Toe fungus is a problem that worries many. Itchy, burning, ugly-looking skin and nails are just a small part of it. The disease is dangerous with complications that are even more difficult to cure. However, you can cope with the problem if you are serious about treating a fungal infection (mycosis).
Why do foot fungus appear?
Fungi are a type of infectious agent that affects the skin. They are complex and extremely tough microorganisms. Therefore, fungal diseases require a serious and comprehensive treatment approach.
Fungi have their favorite habitat on the skin. First of all, it is the skin of the toes and nails. The reason for this is understandable: the feet are usually inside the shoe, inside which a lot of moisture and dirt accumulates, and it is also very hot. Therefore, the fungi that live on the feet have a lot of food and a favorable microclimate for reproduction. Some types of complex fungi are more likely to infect the skin, while other types of fungi, such as yeasts and molds, prefer nail plates. Simultaneous infection with several types of fungi is also possible.
Contribute to the development of toe fungus:
- reduced local and general immunity;
- poor foot hygiene;
- uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- irregular change of socks or stockings;
- wear socks or stockings made of synthetic and breathable materials;
- regular hypothermia or overheating of the feet;
- circulatory disorders in the legs;
- phlebeurysm;
- chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus;
- a long course of treatment with antibiotics;
- increased sweating of the legs;
- lack of vitamins and mineral elements in the body;
- mechanical damage to the skin, calluses, foot injuries;
- excess weight, excessive physical activity in the legs;
- uneven trimming of toenails.
The most important of these factors are reduced immunity and poor circulation in the legs. Decreased immunity can occur due to various reasons. In general, these are serious chronic diseases, mainly infectious. Also, immunity can be lowered due to HIV, immunosuppressant intake, and cancer. Equally important is the violation of blood circulation in the toes, due to vascular diseases, blood, diabetes, smoking.
Mycoses of the feet can develop in men and women. They appear more often in adults than in children.
Some types of fungi constantly inhabit the skin and are activated only in unfavorable circumstances, for example, fungi of the genus Candida. And other species are transmitted from person to person. Infection can occur when visiting the gym, bathroom, shower, if the person does not wear personal shoes. People who wear someone else's shoes or socks, or let other people wear them, are also at significant risk of infection. Often the infection occurs when the same towels, manicure accessories, etc. are used. Factors that increase the probability of infection are cuts on the surface of the skin, deformation of the nail plates.
Symptoms of mycosis of the toes.
The main symptoms of mycosis of the feet are itching and burning. There may also be redness of the skin, small blisters, increased scaling and roughness of the skin, and an unpleasant odor. The first symptoms of mycosis of the skin can be confused with a simple irritation, chafing.
Symptoms of onychomycosis.
The fungus can affect not only the skin, but also the nails. The last type of mycosis is called onychomycosis. The main symptom of onychomycosis is a change in the structure and type of nail, its increased fragility. The nail turns yellow, grooves and cracks appear on its surface, the nail plate thickens and deforms. If left untreated, the nail will gradually shed and disintegrate from the nail bed.
What does a fungus look like on a finger: photo
You should not diagnose yourself on your own, based on photographs. The diagnosis must be made by a qualified dermatologist.
Only he will be able to determine the type of fungus. To do this, you may need not only an external examination of the feet, but also laboratory tests of skin scrapes.
However, the presence of signs that even remotely resemble those shown in photographs is cause for concern and a visit to the doctor.
Treatment of the disease is complex and is carried out at home under the supervision of a doctor.
Fungus on the little finger
The fungus can affect the skin of any toe. But little fingers are the most vulnerable to infection. The little finger of tight shoes is often compressed, causing abrasions and impaired circulation to the skin. With the defeat of the nail of the little finger, the disease develops very quickly, faster than in any other nail. If the little finger is infected, the infection can touch the other fingers very quickly.
Fungi on the little finger are treated in the same way as fungi on other areas of the skin. With onychomycosis of the nail of the little finger, the most rational solution may be to remove the nail plate. This operation will not cause much discomfort to the patient, because the nail of the little finger grows back quickly. However, until the nail grows back (this can take 3 to 4 months), antifungal medications should be used to prevent reinfection.
How to treat toe fungus?
Treatment of mycosis should be started at the first alarming symptoms. First of all, you need to contact a dermatologist to get a diagnosis. Before starting therapy, it is necessary to establish the very fact of the presence of mycosis and the type of pathogenic microorganisms. To do this, the doctor will remove a scraping from the skin or cut a piece of the nail (if the nail is affected). Blood tests are being taken, blood tests for sugar. Mycoses of the skin of the feet must be differentiated from:
- other infectious skin diseases;
- allergic reactions;
- dermatoses caused by diabetes, vascular diseases, stress and nervous diseases.
For the treatment of mycoses on the legs, local remedies (sprays, ointments, creams) are most often used. Only in severe cases can the doctor prescribe antifungal pills. The most commonly used tablets are fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine.
Treatment is based on the use of antifungals. This type of preparation contains substances that kill fungi (fungicide) or stop their reproduction (fungistatic).
Which antifungals are used most often:
- clotrimazole,
- ketoconazole,
- terbinafine,
- nystatin,
- miconazole,
- econazole,
- fluconazole.
Local preparations with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic properties are also used. Antibacterial agents are prescribed if suppuration occurs, that is, a bacterial one joins the fungal infection. Anti-inflammatory medications work well with unpleasant symptoms like itching and burning. However, they do not affect the very cause of the disease - pathogenic microorganisms. Keratolytic agents include zinc, sulfuric, and sulfur-salicylic ointments. They accelerate the regeneration of skin tissues by accelerating the exfoliation of dead epidermis.
For the treatment of mycoses of the feet, baths with antiseptic agents are also used: solutions of potassium permanganate, iodine, salt, sodium bicarbonate, boric acid. It is better to do the baths before going to bed for 20 minutes. To prevent infection with spores, healthy skin areas should be treated with chlorhexidine, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate. For the treatment of onychomycosis, varnishes with antifungal substances are used: loceryl, exoderil, batrofen. These varnishes must be applied to the nail plate.
Ointments and creams should be applied to previously washed and cleansed skin as often as specified in the product instructions. The area of application of the ointment should be slightly larger than the area of the visible injury. To apply varnish to the nail plate, the nail must be steamed, the uneven edges must be sanded with a file, and the nail surface must be degreased with an alcohol-containing solution.
In folk medicine, decoctions of medicinal plants are used to eliminate mycosis on the legs: chamomile, calendula, sage, St. John's wort, mint, vinegar solution, onion and lemon juice.
What to do if the fungus on the finger does not disappear?
Treating mycosis is a long and difficult process. Fungal microorganisms are very stubborn and it is impossible to get rid of them in a couple of days. Sometimes many months of careful therapy are necessary. In this case, therapy should not be interrupted for a single day. Treatment for onychomycosis cannot be completed until a new healthy nail plate has grown.
It is also important to consider other factors associated with the development of the disease. Failure to comply with skin hygiene and optimal foot temperature conditions can nullify all therapeutic efforts. This means that it is necessary to regularly wash the surface of the skin of the feet, to avoid overheating or hypothermia. It is also important to avoid mechanical damage to the skin, excessive stress on the feet, cuts and injuries. Being overweight puts more pressure on your feet, so if you are overweight, you may want to consider losing weight.
If the patient constantly wears shoes infected with the fungus, then no powerful drugs will help, because new ones will immediately replace dead microorganisms. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of all the factors that contribute to re-infection. You cannot walk in someone else's shoes, socks. Socks should be washed thoroughly and changed regularly. The inner surface of the shoe must be thoroughly sprayed with antifungal agents.
With persistent mycosis, you need to analyze the general state of health. Perhaps this will help to identify the causes of impaired immunity and blood circulation in the legs. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to undergo a full examination and exclude problems with the heart, blood, blood vessels, and organs of the endocrine system.
Finally, it is possible that the microorganisms have simply developed resistance to the antifungal agent used. Then it will be necessary to change the medicine. Systemic antifungal pills may be needed. The dosage of the drugs must be selected by a specialist dermatologist.