Today, skin diseases account for a significant proportion of the ailments that more and more people face every day.The rapid spread of diseases caused by the destruction of skin integrity and epithelial tissue function is not only due to the increasing number of pathogenic bacteria in the external environment, but also due to our lifestyle, work and rest habits and bad habits, which are the driving forces for the occurrence and development of various diseases.
What are fungi and why do they occur?
Fungal skin diseases are second only in frequency to purulent lesions of the epidermis (called pyoderma).Fungal infections have specific causative agents - fungal microorganisms, which determine the development of fungal skin lesions only under pathogenic forms or conditions.
Since fungi are part of our environment and usually do not express their presence in any way, they are opportunistic microorganisms that acquire pathological forms due to changes in environmental conditions suitable for reproduction and the weakening of the body's immune defenses.
There are two types of foot fungal diseases: dermatomycoses, which directly affect the skin on the heels, toes, metatarsals, or soles of the feet, and onychomycoses, which affect the nail folds, nail plates, and the epidermis beneath them.The pathogen of onychomycosis can increase the infected area and spread to nearby outer skin tissue.
Foot fungus can be spread directly, for example, by walking barefoot on soil where fungal microorganisms thrive, through infected plants, or during close contact with people or animals suffering from fungal diseases.Indirect routes of infection from fungal diseases include the use of personal hygiene products of a person who has the fungus, through his clothing and bedding, and during the use of patient care products.
Individuals have varying degrees of susceptibility to fungal disease pathogens due to many factors that influence the development of infectious diseases and the nature of the disease.
Children under 10-12 years old are considered the most vulnerable age group.Most commonly, dermatologists diagnose infectious diseases caused by pathogenic fungal microorganisms in children because their outer skin is still very thin, which makes it easier for the fungus to feed on keratin, a specific skin protein that is a component of epithelial tissue.
Children's immune defense mechanisms are still in the developmental stage and cannot protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic flora that a developed immune system can protect, so children's bodies are constantly at risk of contracting various diseases and conditions.
Athletes are among those whose skin fungi proliferate on their feet.Locker rooms and showers frequently used by athletes before and after training are ideal environments for the intensive activity of fungal microorganisms, as rising temperatures and increased moisture concentrations are optimal conditions for the activation of pathogenic forms of fungi.
This is why excessive foot sweating often precedes the development of a fungal infection in the skin of your feet, which can be caused by regularly wearing uncomfortable, non-breathable, tight-fitting shoes.Persistent sweating of the feet may be determined by a specific composition of genetic material, or it may be one of the external symptoms of a disease or pathology present in the body.
Another driving factor in the development of fungal diseases on the skin of the legs may be a change in the usual composition of sweat gland secretions (water, uric acid, ammonia, amino acids, and fatty acids) into compositions that are more toxic to our bodies and better suited to activating fungi.Pathological changes in sweat composition have a particularly beneficial effect on the development of infectious diseases caused by fungi of the genus Candida or yeast-like fungi.
Disturbances in the normal functions of the nervous system, endocrine system, and gastrointestinal tract will lead to a decrease in basal metabolism in the body, thereby negatively affecting the activities of other system organs and the process of immune defense mechanisms.Since a weak body cannot fully cope with the constant attack of microorganisms and pathogenic microorganisms, thus preventing their penetration into the body, a person is more susceptible to the negative effects of environmental factors and, thus, to bacterial and fungal infections.
Specific parasitism of the fungus on the skin of the legs and body presents various symptoms depending on the stage of the disease.
Weak or eliminated forms of fungal infection are the earliest stages of disease development and are distinguished by rather weakly expressed characteristic signs.People suffering from fungal diseases often experience a burning sensation in the infected area, small cracks appear on the surface of the skin, and the epidermis itself becomes pathologically dry.
Although it is best to treat the infection in its early stages, if the symptoms of infection with fungal microorganisms are ignored, the disease can develop more seriously, and if treatment is careless and irresponsible, the disease can recur, as fungal diseases are characterized by frequent recurrences.
Mycoses in the form of squamous keratosis may appear after a mild fungal infection if the disease is not removed at an early stage.In the squamous keratosis stage of the disease, fungal microorganisms form white coatings and hard scabs on the skin surface; the infected area gradually increases in size and can reach large dimensions, such as from the interdigital folds to the metatarsal bones.
Dermatologists classify the intertriginous form of fungal foot disease as a severe stage of infection.In the intertriginous form of the disease, swelling occurs in the folds between the toes, accompanied by redness of the superficial skin.Edema is usually natural and prone to erosion.Infected areas of the skin are characterized by significant shedding of the epidermis and the appearance of deep cracks, which facilitate the invasion of fungal cells into the body.The scope of parasitism expands and the fungus spreads to other organs and systems through the bloodstream.
The dyshidrotic form of fungal skin infection of the legs is the most serious stage in the development of the pathology.For dyshidrotic forms of the disease, the most aggressive treatments used include pulse therapy, which involves taking a loading dose of a powerful drug over a short period of time.It is characterized by the appearance of fluid-filled blisters over the entire surface of the foot, which rupture and form deep erosions on the skin, accompanied by pain, severe itching and various inflammatory processes.
There are three types of treatments for foot fungal infections: external treatment, internal treatment and comprehensive therapy.
In the first stages of the disease, when the parasitism of the fungus has not yet become more widespread, the source of infection is externally affected using antifungal creams, ointments, gels, varnishes, powders, tonics and sprays.
The use of antiseptic drugs for the internal action of pathogenic fungal microorganisms can negatively affect the activity of other organs and systems of the body, so such drugs often have many contraindications.They are used to treat cases of fungal parasitism in the body, which occurs in the later stages of disease development.
Combination therapy is most effective, but in the early stages of a fungal infection, topical application is sufficient, since internal antifungals can cause additional complications and stress on the body.
The most effective drugs for the elimination of mild fungal diseases are terbinafine-based drugs, which promote the accumulation of squalene in the skin and thus disrupt the pathological mechanisms of action of fungal microorganisms.Terbinafine is a substance contained in various antifungal drugs that eliminates fungal diseases caused by various pathogens.
For systemic treatment, if topical drugs are ineffective, the treating physician will prescribe drugs containing active ingredients such as itraconazole and ketoconazole.This course of treatment is long and is not recommended for pregnant women, lactating women, children under 3 years old, and people with liver disease or impaired kidney function.
To prevent secondary development of the disease after treatment, you must carefully disinfect your hygiene products, personal belongings, and wardrobe items, since the fungus, during its reproduction period, is able to leave mycelium and other waste products on the infected person's belongings.
A special spray is ideal for antifungal treatment of shoes.This antibacterial drug is designed to remove fungal cell proliferation products from the personal belongings of patients with fungal diseases.Rinse the inside of the shoe with a 0.1% solution and leave overnight.The spray also works well at disinfecting shoes and is a hypoallergenic product that leaves no marks or odor and works on shoes made of any material.
To effectively eliminate fungal infections and prevent their occurrence, you must carefully follow all precautions and monitor your health.With any disease, including fungal diseases, prevention is always easier than cure.