Regardless of the pathogen, the disease has similar symptoms, mechanism of occurrence and treatment tactics. Athlete's foot is a common and contagious disease. It is characterized by a high frequency of occurrence in the presence of concomitant conditions and diseases, for example, foci of chronic inflammation, endocrine diseases, lowered immune system and other diseases. As a rule, the disease has a chronic nature with exacerbations in the summer and attenuation of the process (remission) in the winter.
Signs of mycosis
- Color change
- Inflammation
- Appearance of spots
- Erosion
- Deformation and thickening
Types of fungal diseases of the feet
Depending on what types of fungi cause the disease, foot mycoses are divided into:
Yeast-like mycoses: caused by fungi of the genus Candida.
Mold mycoses: provoked by the fungi Scytalidium spp. , Onychocola canadensis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium.
Dermatomycosis: caused by dermatomycetes of the genera Trichophyton, Epidermophyton. Fungi of this species need keratin to function, which is abundant in the stratum corneum of skin, nails, and hair. The group of dermatomycoses with predominant damage to the nails includes rubrophytosis (the causative agent isTrichophyton rubrum) and stage of mycosis (caused by Trichophyton interdigitale). Trichophyton rubrum accounts for approximately 80-90% of cases of athlete's foot.
Mixed mycoses: caused by several types of fungi at the same time.
Each type of mycosis is described in detail below.
Yeast-like mycoses
Recently, mycoses of the feet, caused by fungi of the genus Candida, have become widespread. It is assumed that this is due to the wide distribution of various drugs, the action of which is related to interaction with the immune system.
Dermatomycoses
Mycosis of the feet is a chronic disease that is localized on the skin of the arches and interdigital folds of the feet, with frequent damage to the nail plates.
Fungal mycoses
Fungal mycoses are common mostly in countries where people traditionally walk barefoot (eastern and subtropical and tropical countries). In regions with a temperate climate, this type of mycosis also occurs, but as a rule in patients with immunodeficiency conditions and in people who often come into contact with soil and plants.
Forms of foot mycosis
There are several forms of mycosis:
Squamous
It is characterized by peeling of the skin on the arches of the feet, it is possible to spread to the surface of the toes. Areas of skin thickening and lamellar peeling may also occur.
Intertriginous
Similar to interdigital diaper rash. The inflammatory process is usually localized between the 3rd and 4th toes. The stratum corneum softens, relaxes and peels off. Cracks and a whitish coating appear. Itching and burning begin. It is possible to add pyococcal (pustular infection) and yeast flora, after which the affected areas are covered with purulent-bloody crusts.
Dyshidrotic
It is characterized by the appearance of bubbles filled with a clear liquid and covered with a thick stratum corneum on the lateral surface of the foot and on the contact surfaces of the toes. Sago grains (vesicles) can be single or merge into multi-chambered vesicles. When pyococci join, the contents of the vesicles become cloudy, then they open and form erosions covered with purulent-hemorrhagic crusts. Some patients note inflammation of the lymph nodes and deterioration of general health.
Mycides (allergic rash) are observed in 2/3 of patients with intertriginous and dyshidrotic forms of epidermophytosis.
Of course, the identification of the clinical forms of epidermophytosis is conditional, since their combination is often found, one form can transform into another. Everything depends on the reaction of the body, physical activity and treatment methods of the patient.
Also, mycosis of the feet often affects the nails, mainly the first and fifth toes. The nail plate acquires yellowish spots or stripes, the surface becomes dull and uneven, and a horny thickening begins to appear under the nail, which subsequently leads to the destruction of the nail plate.
By watching the corresponding video on the Internet, you can understand that foot fungus can be caused by various factors, and in order to choose a tactic for the treatment of this disease, it is necessary to determine the type of fungus and establish the cause of its appearance.
Causes of foot fungus
The main causes of foot fungus are:
- Excessive sweating or, conversely, increased dryness and flaking of the feet. These processes disrupt the protective function of skin cells.
- Anatomical features: narrow spaces between the toes and their deformation, flat feet.
- Problems with thermoregulation (maintenance of a certain body temperature) and microcirculation (transportation of biological fluids).
- Wounds, injuries that violate the integrity of the skin. Infections often occur through these injuries.
- The presence of diseases that reduce immunity or lead to metabolic disorders (for example, endocrinopathies, blood diseases, oncology, etc. ).
- Taking certain drugs (antibacterial, cytostatic, corticosteroids).
Often, fungal infections of the legs are combined with pustular rashes, so assumptions are made about the relationship between them: thanks to pyococci, dermatophytes penetrate deep into the subcutaneous tissue, and prolonged mycoses due to the formation of cracks, scratches and erosions contribute to increased susceptibility to infections.
Often with foot fungus, a viral infection occurs. For example, the causative agent of rubromycosis activates papillomaviruses and herpes viruses. This is manifested in an increase in the concentration of viruses on the surface of cells infected with fungi.
The source of the spread of the disease is people suffering from mycosis: during the peeling process, the skin scales containing the pathogens of the fungal infection are separated. These infected scales often end up on floors and equipment in pools, bathrooms, and also on pedicure tools.
An interesting fact is that mushrooms are very resistant and can be stored in thermal springs, chlorinated and ozonized water for 12-18 days. Water with a high salt or hydrogen sulfide content is harmful to fungi.
So we must remember that the general mechanisms that contribute to the development of fungal infections of the feet are caused by a violation of the body's natural resistance, changes in immune and metabolic processes.
Diagnosis of foot fungus
Diagnosis of foot fungus includes:
- Assessment of patient complaints and the presence of chronic diseases.
- Microscopic examination of affected skin and nail particles.
- Cultural inoculation is the placement of pathogenic microorganisms in a nutrient medium for their reproduction and subsequent accurate identification, as well as for evaluating the activity of antifungal drugs and determining the sensitivity of fungi to them.
For the correct choice of therapy, it is important to determine whether the changes in the skin of the legs are a fungal infection or dyshidrotic eczema, keratoderma, psoriasis and other skin diseases.
Antifungal drugs, agents, antimycotics
Antifungals: classification and types of dosage forms. Methods of using antifungal agents.
Treatment of foot fungus
Treatment of foot fungus must be carried out comprehensively, it is important not only to suppress the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate symptoms, but also to destroy pathogens and eliminate the cause of their occurrence (increasing immunity, immediate treatment ofsmall wounds on legs, etc. ). It is imperative to treat concomitant diseases that cause the development of fungal infections.
Also, some people may have allergic reactions to certain mushrooms (like mykids). In such cases, antihistamine (anti-allergy) medications may be needed.
For the treatment of mycoses, as a rule, local preparations are used, i. e. those that are applied directly to the affected area of the skin. Such products are produced in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, solutions and varnishes (for nails).
Depending on the mechanism of action, antifungal agents can have a fungistatic effect, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of fungi, or they can have a fungicidal effect and promote the death of the fungus.
Since foot mycoses are most often provoked by a mixed fungal flora, it is most effective to use broad-spectrum agents. These include drugs that have their own anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects.
The use of special products for the treatment of foot fungus
Modern antifungal drugs are very effective against pathogenic fungi of the genus Candida, dermatophytes (Trichophyton, Microsporum) and other causative agents of skin infections, gram-positive strains of staphylococci and streptococci. They block the growth and reproduction of fungi (fungistatic effect), destroy fungi (fungicidal effect), when used in therapeutic doses, have their own anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effect.