How Do I Treat Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's foot (commonly known as "Hong Kong Feet", athlete's foot) is caused by a fungal infection, and the skin damage often occurs unilaterally (ie, one foot), and the infection to the contralateral side occurs after several weeks or months. Blisters mainly appear on the abdomen and sides of the toes, most commonly between the three or four toes, and can also appear on the soles of the feet. They are deep, small blisters that gradually merge into bullae. Athlete's skin damage has a characteristic that the boundary is clear and can gradually expand outward. Due to disease development or scratching, erosion, exudation, or even bacterial infections, pustules, etc. may occur.

Basic Information

nickname

Hong Kong feet, athlete's foot

English name

tinea pedis

Visiting department

dermatology

Common causes

Caused by pathogenic fungi

Common symptoms

Blisters, peeling, or whitish skin, erosion, rough skin, itching

Causes of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is a skin disease of the foot caused by pathogenic fungi and is contagious. Athlete's foot is widespread worldwide and is more common in tropical and subtropical regions. In China, the incidence of athlete's foot is also quite high. There is no sebaceous gland between the soles of the feet and between the toes, which lacks fatty acids that inhibit the filamentous fungi of the skin, and the physiological defense function is poor. However, the skin sweat glands in these areas are rich, sweating more, coupled with poor air circulation, local humidity and warmth Conducive to the growth of filamentous fungi. In addition, the plantar stratum corneum is thicker, and the keratin in the stratum corneum is a rich nutrient for fungi, which is good for fungal growth.

During pregnancy, women's ability to resist fungal infections is reduced due to endocrine changes, and they are susceptible to athlete's foot. Obese people are prone to tinea pedis due to wet between the toes. Foot skin trauma damages the skin's defense function and is also one of the factors that induce athlete's foot. Diabetics suffer from a disorder of substance metabolism due to lack of insulin, an increase in skin sugar content and a decrease in resistance, and they are also susceptible to athlete's foot. Abuse of antibiotics, long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, etc., will cause the skin's normal flora to be out of balance, and will also increase the susceptibility to athlete's foot.

The onset of athlete's foot is also related to lifestyle. Some people do not pay attention to foot hygiene and the condition of shoes and socks, providing a good breeding ground for fungi.

Clinical manifestations of athlete's foot

The clinical manifestations are blisters, peeling, or white and moist skin on the toes. Erosion or thickening, roughening, and cracking of the skin can also occur. It can spread to the plantar and edges, and itching. May be accompanied by local suppuration, redness, pain, inguinal lymphadenopathy, and even secondary infections such as calf erysipelas and cellulitis. Because of scratching the itch with your hands, it often spreads to your hands and causes ringworm (liriodendron). Fungi grow on fingernails and become onychomycosis (gray nails). Fungi loves humid and warm environments. In summer, it is hot and sweaty. Those who wear rubber shoes and nylon socks provide a hotbed for fungi. In winter, the condition improves and the skin is cracked. There are the following types:

Blister type

Mostly occurs in summer, manifested as the size of rice grains between the toes, the edges of the feet, and the soles of the feet, deep blisters, scattered or clustered, the walls of the blister are thick, the content is clear, and it is not easy to rupture. After removing the blister wall, a honeycomb-shaped base and bright red erosive surface can be seen, and itching is severe.

2. Erosive

Appears as local cuticle cuticle soaking and whitish. As the epidermis is constantly rubbed off when walking, the bright red erosion surface is exposed; in severe cases, the skin between the toe seam, the toe belly and the sole of the foot can be involved, and itching is severe, and it often occurs between the 3, 4, and 5 toe seams. Common in sweaty people.

3.Scaling type

Symptoms are thickened, rough, and desquamated skin, toes, heels, and heels. The scales are flaky or dot-like and fall off repeatedly.

Athlete's foot treatment

1. Persons who have erosion or fluid between the toes

Do not use irritating drugs outside, it is best to make the wound converge and dry before using the medicine. You can use a 1: 8000 potassium permanganate solution for wet application, and then apply oil or powder topically. After the skin is dry, change to a cream or ointment such as terbinafine hydrochloride.

2. If the skin is thickened and thickened, it is difficult for antifungal drugs to penetrate and absorb.

You can use 10% salicylic acid ointment or compound benzoic acid ointment to soften the keratin, and then use antifungal drugs. If the skin is dry and cracked, you can soak it in warm water every time to soften the horny skin and then use antifungal medicine. If the skin is dry and cracked, you can apply ointment topically after soaking in warm water, then wrap it with a plastic film, apply a bandage, remove it after 24 to 48 hours, and then use antifungal medicine.

3. Small blisters on the feet, not broken

Can be soaked with 3% boric acid solution, and then choose antifungal creams such as bibenzazole cream.

4. Athlete's foot with bacterial infection, in principle, local antibacterial infection should be first

It can be wet applied with furacillin solution or 1: 2000 berberine solution. For severe infections, antibiotics such as cephalexin capsules and erythromycin can be taken orally.

5. Systemic treatment

For stubborn athlete's foot, oral medication can be given without contraindications. Such as terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole and so on. These oral drugs have good effects, but they should pay attention to the possible side effects, and those with poor liver function should not use them.

6. Stick to medication

Athlete's foot is a chronic infection that grows and reproduces in the stratum corneum of the fungus and requires long-term medication to completely remove it. Therefore, after the symptoms of tinea pedis are relieved, it is still necessary to persist in medication. The metabolic cycle of the skin is about 28 days, and the medication must be continued for more than four weeks. It is best to have fungal examinations and cultures, which are negative for three consecutive weeks to be considered a cure.

7. Don't use medicine randomly

The most important thing for athlete's foot medication is to follow a regular and regular treatment according to the type. Do not treat blindly by yourself, often delaying and exacerbating the condition.

8. Medication should be based on the specific conditions of the lesion

Tinctures should not be used on ulcers, and the skin becomes thick. Ointments should be used on cracks.

9. Acute inflammation occurs locally during secondary infection of athlete's foot

It can not be treated as general athlete's foot, and secondary infection should be treated first. If there is swelling, apply topical boric acid water or furacillin solution cold and warm, and apply antibiotics throughout the body if necessary.

Athlete's foot prevention

1. Pay attention to cleanliness, keep the skin dry, keep feet clean, wash several times a day, and change socks frequently.

2. Foot wash basins and towels should be used separately to avoid infecting others.

3. Normally, it is not advisable to wear air-tight shoes such as sports shoes and travel shoes, so as not to cause excessive sweat and worsen foot odor. People with tight toe seams can be sandwiched between clean gauze or cotton balls or choose toe socks to facilitate water absorption and ventilation.

4. Do not eat foods that are likely to cause sweat, such as peppers, green onions, and garlic.

5. Emotions should be quiet, excitement and excitement can easily induce sweating and aggravate athlete's foot.

6. Athlete's foot is an infectious skin disease. Scratching should be avoided to prevent self-infection and secondary infections.