Turpentine baths

Unpleasant smell like feet? It would seem that it may be easier - take, so wash them! Nor does it help? Then you should pay on their feet a closer look  to find that the medical language is called athlete's foot, fungal infection, or, simply, fungal disease of the legs.If you need more information on this topic, this article will supply you with the success of it, making it possible not only to direct treatment of mycosis in the desired direction,  but also learn to prevent its occurrence . However, it is necessary to replenish your store of knowledge about the disease a few highlights:

-  Fungal disease of the legs - an umbrella term that describes several common fungal infections of the feet.

-  Fungal disease of the legs is a result of illness  caused by parasitic fungi , affecting mainly the space between the fourth and little fingers. However, most often, the disease progresses, spreading further.

-  This disease, as already mentioned above, is fungal in nature and is often associated with fungal infection of toenails, soles and heels.

-  Typically, the disease can be managed at home, unless, of course, the treatment has taken the necessary time.

-  If the disease does not want to go, the only way is a long-term treatment and the use of various preventive measures.

GENERAL CONCEPTS

Fungal disease of the legs is not only extremely common skin inflammation, but also the  most common type of fungal infection . This disease can occur in many people at different periods of their lives, and if his time and not properly treated, it can turn into a stable state, or periodically occur again. Fungal disease of the legs, usually, can cause three different groups of microorganisms: dermatomitsetami (plant parasites of the skin), yeast and mold fungus.  Of the three, the most common are dermatomitsetami. As for yeast, they often appear in patients with depressed the immune system.

Vegetable parasites of the skin can cause fungal disease like foot and infection - for example, shingles, when the parasites take up residence in the dying tissue of hair, nails and the top layer of skin. In addition, the  fungal infection may occur in the legs due to the presence of another fungal infection that attacks the skin, and known as athlete's groin. As the name implies, this skin fungus infects the groin. Most commonly, it occurs in adults.However, the athlete's groin in some cases it may be a secondary disease, the cause of which is propagating in combing through the body parasites.  Athlete's foot is developing intensively in a wet environment.  This disease can pick up at the gym, locker room shower. In fact, the threat is any ground on which people walk barefoot.

CAUSES OF DISEASE

The human body is the real home for a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, plant parasites, skin and other yeast-like fungi (such as Candida, for example).  Some of these organisms are very useful for our body. Others, once in certain conditions, begin to multiply rapidly and cause infection. As mentioned above, the fungus that causes athlete's foot disease, flourishes in the first place, in a humid and warm environment.susceptibility to infection is increased in non-compliance with hygiene , due to certain footwear (eg sneakers that cause excessive sweating), prolonged stop in the wet environment, or because of the small cuts of the skin of the foot.

The fungus reproduces by spreading spores (which can be called a seed), which can lie dormant for a long time, being in the shoes, socks, rugs in the bathroom on the floor and so on.  These spores can remain even in the pure, at first glance, the surface , keeping the its viability and waiting for the right moment to hit the person.As for shingles, it is also an infectious disease that can be transmitted by direct contact with contaminated shoes, socks, floor and so on.  In this case, the blame for the spread of infection spores.  Also, the carriers of this infection can be pets.However, no matter how organisms was caused by a fungal infection, very often it goes after the usual measures for its treatment.

Symptoms

Foot fungus is characterized as a rule, the three main specific symptoms:

-  interdigital localization of the disease: it is manifested in the form of moist, pink, white flaking scales of skin between the toes. Typically, such sites are observed redness in the skin folds.  There is severe itching.There are other diseases caused by the spread of bacteria, but in their case there is no itching.Thus, the above symptoms are accompanied by itching, point to fungal infection leg.

-  The presence of abscesses: initially, they look like small blisters, usually in the head, under the foot. These pustules are small red rim. The very same blister may have gray color, which darkens at the very top of a blister.  It is observed severe itching, blisters, if they scratch easily burst.  After this is itching, but not for long: the bursting of the blister only contributed to the spread of infection and the formation of even more blisters. Soon most of the skin of the foot is covered with such itchy blisters and bursting.

-  Dry scaly skin: usually, this skin appears on the surface of the foot, quickly covering it entirely. This phenomenon is often referred to mokasinovoy infection, as the foot looks as though it would be shod in moccasins.  edge dry skin gradually assumes a reddish color , covered with small flakes of skin around the affected surface. Very often, a manifestation of the fungus is not mistaken for symptoms and try to treat it with conventional moisturizers, which only worsens the situation.

Fungal infection of nails

As mentioned above, a fungal infection may begin with a foot lesion of nails.  Nail plate in this case begins to lose its natural color , acquiring a yellowish tinge. Under the nail color is yellow-brownish. The nail or thin, or, conversely, can become thicker and deformed.At the nail plate can occur from the wedge-shaped strip edge of the nail.  This infection can occur on one nail, gradually affecting all ten nails.  it passes without any salient symptoms, causing, perhaps, some discomfort due to deformation of the nail.

Fungal infection of the feet may pass without symptoms, or be accompanied by itching and burning. In a study draw attention to the fact that the  affected area becomes reddish and covered with characteristic scales . These scales are, in general, have a whitish hue due to the depletion of the skin, caused by its constant presence in a wet environment. Shingles can also affect the nails and the whole foot.  This stop takes a reddish hue  , and may be covered with the likeness of the crust. With the nails there are similar transformation, which include discoloration and deformation.

TREATMENT

The diagnosis

The initial diagnosis is usually made ​​on the basis of visual inspection of the appearance of the foot. However, very often, may require additional laboratory tests to confirm it.Laboratory tests are very useful  when you need to choose the most successful treatment . Then samples of skin and nails are sent to the cultivation of the fungal organism in the laboratory, or to conduct any additional studies.

Treatment at home. Measures to prevent the occurrence of the fungus.

As a rule, most people can cope with the fungal infection feet,  using a well-known methods of treatment and prevention . In pharmacies, there are plenty of non-prescription drugs that are highly effective in eliminating the infection. However, very often people do not pay attention developing the disease,  ignoring the risk of development of the fungus  due to non-compliance with hygiene. This attitude leads to recurrent infection.

The first rule is to prevent the disease is that the feet should always be thoroughly washed and  kept in a dry state . When washing the feet should be intensively rubbing with soap, which then must be thoroughly washed off. Always wear clean socks, changing them regularly, like shoes, if you're a little wet feet. There will be no harm to use  special powders and creams , especially those that contain miconazole or clotrimazole. This allows to control the spread of infection.

Be attentive to detail. For example, if you wear regular flip-flops in the public mind (in the sauna or the gym), you can save yourself from this nasty infection. However, the risk of infection and in this case is very large . After washing your hair dryer can dry the feet, which will remove excess moisture from the outer layer of skin. At least, it would be more useful than a towel to wipe his feet. Footwear is often recommended to treat specific fungal powder, and in severe cases, contaminated shoes easier to throw. Socks should be washed at very high temperature, and change them as often as possible.

Treatment under the supervision of a physician

First of all, you need to pay attention to how susceptible fungal infection to your self-healing. If positive results are not observed, but on the contrary, the situation worsens,need to see a specialist . In severe cases, when it comes to chronic infection, only a dermatologist or orthopedic surgeon can choose the right treatment. You can assign special procedures and  to prescribe certain drugs for oral administration . But in this case, do not forget to follow preventive measures against the spread of the disease.

In the case of tinea pedis or onychomycosis - fungal infections of the skin and nails, occurring in patients suffering from diabetes, then there  can help just treatment under the close supervision of a specialist. Moreover, the earlier you start treatment, the better. Complicated cases of chronic infectious diseases of the feet may also need constant supervision of professionals.Typically, in this case necessarily prescribe  oral medication . Among the most popular antifungal drugs ketoconazole and terbinafine treated. Sometimes you may need, and antibiotics.

Complications

Despite the fact that the treatment can take place very successfully, experts can warn patients from some complications associated with fungal disease of the legs.

-  Recurrence of the disease.

-  The development of related infections: impetigo, ecthyma, and even cellulite.

-  lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymphatic vessels).

-  Systemic side effects of drugs against fungal infection.

Fungal disease of the legs can be characterized by  soft or, alternatively, a very serious symptoms . It may not take a long period of time, or return regularly, but often the disease is amenable to successful treatment. In rare cases, you may need long-term treatment,  accompanied with careful observance of the measures for the prevention of fungal diseases . Typically, experts give every chance to get rid of this infection if treatment lasts for a long time (over a 7-to 10 days after all symptoms have been eliminated).