ointments are applied to the affected areas twice a day;First, the skin of the feet should be steamed and cleaned of stratum corneum.The duration of taking the tablets is determined by the attending physician.As a rule, the course of treatment for the initial stages of infection does not exceed one month;Advanced forms are treated within six months.Traditional medicine can significantly speed up the healing process.Doctors recommend their patients to record the following prescriptions.

Bath with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.Pour water at a temperature of 37 degrees in a basin, add 20 grams of table vinegar, put your feet in the water and heat it there for twenty minutes.After that, you should wipe the Stratum Corneum with a pumice stone, dry your feet and cover the affected areas of the skin with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.At the end of the procedure, the affected areas are lubricated with an antifungal cream prescribed by the doctor.

Salt baths and Celandine water.The feet are pre-steamed in a saline solution (one teaspoon per liter of water) and then lubricated with Celandine juice made from fresh leaves and grass stalks.The procedure ends with the application of an antifungal drug.

Soda baths (20 grams of powder per two liters of water) can relieve inflammation and stimulate the healing of ulcers.Feet are steamed for fifteen minutes, dried with a towel and treated with etiotropic ointment.

During treatment, it is important to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces that come into contact with the weight of the feet (shoes, clothing, bedding).After treating the affected areas of the skin, you should thoroughly wash your hands and then treat them with any liquid antiseptic.Violation of the number of drugs taken and their dosage will lead to increasing the sensitivity of pathogenic microflora, extending therapy and making some changes in tablets and ointments.

Preventing reinfection is important to prevent relapses.Wear only dry shoes, choose socks made of natural fabrics and use only personal pedicure accessories.