Treatment of athlete's foot: advice from the best dermatologists. Athlete's foot Athlete's palms treatment

Athlete's foot is one of the most common manifestations of mycoses in the human body. This is facilitated not only by our vulnerability to fungal skin diseases, but also by the social aspects of this disease. Mycosis of the feet (syn. Athlete's foot, external mycosis, less commonly called epidermophyton) is a relatively harmless disease that often does not have serious consequences, but due to its prevalence and the psychological factor in the form of a skin defect, it is one of the most problematic diseases in modern medicine .

Let's take a look What is athlete's foot? This disease is a form of fungal disease, or rather external (epidermal) candidiasis. Caused by the fungus Trichophyton interdigitalis, a representative of the opportunistic flora for humans.

In addition to this pathogen, epidermal candidiasis can be caused by fungi of the following types:

• Candida;
• Pennicillins;
• Aspargyl.

This happens only in cases of severe suppression of the immune system (with severe chronic diseases, pathology of the immune system, taking immunosuppressants).

Athlete's foot is a very common disease. The fact is that most often it is carried by carriers, that is, people who do not have any symptoms of the disease.

Since fungal diseases
very contagious, they are quickly transmitted from person to person through household factors:

• public showers;
• baths;
• working locker rooms;
• dormitories, boarding schools, barracks.

The vast majority of fungi, including the causative agent of athlete's foot, are opportunistic microorganisms, that is, under normal conditions they are not capable of causing disease in humans. In order for these microorganisms, which are harmless to us, to become pathogenic, certain conditions must be met, and factors of resistance of the body and the external environment play a large role in the development of fungal disease:

• state of the immune system (AIDS, diabetes mellitus, aplastic anemia);
• flat feet;
• working conditions – constant loads on the lower limbs, irrational work/rest ratio. Work at high temperatures (mechanical engineering, metal smelting);
• uncomfortable shoes or constant use of rubber, airtight shoes (soldiers);
• diaper rash of the feet;
• close contact with carriers of fungal diseases.

Despite the predominant lesion of the feet, Trichophyton interdigitalis can also cause a disease such as athlete's foot or located on the nail fold, causing athlete's foot.

Athlete's foot is dangerous not only for its unpleasant cosmetic appearance, but also for the possibility of loss of the nail plate in the absence of timely treatment. The fact is that with epidermophytosis of the nails, the growth plate of the nail phalanx can be affected, which will lead to the impossibility of creating a fresh nail during the inflammation.

Not all fungi are equally dangerous

The clinical picture of athlete's foot and nails is well known to everyone, and even people without medical education often independently make a similar diagnosis and begin to treat themselves.

1. Most often, external mycosis of the feet manifests itself in a scaly (squamous) form:

• typical localization is the plantar surface of the foot and their arches, in places of closest contact with the shoe;
• small solitary foci of flaky redness of the skin, in rare cases they merge and become extensive;
• most often localized on one limb, or in the area of ​​several adjacent nail phalanges.

This clinical form causes severe itching, which only intensifies when scratched. It is by this mechanism that the fungus spreads along the foot, or spreads to the upper extremities, causing mycosis such as athlete's foot.

2. The interdigital, or interdigital form, is a little less common, but can lead to complications.

• localized in the interdigital folds of the skin;
• predominantly takes the form of cracks and erosions of varying sizes and depths;
• It is these skin defects that weaken its main function - protective, and create favorable conditions for pathogenic bacteria to penetrate through the defects. This can lead to the development of erysipelas, streptoderma, and even phlegmon of the foot or hand;
• has a clearly defined seasonality with exacerbations in summer and winter, and relative remission in spring and autumn.

This form often develops epidermophytosis of the nails, which affects not only the nail, but also the bone ridge.

3. Papular-erosive form:

• The most severe and dangerous form. It is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection and has a strong tendency to generalize (spread). It occurs only in people with a profound immunodeficiency state, when the body is not able to adequately respond and localize inflammation;
• Group blisters appear, filled with purulent or serous content. They progress over 5-7 days, after which they rupture under the influence of internal pressure. Purulent exudate with a large number of fungi flows from the ruptures. After this, the site of the papule turns into an ulcer, which gradually grows, merging with neighboring defects. Such ulcers can persist for 2-3 weeks, after which they thicken and gradually heal. At the same time, papules appear again in other parts of the feet, and the process repeats.

Examination and diagnosis

Athlete's feet and hands are easily diagnosed, and the process of making a diagnosis does not cause any difficulties.

1. Most often, the diagnosis is made based on examination of foci of inflammation. They have a characteristic appearance and localization depending on the clinical form.
2. In doubtful cases, a dermatologist performs an alkaline test with KOH followed by microscopy of the material. To do this, a smear is taken at the border of inflamed and normal skin, or vesicular exudate is used in the papular-erosive form. If the patient has athlete's foot, it is better to take part of the nail as material.

Mycosis in epidermophytosis has characteristic double-stranded mycelial threads and spores that are easily visualized under a microscope. In this case, part of the material is sent for bacteriological research (fungal colonies are grown) to confirm the diagnosis.

How to quickly get rid of fungus

Due to its high prevalence, folk remedies are often used to treat athlete's foot. But still, science has proven that these methods do not have such a positive effect as classical medicine, so it is better to start with it. Regardless of whether this treatment is for athlete's foot or nails, the treatment tactics will be as follows:

1. First of all, you need to get rid of the factors that lead to the development of mycosis - carefully monitor diabetes mellitus, change jobs, wear more comfortable shoes, and refrain from using public showers and swimming pools.
2. Correct the immune system by increasing the amount of rest, taking a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals.
3. Drug therapy: local antifungal drugs are most often used - Clotrimazole, Lamisil, Triderm, Griseofulvin, Sertoconazole, Natamycin, Naftivin hydrochloride. All these drugs are most often produced in the form of ointments or sprays for external use. In more severe cases (recurrent papular-erosive form), ointments can be combined with tableted antimycotic drugs.
4. Physiotherapeutic methods - magnetic therapy, UHF therapy, mud baths, barotherapy.

Athlete's foot is easy to treat; to obtain a positive effect, the optimal course of treatment is 6-8 weeks. Athlete's nails require a course of treatment of 3-6 weeks. Medications should be used according to the prescription; an overdose of the drug can only worsen the situation.

Conclusion

The future of medicine lies in prevention. That is why, even in people who have never suffered from fungal skin diseases, it is better to exclude all factors for the development of mycosis, thereby preventing the disease at the root. But the circumstances do not always depend on the person, and in the event of athlete’s foot, do not forget that self-medication can be dangerous for your health, therefore, even in the mildest cases of fungal disease, it is better to consult a specialist.

Symptoms

The main element is a bubble embedded in the thickness of the stratum corneum, similar to boiled sago. On the soles with their thick stratum corneum it does not protrude or barely protrudes above the general level of the skin; on the toes and hands the bubbles are hemispherical in shape and clearly protrude above the general surface of the skin.

Athlete's foot on the palms and soles is caused by various types of epidermophyton (about 20 varieties have been described). Mostly they are affected by the Kaufmann-Wolf fungus, a species of epidermophyton gypseum. Epidermophytons affect smooth skin and nails, but are not yet found on hairy skin.

Scales are taken for microscopic examination. If there are bubbles, it is better to take their tire, even if the bubbles dry out. In this material, mycelium of varying thickness and length is found, both branching and dichotomously dividing, and chains of quadrangular and rounded spores.

When suffering from epidermophytosis, allergic manifestations in the skin - epidermophytide - may occur.

The clinical phenomena of athlete's foot and palms are varied, sometimes one form of the disease is combined with another. The most common clinical forms of athlete's foot and palms:

epidermophytosis dyshidroticus;

epidermophytosis squamous-hyperkeratotic;

epidermophytosis intertriginosa;

epidermophytosis erased;

epidermophytosis of nails.

The contents of the vesicle are serous-transparent, cloudy, and often serous-purulent. Bubbles appear in groups, often merge and form multi-chambered bubbles of more or less significant size - up to a pea, cherry and larger. The partitions in them are quite clearly visible. Blisters relatively rarely open spontaneously; usually their contents dry out, the stratum corneum that makes up their cover cracks and falls off. A pink-red spot is detected, surrounded by a collar of exfoliated stratum corneum. New elements appear in the circle of the initial efflorescences, which in turn undergo the same metamorphosis and also tend to merge with each other and with the initial focus. Such efflorescences often have a polycyclic edge of progressive growth and a healing center, with the peripheral corolla consisting of exfoliated epidermis, often with several vesicles or pustules, and the central part, devoid of the superficial stratum corneum, appears smooth, pink-red, sometimes peels off, and appears on it often new bubbles. The number of rash elements, the number of rash foci, and the prevalence of damage in individual cases are not the same.

Favorite localization of the sole, especially their inner arch. The lesion subsequently takes the form of an arc encircling the heel parallel to the edge of the foot. Often the process from the sole spreads to the skin of the fingers and produces an intertriginoid form of epidermophytosis on their contacting surfaces. On the hands, the rash in some cases has a similar appearance, and here the same lesions develop as on the soles, limited by polycyclic contours. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the elements of the rash are located without any order, mainly on the lateral surfaces of the fingers, partly on the extensor sides of the middle and terminal phalanges, on the palms, and occasionally spread to the adjacent parts of the forearms. It should be noted that on the hands, epidermophytia dysidrosiformis often occurs without acute inflammatory phenomena, without redness, swelling, and much less frequently than on the soles; pustules develop here.

The course of mycotic dysidrosis is very diverse. It can develop acutely, quickly covering large areas of the skin: for example, the skin of the hands may be completely strewn with small, closely grouped blisters, or the soles along their entire length just as quickly become covered with blisters and pustules of different sizes, isolated or merging.

The skin, in general, often appears diffusely reddened and swollen. Lymphangitis is sometimes observed. A picture of acute eczema, complicated by myogenic infection, develops. Subjective disorders - burning, itching, severe pain - can reach extreme strength. Patients become completely incapacitated and are forced to remain in bed when their feet are affected, making walking impossible.

More often, milder or definitely chronic mycotic dysidrosis occurs in the form of isolated, little prone to pustulization of nests of vesicles, gradually drying into thick, tightly seated, yellowish horny crusts, reminiscent of calluses. Such cases end in rough lamellar peeling or develop into the next variant of palmar-plantar epidermophytosis - squamous-hyperkeratotic. The reason for the unequal course of dysidrosis, in addition to the individual characteristics of the organism, lies either in the addition of a secondary myogenic infection, or, as Kaufmann-Wolf believes, in the unequal pathogenicity of the fungus.

Acutely developing cases of the disease later, under a rational regime, take a chronic course, characteristic of mycotic dyshidrosis: individual nests can exist for a long time, gradually growing due to eruptions of vesicles along the periphery. New lesions appear in separate outbreaks, and relapses are frequent, delaying the overall course of the disease for years. Relapses are followed by remissions of varying durations. As a rule, remissions occur in the cold season, relapses in the summer.

Histopathological picture

The center of gravity of the histopathological changes lies in interepithelial spongiosis, which is preceded by hydropic changes in the spinous cells. Spongiosis leads to the formation of initially vaguely, then sharply demarcated vesicles of various sizes, located mainly under the granular layer. The contents of the vesicles are serous-purulent fluid with fibrin-like clots, granular detritus, more or less leukocytes and degenerated epithelial cells, and here and there small nests of parakeratosis can be found. In the papillae and subpapillary layer there are mild signs of inflammation: the vessels are dilated and surrounded by leukocytes. Fungi are found in fairly large numbers, usually in the middle third of the stratum corneum, occasionally found in the cavities of the vesicles, and have the appearance of horizontal, twisted, sometimes branching chains.

The prognosis is not entirely favorable. This is a persistent dermatosis that requires a lot of attention and patience from both the doctor and the patient.

Diagnosis

The clinical picture of mycotic dyshidrosis, as can be seen from the above, may be identical to the picture of the so-called dyshidrotic eczema. The only true criterion is a positive result of a mycological examination, but it is not always possible to detect fungi by microscopic analysis.

Treatment

For acute inflammatory phenomena - cold lotions of lead water, 2% resorcinol solution, 0.25% lapis solution, etc. As soon as they subside, we proceed to prescribing hot baths from a solution of potassium permanganate (the color of red wine) at a temperature of 40-50°, lasting from a quarter of an hour to half an hour. After the bath, we remove the entire loose stratum corneum with scissors (opening still intact, not deeply seated blisters) and apply salicylic ointment or, if it is poorly tolerated (pain, erythema, swelling), a simple lead plaster. A day or two later, before applying the ointment, lubricate the elements freed from horny masses with iodine tincture (5-10%). We consider it absolutely necessary, after visible recovery, for approximately another month, to daily preventively lubricate with a 2% solution of salicylic acid in 70° alcohol. It is not superfluous to recommend that patients, in order to prevent a new disease (relapse, especially in people prone to hyperidrosis), with the onset of the warm season, wipe their soles and palms, at least every other day, with the same alcohol or an alcohol solution of formaldehyde.

Squamous hyperkeratotic epidermophytosis

Symptoms

The affected areas of the skin are flat plaques, moderately reddened, covered in the center with layered scales of varying thickness, grayish-white in color. Plaques are usually dry, sometimes slightly lichenified. Sometimes, upon careful examination, you can notice single bubbles on them. The size of the elements varies - from a lentil to the size of a large coin; often the efflorescences are serpiginated, and then the process can occupy large areas, entirely the palm or sole. Along with such scaly foci, there are also nests of more or less pronounced hyperkeratosis, sometimes in the form of medium-sized yellowish callus-like thickenings, sometimes in the form of more diffuse calluses. Cracks often form on the surface of such elements. Subjective disorders in most cases are insignificant, boiling down mainly to an unpleasant feeling of dryness, decreased elasticity of the skin, sometimes moderate itching, and if there are cracks, pain may also occur.

Favorite localization is the soles and palms. The course is exclusively chronic. In a significant number of cases, undoubtedly, this variant of epidermophytosis is only the final stage in the development of mycotic dyshidrosis.

Diagnosis

The most difficult thing is to distinguish this form of epidermophytosis from chronic eczema in the form of isolated lichenized and callous lesions. Mycosis is indicated by the serpiginating edge of the lesion with single sago-shaped vesicles and pustules on it or in the immediate vicinity and, of course, a positive test result for fungi; unfortunately, the latter cannot always be detected, especially with palmar epidermophytosis. The presence of typical eczematous changes in other areas of the skin tilts the diagnosis towards eczema; the one-sidedness of the lesion speaks more for its mycotic nature. In psoriasis of the palms and soles, the presence of typical psoriatic plaques on other areas of the skin usually resolves the diagnostic problem. With tubercular syphilide (superficial or horny form), the Wasserman reaction in the vast majority of cases is positive. In some cases, other specific lesions or bones, or typical traces of transferred syphilides (scars, deformations, etc.) occur simultaneously.

The prognosis is similar to that of the previous form.

Treatment

Symptoms

Intertriginoid epidermophytosis usually begins with the appearance of dermatitis in the depths of the fold between the fourth and fifth toes, accompanied by either very strong or barely noticeable itching. The skin of the interdigital fold and lateral surfaces of the fingers appears dark red, devoid of the stratum corneum, sometimes dry, shiny, sometimes moist, eroded. In the depths, whitish fragments of the lagging macerated stratum corneum and sometimes quite deep cracks are visible. The edges of the affected area are usually sharp, arc-shaped or polycyclic, the stratum corneum on them is always undermined, sometimes quite far towards the healthy skin. Often there are small bubbles in the circle.

Dermatitis usually does not spread to the dorsum of the foot. Subsequently, similar changes develop in other interdigital folds, and the flexor surface of the fingers is involved in the process to a greater or lesser extent. The border of the lesion on the sole is usually sharply expressed in the form of a straight line - a strip of exfoliating horn. Intertriginoid epidermophytosis affects the fingers only in exceptional cases.

Diagnosis

Intertriginoid epidermophytosis is extremely similar to banal diaper rash (intertrigo); the presence of bubbles along the periphery and, of course, the detection of fungi during microscopic analysis helps to establish the correct diagnosis. It is also not always easy to distinguish it from intertriginous eczema. Eczema is indicated by the blurred border of the lesion with polymorphic eczematous elements along the periphery, the presence of eczematous plaques in other places of the skin, and the absence of fungi.

Forecast

The disease is persistent and prone to recurrence.

Treatment

Treatment with picric acid gives excellent results: pieces of absorbent cotton wool or gauze strips moistened with a 1-2% aqueous solution of picric acid are placed between the fingers 3 times a day. Consistent treatment with 5% sulfur ointment or formaldehyde solution is recommended for 1-2 weeks to consolidate success.

Erased form of epidermophytosis

This form of the disease, despite mild, almost imperceptible lesions of the feet, undetectable by patients if they have not previously suffered from a more pronounced form of athlete's foot, has practical and social significance. Patients are carriers of the infection; in addition, under favorable conditions, the patient may develop a more acute picture of the disease. Doctors discover the disease either by chance when examining a patient, or the presence of hyperergy during biological tests with trichophytin or epidermophytin forces the doctor to look for epidermophytosis. Fungi are in most cases easily detected.

Symptoms

The clinical phenomena of the erased form of epidermophytosis are unclearly expressed in the interdigital folds and on the soles. In the interdigital folds there is an insignificant, barely noticeable peeling of the epidermis, peeling, sometimes with weak maceration. In some cases, a small crack can be seen deep in the fold. These phenomena are more common in one IV interdigital fold. On the soles without inflammatory phenomena, slight peeling and peeling of the epidermis is observed, with the free edge facing inward, in the form of small rings and half rings.

There are usually no subjective sensations.

Flow

Chronic, torpid. As stated above, under certain favorable conditions, the process may worsen, and eczematization phenomena may develop.

The prognosis is unfavorable in terms of cure. These phenomena do not bother patients; they are not treated. In general, when suffering from various forms of epidermophytosis, when improvement occurs, patients stop treatment until a new outbreak occurs.

Diagnosis

It is established by microscopic and mycological examination.

Treatment

Rubbing with a 2% solution of salicylic acid in 70° alcohol and placing small pieces of gauze soaked in the same alcohol in the interdigital folds. For excessive sweating of the feet, prescribe wiping with 2% formaldehyde alcohol. Ointments: 2-3% resorcinol-salicylic, 10% boron-tar - based on zinc ointment. Pre-wipe with the indicated alcohols with pieces of gauze. The treatment is the same for the soles.

Disinfection of shoes is of great importance to prevent relapses: the shoes are wiped from the inside with a piece of cotton wool soaked in formaldehyde, the cotton wool is left in the shoes overnight, and if conditions permit, for several days, wrapping the shoes well with newspaper or paraffin paper.

Preventive measures for epidermophytosis

Epidermophytons remain viable for a long time in the external environment and can reproduce in a humid environment. This forces us to pay attention to public places that, under certain conditions, can be sources of infection: baths, swimming pools, showers, laundries, gyms, etc. These institutions require strict sanitary supervision. It is necessary to regularly disinfect not only the premises themselves, but all things, objects and various devices in them. It is recommended to disinfect sports shoes after use. It is also necessary to inspect the people serving these institutions and carry out sanitary education work among them.

General remarks

Athlete's foot often affects the nails, most often on the toes. A more clear clinical picture of the disease can be observed on the nail of the first toe. Athlete's foot can develop without simultaneous skin lesions, but the intertriginoid form is most common. Patients rarely notice the nail disease, leading to self-infection, recurrence of skin lesions, and are a source of infection for others. Material for microscopic examination is taken from under the edge of the nail.

Symptoms

The lesion begins from the free edge of the nail, sometimes from the inner edge of the thumbnail. Under the edge of the nail affected by epidermophytosis, an accumulation of yellowish horny masses is found, running in the form of a narrow strip parallel to the edge of the nail. Further, under the unchanged horny plate of the nail towards its root, a narrow yellowish-lemon strip is revealed. The nail at the site of accumulation of horny masses does not fit tightly to the nail bed. If you cut out a piece of the nail with a scalpel above the yellow-lemon strip closer to its top, then a microscopic examination will easily reveal a conglomerate of fungus in it. When the process has been going on for many years, the nail begins to change, but the crumbling mass does not lose its yellowish color. On other nails, the clinical picture of the disease is similar, but not so pronounced. The nail fold remains unchanged. Athlete's foot causes almost no subjective distress.

Diagnosis

The clinical picture of nail lesions with epidermophytosis described above is so typical that differential diagnosis with other onychomycosis is not difficult. In doubtful cases, the issue can be resolved culturally.

The course of the disease is long, requiring long-term treatment.

Treatment

Treatment methods are the same as for trichophytosis and nail scab.

Athlete's nails are a lesion. It appears as yellow spots or stripes that develop into a diffuse yellowness of the entire nail plate. It becomes thicker, deformed and becomes very brittle.

Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus called Trichophyton mentagropytes. It can also cause foot lesions or athlete's foot.

Nails become infected through shower mats, shoes, socks or public places with high humidity, such as swimming pools, saunas or gyms.

Factors contributing to the development of fungus include high humidity and high temperature, metabolic disorders in humans, decreased immunity, and increased sweating.

This disease is more often diagnosed in adults; children under 15 years of age suffer from it very rarely. Men suffer from this lesion much more often than women. There is also a relationship with the place of residence - city residents get it more often than residents of villages. Workers in certain areas are at risk: athletes and swimmers, workers in factories, mines, etc. People who work in saunas, steam baths, and swimming pools also often suffer.

You can also catch the fungus on the beach through rugs, decking, and in other hot places where people walk barefoot.

A feature of this pathology is the intactness of the fingernails.

It is chronic and can last ten or more years. Periods of exacerbation occur in the hot summer.

This disease can have four different forms, which can appear separately or in combination with each other:

• superficial;
• proximal subungual;
• distal superficial;

Symptoms and manifestations

The first symptoms appear at the free end of the nail. Yellow stripes and spots begin to form there. They grow over time and gradually take over most of the plate.

In the hypertrophic version, the nail becomes thicker, curved and breaks easily. In this case, the plate becomes duller and begins to crumble heavily. The free edge looks like it has been bitten, and a large amount of horny tissue accumulates under it.

Sometimes the nail plate may become thinner and gradually peel off.

Most often, this disease affects the big toe and little toe. This is explained by the fact that on these fingers the plates are exposed to the greatest impact.

In most patients, athlete's foot nails are combined with the same lesion of the feet. In this case, the skin becomes red and swollen, covered with peeling or blistering rash.

Diagnostics

If a person notices that the nails have begun to turn yellow or deformation occurs, they should consult a dermatologist, a long-time doctor or a mycologist.

The disease is easily diagnosed due to the presence of obvious signs:

• characteristic changes in nails;
• localization;
• absence of manifestations on the fingernails.

To confirm the fungal nature of the disease, a scraping is examined under a microscope. A scraping is taken from the affected nail. With this disease, branching threads of mycelium will be visible in the scales, which can break up into spores of various shapes.

Athlete's foot is a lesion of the upper layers of the skin and nail plates by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes, but often the symptoms of the disease are caused by completely different pathologies.

To a greater extent, the disease affects the adult population of the planet, and it manifests itself less often in rural residents than in city dwellers.

Factors

Athlete's foot and hand are easily transferred from one person to another. The disease spreads in public places such as saunas, swimming pools, baths and gyms.

The main methods of transmission are:

• contact of bare feet with an infected surface;
• close contact with affected areas;
• trying on and wearing someone else's shoes, socks, stockings;
• sanitary and hygiene supplies - soap, clippers, wire cutters, washcloths, sponges, towels.

A specific fungus is not always the main pathogen. The lower extremities are affected by chronic arterial disease, venous insufficiency, and deep vascular thrombosis.

And also for disorders of glucose absorption, multiple damage to peripheral nerves, disruption of the autonomic nervous system and weak immunity. Important reasons for the manifestation of the disease are: increased sweating of the feet, narrow feet, the presence of flat feet, alkaline reaction of sweat.

Types and signs

To find out what kind of disease this is, it is worth taking a closer look at its types and identifying the symptoms inherent in epidermophytosis.

Dermatologists identify four main forms that affect the feet:

• Intertriginous - This type affects the spaces of the little, ring and middle fingers, as well as their folds. Swelling, erosion, cracks, and weeping wounds form. A strong burning sensation and peeling of white crusts of the skin were noticed.
• Squamous - considered a dangerous form of mycosis. As shown in the photo above, it is characterized by the formation of flatness on the arches of the feet and lateral surfaces. Papules have clear outlines and sometimes resemble plaques typical of psoriasis. Often, lesions appear in areas. This type is characterized by intermittent itching.
• - Forms on the soles, arches of the feet, fingers and their folds. They appear on the epidermis, subsequently merging and acquiring a multi-chamber structure. The affected areas are itchy and painful. After opening, the skin turns red-pink.
• Athlete's foot is a type of complication that develops as a result of the first three forms. , exfoliate, thicken, . Often, complete or partial rejection of the nails occurs. The thumbs and little fingers are mostly affected.

A separate type is erased epidermophytosis. This is a mild form of the disease that manifests itself in the initial stages. Minor peeling of the skin and rare cracks between the fingers are observed.

Athlete's foot develops in children for the same reasons as in adults. It is mainly active in spring and summer, and may be quiet in winter.

Diagnosis of pathology

The procedure is performed by a dermatologist or mycologist. To find out what type of pathogen, particles are scraped off from the diseased nail and skin. Next, the selected material is soaked in alkali and examined under a microscope.

If fungal threads are found in it, a positive diagnosis is made. The result will not be correct if the peelings were taken from a wet area.

Therapy

After making a diagnosis, the question is: “how to treat epidermophytosis so that it goes away in a short time and there is no relapse?” becomes relevant. Doctors claim that “the pathology does not require hospitalization; therapy is carried out at home.”

1. In the squamous form, scales and hardened layers are first removed from the affected areas to free the skin from dead tissue. For this, a special consistency is prepared, which includes: salicylic and lactic acid, as well as white petroleum jelly. The resulting ointment is applied to areas of inflammation, covered with a compress and kept for 48 hours. Then the exfoliated epidermis is removed. The next stage consists of local use of antimycotic creams, ointments and sprays, including: Ketoconazole, Naftifine, Terbinafine. It is recommended to use the drugs until the signs of the disease disappear.
2. The first step in the treatment of dyshidrotic and intertriginous legs is the removal of inflammatory processes, swelling and elimination of weeping. First, bubbles, if they have formed, are pierced with a sterile needle. Afterwards, lotions containing solutions of resorcinol, chlorhexidine, ethacridine lactate are applied to the affected areas of the epidermis 2 times a day. If the inflammation is pronounced, it is recommended to additionally use a hormonal ointment, for example, Hydrocortisone, for a short period of time. The next step will be the local use of antifungal agents, the most common of which are: Exoderil, Ketoconazole, Befonazole.
3. For erased it is enough to use antimycotic drugs until complete recovery.
4. For athlete's foot, antifungal agents are used externally and internally, as this is a more severe degree of the disease. Among them: “Irunin”, “Orungal”, “Fluconazole”, “Terbinox”. The duration of treatment depends on the location of the affected areas. If fingernails are affected, the course of therapy will be six to twelve weeks. And if you are on your feet, taking medications will last for six months. Before starting treatment, it is recommended to remove diseased nails or at least file off the damaged layer daily and treat it with iodine, salicylic acid, and antifungal varnishes.

Home Remedies

In addition to medications, you can add treatment with folk remedies. Compresses and baths made from a decoction of celandine flowers, chamomile, St. John's wort, and eucalyptus leaves have a soothing and antifungal effect.

Disinfect the affected areas with apple cider vinegar or calendula tincture. It will be effective to lubricate with sea buckthorn or tea tree oil, which eliminate inflammation and are antiseptic.

Precautionary measures

Foot fungus - athlete's foot. One contact with the affected area is sufficient for infection. But is it that easy to get rid of? How to do this with traditional recipes and medicines?

It's very easy to get foot fungus

Causes of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is caused by the fungus trichophyton (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, in ICD-10 code B35.3 Mycosis of the feet). For some time, the pathogen was called Epidermophyton Kaufmann-Wolf, which gave rise to the disease epidermophytia.

It is transmitted through household contact and is more often infected in public hygiene establishments and places where it is customary to walk barefoot:

• showers;
• swimming pools;
• saunas and baths;
• sports and dance halls.

The fungal spores are tenacious. It is enough for the patient to walk barefoot on the floor to fill every trace with mycotic cells. A person whose feet touch this place risks not only getting athlete's foot, but also spreading the infection further.

Transfer methods:

• household (through contact of bare feet with an infected surface indoors);
• through common shoes, socks, stockings;
• hygiene items (washcloths, scissors, towels, soap);
• close contact with sore feet or nails.

You can become infected with a fungus through contact with an infected surface.

Penetrating the epithelium is difficult for trichophytons. Special conditions are important when the skin of the legs is pliable or already injured.

The ideal situation for the transmission of fungus is steamy, sweaty, hot feet. The patient sweats in excess at such moments. The probability of infection in a healthy person approaches 100% when the pores of the skin are open - the fungus easily penetrates the epithelial layer.

The protective resources of the skin lose ground when the foot is in uncomfortable conditions or weakened by disease.

Prerequisites for infection:

• wearing tight, uncomfortable, low-quality shoes;
• synthetic hosiery;
• frequent foot injuries (a scratch, scratching, chafing or blister is enough);
• specific working conditions (high temperatures, closed shoes, profuse sweat);
• chronic diseases.

High risks for those who have been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, vegetative-vascular dysfunction, varicose veins, thrombosis and other circulatory disorders. Diabetes mellitus, problems with the nervous system, vitamin deficiency, and decreased immunity are no less damaging to the body’s defenses.

Trichophyton is also the causative agent of inguinal athlete's foot in men and women. This increases the risk of unwittingly increasing the area of ​​infection.

Forms of the disease and their symptoms

Athlete's foot is divided into clinical forms of the disease, characterizing the location and features of manifestation:

• squamous form;
• intertriginous;
• dyshidrotic;
• epidermophytosis of nails.

Squamous form

The most dangerous form of fungus, as the symptoms are unobtrusive and do not cause concern. Peeling of the feet, redness at the arch, rare mild itching. Doctors note that over the years, patients tend to coexist with this form, to be a carrier of mycosis due to their own inattention to health. Dyshidrotic and squamous epidermophytosis tend to flow in both forms alternately.

The squamous form is the most dangerous type of fungus

Intertriginous form

Develops against the background of untreated penetrating epidermophytosis. Itching and peeling spreads to the interdigital area and the bends of the toes. The little and ring fingers are especially affected. Weeping wounds, erosions and cracks form. Characteristic is the detachment of whitish crusts of the epidermis.

The exacerbation occurs in the summer; in winter the disease is inactive.

The intertriginous form of the fungus affects the interdigital area of ​​the feet

The skin becomes loose, cracked and weak against infections. Characteristic of a neglected form. For example, streptococcus in combination with epidermophytosis is dangerous for erysipelas of the lower leg or thrombophlebitis.

Dyshidrotic form

Clusters of small bubbles form on the sole of the foot. Over time, they merge into a single area. The foot becomes painful. Removing the top layer means opening ulcers and erosions. The vesicular layer rises to the sides of the foot. When the skin has healed and the blistering has gone away, the squamous form is considered to have returned.

It worsens in spring and summer. Accompanied by elevated body temperature and malaise, allergy-type rashes are possible. The acute form lasts 1-2 months, but timely therapy at such stages is more effective than ever.

The dyshidrotic form of the fungus is characterized by the appearance of small blisters on the skin

Secondary infection is also dangerous. The liquid in the blisters becomes cloudy, whitish in color - this is suppuration. This is how lymphadenitis and lymphangitis develop.

Erased form

Apart from a modest area of ​​peeling on the feet and rare cracks between the toes, there are no symptoms. These signs also rarely indicate the presence of disease. Patients argue that this is irritation or vitamin deficiency.

The erased form occurs in the initial stages of the disease and flows into another.

When the form of foot fungus is erased, peeling and cracks form between the toes.

It affects the nail plate only. The big toes and little fingers have an advantage. The nail becomes yellow, visible stripes, separations and thickenings are visible. The plate crumbles, breaks or separates from the finger on its own, as in the photo.

Athlete's nails most often affect the little fingers and big toes

Hands are out of danger. This is not a reason to use one manicure set for legs and arms. Keep separate tools for sick and healthy nails. After treatment, get rid of the infected.

Diagnosis of athlete's foot

The combination of symptoms and laboratory tissue examination (under a microscope) provide information about the future diagnosis. For analysis, take the exfoliated layer of the epidermis and soak it in alkali. Under the influence of the reagent, you can see the threads of the mushroom.

To study the stage of the fungus, a piece of infected skin is examined under a microscope.

Foot treatment

Antimycotic therapy and folk remedies can destroy epidermophytosis. Complex cases with concomitant diseases and secondary infections will not respond to self-medication. The patient will only worsen the course of the disease.

The drugs are indicated for informational purposes.

Medicines

Treatment takes place in 2 stages:

1. Removal of the stratum corneum, puncture of blisters.
2. Relieves inflammation, heals wounds, destroys fungus.

The improvement of nails begins with the complete removal of the infected plate. Therapy takes a total of about 2 months.

In standard cases, athlete's foot is treated with external antifungal drugs in the form of a gel, ointment, solution or cream:

• Itraconazole;
• Fukortsin;
• Clotrimazole;
• Castellani paint;
• Boron-zinc-naphthalan ointment;
• Lamisil;
• Tinactil;
• Arievich ointment.

Terbinafine is a good remedy for foot fungus

The latter is designed to remove the dry layer of skin. It is applied immediately after a softening soda foot bath. Generously lubricate the sore spots, wrap them in cellophane or parchment, and put on socks. Removed in a day. Usually the layer of skin comes off easily with a little help from your fingers. If this does not work, then the compress is extended for another day. The softening effect is due to the presence of lactic and salicylic acid. The lion's share of fungal spores is removed from the old layer of affected skin.

Complicated forms of secondary infection, damage to large areas of the skin (for example, the groin area and legs), as a consequence of the disease, are treated in a hospital.

Inside they prescribe:

• antihistamines - Diphenhydramine, Tavegil, Suprastin;
• antibiotics – Erythromecin, Cephalosporin;
• multivitamins - according to individual prescription;
• calcium chloride intravenously.

Tavegil is used to treat complex forms of fungus

Treatment with folk remedies

Homemade recipes are sometimes as effective as medical remedies. Some ingredients are purchased at the pharmacy.

Lactic salicylic collodion

Milk-salicylic collodion is prepared at home. Take 10 g of lactic and salicylic acid and 80 g of collodion. Mix thoroughly and store in the refrigerator. In the morning and before going to bed, lubricate your feet. The best effect is achieved with the simultaneous use of 5% salicylic ointment. Course – 7-10 days.

Lactic acid has a detrimental effect on fungus

Dry celandine herb (3 tablespoons) is steamed with half a liter of boiling water and boiled for several minutes. Leave for an hour, then apply a compress overnight. Course – 10 days.

In addition, you can lubricate the wounds with pure juice of the plant for speedy healing.

Celandine is an old remedy for treating fungus.

Herbal decoction for baths

Basil and larch (100 g each) are mixed into one collection. For half a liter of boiling water take 3 tbsp. l. and boil for a couple of minutes. Soak your feet in the broth for 12 days.

Basil has antifungal properties

Foot care or prevention of athlete's foot

Hygiene and quality care save feet from mycoses.

What you need to remember to protect your foot health:

• daily washing of feet with soap;
• personal hygiene items;
• disposable slippers or rubber flip-flops when visiting public bathing establishments;
• change socks several times a day;
• wear spacious, comfortable and high-quality shoes;
• dry your feet after swimming;
• Use antifungal talc for excessive sweating of the feet.

It is possible to recover from athlete's foot. Difficulty in preventing relapses and infection of other areas of the body, as well as family members. For the impact of treatment, use folk and traditional methods of treatment in consultation with your doctor.