What is the problem with athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is what we call Hong Kong's foot. Many people suffer from great pain and low self-esteem because of it, especially in public places. In many cases, athlete's foot is caused by fungal infection or some bad hygiene habits, so we must pay attention to prevention.

1. Athlete's foot is caused by fungal infection. The skin damage often occurs on one side (i.e. one foot) first, and then infects the other side after several weeks or months. Blisters mainly appear on the soles and sides of the toes, most commonly between the third and fourth toes, and can also appear on the soles of the feet. They are deep small blisters that can gradually merge into large blisters. A characteristic of the skin lesions caused by athlete's foot is that they have clear boundaries and can gradually expand outward. As the disease progresses or scratching occurs, erosion, exudation, or even bacterial infection and pustules may occur.

2. Infection by pathogenic bacteria

The pathogenic bacteria are mostly Trichophyton and Epidermophyton species, the main species are Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Trichophyton rosea. Trichophyton rubrum has become the main pathogen of tinea pedis in my country because of its strong resistance and difficulty in control. Athlete's foot is a superficial fungal infection that invades the epidermis, hair and nails. It is a contagious skin disease. Most patients first suffer from athlete's foot and then get infected to the hands and other parts of the body. The high incidence of athlete's foot is mainly due to the following reasons: First, the skin on the soles of the feet has no sebaceous glands and lacks fatty acids that can inhibit fungi. Second, the skin on the soles of the feet is rich in sweat glands and sweats more, creating a humid environment that is conducive to the growth of mold. Third, the stratum corneum of the skin on the soles of the feet is thicker, and the keratin in the stratum corneum is a nutrient for the growth of fungi. In addition, due to wearing shoes and socks, the local environment is stuffy, and foot sweat is difficult to dissipate, making it moist and more conducive to the growth and reproduction of mold.

3. Poor personal hygiene habits

It is easy to get infected if you come into contact with the patient's shoes, socks, gloves, shared slippers, towels and bathtubs. Dermatophytes are often transmitted through contaminated bathhouses, swimming pool floors, bath towels, public slippers, and foot basins.

4. Pathology:

Athlete's foot is transmitted by contact. Because the epidermal cells of the palms and soles take a long time to replace, the stratum corneum is thick, there are many sweat glands but no sebaceous glands, and the feet are often covered in shoes and socks that are airtight, making it difficult for sweat to evaporate, the local temperature is high and the humidity is high. The stratum corneum is often soaked and softened, and the acidity and alkalinity of the epidermis changes, thus creating good conditions for fungal growth.