According to statistics, every tenth resident of our planet suffers from the fungus of the legs or, as it is also called, epidermophytosis. Most often, men suffer from this disease, which is more due to not so much by the features of physiology as the fact that male representatives are more often and longer than women, they wear closed shoes.
Fungus on the legs: causes and risk factors
The disease can be provoked by one of the following reasons:
- insufficient body hygiene in general and foot in particular;
- uncomfortable and too close shoes;
- Excessive sweating of the feet;
- violations in the work of the human immune system;
- flat feet and other types of feet deformation;
- use of public pools and baths;
- insufficient bath hygiene and showers;
- Excess weight;
- Problems with blood circulation in the legs.
General symptoms of foot fungus
The fungus on the legs can manifest itself in different ways:
- skin inflammation on the heels and pillows of the feet;
- itching of varying degrees of severity;
- cracks;
- peeling.
An accurate determination of the type of fungus that impressed the feet will help to choose the correct treatment of this disease.
Fungus on the legs and its types
In medicine, it is customary to secrete 3 main types of fungus: membrane, such as moccasin, vesicular. And each of them is inherent in both general and characteristic symptoms.
Signs of membrane fungus:
- localization in the area of the 4th and 5th toes;
- characteristic of most types of fungus - scales;
- Itching.
The fungus on the legs of the type of moccasin differs from others:
- thickening of the sole of the feet;
- deeper cracks;
- painful sensation;
- The damage to the nails, which, like the skin of the feet, are thickened, at the same time acquiring excessive fragility, which can even lead to the loss of the nail plate.
The vesicular fungus is characterized by: blisters filled with fluid and localization on the bottom of the foot.
Foot fungus: diagnostics
The diagnosis of "foot fungus" is made by a dermatologist based on the examination of the patient. More detailed studies: scrapings, skin biopsy, cultivation - will help the doctor as accurately determine the type of fungus that impressed the patient. In addition to everything, the doctor conducts a patient survey to manifest this disease in the past. The latter is especially important, since often recurrent manifestations of the fungus for a certain period of time signal the transition of the disease in a more severe form, which is more difficult to treat.
How to treat a fungus on your feet?
Therapy of the foot fungus does not require stationary observation and is carried out on an outpatient basis. In most cases, the patient is prescribed external antifungal drugs. It is worth noting that often people suffering from the fungus of the foot do not turn to a specialist at all, limiting themselves to taking drugs sold in a pharmacy without a prescription. This scenario quite often leads to a favorable outcome of the disease. However, it should be remembered that prolonged therapy of the disease, accompanied by a deterioration in the condition of the legs, indicates an advanced stage of the disease. The best way out of this situation will be to visit a specialist who will help to choose the optimal remedy for fungus.