One of the most unpleasant skin diseases is mycosis. Depending on the degree of damage, two disease categories are distinguished: dermatomycosis and onychomycosis. In the first case, the skin was affected, and in the second, the nails. To successfully get rid of harmful microorganisms, you need to know what foot fungus looks like and how to fight it.
Main types
Experts in the field of dermatology identify several types of fungus on the feet, which differ from each other in the nature of the impact and the causative agent. As for the pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of fungal diseases, they can be:
- moldy;
- yeast;
- dermatophytes.
Exposure to these parasites leads to the development of a dangerous condition called rubromycosis, which affects the skin of the feet. In addition, the disease may vary in clinical manifestations and may be membrane-like, moccasin-like, or vesicular.
The development of the fungus causes excessive saturation of blood vessels, dryness and peeling of the skin. In addition, the process itself is slow and without significant symptoms. The first sensations of itching or burning are felt only after a severe foot injury. Soon the process of nail deformation begins, resulting in blisters, scabs, plaques and pustules.
If the necessary measures are not taken, the extent of the damage will be colossal, and the process of walking will be accompanied by pain. Knowing what foot fungus looks like and how it manifests itself, the patient can seek help from a specialist in time and avoid dangerous consequences.
When it comes to therapeutic treatment, it is important to know the types of diseases. The way to approach the problem is determined only after a comprehensive examination under a microscope and the compilation of a clinical picture. Various exfoliating products are used to clean the skin from rashes. These include ointments and creams that contain salicylic acid. Complex treatment also includes antifungal drugs.
If the degree of damage is too severe, highly effective dressings and emollients are used. Success in the fight against the disease depends on the responsibility of the patient and his willingness to start treatment on time.
Methods of infection
There are many reasons and factors that determine nail damage from fungal diseases. In most cases, this happens directly - when the nail plates come into contact with the ground or vegetation, sick people or animals. As for the indirect paths, they look like this:
- If a person uses objects and personal belongings of a fungus carrier.
- If a person comes into contact with things intended for pet care.
There are also many predetermining factors that increase the risk of developing mycosis. This includes age-related characteristics, because young children are much more likely to suffer from this disease due to excessively thin skin and the lack of necessary protective functions in the body. 
In addition, a fungal infection attacks a patient with a compromised immune status. If the immune system is weakened, it cannot fight against such manifestations, which leads to destructive processes.
Other factors include:
- Insufficient functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems. Because of this, the protective mechanisms are weakened.
- The development of chronic infectious diseases that negatively affect the immune system, increasing the likelihood of the development of fungi.
- Excessive sweating of the feet. This discomfort is a congenital pathology or the result of wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Changes in the composition of sweat. This process creates a breeding ground for fungal microorganisms, which leads to their activation.
Symptoms of rubrophytosis
A parasite called Tr. Mentagrophytesvar is the main cause of the dangerous fungal disease rubrophytosis. Due to its small size, it instantly settles in the stratum corneum or granular layers of the skin, causing the development of allergies and other unpleasant processes. In most cases, the vital activity of the parasite is accompanied by the following reactions:
- Flatulence with a thick crust.
- Appearance of pustules and swelling.
- Severe skin corrosion.
- The appearance of scales and crusts on the skin, causing pain.
- Processes of yellowing and deformation of nail plates.
In addition, severe itching and the development of pain when walking cannot be ruled out. During the clinical examination, the specialist draws a general picture and describes the symptoms while examining the scraper.
If the disease progresses rapidly and worsens, the patient can be prescribed 0. 25% silver nitrate, 1% resorcinol and 10% calcium. Antihistamines are used to combat allergic manifestations. In severe cases, very effective anti-fungal drugs suppress the symptoms of rubrophytosis.
Candidiasis of the feet
Candidiasis of the feet is rare. The causative agent of the disease are dangerous fungi from the genus Candida, which exist peacefully in any organism, but are conditionally dangerous and do not pose a great threat. But if the number of microorganisms starts to increase, it leads to discomfort and serious health consequences. Additional factors contribute to this, including the deterioration of the immune system, frequent hypothermia, stressful situations and an unhealthy lifestyle. As for external factors, they are:
- Prolonged exposure to water causes massive separation of skin layers from each other.
- Accidents at home or at work.
- Using shoes of the wrong size or material.
Manifestations of onychomycosis
When you are trying to figure out what toe fungus looks like, you need to learn about another dangerous type of pathology - onychomycosis. Its development is followed by a fungal nail infection after water procedures in ordinary pools, showers and saunas. In terms of prevalence, the disease is not inferior to mycosis, because the scales with dangerous parasites are quickly separated from the nail plates, and then they are found on fabric surfaces, benches or carpets. If there is high humidity in the environment, the parasite not only finds itself in comfortable conditions, but also begins to work on the reproduction of the colony.
In the early stages, the pathogen affects the skin of the feet, causing an itchy sensation. As a result, the patient wants to scratch the foot, but this only makes the problem worse. Soon, the skin becomes covered with small cracks and scratches, and pathogens begin to settle under the nail and multiply actively.
The probability of encountering pathology increases manifold with nail injuries, unbalanced blood circulation and the presence of complex diseases, including diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases.
Depending on the form and degree of damage, nail fungus is divided into three groups:
- Normotrophic. As it develops, the nail color becomes yellowish-brown. The thickness and shape of the nail remain the same.
- Hypertrophic. This causes a final discoloration, loss of shine and deformation of the nail shape. This type of onychomycosis causes pain and does not allow the patient to move freely. The problem can be aggravated by wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Onycholithic. The pathology leads to a change in the color of the nails, which is why they become brown. In addition, the panels lose their usual strength and begin to delaminate. Deformed layers appear on the exposed areas of the nails.
Effective treatment
For the treatment of the disease, the use of local antifungal drugs is practically useless, which is explained by the deep penetration of microorganisms under the nails. Before you start fighting the pathology, it is necessary to localize the fungus. To do this, experts prescribe keratolytic drugs or patches to the patient. Sometimes the problem is solved mechanically, by cutting off the deformed and dead parts of the nail plate with a file or special pliers. When performing this procedure, you must ensure that the instrument is clean.
The most effective way to fight nail fungus is the combined use of plasters and mechanical nail cleaning. As a keratolytic agent, you can use a set consisting of a plaster, a nail file and a special ointment. At the end of the nail removal procedure, it is necessary to use systemic antifungal drugs.
Folk remedies
It is quite possible to get rid of fungal foot infections without the help of a professional. However, self-medication must be treated with special responsibility, realizing that such a process can take a lot of time and effort. It is also necessary to take into account that different mushrooms react in their own way to the action of any drugs or folk remedies. Home remedies, if used incorrectly, can only make the problem worse by helping to detect parasites.
In order to avoid this development of events and to successfully destroy the fungal colony, it is necessary to combine proper cleaning of the skin with cleansing the body of pathogenic microorganisms and comprehensive restoration of the epidermal layer. For these purposes, it is recommended to use baths daily and to wipe the feet and palms with antiseptics. The most effective folk remedies for baths are:
- boric acid;
- Apple vinegar;
- hydrogen peroxide.
To prepare the bath, it is necessary to take 20 grams of one of the above-mentioned compounds and dilute it in a liter of boiled water. After that, the feet are placed in the solution for 20-40 minutes. In order to notice a significant improvement in the condition of the nails, it is enough to carry out such procedures regularly for several weeks.
To clean the skin from redness, itching and burning, it is recommended to wipe the feet daily with a mixture of soda with added salt. A good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory scrub can be a mixture of equal amounts of minerals and essential oils. The selected components are mixed and the affected areas are covered with the finished mixture.
Tar soap is a serious enemy of fungi. It contains birch tar, which has long been considered one of the most powerful antibacterial substances. It should be applied to the affected areas and washed off after 5 minutes. The course of treatment with this soap lasts two weeks. At the end of the procedure, the skin is treated with zinc cream or ointment.
Hardware solutions
If the problem of nail fungus has worsened significantly, and any folk or official remedies practically do not give results, you can use an innovative solution - hardware treatment. This method is very effective and can be the only salvation in cases where other drugs are powerless.
Among the available techniques, the most common is laser treatment with erbium lasers. It cauterizes the mycelium and allows you to get rid of the visible symptoms of nail fungus. In addition, the technology allows you to clean the skin around the nails, between the toes and on the feet, restoring its former elasticity and attractiveness.
If you follow the basic rules of skin care for fungal diseases of the feet, it is quite possible to destroy this dangerous pathology. It is important not to delay treatment for the future and take appropriate measures immediately if suspicious symptoms appear.