Foot fungus
Foot fungus – what is it?
Foot fungus is a fungal infection that occurs between the toes, on the soles of the foot, and in rare cases also on the top of the foot, and it can sometimes become chronic. People with foot fungus are also at greater risk of toenail infection: If the fungus spreads to a nail, this is referred to as nail fungus. According to estimates, one in three people in Germany suffer from foot fungus.
The disease is caused by filamentous fungi, or “dermatophytes”, which settle in the horny substance of the skin and feed on it. In its initial stages, a foot fungus infection is hardly visible to the naked eye. The first signs are stubborn itching, which frequently occurs between the toes, and also reddened, sometimes weeping areas of skin. If left untreated, the symptoms increasingly worsen – in the worst case the damaged skin is at risk of streptococcal infection (“erysipelas”) with fever and hospital treatment.
Symptoms of foot fungus
- Reddened or weeping areas of skin
- Flaky skin
- Blistering
- Unpleasant smell
- Itching
- Inflammation
The right treatment and therapy for foot fungus
The treatment of foot fungus depends on the extent of the fungal infection. In the initial stages, external applications are usually sufficient. If infection progresses further, oral therapy should also be used to fight the fungus.
Dry, infected skin needs skin care products that are rapidly absorbed by the skin and do not leave an unpleasant, greasy film on the skin that can cause the skin to swell even more. Nevertheless, they should still provide the skin with sufficient lipids and moisture in order to restore the skin’s natural protective function. An intact skin barrier is the best protection against reinfection.
