How to Cure Leg Fungus, Its Symptoms and Signs

Dermatophytes are the most common skin diseases. But failures in the legs are considered the most common. Leg mycosis and onychomycosis are common in people who visit public places, especially hospitals, saunas, baths, swimming pools and gyms.

Each type of fungus has its own characteristics, signs, and treatments that you need to know about those at risk of contracting a fungal infection.

What is foot fungus?

Mycosis or ringworm is a skin disease caused by fungal pathogens. Fungus on the skin of the legs is the most common type of this disease because the skin on the legs is more sensitive and often exposed to the external environment affected by the fungus.

risk factor

Athlete's foot is common among men who prefer completely closed shoes. Feet start to sweat and create a breeding environment. Therefore, most people who have served in the military know what skin fungus is. In children, fungal infections occur due to non-compliance with hygiene regulations, walking barefoot on contaminated soil, and non-compliance with nursery hygiene standards.

Often, fungal foot infections are also seen in women with hormonal imbalances or with weakened immunity during pregnancy. Infection can also occur during a pedicure with non-sterile instruments or towels.

There are some common factors that contribute to the development of the disease:

1. Wear shoes that are made of synthetic materials that are too tight.
2. Wash your feet infrequently and wear dirty socks.
3. Wear someone else's shoes and use someone else's towels and other hygiene products.
4. A disease that disrupts blood circulation in the lower extremities.
5. Immune system disease.
6. Hygiene rules are not followed in public places.
7. Corns, cuts and cracks appear on the feet.
8. Long-term treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids.

psychosomatic

The fungal cause can also be a person's emotional state. The medical direction - psychosomatic - the study of a person's psychological state and its influence on the development of physical diseases - explains fungal infections by suppressing negative emotions within.

Persistent feelings of resentment, anger, betrayal, or depression can trigger fungus or prevent a person from fully recovering.

Due to these conditions, the body's immunity is lowered and the pathogens present in the body are activated. People with chronic fungal infections that do not go away with medication need to reconsider their internal state or consult a psychologist.

According to the many scientists who have studied the psychosomatic causes of the fungus, if you don't make an effort to exercise your character and get rid of your negative emotions, the disease will recur again and again.

pathogen

There are a large number of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause skin lesions in humans, but the following types of fungi are most commonly found on the legs:

1. Trichophyton rubrum or Trichophyton purpura- Causes erythromycosis, which most commonly affects the skin of the feet and nails, but can also spread to other parts of the body.

2. Trichophyton interdigitae, or Trichophytons- Causes epidermophytosis, which develops between the fingers but can also spread to the entire area of the feet.
3. Candida- Candida rarely occurs on the feet, but can also affect the interdigital areas, nails and soles of the feet. It mainly occurs in women.

A fungal disease is an infection that can occur in two ways: directly - directly from an infected person to others, and indirectly - through floors, shoes, clothing, and other household items that an infected person has touched. Lower extremity fungal infections are very easy - simply re-contact with any surface or object that the person with the fungal infection came into contact with is sufficient.

The mechanism of fungal disease development begins the moment the spore enters the human skin. If conditions are favorable, development, growth and reproduction begin.

Microbes begin to secrete enzymes that destroy keratin, thereby destroying the stratum corneum of the skin. As a result, humans experience itching and discomfort. The infection spreads very quickly, and the fungus penetrates deeper into the skin and infects surrounding tissues.

If you don't start treatment, it can quickly affect large areas of the skin.

But it doesn't always happen right after the infection, and sometimes the fungus can stay on the skin or shoes for a long time. But once the body's defenses decline, or a favorable warm and humid environment develops, the fungus begins to develop rapidly.

General symptoms

Ringworm of the lower extremities is a very common infection that requires immediate treatment. But not everyone immediately seeks help from a specialist because they don't pay attention to the main symptoms or think they are signs of other skin conditions.

Common signs of a skin infection are:

1. Redness and peeling in individual areas.
2. Blisters or cracks appear.
3. Itching and burning sensation.
4. Dry and rough skin.

However, depending on the site and pathogen, the disease has various clinical manifestations. Fungus on the heels starts with reddened skin and a burning sensation. Over time, bubbles develop and these bubbles burst, creating very painful sores.

Cracks and growth then appear in the form of spalling. As the disease progresses over time, the affected area begins to smell bad, and the infection can spread to other areas of the feet and nails.

Fungus on the knee is rare, but if there are cracks above or below the knee that don't go away for a long time, then you need to see your doctor. Often, the fungus in the area starts unknowingly—it starts with redness, then exfoliates the skin, rarely forms bubbles on the surface of the spot, and ends up covered in scabs.

Nail damage - onychomycosis - starts with a skin infection on the feet. In this case, itching and cracks may appear on the skin, but sometimes the fungus doesn't touch the skin and only affects the nail plate.

stage:

1. nutritionally normal- At this stage, only the color of the nail begins to change - it turns yellow, sometimes with a brown tinge.
2. hypertrophy- The healthy shine of the nails disappears, the shape becomes irregular, thickens and begins to partially collapse. People who wear tight shoes may experience pain.
3. Formic acid dissolves- The diseased nail is a plate with a broken layer, thinning and brown. At this stage, detachment from the nail bed begins.

Manifestations of different types of pathology

Leg candidiasis affects only the soft areas of the skin and nails, not the feet, and it can be of two types:

1. blisters-pustules- In the first stage, the skin with marked edema becomes reddened. In the future, the affected area will be covered with air bubbles filled with fluid or purulent material, and as they burst, erosions form. Gradually, the inflammatory process decreases and the desquamation over the lesions increases.
2. hyperkeratosis- Rare, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum, forming scaly, wine-red wrinkles.

In most cases, the fungus between the toes is epidermal. This pathological skin change may haveThe following form:

1. scaly- Between the ring finger and the ring finger, the skin starts to become red and sometimes itchy. This stage is often overlooked.
2. disorganized- Development from the first stage. Edema develops, cracks form, and lesions spread to adjacent areas. Growths form around the affected area, making it difficult to wear shoes.
3. acute- Forms massive bubbles filled with liquid. Wounds and cracks start to hurt, general health deteriorates, and temperatures may rise.

When the condition is ignored, interdigital lesions can cover the entire area of the nails and soles of the feet, atrophy of the epidermis of the feet. External symptoms, similar to those of weeping eczema, complicate the diagnosis.

Erythromycosis of the foot is a simultaneous lesion of the interdigital folds. The skin becomes drier, reddened, and begins to peel badly. If treatment is not started in time, the process spreads to the soles of the feet, the outer areas of the feet, and the surfaces of the fingers.

Erythromycosis can also affect other parts of the legs: calves, thighs, buttocks, and any part of the body and head. Lesions are pink patches covered with scaly skin, blisters, or crusts. They rapidly expanded in size and merged with each other. Erythromycosis of smooth skin usually occurs in an acute form and is accompanied by severe itching.

"I had cracks on my feet, but I didn't notice. The fungus was discovered during a medical checkup at work. The doctor prescribed ointment and pills right away, and she scolded her for not applying it right away. "

Features of Traditional Healing

Treatment of leg fungus is based on applying an antifungal topical to the lesion. There are many medicines in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, and solutions. Their action is aimed at inhibiting the vital activity and reproduction of fungi, as well as slowing down their spreading process.

A variety of fungal-derived sprays have recently emerged that are handy for topical treatment of skin and nail fungus.

During treatment, you can dispose of your shoes and clothing to avoid reinfection. Disinfectant sprays are suitable for this. It can also be treated with antiseptics.

You can use antifungal in solution form.

You can use a regular alcoholic salicylic acid solution before applying the ointment. It actively acts on the fungus while relieving inflammation and drying out watery skin areas.

If the nails are damaged, it is recommended to use a special antifungal varnish.

There are many different external remedies, all of which are available in pharmacies without a prescription. But for treatment to be effective, you need to know how to properly use external medicines:

1. How often to use the medication as directed.
2. Hard areas must be steamed before topical application.
3. With large dry growths, you can bathe them with sparkling water.
4. Only the affected area is treated, leaving healthy skin unaffected.
5. After treatment, wash your hands thoroughly and do not touch other parts of your body to avoid spreading the infection.

In advanced cases, you need to take a tablet from the fungus at the same time as an external medicament.You can't take medicine in it without a doctor's advice - only a specialist can prescribe it based on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course.

Early treatment of fungal lesions on the legs should not take much time as long as the medication is used correctly and instructions are followed. In severe cases, long-term treatment for up to 3-6 months may be required. If prescription drugs are not working as expected, then you will need to contact a specialist and get new advice.

"My husband uses different ointments for fungus on the lower extremities, I tried 8 different tablets, but only the ones in the triazole derivative group helped. Well, externally, he continued to apply allylamine cream.

folk remedies

Many times, unconventional methods are used to treat nail and leg fungus.But patients should keep in mind that such remedies are effective in the initial stages of the fungus, and in severe cases they do not always help, but can exacerbate the disease process.

Before getting rid of fungus on your feet with folk remedies, you need to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis, as symptoms can indicate various skin conditions.

Herbs from fungi are used in the preparation of body washes, scrubs and lotions:

1. Pour a handful of marigolds with 50ml of alcohol and 100ml of water and leave in a dark place for a day. For rubbing twice a day. Best for nail infections and skin candidiasis.
2. Mix the dried mint leaves and fine salt in equal proportions. Apply to the affected area for a day and secure with a bandage. After the time has passed, remove the bandage, wash the feet, dry and repeat. Use only on nails and keratinized skin.
3. Five tablespoons of dried celandine are poured into 100 ml of vodka and set aside for two weeks. For wiping, try to avoid contact with healthy skin.
4. Brew two tablespoons of thyme in a cup of boiling water, let it sit for an hour, and use it as a lotion.

You can use tar soap from fungi:

1. Grate a bar of soap, add a little water and melt in a water bath, add 1 tablespoon of tar and 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix thoroughly and pour into molds to make therapeutic soap. Used to wash feet.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of crushed soap with 2 teaspoons of soda water and add a little water to make a thick mixture. Apply at night to clean feet and apply a bandage over them.
3. During the initial course of the disease, it is sufficient to apply the suds from laundry soap to the affected skin area and leave it on for 15-30 minutes.

Garlic Effective Against Fungi:

1. Apply crushed garlic to the steamed area and secure with a bandage. Keep it overnight.
2. For 3 days, stick to a mixture of garlic juice, water, and vodka in equal proportions. Rub on the affected area 1-2 times a day.
3. Toss 2 cloves of chopped garlic into a cup of vinegar. Infuse in a covered container in a dark place for 2 weeks. For rubs and lotions.

Vinegar can be used for rubbing or bathing. To prepare for a bath, you will need 100 ml of 9% vinegar or apple cider vinegar for 1 liter of water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, after which you will need to remove the softened skin and put on clean socks.

"At work, I walked in my shoes for a few days and my feet were sweating constantly and fungus on them, and I immediately started taking a vinegar bath and treating all my shoes with it. It went by quickly. "

Consequences and predictions

Many people consider the fungus to be harmless, aside from an aesthetic discomfort. But fungal infections also pose other threats. First, there is a danger of the fungus spreading to other areas of the skin.

The infection spreads from the feet to the skin of the hands, face, trunk and scalp. This can happen if you don't wash your hands after touching the affected skin area, or if the patient's immunity is greatly reduced. From an infected person, family members can be infected if hygiene rules are not followed.

The lesions are deep, unable to wear habitual shoes, the pain is severe when walking, and the nail bed is elevated when the nail is damaged. There is a risk of inflammation of the nerve endings.

If left untreated, skin damage can lead to an increase in viral and bacterial infections. The following complications often occur:

1. wart.
2. cellulitis.
3. pyoderma.
4. erysipelas.
5. Malignant mycosis fungoides.

The long course of dermatophytes on the legs can worsen the function of the immune system and make patients more prone to allergic manifestations, urticaria, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Often, fungal disease is accompanied by atopic dermatitis and eczema. The general condition worsens, weakness occurs, and the temperature may periodically rise.

Running a yeast infection can cause damage to internal organs.

In addition to physical complications, fungal infections can lead to unstable psycho-emotional states. Infected people become irritable, short-tempered, and often attack others. Instability of the nervous system can slow recovery, so patients may need psychological support.

Toe fungus is easy to cure if you start treatment at the first manifestation of the disease. Use the treatment daily to eliminate the fungus in 10-14 days. But for advanced infections, treatment will be longer, more difficult, and not without the use of systemic drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend not to delay seeing a doctor.