Foot fungus: causes, symptoms and treatment

Our feet are probably one of the most important parts of our daily lives, and also one of the most ignored. And it is that this part of our organism, in addition to being strongly innervated and connected with the rest of the body, is the base on which our body rests to remain upright thanks to the action of our muscles. Thanks to them we can walk and move and just as we do, in a bipedal way.

But this part of our anatomy can suffer various kinds of problems, including unwanted visits and infection by other beings. This is the case of foot fungus infection, of which we will see the main characteristics throughout this article.

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foot fungus

Fungal foot infections or the presence of foot fungus occur when the skin or nail of that part of our anatomy is invaded by some type of fungus. An invasion that generates an infection which in turn will cause symptoms that can be quite diverse depending on the species and the place of infection. These infections

They are produced by dermatophyte fungi, which feed on the keratin of our skin and nails..

Symptoms

When we have foot fungus, they settle and develop on different parts of our extremities, generally between the fingers, on the nails or on the sole or heel. The symptoms may vary, but at a general level we will find that those who suffer from foot fungus usually manifest itching and burning in the affected area, possible spots and lesions, skin peeling and inflammation.

The presence of bad odor can also be indicative (although bad foot odor does not necessarily equate to fungus). When the affected part is the nail, there may be deformations, fragmentation or color changes (white, yellow or dark). They can also become thicker or thinner, and break or detach very easily.

Among fungal infections, that of the feet is one of the most common, and among the most common types of fungal infection in said area we can find nail onychomycosis, athlete's foot (usually on or between the fingers) or paronychia (where the infection usually occurs in the nail cuticle).

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Causes: how are they transmitted?

Although we do not usually go barefoot by nature, the truth is that it is relatively easy to get to suffer from the presence of fungus on the feet. There are many factors that can contribute or facilitate this fact, but in general for these to reach grow it is necessary that a series of conditions exist that allow the fungus to grow and expand in the fur.

One of the main and most common is our use and choice of footwear. Fungus grows easily in hot and humid areas, conditions that can be found on our feet especially if we have them in narrow, poorly breathable shoes. Likewise, a very typical route of infection is sharing hygiene material with an infected person or going barefoot to shared areas that are usually humid, such as showers and swimming pools.

Another factor to take into account is that there are conditions that contribute and facilitate that those who suffer from it can get fungus on the feet. Examples of this can be found in diabetes (in which the subject must also undergo frequent check-ups to avoid problems such as diabetic foot), hyperhidrosis or conditions that decrease the ability of the immune system to fight infections.

Linked to the above, we also have to take into account that fungi are much more frequent in periods of heat, and especially during the summer, this being a period in which they reproduce with great ease. In addition, it must also be taken into account that there are professions with a higher risk of contracting them, such as athletes and sportsmen. professionals (the name of one of the most well-known infections, athlete's foot, is not a mere coincidence) or those professions in which one spends a lot of time standing time.

Treatment

Fungal foot infections should be treated differentially depending on each case. In this sense, it is necessary to take into account possible alterations that occurred at the same time as said infection. For example, people with diabetes will be more likely to have fungus and foot problems and should be more vigilant in this regard. In addition If the infection also spread through the leg, a doctor should be consulted. to make sure something more serious isn't happening

In general, the treatment to be used is usually antifungal drugs and even antibiotics, often in the form of a topical cream. Laser treatments can also be used. Despite this, there are also oral presentations for severe cases or when the fungus occurs in the nail area. In some of the latter cases, it is possible that it may even be necessary to remove the nail.

Maintaining proper hygiene in the foot area It is essential both in terms of treatment and prevention: you will need to wash your feet with soap and water and rinse them properly and without leaving traces of soap. The use of footwear and socks that allow perspiration will hinder the infection and growth of fungi. It is also necessary to avoid going barefoot on wet grounds such as swimming pools or sharing items hygienic as towels due to the ease with which the type of fungus that appears on the feet has for the contagion.

Bibliographic references:

• Caballero Martinez, F.; Jurado Moreno, J. and López Rocha, A. (2005). Guide to good clinical practice in fungal infections. Collegiate Medical Organization of Spain. Ministry of Health. Spain.