The fungal infection on the legs (Mikoz Stop) is quite common.At the same time, redness and rash appear between the fingers, the skin dries and peels.Without treatment, the infection from the feet passes to other parts of the body, the nail fungus often develops.
As a rule, the fungal infection on the legs proceeds easily and is well lend itself to treatment if you start the use of antifungal drugs in a timely manner.
If the fungus is not treated, the infection can spread to the nails of the toes or other parts of the body, for example, at the palm of your hand. As a rule, the fungus lives only on the surface of the skin.However, if cracks appear on the skin, other microbes can penetrate into them and cause a more severe bacterial infection.
Everyone can become infected, but most often the disease is found in adolescents and men, less often - in women and children under 12 years of age.It is not known why some people are prone to infection more than others.The risk is increased in people who regularly go in for sports, since the fungus easily spreads in common areas, such as shower and locker room.
Also, due to wearing tight sneakers during sports, the legs can heat up and sweat more than usual, creating an ideal environment for breeding the fungus.Having scratched the affected skin, and then touching the other part of the body, you can spread the infection.Therefore, treatment must be started as early as possible.Each time, touching the rash, wash your hands thoroughly.
Symptoms
Fungus on the legs: symptoms
The fungus of the feet can occur in various forms, each has its own symptoms.Most often, the fungus initially affects the interdigital folds of about 4 and 5 fingers of the foot.Foci of redness appear in this area, the skin begins to itch, peel off and crack.With the further development of mycosis, the appearance of weeping sores on the skin is possible.Cracks or ulcers are accompanied by pain and discomfort when walking.Bacteria easily penetrate through skin damage, causing the development of secondary purulent infection.
The fungus often extends to the skin of the side parts of the foot and sole, forming a single area of lesions like dealers or moccasins.Sometimes the skin on the feet is inflamed, bubbles appear on it.Without treatment, the infection spreads to the nails, causing onychomycosis - nail fungus.At the same time, the nails become brittle and deformed.
A fungal infection that affects the feet can sometimes spread on hand, if you do not wash them after contact with the fungus.However, this happens quite rarely.The fungus, as a rule, develops in the palms of one hand, which becomes dry, blushes and itil.
If you begin to treat the fungus on the legs when the first symptoms appear, then an improvement is observed within 1-10 days.If mycosis is not treated or if you start the process, the symptoms may not pass much longer.
The causes of the fungus on the feet
Bacteria and fungi live on the skin of each person, most often they are harmless and do not cause inconvenience.However, under the conditions favorable for them, for example, in a humid and warm environment or when immunity weakening, fungi begin to grow and multiply, causing a disease.
The causative agent of Mikoza Stop is a group of fungi called dermatophyte.These are parasites: they feed on tissues of the body on which they live.Heat, humidity and lack of light are ideal conditions for the propagation of dermatophytes, so they live on the feet.These fungi can cause mycosis of the skin, nails, scalp and hair.Therefore, with non -compliance with hygiene rules, the fungus from the feet can spread to other parts of the body.
The fungal infection of the legs is very contagious and transmitted both in direct contact and through various objects.For example, you can get infected by touching the affected area of the skin of a sick person and without washing your hand after that.The fungus of the legs is also transmitted through infected objects, for example, a towel, bedding and clothes.
Often infection with a fungus of the feet occurs in a public basin, shower or locker room.In these places, warm and wet, as on the legs, which contributes to the propagation of bacteria and fungi.There are a number of simple measures that allow you to avoid foot mycosis, for example, regular wash of the legs, maintaining the skin in dry shoes and wearing comfortable shoes.
How to treat a foot fungus?
In most cases, the fungus on the legs proceeds in a mild form and is treated at home using antifungal drugs for local use.Micosis of the stop is usually well treated for 2-3 weeks.
With vast damage to the skin of the legs, the spread of infection to other parts of the body, as well as when involved in other nails, a stronger antifungal medicine in the form of tablets is prescribed.If the nail fungus develops, the duration of the course of treatment is stretched for several months.
In addition to the use of antifungal drugs, it is necessary to observe the rules of leg hygiene:
- Regularly thoroughly wash the feet with water and soap.
- After washing, wipe your legs dry, paying special attention to the area between the fingers.
- Wear clean cotton socks.
- Change socks and shoes regularly so that your legs remain dry.
- Use only a personal towel, regularly change it.
During the treatment, exclude a visit to public pools, baths, showers.Use individual slippers at home to protect other family members from infection.
Antifungal drugs for mycosis, stopprovogrib.They can be purchased in various dosage forms:
- cream;
- spray;
- solution;
- Powers and powder.
Antifungal drugs for local use are sold in a pharmacy without a prescription.They have their own contraindications and side effects, so before use you need to make sure that the drug suits you.Always carefully read the instructions for use.You can choose what form of the drug to purchase, but it is better to consult with a dermatologist.There are various antifungal agents, for example:
- Itraconazole;
- terbinafine;
- Clotrimazole;
- Environmental Environment;
- ketoconazole;
- Mikonazole and others.
Food for external use is applied to the skin of the feet after washing and drying.Do not interrupt the treatment at the first signs of improvement and disappearance of the rash, the infection may return.Follow the deadlines for the use of the drug recommended by the doctor or specified in the instructions for use.Typically, the course of treatment of the fungus is 2-3 weeks.After applying the product to the skin, wash your arms thoroughly.
In a severe form of mycosis, extensive lesion, involving a large area of nails and some other factors in the process of local treatment should be supplemented with the use of antifungal agents inside, in the form of tablets.Such treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, since antifungal agents for internal use have serious side effects (for example, they can cause liver damage).Some drugs can not be taken for children, elderly, pregnant women, as well as violate the work of both male and female reproductive systems.Consult about the use of antifungal drugs with a doctor.
Treatment of fungus on the legs using hydrocortisone
With severe pain and skin inflammation, the doctor can prescribe a drug that includes the substance of hydrocortisone.It reduces inflammation and facilitates irritation and itching.The drug must be used strictly in accordance with the instructions.It cannot be applied for more than seven days.Then they proceed to the treatment of other anti -inflammatory and antifungal agents.
Complications for the fungus on the legs
As a rule, the fungus on the legs proceeds in a mild form and does not cause complications.Nevertheless, it is necessary to start his treatment immediately with the appearance of symptoms in order to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes of the disease to a minimum.
The foot fungus can spread to the nails.This is accompanied by a thickening, a change in the color and structure of the nails, and brittle.The skin under the nail can hurt and inflamed.The nail fungus is treated with antifungal drugs, either in the form of tablets, or in the form of a special ointment that is applied directly to the nail.However, the course of treatment takes several months.
If the nail fungus is not treated, the infection can cause severe pain and discomfort when walking and wearing shoes, nails are destroyed over time.
With a fungus on the legs in severe form, cracks may appear on the skin, exposing the fabrics inside.Bacteria penetrate through damage into the deep layers of the skin.They can cause purulent diseases of the skin of the feet.In this case, the prescription of antibiotics is required.
Fungus prevention
The best way to avoid fungal infection on the legs is to always carefully comply with hygiene rules:
- Wash your legs thoroughly daily, especially between the fingers.
- Apply talc on the feet to reduce sweating.
- Avoid tight shoes, especially in the summer.
- Do not put on socks, stockings or tights on wet legs.
- Change socks, stockings or tights regularly.
- Wear rubber slippers or slippers in public locker rooms or pools.
- Wear only dry shoes, especially sneakers for running or playing sports.
- Do not use other people's shoes to reduce the risk of infection.
- Regularly erase towels and bedding.
When to see a doctor with a fungus on your feet
Light forms of the fungus can be treated independently, strictly observing the instructions for drugs.However, with self -medication, there is a risk of improper selection of the product from the fungus, the incorrect calculation of the dose and the frequency of treatment.As a result, you can lose time, and advanced types of mycoses are treated much more difficult and longer.
Therefore, when itching occurs, peeling and redness of the skin of the feet, it is advisable to contact a dermatologist.It is especially important not to neglect a visit to a specialist for people with diabetes, various skin diseases, pregnant women and older people.Their immune system is vulnerable, so the fungus of the feet can occur in severe form.For the same reason, the child of the child with the manifestation of mycosis on the legs should be shown.
When involving a large area of nails in the process, the spread of the fungus to the skin of other parts of the body requires systemic treatment, which should be prescribed and controlled by the doctor.