The Concept of Tinea Pedis
Tinea pedis, also known medically as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungal infection. The feet sweat a lot and are warm and humid, which provides a good environment for the fungus to grow. It is contagious and is mainly transmitted by scratching the feet with hands, sharing shoes and socks, footbaths and bath towels with people who have foot fungus.
Causes of unbearable itchiness
Itch is an unpleasant sensation that is exclusive to the skin and causes the desire to scratch. Unlike pain and hot and cold sensation, the mechanism of itch is not clear yet. （The itch-scratch-itch cycle can make things worse and cause “itch too much”. However, the mental state can affect the itchiness, for example, a relaxed mood or distraction can reduce the itchiness, while anxiety, irritability or excessive attention can make the itchiness worse.
Foot fungus can have these manifestations
Foot fungus is common and often affects both feet. It usually occurs in the toe joints, especially the 3rd-4th and 4th-5th toe joints, and can extend to the edge of the foot. Based on the above symptoms plus fungal examination, it is clear whether you have foot odor or not.
Treatment of foot odor
The first choice is topical medication, such as ciclopirox, bifenoconazole, etc. Patients with persistent foot odor who are not treated with topical medications can take oral antifungal medications, such as itraconazole and terbinafine. Both topical and oral medications need to be administered under the guidance of a specialist.
If foot odor is not treated, it can have these consequences
(1) It can develop into gray nails, thickened, deformed, broken, bumpy nails, etc.
(2) Foot odor with erosion can easily develop into bacterial infection, pus, ulceration, etc.
(3) In more serious cases, it can also lead to dermatitis, acute lymphadenitis, lymphadenitis, etc.
Reasons for recurrence of foot fungus
The fungus is generally difficult to kill and can survive in an environment of -6 degrees to 120 degrees. Even if it is detached from living hairs, nails, toenails and dander, the fungal toxicity can be maintained for about a year.
Many patients can not adhere to the medication, the symptoms slightly improved, then stop the medication. In fact, the symptoms disappear, the fungus has not been completely killed.
The treatment is not regular as you don’t go to a regular hospital dermatology department and buy some medicine on your own and apply it topically.
The treatment of foot fungus should not listen to the prescription
Foot fungus is prone to recurrence, so you should not listen to the small advertisements of “ancestral secret recipes, package cure for foot fungus”. Please don’t throw yourself at the “doctor” in an emergency, early regular hospital consultation is the way to go.
Got foot odor in daily life need to pay attention to
(1) Do not share foot wash basin, shoes and socks, bath towels, etc.
(2) Do not use your hands to scratch, scratch or pick at the site of foot odor.
(3) Wear cotton socks and well ventilated shoes.
(4) Boil and disinfect socks if possible.
(5) Keep your mood relaxed.