How to independently recognize foot fungus in the early stages

Skin mycoses are common.They develop as a result of infection with anthropophilic and zooanthropophilic fungi.You can become infected through personal contact, visiting public baths and saunas, swimming pools and gyms.Fungal pathologies have characteristic clinical manifestations, but not everyone knows what foot fungus looks like, which is why few people seek medical help in the early stages.This contributes to the spread of infection.

Symptoms of skin lesions on toes

The initial changes caused by a fungal infection are difficult to notice: they do not cause pathological changes in the affected area and do not generate discomfort.With a strong immune system, the infection at this stage may subside on its own;as the body's defenses decrease, it will develop and move to the next stage.At this stage, flour-like detachments form in the interdigital area.The skin becomes red, dry and cracks.This process is accompanied by intense itching.Feet and heels look healthy.

Symptoms of fungal infection in toenails

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

1. The nail plates become thicker, their color changes: the pale pink tone disappears and a yellowish-gray color appears.
2. A gap appears between the stock and the plate.
3. The nail plate gradually begins to peel off and its edges become brittle.They crumble and gradually fall apart.
4. Intense itching occurs in the affected area.It distracts you from everyday activities.
5. Irritation and redness form on the skin between the toes and then painful cracks.
6. The affected area has an unpleasant sour odor.

It becomes difficult to trim your nails with normal scissors.They cannot be processed with a nail file or special tweezers: the plates disintegrate.

Symptoms of fungus on the soles of the feet

It is more difficult to determine the signs of foot fungus on your own.The development of the infection causes the appearance of formations on the sole that resemble calluses.The occurrence of other symptoms is associated with the form of the disease that progresses.

It all starts with the scaly shape.At this stage, the infection spreads throughout the sole.The skin becomes rough and horny, begins to actively peel off and itches intensely.Externally, the foot looks like the result of a lack of regular (sloppy) pedicure.

Then the hyperkeratotic form develops.During its course, gray thickenings form on the arches.They are peeling a lot around the edges.Deep cracks appear in place of old calluses.This process causes intense pain.Doctors call this phenomenon “moccasin foot”.If you look from above at the sole of the affected foot, it appears that a thick grayish-yellow insole is stuck to it.The fungal infection spreads to the interdigital space and to the nails.They change color, peel and crumble.

Dyshidrotic form.It is characterized by the appearance of blisters on the skin of the feet filled with a cloudy liquid.This only becomes possible in advanced forms of infection.When the bubbles collapse, erosions appear in their place, which constantly 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 the fungus by stage of the disease

It can take 3 to 14 days from the time of infection until the first symptoms appear.The length of the incubation period largely depends on the type of fungus that caused the formation of characteristic symptoms (yeast, mold or Candida fungi) and the state of the immune system.

In its development, a fungal infection goes through three phases:

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

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

Differential diagnosis

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

It must be done:

1. Scraping of the affected area and subsequent microscopy (with its help the fungal nature of the infection is confirmed).
2. Sow the extracted biological material in special nutrient media.Colonies of pathogenic microorganisms grown in this way make it possible to identify 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.

Fungal skin infections must be differentiated from vitiligo, seborrhea, psoriasis, syphilitic leucoderma and neurodermatitis.To this end, Wood's lamp skin examination and PCR are used.

How to combat foot fungus

To combat fungal infections, the following are used:

• antifungal ointments;
• antimycotics in tablets;
• traditional medicine.

Ointments are applied to the affected areas twice a day;First, the skin of the feet must be steamed and cleaned of the stratum corneum.The duration of taking the pills is determined by the attending physician.As a rule, treatment of the initial stages of infection lasts no more than a month;Advanced forms are treated within six months.Traditional medicine can significantly speed up the healing process.Doctors recommend their patients to observe the following recipes.

Baths with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.You need to pour water with a temperature of 37 degrees into a basin, add 20 grams of table vinegar, put your feet in the water and warm them for twenty minutes.After that, it is necessary to remove the stratum corneum with a pumice stone, dry the feet and cover the affected areas of the skin with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.At the end of the procedure, the affected areas are lubricated with antifungal cream prescribed by the doctor.

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

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

It is important throughout the treatment to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces that the sore feet come into contact with (shoes, clothes, bedding).After treating the affected areas of the skin, you should wash your hands thoroughly and then treat them with any liquid antiseptic.Violation of the number of drugs taken and their dosage will lead to increased sensitivity of pathogenic microflora, the need to prolong therapy and make some changes to tablets and ointments.

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