Fungus on legs: symptoms, treatment

According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from a foot fungus or, as it is also called, epidermophyte. Most often, men suffer from this disease, which is more due not so much to physiology as to the fact that males tend to wear closed shoes more often than women.

Fungus on legs: causes and risk factors

The disease can be triggered by one of the following reasons:

• Inadequate body hygiene in general and foot in particular;

• uncomfortable and too tight shoes;

Excessive sweating of feet;

• Violations in the work of the human immune system;

• flat feet and other types of deformation of feet;

• use of public swimming pools and saunas;

• Inadequate hygiene of bathtubs and showers;

• excess weight;

• problems with the circulation of blood in the legs.

Common symptoms of foot fungus

Fungus on legs may manifest in different ways:

• inflammation of the skin on the heels and pads of the feet;

• itching of varying severity;

• cracks;

• peeling.

To find the right treatment for this disease will help to accurately determine the type of fungus that has hit the feet.

Fungus on legs and its types

In medicine, it is customary to distinguish 3 main types of fungus: membrane, moccasin-like, vesicular. And each of them is inherent in both general and characteristic only to him symptoms.

Symptoms of a membrane fungus:

• localization in the area of the 4th and 5th toes;

• scaly characteristic of most fungal species;

• Itching.

Moccasin-like fungus on legs differs from the others:

• thickening of the foot sole;

• Deeper cracks;

• painful sensation;

• damage to the nails, which, just like the skin of the feet, thicken, but at the same time become too fragile, capable of even leading to the loss of the nail plate.

For a vesicular fungus are characteristic:

• fluid-filled blisters;

• localization at the bottom of the foot.

Fungus on legs: diagnosis

The diagnosis of "foot fungus" is made by a dermatologist on the basis of a patient's examination. More detailed studies: scrapings, skin biopsy, cultivation - will help the doctor as accurately as possible to determine the type of fungus that has affected the patient. In addition, the doctor conducts a questioning of the patient for the manifestation of this disease in the past. The latter is especially important, as often recurrent manifestations of the fungus over a period of time signal the transition of the disease to a more severe form, which is more difficult to treat.

How to treat a fungus on legs?

Therapy of foot fungus does not require in-patient follow-up and is performed on an outpatient basis. In most cases, the patient is prescribed external antifungal drugs (Miconazole, Tinakitin and others). It should be noted that often people suffering from foot fungus do not turn to a specialist at all, limiting themselves to taking drugs sold in a pharmacy without a prescription. This scenario often leads to a favorable outcome of the disease. However, it should be remembered that prolonged therapy of the disease, accompanied by deterioration of the legs, indicates the advanced stage of the disease. The best way out of this situation will be a visit to a specialist who will help to find the best remedy for the foot fungus.