Fungi and yeasts are a fairly common condition, and can affect different areas of the body. One of the most common conditions of this type is the one that occurs in the feet, either in the sole or in the nails. Many people wonder how to know if they have foot fungus, since it is something very annoying, which can sometimes be confused with other skin and nail problems and must be treated as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading.
The main symptoms of foot fungus are constant itching and burning, cracks in the skin, flaking skin, redness of the skin, discolored or yellowish nails, loss of and thick nails and even blisters. As it is sometimes not easy to identify them, at FastlyHealwe have compiled the necessary information about the different types of foot fungus and the different conditions that they can cause us, including photos to make it easier to recognize this problem. In addition, we advise you that as soon as you detect it, you go to a podiatrist as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
Athlete’s foot had his foot
There are some fungal diseases that can affect practically any part of the body, such as candidiasis which, if found in the feet, is known as foot candidiasis , although at the same time it can be in other areas of the body and will be treated. general form for this type of fungus.
On the other hand, there are other diseases that are specific to the feet, either in the plantar area, upper area, between the toes or in the nails themselves, and may appear in a single part or in the entire foot. This is the case of athlete’s foot or tinea pedis or foot , which can be found in the whole of this part of the body, especially on the sole, or be interdigital, that is, between the toes. It is true that this disease does not usually affect the nails unless it is a very advanced case.
Most frequently, it is contracted by people who suffer from excessive sweat on their feet, wear inappropriate footwear that do not perspire well, go barefoot in public areas such as showers and baths in swimming pools and gyms or, by people who have a skin injury or even on the nail and that it has not been properly treated and has not healed completely.
There are several types of athlete’s foot or heel:
- Hyperkeratotic athlete’s foot: it differs because there are several cracks in the skin, it flakes and there is a thickening in it. It is also known as squamous or hyperkeratotic epidermomycosis.
- Chronic tinea pedis: it is the most frequent form of foot fungus and stands out because the skin becomes very red and there is constant itching, being stronger at night since it is the time of day in which the microorganisms guilty of the condition are more assets.
- Inflammatory or vesicular athlete’s foot: in this type of condition, blisters or vesicles appear on the skin, which must never be opened or burst, but treated properly.
- Ulcerative ringworm: when the fungal condition has advanced, opportunistic infections are common, as is the case with bacterial infections, and ulcers eventually form on the feet.
Below, apart from the photo of fungus on the sole of the foot at the beginning of the article, you can find more images of fungus on the feet. The image below shows what athlete’s foot or tinea pedis looks like, in its interdigital form or also called dyshidrosiform epidermomycosis.
Onychomycosis or nail fungus
These parasites normally infest the skin and, little by little, end up passing to the nails of the feet and hands , although there are those that directly prefer this part of the body. Hit nails are often brittle nails , nails yellow and whitish and thicker than usual color. The main reasons for the appearance of nail fungus or onychomycosis are poorly drying feet, going barefoot in publicly shared areas, having a broken nail that does not heal well, suffering from excessive sweating and wearing shoes and socks that do not perspire well .
In addition, those who tend to work with water, the elderly, diabetics, people with skin and nail problems, and patients with weakened immune systems or low defenses are more likely to suffer from this problem.
If you are looking for photos of fungus in the feet and in their nails, below you will see an image in which a case of onychomycosis can be observed very well.
Names of types of foot fungus
In addition to knowing the possible symptoms and the different types of fungal or fungal conditions in the feet, it is convenient to know the species that can affect us. There is a wide variety of fungi that affect the feet in different areas of these or in their entirety. However, the main types of foot fungus , which are therefore most commonly identified by the podiatrist, although they are not the only species, are the following:
- Trichophyton rubrum
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes
- Trichophyton interdigitale
- Epidermophyton floccosum
- Onychocola canadensis
- Scytalidium lignicola
- Scytalidium hyalinum
- Scytalidium synanamorph
- Nattrassia mangiferae
- Hendersonula toruloidea
How to get rid of foot fungus – medical treatment
The medical treatment for foot fungus is the most effective, because if completed, then prevention guidelines are appropriate is the best way to prevent a recurrence of these.
If you wonder how to cure foot fungus with medical treatment, that is, what the specialist will do to you and what he can recommend, you will be interested to know that first he will check the affected part well and surely do a little scraping to be able verify that it is this problem and detect the species that is affecting you. In this way, you will be able to better focus the treatment so that it is really effective.
Among the medications that may be prescribed are antifungal or antifungal topical and oral use . If the problem is still mild, he may only prescribe the ointment or cream, on the other hand, if it is somewhat advanced, he will also prescribe oral medications.
Home remedies for foot fungus
In addition to taking and applying the antifungal medications prescribed by your doctor, you can ask him which of the following home remedies are suitable to combine as a reinforcement with medical treatment in your case. Take note of the best products to make a natural or home treatment for foot fungus :
How to cure foot fungus with baking soda
This product is alkaline and serves to hinder the advance of the fungal condition and allows it to be easily eliminated. Take foot baths in a basin with enough water to cover up to the ankles and 2 or 3 tablespoons of diluted baking soda, let it take effect for 10 or 15 minutes and, finally, rinse well with fresh water.
Apple vinager
It has alkaline properties and helps to regulate the pH of the skin and to regenerate it, hindering the proliferation and thus facilitating the elimination of the culprit fungal microorganism. To use this remedy, in a basin or container, you have to mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts and soak the feet for 20 minutes or, wet a gauze or clean cloth and apply it to the affected pieces, allowing it to take effect for 15 minutes and, when finished, the wet parts should be dried very well with a clean towel to avoid proliferation.
Tea tree oil
The tea tree has a strong odor and is a powerful antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic. For this reason, it is one of the most used natural remedies to eliminate fungus both on the skin and on the nails. It is important to use one that is prepared in a concentration between 25% and 50%, it is not really necessary to use one with a higher concentration since it is very powerful. To apply it, one or two drops should be used on the affected area 2 or 3 times a day and let it dry.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of foot fungus – with photos , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.