Our feet are probably one of the most important parts of our daily lives, and also one of the most ignored. This is because this part of our body, besides being strongly innervated and connected to 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 around and just as we do, in a bipedal way.

But this part of our anatomy can suffer from various types of problems, including unwanted visitation and infection by other beings. This is the case of the fungal infection of the feet , of which we will see the main characteristics throughout this article.

Foot fungus

Fungal infections in the feet or the presence of foot fungi occur when the skin or nail of that part of our anatomy is invaded by some kind of fungus. An invasion that generates an infection which in turn will cause a symptomatology that can be quite diverse depending on the species and the place of infection. These infections are produced by dermatophyte fungi, which feed on the keratin of our skin and nails .

Symptoms

When we have fungus on our feet, it settles and develops on different parts of our limb, usually between the toes, on the nails or on the sole or heel. The symptoms may vary, but in general we will find that those who suffer from foot fungus often manifest itching and burning in the affected area, possible spots and lesions, skin peeling and inflammation .

The presence of foul odor may also be indicative (although foul odor of feet is not necessarily equivalent to fungus). When the affected part is the nail, there may be deformation, fragmentation or changes in colour (white, yellow or dark). They can also become thicker or thinner, and break or fall off very easily.

Among the fungal infections the one in the feet is one of the most common, and among the most common types of fungal infection in that area we can find onychomycosis in the nails, athlete’s foot (usually in the toes or between them) or paronychia (in which the infection usually occurs in the cuticle of the nail).

Causes: how are they transmitted?

Although we don’t usually go barefoot in nature, it is relatively easy to suffer from foot fungus. There are many factors that can contribute or facilitate this fact, but in general, for them to grow it is necessary to have a series of conditions that allow the fungus to grow and expand in the skin.

One of the main and most common is our use and choice of footwear . Fungi grow easily in hot and humid areas, conditions that can be found on our feet especially if we have them in shoes that are not very breathable and narrow. Likewise, a very typical way of spreading fungi is to share hygiene materials with an infected person or to go barefoot to shared areas that are usually damp, 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 may have fungus on their feet . Examples of this can be found in diabetes (in which the subject must also have frequent checks to avoid problems such as diabetic foot), hyperhidrosis or conditions that reduce the capacity 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 hot periods, and especially during the summer, being this a period in which they reproduce very easily. In addition, we must also take into account that there are professions with a higher risk of contracting them, such as athletes and professional sportsmen (the name of one of the best known infections, athlete’s foot, is not mere coincidence) or those professions in which people remain standing for a long time.

Treatment

Fungal infections of the feet should be treated differently in each case. In this regard, it is necessary to take into account possible changes that occur at the same time as the infection. For example, people with diabetes will be more likely to have fungi and foot problems and should be more vigilant in this regard. Likewise if the infection also spreads through the leg, a doctor should be consulted to verify that something more serious does not occur

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

The maintenance of correct hygiene in the foot area is fundamental both at the level of treatment and prevention: it will be necessary to wash the feet with water and soap and to rinse them correctly and without leaving traces of soap. The use of shoes and socks that allow perspiration will make it difficult for the infection and fungi to grow. It is also necessary to avoid going barefoot in humid areas such as swimming pools or sharing hygienic elements such as towels due to the ease with which the type of fungi that appear on the feet can be transmitted.

Bibliographic references:

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