Epidermophytosis of nails. Treatment of athlete's foot: advice from the best dermatologists

Epidermophytosis of the nails is a disease in the process of development of which the nail plate is damaged by fungi from the epidermophyte genus. Cases of the disease are quite common. The appearance of stripes and yellow spots on the nail are the first signs of athlete's foot, over time, yellowness can spread over the entire surface of the nail.

The nail plate thickens, deforms, becomes brittle and brittle. Fungal lesions appear on the nails of the first and fifth toes (about 90% of cases), this is due to their periodic injury by shoes. This whole process further leads to the complete loss of the nail. To diagnose this disease, it is enough to examine the affected nail plate and take a scraping from the surface of the nail for microscopic analysis, during which the pathogen is determined.

You can get infected with epidermophytosis by contact, most often it happens in public places where people can walk barefoot - in swimming pools, gyms, baths and saunas. Adults are more often at risk for epidermophytosis of the nails. Cases of this disease in children are rare. Most often, urban residents suffer from this disease.

Symptoms of athlete's foot

The development of epidermophytosis of the nails begins with the appearance of yellowish spots and stripes from the free end of the nail. After some time, the spots increase significantly in size, up to the complete coverage of the nail plate. There are two options for the course of epidermophytosis of the nails.

Hypertrophic athlete's foot

The first is hypertrophic epidermophytosis of the nails, during which thickening, deformation of the nail plate occurs, it becomes brittle, fades and begins to crumble, and the free edge of the nail looks like it was bitten. The process is accompanied by subungual hyperkeratosis - the accumulation of horny masses under the nails.

Onycholytic epidermophytosis

The second version of this disease is more unpleasant. The nail can become thinner and gradually shed, this happens with onycholytic epidermophytosis of the nails.

The main difference between epidermophytosis of the nails and other mycotic diseases is that only the nails of the feet are damaged, on the hands the nail plates remain intact. This disease is characterized by a long course, in some cases up to ten years. Exacerbations usually occur in the summer, when the ambient temperature is high.

About a third of patients simultaneously suffer from epidermophytosis of the feet, while the characteristic signs are the formation of edematous, red and scaly lesions on the legs, and sometimes bullous rashes.

Diagnosis of athlete's foot

The first step in the diagnosis of epidermophytosis of the nails is a visual examination of the patient and the identification of clinical signs. The final diagnosis can be made only after a microscopic examination of the nail plate, scales or other elements of the affected nail. The results of such an analysis should show the presence of mycelial filaments. With the help of sowing on Sabouraud's medium, it is possible to determine the type of pathogen. An important step in the diagnosis of this disease is a differential diagnosis in order to distinguish epidermophytosis from other similar diseases.

Treatment of athlete's foot

Treatment of epidermophytosis of the nails includes, in the vast majority of cases, a set of measures aimed at eliminating the affected nail. The operation is performed under local anesthesia after tests for sensitivity to the anesthetic. After removing the nail plate, its bed is treated with a solution of brilliant green or fucarcin (aniline dyes), as well as nitrofungin, Castellani liquid (fungiride agents). Dressings are applied with antimycotic ointments ("Mikozolon", "Mikoseptin", "Kanesten", Wilkinson's ointment), if hyperkeratosis occurs, then keratolytic drugs are used. Treatment of epidermophytosis of the nails can be quite lengthy and can drag on for many years.

It is important to remember about the prevention of the disease, because it is always easier to prevent than to spend a lot of time and effort on treatment later.

Prevention of epidermophytosis of nails

Measures to prevent epidermophytosis of the nails will be simple hygiene principles. When visiting baths, showers or pools, you must use individual rubber slippers, have drying powders and a separate towel for your feet. It is worth paying due attention to the disinfection of shoes. If the first symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.


The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

Epidermophytosis represents fungal infection (mycosis skin, or ringworm), affecting the skin and its appendages (hair and nails). Infection is caused by fungi epidermophytons or trichophytons. Epidermophytosis has a chronic long-term course, and is transmitted by contact only from person to person. Fungal treatment infections carried out by various drugs that have an antifungal effect.

General characteristics of the disease

The term "epidermophytia" (epidermophytia) modern doctors and scientists mean a group of fungal infections of the smooth skin of the body, feet, hands or, in rare cases, nails. The scalp is not affected by epidermophytosis. In general, the term "epidermophytosis" consists of two words - "epidermis" and "phytia". The epidermis is the uppermost, outer layer of the skin, and phytia is the collective name for pathogenic fungi that can affect the epidermis, causing a long and sluggish chronic inflammatory process in it. Thus, the general meaning of the term "epidermophytosis" is a fungal infection that affects the outer layer of the skin (epidermis).

The fungi that cause epidermophytosis are contagious and widespread in the environment. Therefore, this infectious disease is also recorded very often in all parts of the world and countries of the world. Men are more susceptible to infection with epidermophytosis compared to women, as a result of which this infectious disease often develops in the stronger sex. In addition, there is evidence that urban residents are more likely to suffer from epidermophytosis than the rural population. Children under the age of 15 very rarely get epidermophytosis, and adolescents aged 15-18 suffer from this infection more often than children, but less often than adults.

The most susceptible to epidermophytosis are people who are long and often in conditions of high temperature and high humidity, as well as those individuals whose skin is constantly sweating, damaged or macerated. This means that epidermophytosis most often affects people who constantly visit pools, saunas and beaches (including employees of baths, saunas, pools, beaches, swimmers, etc.), and neglect the rules of personal hygiene (for example, walking without personal slippers, use of shared washcloths, towels in showers, etc.). In addition, professional athletes, workers in hot shops and coal mines often suffer from epidermophytosis, as their skin constantly sweats. Among professional athletes, swimmers, employees of baths, showers, pools, saunas, hot shops and coal mines, the incidence of epidermophytosis, according to a number of researchers, reaches 60 - 80%.

Epidermophytosis can occur in two main clinical forms - it is epidermophytosis of the feet and inguinal athlete. Athlete's groin is a form of infection that affects smooth skin mainly in large folds, such as inguinal, femoral, axillary, intergluteal folds, inner thighs, folds under the mammary glands in women, folds on the abdomen and waist in obese people, and also interdigital spaces on the hands and feet. The nails of the hands and feet with inguinal epidermophytosis are extremely rarely affected. Since most often the foci of fungal infection are located in the inguinal folds and on the inner surface of the thighs, this form of epidermophytosis is called "inguinal".

Epidermophytosis of the feet is a form of infection in which the skin of the arch and interdigital spaces of the feet is affected. In addition, with epidermophytosis of the feet, nails are often also involved in an infectious lesion. Due to the fact that with this form of infection the skin and / or nails of the foot are affected, it is called athlete's foot. Infection can occur in various clinical forms.

Epidermophytosis of the inguinal and feet is caused by various types of pathogenic fungi. So, inguinal epidermophytosis is caused by the fungus Epidermophyton floccosum (flaky epidermophyton), which is also called Epidermophyton inguinale Sabourand (pictured right). And athlete's foot is caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes, a variant of interdigitale. However, both fungi have similar properties, affecting primarily the epidermis, as a result of which the infections caused by them are combined into one large nosological group (disease) called "epidermophytosis".

At inguinal epidermophytosis lesions are usually located in the armpits, on the inner thighs, pubis, in the folds of the mammary glands or in the interdigital spaces of the feet or hands. First, small, scaly, inflamed spots appear on the skin, painted red, the size of a lentil grain. Gradually, the spots increase in size, forming rather large oval lesions, the surface of which is red, macerated, covered with vesicles and crusts. The edge of the lesions is elevated above the surface of the surrounding skin due to edema. With the ongoing course of infection, the foci merge with each other, forming fields the size of a palm. In the central part, the foci turn pale and sink, and along the edges there is a roller of exfoliating epidermis. Lesions itch. As a rule, epidermophytosis inguinal develops abruptly, with the simultaneous appearance of several small red spots at once. After that, the disease becomes chronic, and can last for years. After the transition to the chronic stage, epidermophytosis inguinal proceeds with alternating periods of exacerbations and remissions. Remissions are more or less quiet periods during which the lesions do not increase in size, do not itch and practically do not disturb the person. And during periods of exacerbations that occur after profuse sweating, the foci begin to rapidly increase in size, blush and itch.

At athlete's foot the skin of the foot is affected, and sometimes the nails. Nails are not always involved in the pathological process. Depending on how the disease proceeds and which areas of the skin of the foot are affected, there are five clinical varieties of epidermophytosis of the feet: erased, squamous-hyperkeratotic, intertriginous, dyshidrotic and nail. The listed varieties of epidermophytosis of the feet are rather arbitrary, since the disease often occurs in the form of a combination of clinical signs of two, three or four varieties.

Erased form epidermophytosis of the feet is characterized by the appearance of mild peeling in the area of ​​​​the arch of the foot. The focus of peeling is usually located in the area of ​​​​slightly reddened skin. Peeling areas can be both small and impressive in size, but are always limited to the foot. In some cases, a slight itch is fixed in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bflaking, which either appears or disappears. Due to the slight severity and low degree of discomfort of clinical manifestations, the erased form of epidermophytosis of the feet very often goes unnoticed. That is, a person simply does not attach importance to the peeling and slight itching that appeared on the skin of the foot, considering it to be some kind of temporary phenomenon provoked by irritation, abrasion or severe sweating of the foot in the shoe. However, a distinctive feature of the erased form of epidermophytosis is that the disease begins with skin lesions of only one foot, and over time it always affects the second leg. The erased form of epidermophytosis of the feet can turn into dyshidrotic, and dyshidrotic, on the contrary, often ends with erased.

Squamous-hyperkeratotic form epidermophytosis of the feet is characterized by the development of dry flat papules and plaques with thickened skin, painted in a bluish-red color. Usually plaques and papules are located on the arches of the foot. On the surface of papules and plaques (especially in their central parts) there are scaly layers of grayish-white scales. The formations are clearly delimited from the surrounding skin, and along their perimeter there is a roller of exfoliating epidermis. Such formations can merge with each other over time, forming large foci covering the entire sole and lateral surfaces of the foot. If plaques and papules initially formed in the interdigital spaces, then over time they can spread to the lateral and flexor surfaces of the fingers, as a result of which the latter acquire a whitish-gray color. In addition to papules and plaques, with epidermophytosis, yellow calluses with cracks on their surface can form. Itching, soreness and dryness of the skin develop in the area of ​​​​the formations.

Intertriginous form epidermophytosis of the feet is characterized by the appearance of lesions in the interdigital folds. Most often, fungal lesions appear in the folds between the fourth and fifth toes and, somewhat less frequently, between the third and fourth toes. In rare cases, the fungal infection spreads to other interdigital spaces, to the back of the foot, or to the flexor surfaces of the toes. Lesions are cracks in the skin, surrounded by a whitish exfoliating epidermis. In addition, weeping (liquid is released) and itching appear in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe cracks. With large cracks, pain occurs. As a rule, the intertriginous form of epidermophytosis of the feet develops from the squamous form, but in some cases it can appear on its own.

Dyshidrotic form epidermophytosis is characterized by the formation of a lesion in the arch of the foot. The lesion is a group of vesicles of various sizes, ranging from the size of a pinhead to a pea. The bubbles are covered with a tight lid. Over time, the bubbles merge with each other, forming large bubbles, consisting of separate chambers. In place of such blisters, eroded surfaces (areas of red, inflamed skin resembling a fresh abrasion) are formed, bounded by a raised roller of macerated (swollen and edematous) skin. The pathological process from the arch of the foot can spread to its outer and lateral surfaces. In the area of ​​the lesion, there is always itching and soreness. Usually the contents of the vesicles and multi-chamber bubbles are transparent, but when a bacterial infection is attached, it becomes cloudy. In this case, when the blisters open, pus is released. After the opening of the blisters and the formation of erosions, the inflammatory reaction gradually subsides, the damaged skin epithelizes (heals), and new blisters do not form, resulting in a period of remission. During the period of exacerbation, bubbles reappear in a person, merging into large multi-chamber bubbles, which eventually burst, and eroded surfaces form in their place. After healing of erosions, a period of remission begins again. The dyshidrotic form of epidermophytosis of the feet can flow for years, when relapses alternate with remissions. Relapses are most often observed in spring and summer, when the skin of the legs sweats more. As a rule, the skin of only one foot is affected, the infectious process rarely passes to the second leg.

nail shape epidermophytosis of the feet (epidermophytosis of the nails) is characterized by damage to the nail plates. First, yellow spots and stripes appear at the free edge of the nail, then the entire nail plate thickens, turns yellow, breaks and crumbles, and loose horny masses accumulate under it. Sometimes the nail plate becomes thinner and falls away from the nail bed, that is, onycholysis (melting of the nail) occurs. The nails of the first and second toes are most often affected. But the nails on the hands with epidermophytosis are never affected.
Cause of epidermophytosis(both inguinal and stop) is a pathogenic fungus that settles on the skin. However, just getting the fungus on the skin is not enough for the development of the disease. In order for epidermophytosis to appear, in addition to getting the fungus on the skin, it is also necessary to have predisposing factors that make the skin vulnerable to a pathogenic microbe. If there are no predisposing factors, then epidermophytosis does not develop, even if the fungus enters the skin in large quantities, since its protective properties do not allow the pathogenic microorganism to infiltrate the tissues and provoke an infectious-inflammatory process. If the skin is damaged under the influence of predisposing factors, then the fungus entering the skin will lead to the development of epidermophytosis.

For epidermophytosis of the feet, predisposing factors are sweating of the feet, flat feet, squeezing the legs with tight shoes, abrasions, diaper rash on the skin of the legs. In addition, doctors identify a number of diseases as predisposing factors for epidermophytosis of the feet, such as angiopathy, acrocyanosis, ichthyosiform skin lesions, as well as a deficiency of vitamins and trace elements.

Both clinical forms of epidermophytosis (both inguinal and stop) are transmitted only from sick people to healthy people when using common objects that may contain pathogenic fungi. That is, a patient with epidermophytosis uses an object on which pathogenic fungi remain. And if a healthy person uses the same object after a short period of time, he will transfer fungi to his own skin, as a result of which he can become infected with epidermophytosis. Thus, infection with inguinal epidermophytosis most often occurs when using common washcloths, towels, linen, oilcloth, bedpans, sponges, thermometers, etc. And infection with epidermophytosis of the feet most often occurs when using common rugs, bedding, flooring, basins, benches, as well as when wearing shoes, socks, tights, stockings, etc. together. Since all the items through which epidermophytosis most often occurs are usually used in public baths, saunas, swimming pools or on beaches, infection with the disease, as a rule, occurs when visiting these places.

Epidermophytosis of the hands is a skin disease caused by a skin lesion by a fungus. This disease can occur in one of three forms: intertriginous, dyshidrotic or squamous-hyperkeratotic.

Types of athlete's hand

With intertriginous epidermophytosis, areas of the skin between the 4th and 5th fingers are affected, the lesion can be between other fingers, but this is rare. Affected areas redden and itch. The skin is flaky, a crack passes through the center of the affected area. Small blisters may also form at the site of the lesion. This disease is observed most often in children.

Dyshidrotic epidermophytosis of the hands is more common in adults than in children. With this form of the disease, small or large bubbles form under the skin, dense to the touch. The appearance of bubbles is accompanied by itching and peeling. These manifestations are most often formed on the inner surface of the palms and on the fingers. In the affected areas, swelling, erosion of the skin, the formation of lymphadenitis and lymphangitis, which cause a lot of unpleasant painful sensations, are possible, and there is a high probability of secondary infection.

Squamous-hyperkeratotic epidermophytosis is characterized by a strong thickening, diffusion of the skin of the palms, the surface of the palms cracks, flakes. This disease also occurs only in adults, the presence of this disease in children is observed in very rare cases.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of fungal infection of the skin of the hands is the transfer of a fungal infection from the skin of the feet, therefore, if this disease is detected, if there are no visible signs of illness on the legs, it is recommended to conduct microscopy on the arms and legs. Other causes of infection: contact with a sick person, use of towels, washcloths, mittens of an infected person, non-compliance with basic hygiene rules. Based on these reasons, we can talk about preventive measures, consisting in hygiene, disinfection of personal hygiene items.

Treatment of the disease

In principle, athlete's foot is treated in the same way as legs. Usually, the doctor prescribes special medicinal compresses or antifungal ointments, which are applied to damaged skin after washing hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Ointment or compresses are prescribed by a doctor depending on the type of disease, its course, etc. Ointment is usually used 3-4 times a day, sometimes more often.

When using the ointment, on the third day, the itching disappears, and then the main symptoms of the disease. It is impossible to interrupt treatment after the improvement of the condition. You need to complete the full course, the duration of which is determined by the doctor. If the treatment is interrupted, not completed, the disease will flare up with renewed vigor, and it will be much more difficult to succumb to drugs. In addition, the disease can become chronic, sometimes subsiding for a while, then reappearing with renewed vigor. So any treatment should be completed, this will be the key to a successful recovery, without recurrence of the disease.

In contact with

Classmates

One of the unpleasant diseases of human nails is epidermophytosis, which appears as a result of the spread of the fungus, both on the legs and feet, and on the hands and even in the inguinal region. The fungus responsible for the disease is called epidermophyton and its appearance most often occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Geographically, the disease is distributed throughout the world and is most common in miners, swimmers, shower workers, athletes, workers in hot shops, etc.

Although the quality of medical services has improved significantly over the past decades, athlete's foot is still a common condition. The number of people infected with this fungus reaches 60-80% of the total population. By the way, residents of large cities are more likely to catch the disease than the rural population.

Infection process

Infection with the fungus occurs between people always in public places, for example, in saunas, swimming pools and showers with them. In addition, the disease can be transmitted through rugs, fabrics and floor coverings. Finally, shoes worn by an infected person, as well as socks and stockings, also contain sources of the disease.

How does the transmission process of the fungus take place? In a disease-prone person, there are many fungal spores and mycelial filaments in the scales of the epidermal layer. Therefore, they constantly flake off the skin and spread along the contact surfaces of the foot with other coatings. Exfoliated skin particles are the carrier.

Signs of the disease

As with any disease, it is important to identify its initial signs, for which you need to constantly monitor the condition of the nails. In case of infection, changes begin at the edge of the nail plate: the nail becomes yellow, either in the form of spots or in the form of stripes.

Gradually, in the absence of treatment, the nail begins to become thicker, its fragility increases, it may even begin to crumble. A horny mass accumulates under it, which is called subungual hypercaratosis. In addition, the nail plate may begin to separate from the skin on the hands or feet, accompanied by itching and burning. An interesting fact: most often infection begins with the nails on the first and fifth fingers.

In the event that the disease was transmitted to a person in the summer, when it is hot outside, skin blisters may form on the toes, and the feet will begin to swell. Later, the disease can also be transferred to the skin in the area of ​​​​the nail, for example, between the fingers, which will lead to the appearance of microcracks.

Establishing diagnosis

For medical detection of the disease, it is necessary to analyze the subungual stratum corneum for the presence of mycelial filaments of the described fungus in it. Another way to detect the disease is analysis under a microscope. In this case, exfoliated skin layers and scales can be used. Materials for analysis are scraped off the skin with a scalpel or cut off with scissors (if analysis of the nail plate is necessary). The collected particles are then soaked in a strong alkali solution and examined under a microscope.

In the case of a positive test result, which means the presence of a fungus in the skin layers, the treatment is simple enough to be carried out even at home. However, there are several factors that can affect the method of treatment. First, the presence of diabetes prohibits treatment at home. Secondly, the infection in humans should not be in the chronic stage.

Methods of treatment

Leading experts in the field of dermatology advise the use of simple drugs, the purchase of which does not require special instructions from a doctor. Examples of such drugs are tolnaftate, clotrimazole, miconazole and tebinafine. They can be packaged in various forms: lotions, gels, ointments, sprays. In rare cases, you can find a powder mixture.

The duration of treatment is from one week to one and a half months. It depends mainly on the stage of the disease, the degree of susceptibility of the organism and the level of spread of the fungus.

If watery subcutaneous blisters have formed on the skin, experts advise treating these areas of the skin layer with an aluminum chloride solution that removes fluid from the skin blisters. It is worth doing this procedure several times a day for three days. Each time after treatment with a solution, a medicinal cream should be applied.

Additional Help Tools

Foot baths with salt added can be an auxiliary way to fight infection. The composition of the bath should be as follows: two tablespoons of salt per five liters of water. The duration of the bath is at least five minutes a day, the procedure should be repeated until complete recovery.

Another drug is baking soda. It should also be mixed with water (one tablespoon in a small amount of water), after which the affected areas can be carefully treated with the finished solution. It is important to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Fungus on the toes is a widespread disease, so a dermatologist will be able to suggest many ways to prevent and treat the disease. For example, often experts advise removing dead cells from under the nail plate, which reduces the number of spores in the skin layers. It is very important here not to cause more harm and not damage the skin. Therefore, you should refrain from using metal manicure tools and prefer wooden sticks, nail files, or, in extreme cases, toothpicks.

Although, as described above, there are now many ways to treat fungus, the best way is not to get sick, which requires care and prevention. Refrain from wearing someone else's shoes, socks, stockings and observe hygiene standards.

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Epidermophytosis of the feet is one of the most common manifestations of mycoses in the human body. This is facilitated not only by our instability in front of fungal skin diseases, but also by the social aspects of this disease. Mycosis of the feet (syn. Epidermophytosis of the feet, external mycosis, less often called epidermophyton) is a relatively harmless disease for health, often without serious consequences, but due to its prevalence and the psychological factor in the form of a skin defect, it is one of the most problematic diseases in modern medicine .

Let's take a look, what is epidermophytosis of the feet. This disease is a form of fungal disease, or rather external (epidermal) candidiasis. It is caused by the fungus Trihophyton Interdigitalis, a representative of the opportunistic flora for humans.

In addition to this pathogen, epidermal candidiasis can be caused by fungi of such species as:

  • candida;
  • Pennicillins;
  • Aspargyles.

This happens only in cases of severe suppression of the immune system (with severe chronic diseases, pathology of the immune system, taking immunosuppressants).

Epidermophytosis is a very common disease. The fact is that most often it is carried by carriers, that is, people who do not have any symptoms of the disease.

Since fungal diseases
very contagious, they are quickly transmitted from person to person through household factors:

  • public showers;
  • baths;
  • working locker rooms;
  • hostels, boarding schools, barracks.

The overwhelming majority of fungi, including the causative agent of epidermophytosis of the feet, are opportunistic microorganisms, that is, under the usual conditions, they are not capable of causing disease in humans. In order for these microorganisms that are not dangerous for us to become pathogenic, certain conditions must be met, and resistance factors of the body and the environment play an important role in the development of a fungal disease:

  • the state of the immune system (AIDS, diabetes mellitus, aplastic anemia);
  • flat feet;
  • working conditions - constant loads on the lower limbs, irrational work / rest ratio. Robot at high temperatures (engineering, metal smelting);
  • uncomfortable shoes or constant use of rubber, airtight shoes (soldiers);
  • foot diaper rash;
  • close contact with carriers of fungal diseases.

Despite the primary lesion of the feet, Trihophyton Interdigitalis can also cause diseases such as epidermophytosis of the hands or located on the nail fold, causing epidermophytosis of the nails.

Epidermophytosis of the nails is dangerous not only for its unpleasant cosmetic appearance, but also for the possibility of the nail plate falling out in the absence of timely treatment. The fact is that with epidermophytosis of the nails, the growth roller of the nail phalanx can be affected, which will lead to the impossibility of creating a fresh nail for the duration of inflammation.

Not all fungi are equally dangerous

The clinical picture of epidermophytosis of the feet and nails is well known to everyone, and even people without medical education often independently make a similar diagnosis for themselves and begin to treat themselves.

1. Most often, external mycosis of the feet is manifested by a scaly (squamous) form:

  • typical localization - the plantar surface of the foot and their arches, in places of the closest contact with the shoes;
  • small single foci of scaly reddening of the skin, in rare cases they merge and become extensive;
  • most often localized on one limb, or in the region of several adjacent nail phalanges.

This clinical form causes severe itching, which only intensifies when scratching. It is by this mechanism that the fungus spreads along the foot, or passes to the upper limbs, causing such mycosis as epidermophytosis of the hands.

2. Interdigital, or interdigital form, is a little less common, but can lead to complications.

  • localized in the interdigital folds of the skin;
  • predominantly has the form of cracks and erosion of different sizes and depths;
  • It is these skin defects that weaken its main function - protective, and create favorable conditions for the penetration of pathogenic bacteria through the defects. This can lead to the development of erysipelas, streptoderma, and even phlegmon of the foot or hand;
  • has a pronounced seasonality with exacerbations in summer and winter, and relative remission in spring and autumn.

Epidermophytosis of the nails often develops from this form, in which not only the nail is affected, but also the bone roller.

3. Papular-erosive form:

  • The most severe and dangerous form. Often complicated by a secondary bacterial infection and has a strong tendency to generalize (spread). It occurs only in people with a deep immunodeficiency state, when the body is not able to adequately respond and localize inflammation;
  • There are group vesicles filled with purulent or serous content. They progress within 5-7 days, after which they rupture under the influence of internal pressure. A purulent exudate with a large number of fungi flows from the gaps. After that, the place of the papule turns into an ulcer, which gradually grows, merging with neighboring defects. Such ulcers can persist for 2-3 weeks, after which they thicken and gradually heal. At the same time, papules reappear in other parts of the feet, and the process repeats.

Examination and diagnosis

Epidermophytosis of the feet and hands is easily diagnosed, and the process of making a diagnosis does not cause any difficulties.

  1. Most often, the diagnosis is made on the basis of examination of the foci of inflammation. They have a characteristic appearance and localization depending on the clinical form.
  2. In doubtful cases, a dermatologist conducts an alkaline test with KOH followed by microscopy of the material. To do this, a smear is taken at the border of inflamed and normal skin, or exudate of vesicles is used in the papular-erosive form. If the patient has epidermophytosis of the nails, it is better to take part of the nail as material.

Mycosis with epidermophytosis has characteristic double-stranded filaments of mycelium and spores, which are easily visualized under a microscope. In the same case, part of the material is sent to the bacteriological research method (fungal colonies are grown) to confirm the diagnosis.

How to quickly get rid of the fungus

Due to the high prevalence, treatment of epidermophytosis of the feet with folk remedies is often used. But nevertheless, science has proven that these methods do not have such a positive effect as classical medicine, therefore it is better to start with it. Regardless of whether it will be the treatment of epidermophytosis of the nails or the feet, the treatment tactics will be as follows:

  1. First of all, you need to get rid of the factors that lead to the development of mycosis - carefully control diabetes, change jobs, wear more comfortable shoes, refrain from using public showers and pools.
  2. Correct the immune system by increasing the amount of rest, take a balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals.
  3. Drug therapy: the most commonly used local antifungal drugs are Clotrimazole, Lamisil, Triderm, preparations of Griseofulvin, Sertoconazole, Natamycin, Naftivin hydrochloride. All these drugs are most often available in the form of ointments or sprays for external use. In more severe cases (recurrent papular-erosive form), ointments can be combined with tableted antimycotic drugs.
  4. Physiotherapeutic methods - magnetotherapy, UHF - therapy, mud baths, barotherapy.

Epidermophytosis of the feet is easily amenable to therapy; to obtain a positive effect, the optimal course of treatment will be 6-8 weeks. Epidermophytosis of the nails requires a course of treatment of 3-6 weeks. Medications should be used according to the prescription, an overdose of the drug can only worsen the situation.

Conclusion

The future of medicine lies in prevention. That is why even in people who have never had fungal skin diseases, it is better to exclude all factors for the development of mycosis, thereby preventing the disease in the bud. But circumstances do not always depend on the person, and in the event of epidermophytosis of the feet, do not forget that self-treatment can be dangerous for your health, therefore, even in the mildest cases of a fungal disease, it is better to consult a specialist.


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