Throughout our lives, we often encounter various diseases.Some of them are dangerous and require immediate treatment.And there are those that do not seem to cause much harm to health, and we sometimes live with them for years without taking any measures to get rid of the disease.These diseases include foot skin fungus and toenail fungus.
Indeed, they cannot be called deadly.However, it is necessary to fight them, because, firstly, they slowly “undermine” the immune system, destroying the body’s defense system, and secondly, they do not look aesthetically pleasing, which gives rise to entire complexes in the infected person.How to recognize foot fungus?Let's take a look at the main signs of foot fungus.
Foot skin fungus: how it can manifest itself
The first signs of a fungus that has “settled” on the feet can sometimes go unnoticed for a long time, especially if a person has a fairly strong immune system, and the body tries to cope with the invading “stranger” on its own for a certain period of time.Signs of foot fungus include:
- skin redness, itching;
- blisters or blisters on the feet;
- cracked heels that take a long time to heal.
Most often, the first symptoms manifest themselves as follows: the skin between the toes begins to itch, pimples appear, and the skin turns red.The person experiences severe itching, worsening at night.No creams or baths with medicinal herbs help cope with the problem.I am concerned about severe peeling of the skin.
Sometimes the fungus “attacks” from the heels.In this case, cracks in the heels cannot be healed using folk remedies or pharmaceutical remedies.If you encounter this problem, know that these are signs of a fungal infection, and not just the result of scratching or a slight inflammation after, for example, rubbing your feet with uncomfortable shoes.
Toenail fungus requires mandatory treatment.Not only does the carrier of the disease run the risk of contracting an additional infection, which can easily penetrate through damaged skin, in addition, he becomes a carrier of the disease.It is not uncommon for symptoms of foot fungus to be observed in literally all family members living together.
Signs of foot fungus should not be ignored.However, it is not always possible to recognize the disease on your own, especially when itching and other unpleasant manifestations are just beginning.Therefore, if suspicious symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist.He knows how to identify foot fungus and what methods need to be used to combat it.
How to recognize and what to do
So, we know what the manifestations of foot fungus are, and now we will carefully examine ourselves, especially after frequent visits to pools or saunas.
There is another type of disease, which, unfortunately, does not immediately attract the attention of the victim.This is a nail fungus.
Sometimes foot fungus spreads to the nail plate, and both the skin and the nail have to be treated at once.But it happens that a person only observes damage to the nail, while the skin remains clean.How does nail fungus start?
Once you decide to give yourself a foot bath, you may notice a slight change in the color of the nail plate.Most often, at first only 1 nail is affected - the one located on the thumb.The nail looks yellowed and dull.Normally, the color of the nail is pinkish, the plate is quite thin, but there is no increased fragility or brittleness.If the fungus “visits” you, the nail:
- turns yellow (usually from the edges);
- thickens significantly;
- There are strange spots on the plate.
Carefully examine the neighboring fingers: are there any similar changes there?How does the fungus appear at first?If there is no concomitant disease of the skin of the feet, it can remain for a long time only a cosmetic defect: there is no itching or pain, there is no discomfort.In this case, the person does not pay attention to the symptoms, thinking that he simply damaged the nail by wearing, for example, excessively narrow shoes.How do you know if it is a fungus?
You will not be able to determine the disease with 100% accuracy on your own.Moreover, even a doctor does not need a visual examination to make a diagnosis.If he suspects the fungal nature of the disease, he will refer the patient for tests.The nail plate will be scraped - this is the only way to detect the presence of a pathogenic fungus.
Signs of foot fungus are a gradual deterioration of the situation: without treatment, the affected nail begins to change more and more.Yellowing covers increasingly large areas.Then you may see:
- inflammation of the skin near the nail;
- further color change - to greenish, gray, even black;
- increased fragility and brittleness.
Even though the nail becomes very thick and difficult to trim with nail scissors, it crumbles.Small pieces may break off.
If you continue to pretend that nothing is happening, the fungus can “move” to neighboring fingers.In addition, the appearance of sharp edges as a result of periodic pieces breaking off from the nail leads to a complication called “ingrown nail”.The sharp edge cuts into and gradually grows into the skin roll on the side, causing a person to suffer while walking.The skin becomes red and inflamed.
Over time, toenails become thicker and change color.A person experiences significant discomfort due to the inability to visit the pool and wear open shoes in the summer.
How can you get infected?
If you find suspicious signs in yourself, remember if you have recently been to a sauna or bathhouse.The fungus “loves” a warm, humid environment - it is very convenient for it to reproduce there.
Perhaps you tried on shoes in a store without “marks” or not so long ago a friend gave you her sandals, which she wore, but then bought new ones?Or do you often swap slippers at home with members of your household?
Any of these cases can trigger infection.A microscopic crack or wound is enough for fungal spores to penetrate the skin or nail.At the same time, the one who “gave” you the disease may not even suspect that he is its carrier: if he has a strong immune system, the fungus will not bother him.
If you think you have contracted a fungus, the first thing you should do is visit a dermatologist.You should not self-medicate: firstly, there are different pathogens that are sensitive to different drugs.Secondly, perhaps it is not a fungus at all, but another disease.In both cases, self-medication may either not produce results, or “drive” the disease deeper, and then it will be difficult to cope with it.
This is especially true for nail fungus.Sometimes dystrophic changes in the nail plate, which can appear as a result of wearing tight shoes that cause deformation of the nail, can be confused with fungus.Another reason for changes not related to fungal infection is venous disease, which causes a deterioration in blood supply.As a result, the nail becomes fragile, the color changes and the person, believing that he has become infected, begins intensive treatment with gels and varnishes.Naturally, such “treatment” will be ineffective.
What to do if a fungus is suspected
If suspicious symptoms appear, you should not run to the pharmacy for medicine, but visit a doctor and get tested.Until the reasons are established, it is necessary to take special care not to become a source of infection for others: refuse to visit the pool or sauna, and do not wear someone else’s shoes.
If a pathogenic fungus is diagnosed, you will have to undergo a course of treatment.If the skin is affected, it will take about a month or two; if there are problems with the nail plates, it can take up to a year.If the disease has progressed far enough, it may be necessary to take antifungal drugs internally along with external agents.
Be attentive to yourself: any disease is easiest to cure at the initial stage.This also applies to fungal infections.Be healthy!