Athlete's foot (medically known as a dermatophyte foot skin infection) is one of the most common fungal infections of the feet. These microorganisms thrive in warm, humid environments such as athletic shoes, public showers, and swimming pools. Therefore, fungal foot infection often affects athletes but can affect any of those who encounter favorable conditions for its development. Without proper treatment, the fungus can spread to other areas of the feet, including the toenails, go from mild to chronic, and provoke the development of more serious and long-term infections.
If you are facing this problem, the specialists at Illinois Foot & Ankle Clinic, led by experienced podiatric surgeon Dr. Alex Yanovskiy, DPM, are ready to offer you a thorough examination and various methods of modern treatment of the athlete's foot.
Fungal infection of the foot (athlete's foot) is capable of manifesting itself in various forms, from mild to severe, depending on the degree of spread and depth of the skin lesion.
Let's look at the main types of this infection.
Minor Athlete's Foot is the initial stage of the disease. It is manifested by slight flaking of the skin and slight itching between the toes or on the arch of the foot. There is slight hyperemia (redness) of the skin, dryness and burning sensation. These symptoms do not cause much discomfort and are often ignored, allowing the infection to gradually progress.
Severe Foot Fungus: if not treated promptly, the infection can progress to a more severe form. Deep cracks in the skin, increased peeling, swelling and painful blisters appear. The fungus begins to affect the nail plates. There is its thickening, discoloration and structural destruction of the nails. In this stage, the infection not only brings physical discomfort, but also significantly complicates the life of the patient.
Extreme Foot Fungu is characterized by significant skin and nail damage. In this stage, there may be deep cracks, significant areas of inflamed and flaky skin, and extensive areas of damaged nails. The infection can cause severe pain, making it difficult to move around.
Mycosis of the foot (fungal infection) develops in the presence of favorable conditions.
The main causes and risk factors are:
Symptoms and signs of the disease may vary in intensity depending on the stage of the disease.
Itching and burning: severe itching in the area between the toes or on the sole of the foot. Often accompanied by burning, which increases when wearing shoes or after physical activity.
Flaking and dry skin: intense flaking of the skin - more often between the toes, on the soles and along the edges of the foot. The skin becomes dry and begins to crack, causing painful sensations.
Redness and inflammation: infected areas of skin take on a reddish color. The skin looks irritated and inflamed, and swelling appears.
Cracks and painful blisters: the progression of infection on the skin leads to the formation of painful cracks and small blisters filled with fluid. The blisters may burst, causing discomfort and secondary infections.
Thickening and changes in skin texture: in some cases, the skin affected by the fungus becomes thicker and rougher. Thickened areas become painful when walking, causing additional discomfort.
There are several basic diagnostic methods that can accurately determine the presence of fungus and the stage of the disease.
Visual inspection by a specialist is the first and easiest method of diagnosis. Experienced podiatrist Illinois Foot & Ankle Clinic Dr. Alex Yanovskiy, DPM, will be able to recognize the symptoms of infection by the appearance of the skin: the presence of peeling, cracks, redness and blisters. Based on visual inspection, the doctor will make initial conclusions about the degree of spread and possible complications of the infection.
Additional tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of foot fungal infection depends on the stage of the disease and the nature of the infection. There are several effective methods to get rid of the fungus and prevent its return.
For timely detection of such an unpleasant disease as athlete's foot, it is important to have regular preventive examinations with your doctor.
Make an appointment with Illinois Foot & Ankle Clinic specialist Dr. Alex Yanovskiy, DPM and he can help you get your feet back to health.
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