Foot fungus is a skin disease that occurs with active reproduction in the epidermis of certain types of fungi. Today, both older people with weakened immune systems and children are susceptible to this disease. The signs of a fungus on the legs depend on the type of pathogen of the infectious process and the volume of the affected foot and nail plate, and at different stages they have some differences, which indicate the progression of the infection. You should know how to recognize a fungus on your feet, which will allow you to start treatment in a timely manner and stop its further development.
Symptoms of the disease
The main place for the development of the fungus on the legs most often becomes the area between the toes. This pathology is accompanied by the appearance of symptoms such as burning, severe itching and redness of the epidermis. Additionally, a person may observe cracked, flaky skin, as well as blistering of the legs and increased dryness of the dermis.
The same symptoms of a fungus on the legs can occur on the sole and are accompanied by excessive keratinization of the skin. The insidiousness of such a disease lies in the fact that during its course the formation of a difficult-to-treat fungus on the legs is possible, and the wounds themselves are in a state of superinfection.
How to recognize the fungus on the legs and what symptoms can signal the onset of the development of the disease? The first signs of the disease are the appearance of small scales, that is, various types of peeling, ranging from small pityriasis to large lamellar. There are several types of fungi that provoke the development of the disease, but all of them are characterized by the same signs:
- At the initial stage of its development, the pathology proceeds without the appearance of pronounced symptoms. The interdigital folds are affected first and most often between the third and fourth toes.
- As the fungal disease progresses, the sides of the feet are affected, gradually spreading to the ankle.
- With a fungal infection of the feet, the skin thickens noticeably, cracks and begins to glow.
- The skin becomes too dry and starts to itch a lot. In addition, the epidermis becomes very red and its affected areas become inflamed.
- Patients begin to complain of pain and burning in the feet.
- With the transition of the disease to a neglected form, blisters begin to appear on the skin. When opened, the affected areas of the skin become very wet and soften.
There are several forms of foot fungus, and each of them is accompanied by the development of certain symptoms.
Forms of pathology
Experts identify the following types of fungi that can affect the skin of the legs:
- interdigital;
- hyperkeratotic (moccasin);
- dyshidrotic.
The most common form of interdigital fungus on the feet is the interdigital one, characterized by the appearance of some signs:
- most often, the area of the fourth and fifth toes becomes the place of localization of this form of fungus.
- as the disease progresses, the skin acquires a characteristic scaly appearance and can severely crack;
- between 3, 4 and 5, a weeping fissure or funnel forms, which is surrounded by dry skin flakes of white or green color.
Interdigital fungal skin lesions can be dry or wet. In the event that a wet interdigital fungus is detected, the skin appears swollen. With a dry lesion of the epidermis, peeling and shedding are noted.
The first sign of a moccasin-like foot fungus is pain, the manifestation of which is observed in the foot. As the pathology progresses, a gradual thickening of the skin on the sole is observed, which provokes the formation of cracks.
This form of fungal leg disease is considered the most difficult and neglected, but it is easy to recognize. A fungal disease can manifest itself in the defeat of the nails, in which case they acquire a characteristic thickening, tend to crumble and can even fall out altogether.
The vesicular form of the fungus is characterized by the formation of blisters, inside of which there is a clear liquid. Gradually, such blisters ripen, become cloudy and open, which provokes the formation of erosions of various sizes. The main location of the blisters becomes the area closest to the toes on the sole, but it is possible for them to vent all over the moccasin.
The vesicular form of a fungal disease is considered to be quite rare, but much easier to treat. This is due to the fact that the vesicles become the place of localization of the pathogen, that is, they do not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. When a viral or fungal infection is linked to a vesicular fungal disease, severe skin lesions are observed and treatment becomes difficult.
Specialists distinguish an erased form of the fungus on the legs, in which all symptoms are blurred. Diagnosis of such a pathology is quite problematic, as the affected skin looks like a simple untidy leg. In a patient with such a foot fungus, the symptoms are yellowing of the nails and peeling of the feet, but they are so mild that the patient does not pay attention to them.
The erased form of the mushroom proceeds in waves, that is, in the warm season it aggravates, and in winter it almost completely disappears. With any weakening of the immune system, a sharp exacerbation of the disease is observed, which creates difficulties in the treatment of foot fungus.
How to recognize nail fungus?
The signs of toenail fungus can vary significantly at different stages, signaling the progression of the infection. How does toenail fungus start and what signs should i look for?
- At the first stage, there are no symptoms characteristic of the lesion, and barely noticeable streaks and spots appear on the nail. In the event that you ignore the first signs of the disease and the fungus begins, the accumulation of pus in the area of the periungual plaques is possible. The result of such a pathological process is gangrene or amputation of the lower limbs.
- With the second degree of fungal disease, the natural shine of the nails disappears. Gradually, the nail changes color, and white and brown streaks form on it. Deformation of the upper part of the nail and its lateral sections is possible. The advanced stage of bacterial nail damage is characterized by their increased brittleness, delamination and inflammation of the cuticle. The condition continues its progression and spreads to other nails and feet.
- In the third stage of onychomycosis, the nail turns yellow or dirty brown. It also gets too loose, thickens and lags behind the nail bed. Often, when wearing shoes, severe pain begins, and the itching of the skin becomes simply unbearable.
There are several types of toenail fungal infections, each of which causes certain symptoms to appear.
- Hypertrophic onychomycosis is accompanied by a thickening of the nail and its yellow color. The nail crumbles well, and a thickened epidermis is visible under it.
- Atrophic onychomycosis causes thinning of the nail and its destruction, and keratinized skin is visible under it.
- Onychomycosis, when affected by moldy fungi, often develops not as an independent disease, but against the background of other pathologies.
The nail may be stained yellow, brown, green or black. Often a complication develops in the form of inflammation of the periungual bed with the release of pus.
Pathology prevention
With the normal functioning of the immune system, nail fungus is unlikely to begin its development after infection, as the body can cope on its own. In the event that a fungal infection still affects the feet and nails, it is necessary to undergo effective treatment. The earlier the fight against such a pathology begins, the greater the patient's chances of fully recovering.
The fight against foot fungus is considered to be a rather laborious process, so it is easier to prevent the development of the disease. To do this, it is necessary to observe the following preventive measures:
- keep feet dry;
- do not wear other people's shoes;
- choose the socks to make in cotton fabric;
- Don't run barefoot on the beach.
When the first signs of a fungus appear on the legs, you should contact a specialist. It is important to identify the pathology at the very beginning of its development and prevent further progression, which will help avoid many complications. To understand how to determine the fungus on the legs, you need to consult a dermatologist.