Each of us feels discomfort when the skin on the legs peels off. This problem is especially unpleasant for the beautiful half of humanity. Taking care of their ideal appearance, women pay special attention to the skin of their legs. After all, this part of the body is the subject of admiration for men. And how you don’t want to show flaky skin on your legs, which, of course, will spoil the look of a new miniskirt. Yes, and others will think about whether there are any dangerous diseases in a person who has such visual manifestations. Modern cosmetics can sometimes have the other side of the coin. Those chemical additives that are part of them cause allergies and intolerance, and as a result - peeling of the skin of the legs. In severe cases, the epidermis is so affected that it peels off, cracks and hurts. Why does the skin peel off? How to determine the cause of this condition? Only a qualified dermatologist can answer these questions. It is necessary to contact him for a consultation at the first symptoms of a pathological condition of the skin of the legs that has appeared.
All organs and systems of the human body are reliably protected by the upper layer of the epidermis. As a real protector, the skin should have a healthy appearance, be elastic, elastic, sufficiently moisturized. If these qualities are absent, then there are problems with her condition that require correction and treatment. Before starting therapy, it is necessary to find and eliminate the causes and answer the question: “Why does the skin on the feet and fingers flake off, what are the causes of such a pathology?”. The reasons are conditionally divided into three large groups. The first is medical reasons. This is an individual allergic intolerance to certain foods, body care products, fabrics from which clothes are sewn. Synthetic tights or leggings, which are a must in the wardrobe of every girl or woman, sometimes become a real threat to the skin, causing peeling on the legs.
Small pustular rash, fungal infection in most cases are a neglected form of serious skin diseases and cause peeling of the skin of the legs. These include manifestations of herpes zoster.
Lack of vitamins due to an unbalanced diet of the same type becomes one of the medical causes of dry skin on the feet in the first position. After all, its condition depends on what useful microelements the blood brings to the skin. And they enter the body with food. In order to prevent such phenomena, it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, include fruits and vegetables, fish, and dairy products in the diet.
In the modern world, environmental causes become provocateurs of many diseases, and peeling of the skin of the legs is no exception. Due to the irrational and careless use of water resources, many water bodies, including underground ones, suffer from pollution. Chemicals are used to clean them. Such water in some people does not cause any reactions, while in others it can provoke dermatitis.
The third group of causes that provoke flaky toes, and the skin in general, include physiological ones. They are age related. After all, aging skin cannot be made elastic and young by turning back the clock. This is where plastic surgery comes in.
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Dry feet and toes problems
Most of the time throughout our lives, our feet spend in shoes. There is no natural ventilation. The feet are subject to moisture loss much more than other parts of the body. Weakened blood circulation provokes gaps in the work of the sebaceous and sweat glands. The skin on the soles of the feet loses its natural lubrication and flakes off.
But redness, peeling of the skin on the legs and itching can be symptoms of an even more formidable disease - fungal infections. Fungi are the simplest microorganisms that settle on the skin and begin to eat it. The fungus feeds on carotene, which creates a protective surface of our skin and, having eaten in full, forms a defense for its cellular system. There are about one and a half million species of fungi in the world. With the defeat of the feet and the skin between the fingers, a person feels itching, discomfort, burning. The aesthetic appearance of rashes, especially on women, is always depressing. The danger of some types of fungus exists for the whole organism as a whole. Candidiasis can affect the mucous membranes of internal organs. There are known cases of mycosis and candidiasis of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Recurrent and complicating biogenic infections of mycosis can provoke the development of varicose veins, erysipelas. The skin can begin to peel due to a number of factors:
- increased sweating of the legs;
- maceration;
- microtrauma;
- frequent visits to public places (baths, pools);
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
You can become infected with mycosis directly from a sick person and by invisible dispersion of the mycelium of the fungus on linen, slippers, clothes, carpets, towels.
To determine the infection with a fungus, it is necessary to pass certain samples taken directly from the sites of infection. Visually affected feet or toes have a reddish tint, which indicates the appearance of hyperemia. Itching appears. If the form of the disease of epidermophytosis is intergynous, then it is quite strong, and in the case of a dry squamous form, it is insignificant. If the process is intensified by allergization, then the itching resumes.
A serious danger is the cracks that have appeared, which become infected with streptostaphylococcal bacteria. This infection provokes the development of pustular rashes. The skin on the toes in the area of cracks hurts, especially when walking. Pathogenic microflora conducts its vital activity and as a result an unpleasant odor appears, which irritates both the person suffering from this disease and those around him.
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Therapy Methods
All of the above problems of the skin of the legs are perfectly treatable if it is started on time. And the first point in it is prevention, careful care and everyday hygiene procedures.
Competent care consists in keeping the skin of the legs clean, selecting tights and socks made from natural fabrics. Every day, going to bed, you need to lubricate your feet with nourishing fatty creams for good hydration. A warm bath with a pumice stone will keep your feet soft, and rough skin will not serve as food for fungal microorganisms. Not only tools, but also means for peeling will help in such procedures. These are different masks. For their preparation, use sea salt (1 tablespoon) and half a glass of sour cream or cream. This scrub cleanses the skin of the feet after preliminary steaming.
Substances for nutrition should get on the flaky skin of the legs not only by applying creams and masks, but also by introducing into your usual diet a large amount of liquid, healthy fats contained in nuts, fish, vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables. In winter, various vitamin complexes are recommended that will replenish the balance of missing trace elements and minerals.
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Peeling of the skin on the legs, caused by more complex diseases - fungal infections - is treated with ointments containing antifungal elements and corticosteroid hormones. Such a modern pharmacological industry produces in sufficient quantities, but they must be used exactly following the instructions, after visiting a dermatovenereologist. Ointments based on Hydrocortisone, Dexapanthenol, Bepanten are very popular.
“The feet of the wolf feed,” says folk wisdom. After all, this part of the body provides movement and gives a person the opportunity to perform any work. Various disorders that occur on the skin of the legs, with improper care and treatment, can lead to complications. Qualified therapy, revision of your diet, wardrobe, shoes will save you forever from problems on your feet, and flaky skin will become firm and elastic.
Human skin is its protective barrier, and well-groomed performs its functions better and looks very beautiful. For some reason, all women take care of their facial skin to a greater or lesser extent, but not everyone knows what to do if the skin on their legs becomes dry and begins to peel off.
Women's legs have always attracted the attention of men, so it is necessary to get rid of dryness and flaking of the skin of the legs.
Peeling and dry skin on the legs not only looks ugly, often skin pathology is accompanied by unpleasant sensations - it itches or “pulls”.
To effectively eliminate this unpleasant defect of the skin, it is necessary to determine the causes of its occurrence, which can be divided into 4 large groups:
- negative external influence;
- age-related irreversible changes;
- infectious lesions of the skin of the legs;
- unbalanced diet and allergic reactions.
Depending on the causes of dehydration of the skin of the legs, in which peeling begins, measures should be taken to eliminate it.
The skin on the legs begins to become dry and flaky as a result of exposure to a number of irritants:
- dry indoor air during the heating period;
- underwear and tights (leggings) made of artificial materials, and even with the effect of tightening - these things interfere with the normal process of skin breathing, which leads to a violation of the water balance;
- UV exposure even gives the skin a beautiful tan, but it also dehydrates it very much, which is especially noticeable when using a solarium;
- The chlorinated pool water also dries out the skin very much.
Dryness and flaking of the skin of the legs can be caused by many reasons.
Age-related thinning of the skin
The structure of the epidermis changes with age - the skin becomes thinner, loses moisture and begins to peel off. This is due to the gradual age-related disappearance of collagen fibers that form the mass of the dermis, the water-lipid mantle ceases to cope with its duties due to a decrease in the amount of fluid entering the epidermis, as well as emerging disorders in the secretion of sebum, etc.
As we age, skin loses elasticity and becomes dry.
These gerontological changes are the cause of moisture deficiency and the appearance of dry and flaky skin of the legs.
Infectious lesions
When skin diseases occur, a violation of the skin barrier occurs, which initially leads to a loss of moisture, that is, it is one of the causes of dry skin on the legs, which often also flakes off.
If the dry skin of the legs is caused by a fungal infection, itching may occur - the skin between the fingers itches (covering the feet is also possible). In this case, the treatment should be carried out by a dermatologist, based on mandatory laboratory tests.
Can a fungal infection cause dry feet?
The appearance of dry and flaky skin tissue of the legs can be caused by eczema, psoriasis, exfoliative dermatitis, Kawasaki disease (typical for children and adolescents). Treatment is carried out by a dermatologist according to the diagnosis.
In addition to directly dermatological diseases, dry, flaky and irritated skin on the legs can be the result of a number of somatic diseases:
- diabetes;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- hepatitis;
- various pathologies of the kidneys and more.
Flaky dry skin on the legs can occur as a result of the use of steroid hormones (topically) - even if they are used for a short time, they cause dysfunction of the horny skin.
Improper nutrition
A healthy diet should contain sufficient amounts of vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood.
Lack of vitamins - beriberi - is also the reason why the epidermis of the legs becomes dry.
You should drink more than 1.5 liters of water per day (juices, mineral water, etc.).
Remember to drink clean water throughout the day
Regular consumption of fast foods, coffee, alcohol and tobacco products eventually leads to the appearance of dry epidermis on the legs.
Often the cause of dry skin on the hands and feet is an allergic reaction to food, cosmetics, synthetic products and materials.
In addition, dryness and flaking after depilation (especially if done with a razor) can be called a kind of allergic reaction of the skin on the legs.
Methods for moisturizing the skin
Even with flaky and very dry epidermis on the legs, regardless of the cause of the pathology, the best way to eliminate the defect is to moisturize the skin tissues.
Substances that moisturize the skin are divided into two types:
- hydrophilic - moisturize the stratum corneum from the inside and retain moisture on the surface of the skin;
- hydrophobic - form a membrane on the surface of the dermis that prevents the evaporation of liquid.
The skin of the feet needs regular care and attention.
An innovation in the hydration of the epidermis are aquaporins, in fact, the water gates of the cell, which are responsible for the entry and exit of fluid from the cell tissue.
In 2003, scientists P. Aigre and R. McKinan were awarded the Nobel Prize (in chemistry) for the discovery of specific protein compounds of aquaporins.
In particular, aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is located in the tissues of the epidermis and is responsible for its hydration. It is easily destroyed under the influence of acid peeling so beloved by women, UV irradiation. With age (over 40 years), the number of aquaporins decreases significantly, which is why skin tissues become dry and sluggish.
Substances that stimulate the body's production of AQP3 have been discovered, and cosmetics manufacturers have begun to include them in their products (trademark Hydreis). These cosmetics can improve the condition of even very dry, flaky skin of the legs.
Foot baths
If you do foot baths, this will help to quickly solve the problem with dry skin and peeling on the foot and toes.
Baths are recommended to be done twice a week using chamomile, oak bark, celandine, hops and other medicinal plants. The effect of such procedures manifests itself quickly enough - the skin of the foot ceases to be dry and begins to look healthy.
After the bath, a moisturizer should be applied to the feet.
Foot masks
There are a large number of moisturizing masks, both factory-made and those that are easy to make at home on your own.
Several homemade moisturizing masks
- Egg.
Mix softened butter (1 tsp), egg yolk, a little baby cream and grated raw potatoes (2 tsp). Mix everything into a homogeneous mass and apply on the skin of the legs (previously steamed). Close the mask with cling film, then with a warm scarf or blanket. After 20 minutes, remove and apply a nourishing cream. Make a mask up to 2 times a week.
Masks will help improve the condition of the skin of the legs
- Apple-honey.
Grind an apple (medium) into gruel, add 2 tsp. honey and 5 tsp. vegetable (any, but better than olive) oil. Mix the mass well and apply, after steaming the legs, wrap with a film and a warm blanket. Hold for up to 25 minutes, then rinse and apply a nourishing (or moisturizing) cream. Make a mask up to 2 times a week.
- Multimask.
Grind the yolk with 2 teaspoons of fatty homemade sour cream, add 2-3 crushed white grapes, 2 drops of peach and apricot oil. Mix everything until a homogeneous mass, apply on the steamed skin of the legs. Hold for up to 25 minutes, then rinse and apply a nourishing cream to the skin of the legs. Make a mask up to 2 times a week.
- Cream with essential oils.
Essential oils (tea tree, patchouli or sandalwood) can be added to any moisturizer. If the skin of the hands and feet has become very dry, the enriched cream can be used as a mask, but it must be applied to steamed skin.
To improve dry skin on the legs, care should be taken regularly and empirically to select the most effective masks and baths.
If a person noticed that the skin on the lower extremities began to peel off, look dry and unhealthy, then they definitely need proper care. However, before starting any action, it is recommended to go for a consultation with a doctor who will make a preliminary diagnosis, and, if necessary, prescribe an additional examination.
After all, it also happens that such symptoms are not only cosmetic in nature, but also signal serious disorders in the body. Human skin is a kind of protective barrier, thanks to which the body remains healthy. This becomes possible due to the fact that the skin does not let in many adverse factors: toxins, bacteria, and so on.
Initially, you need to figure out why the skin on the legs below the knees is peeling, and only then begin therapeutic or cosmetic measures to restore its normal appearance. Of course, first of all, dry skin of the lower extremities is ugly, but this condition is often accompanied by unpleasant sensations: itching, pain, peeling, redness, burning, and so on.
In total, doctors distinguish 5 groups of reasons why such changes occur:
- the impact of external factors;
- age-related changes in the body;
- progression of chronic diseases;
- infectious lesion;
- improper nutrition.
Let's consider each item in more detail.
It should be said right away that most of the factors that lead to peeling of the skin on the legs below the knees can be eliminated without much effort and specific treatment. In many people who have a fairly sensitive epidermis, their legs peel off under the aggressive influence of wind, sun, cold, water and air. Most of all, under such conditions, people with dry skin type suffer.
The solution to the problem can be the use of a greasy cream when you go outside in frosty weather, but if it's summer outside, then cosmetics with increased UV protection will come in handy (men should also not neglect these recommendations). If the air in the room is dry, then you need to put a humidifier or several containers of water. To humidify the air, you can wash the floors more often without wiping them dry.
The reason that the legs are peeling may be insufficient fluid intake, that is, dehydration of the body. To prevent this, it is necessary to drink at least one and a half liters of pure water per day. If you do not listen to such a recommendation, gradually, starting from the shin area, the peeling will reach the thigh, and even then the process will become irreversible, and it will be impossible to cope with it.
In addition to a small amount of liquid, legs in this state may be due to the abuse of anti-cellulite drugs, violations of the rules for visiting the sauna, and so on.
External causes
The legs, or rather the skin, will not begin to become dry and flaky just like that. There are many external factors that provoke the development of such a condition, but their complex effect is considered the most dangerous.
Reasons for this type include:
- Excessively dry air in the living room during the heating season.
- Improper wearing of the bottom, stockings and socks made of synthetic materials, and especially if they still have a tightening effect, which contributes to squeezing blood vessels, circulatory disorders and malnutrition of cells.
- Aggressive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including regular visits to the solarium.
- Bathing in water with a high content of chlorine (pools).
- Lack of house water filters.
In most cases, the elimination of external negative factors is not difficult.
Age
Unfortunately, no person can affect the natural processes of the body and stop aging. After 50 years, and in some people even earlier, changes in the structure of the skin begin to occur: they become thinner, lose moisture, which leads to peeling of the legs and other areas. This condition is due to a change in collagen fibers, which are the main building block of the epidermis.
infections
Peeling of the skin of the legs can occur due to the penetration of pathogenic infections and microorganisms into the epidermis. One of the most common causes is that you can "catch" in any public place upon contact with the carrier of the infection. In addition to dryness and peeling, the legs itch very much, especially between the fingers, involving the shin in the process.
With such a disease, therapy is prescribed only by a doctor, but the patient is first shown to undergo an examination with tests that will help determine the type of fungal infection.
In addition to the fungus, dryness and peeling of the lower extremities can be a symptom of dermatitis, or Kawasaki disease. Therapy should also be prescribed by a qualified dermatologist and after laboratory diagnosis.
In addition to skin diseases, itching, dryness, redness and peeling of the legs occur in the presence of concomitant pathologies, including:
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- hepatitis;
Speaking of medications, it is worth noting that if a person takes a lot of hormonal drugs, then the legs can also peel off very much below the knees. Similar conditions are noted with short-term or long-term use of ointments with hormones that lead to dysfunction of the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
Nutrition
Legs can crack in people who neglect balanced. In the diet of a healthy person, fresh vegetables and fruits, vegetable oils, fish and seafood should always be present in large quantities.
But if it is observed in the body, then peeling of the skin below the knees cannot be avoided. Excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks (black tea and coffee) and alcohol can also lead to a similar change in the epidermis of the leg.
Prevention
If you do not want your legs to crack, peel, itch, then it is recommended to follow the standard prevention rules. If a person visits a swimming pool, sauna, wears someone else's slippers or buys shoes in a store with a fitting, then it is recommended that he always put on disposable socks first. This will avoid direct contact with pathogenic bacteria, because the foot will be protected. You can’t use the same personal hygiene items yet, as the fungus is transmitted very quickly.
As for the state of the body, it is first of all necessary to treat all skin diseases in a timely manner. Be sure to saturate the diet with healthy foods and give up fast food.
If a person is allergic, then he should take care to reduce contact with the irritant. In the period of autumn, winter and spring, when there is a serious lack of nutrients, you need to take vitamin complexes. And always remember that a low level of fluid intake will lead to dehydration, which in turn provokes dryness and flaking of the skin of the legs.
Girls should carefully approach the choice of cosmetics, do not neglect the conformity of skin type and recommendations for creams. If possible, it is necessary to find a replacement for peeling, if peeling of the skin of the legs below the knees is observed after it.
Sources
- A team of authors (L. A. Aleksanyan, L. S. Biryukova, A. L. Vertkin, A. V. Glazunov, L. M. Gumin, V. G. Moskvichev, E. A. Prokhorovich, S. I. Rapoport , A. V. Topolyansky, H. M. Torshkhoeva, L. G. Turbinina), Reference book of the therapist. Eksmo Publishing House, 2008, ISBN 978-5-699-30442-4.
- Onychomycosis. Fungal nail infections, Sergeev Yu.V., Sergeev A.Yu. publishing house : GEOTAR Medicine, ISBN : 5-88816-040-7
- Fungal diseases of the skin, Danilov S.I., Publishing house : LLC "LADOGA", St. Petersburg, 2005.
- Kozlova E. A., Popov A. A., Repina O. V. Allergy Best recipes of traditional medicine from A to Z, 2009, ISBN (EAN): 9785373015776
- Handbook of a practical doctor, edited by A. I. Vorobyov, Moscow, Medicine, 1992, ISBN 5-225-02641-9
If the skin on the feet is particularly dry and flaky, itchy, or even cracking, then the therapy will directly depend on the cause that led to this condition. Both cosmetic factors and a serious latent disease can provoke these symptoms.
Article plan:
Causes of peeling
Environmental impact
The most common cause of dry feet is environmental instability. This category includes low-quality uncomfortable shoes, socks made of non-natural materials, regular walking in high heels.
Wearing hosiery for too long leads to flaky feet. Poor quality materials from which shoes are sewn can cause clogging of the pores of the skin, making it difficult for it to breathe.
Weather conditions can also have a negative impact and provoke dry skin. In the cold season, the feet must be especially carefully looked after, constantly moistened with special means, due to the fact that severe frosts and low air humidity can cause peeling as a kind of allergy. And this applies to both children and adults equally.
The negative impact of the environment also includes the use of cosmetic products that contain harmful additives or do not meet quality standards. Such creams not only dry out the feet, but also cause allergies, which have to be treated with antihistamines.
Cosmetic preparations containing alkaline compounds contribute to dry skin. A shower product that is used daily can also cause a similar reaction on the skin of the lower extremities.
The dryness of the air in the room where a person spends the most time favors the peeling of the epithelium on the feet. Humidifiers and frequent airing of the room are called upon to correct the situation.
Unhealthy diet and lack of moisture
The skin, like a mirror, reflects all the processes that occur in the body, so dry feet can be caused by a change in the content of water and mineral salts. In this case, not only the skin flakes off, but the legs also itch unbearably.
- The lack of balance is not only due to the lack of fluid intake, but also due to the excessive presence of smoked meats and pickles in the diet, which cause increased thirst.
- The norm is the use of 2.5 liters of clean water per day, excluding soups and tea. If you drink less water, the skin will become dry throughout the body.
Another common problem that contributes to increased dryness is beriberi or hypervitaminosis. Sometimes even vitamin complexes do not guarantee the sufficiency of useful organic compounds. If the body lacks vitamins of group B, as well as D, then this can lead to peeling of the heels and unbearable itching, and the skin on the fingers may also begin to peel off.
Hypervitaminosis can also lead to skin problems. The increased content of vitamin C and some trace elements can cause dryness.
Diseases that cause peeling of the feet
One of the most unpleasant reasons why the skin on the legs is peeling is the defeat of infections of fungal etiology.
The primary signs of the disease are so vivid that it is impossible not to notice them. The main symptom is the deformation of the nail plate and its strong compaction. Accompanied by this symptom:
- desquamation of the epithelium,
- itching
- and sometimes pain.
At more advanced stages, rashes and hyperemia of the skin are observed.
It is not difficult to become infected with fungal infections in any public place if there is direct contact with pathological spores. The absence of complex hygienic measures, wearing someone else's shoes affected by the fungus contributes to the development of the disease.
If signs of damage to the skin of the lower extremities by fungal spores are found, it is necessary to seek qualified help from a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Self-medication in this case can not only not bring results, but also cause complications, since before applying any means, it is important to determine which fungi caused the development of the disease.
Many drugs have a narrow focus and may be completely useless in the fight against a certain type of fungal disease.
Doctors identify other reasons that provoke excessive dryness of the feet.
Other causes of dry and flaky feet
The most common sources of excessive dryness are:
How to treat
The aesthetic appearance of the heels suggests their smoothness, but peeling and redness does not add beauty to them. In addition, there is some discomfort.
The question arises: what to do? How to get rid of excessive dryness, overcome itching and restore lightness and attractiveness to the legs? There is no single answer, since the variety of provoking factors suggests different approaches to their treatment.
To determine the exact diagnosis and identify the problem, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination. If some kind of internal disease is diagnosed, which is the source of damage and damage to the skin of the feet, then an exceptionally competent treatment regimen will help overcome unpleasant symptoms. It will be prescribed by a dermatologist.
If the reason is the lack of a healthy diet, then it is necessary to reconsider the approach to cooking and the list of foods consumed.
- The improvement of the skin condition is facilitated by the use of a large amount of vegetable fats, raw vegetables and fruits.
- It is important to exclude frying as a way of processing products, give preference to steaming, baking, stewing and boiling. You can eat lean meats and fish.
- The water-salt balance can be adjusted if you drink the prescribed amount of water every day, in parallel, it is recommended to completely abandon coffee, since it has a diuretic effect and contributes to dehydration.
If no serious pathologies have been identified, but the feet still peel and itch, it makes sense to pay attention to hygiene issues. Most likely, hygiene standards are not fully observed, or maybe the care is not entirely correct, or the wrong cosmetic products are used.
How to properly care for the skin of the feet
The rules should be followed not only if there is a problem, it is important to take care of the beauty and health of your legs every day, even as a preventive measure. If you apply some little secrets, you can achieve ideal skin, literally amazing smoothness and tenderness.
The nightly procedure should be the removal of dead epithelial cells with a pumice stone. These manipulations contribute to the rapid renewal of the skin.
Carrying out proper and regular care of the feet, you can alleviate the condition if dryness and itching have already declared themselves, as well as prevent the appearance of a problem if there are no unpleasant symptoms yet.
Soft, smooth skin of the feet is evidence of careful foot care and a sign of human health. Accordingly, if the skin on the legs flakes, cracks and peels off, and traditional hygiene procedures they do not help to get rid of the problem, which means that pathological processes occur in the body.
In this case, only special treatment prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive diagnosis will help to remove peeling.
Types of diseases
Peeling of the skin of the feet is not just a cosmetic defect. Often, the cause of this phenomenon is a serious pathology that requires special treatment.
Trichophytosis or "athlete's foot"
The disease has received the prefix "athlete's foot", because, most often, athletes suffer from it. Trichophytosis is a type of mycosis caused by damage to the foot by trichophyton fungi. In most cases, mycosis looks like a slight peeling of the skin on the foot, especially in the area of the fingers. The man doesn't even know that the cause of dryness and peeling is a fungus.
You can become infected with a fungus through shoes, sports equipment, bath accessories and other items that the foot of a sick person has touched. Trichophytons feel good and actively breed in a warm, humid environment, therefore, most often, they become infected in baths, pools, on beaches, in locker rooms of gyms.
allergic reactions
Peeling of the feet is a clear sign of an allergic reaction to the effects of external and internal factors:
Atopic dermatitis
Allergic reactions are easily confused with dermatitis, since the symptoms of the diseases are similar. Dermatitis is a hereditary allergic disease, causing inflammation, dryness, flaking of the skin. Distinctive signs of dermatitis:
- Redness and peeling of the skin, accompanied by the formation of vesicles. They open, begin to get wet, form erosion;
- No severe itching. If peeling is accompanied by severe itching, this is an allergic reaction;
- Seasonal exacerbation. Most often, dermatitis is activated in the cold season;
- Localization of red rashes over the joints.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis of the feet is a chronic disease manifested by the formation of plaques and papules. The disease is characterized by an undulating course. The feet are covered with yellowish, hard scales. Peeling is accompanied by redness, severe itching, burning.
The cause of psoriasis is a violation of lipid metabolism in the body. Doctors identify the following causes of the development of the disease:
- malfunctions of the endocrine system;
- severe stress;
- heredity;
- effect on the body of certain drugs.
Ichthyosis
Ichthyosis is a hereditary disease, the main manifestation of which is a violation of the processes of formation of the horny substance on the skin. Increased keratinization of the epidermis causes peeling, as a result, the skin becomes similar to fish scales.
The etiology of the disease has not yet been precisely determined. Scientists suggest that the main cause of ichthyosis is genetic mutations in the body. play an important role in the development of the disease lack of vitamin A and disruption of the endocrine system.
trench foot
Trench foot is a type of foot frostbite caused by prolonged exposure to cold combined with limited mobility. Prolonged exposure to moisture on the supercooled skin of the foot causes a deficiency in the nutrition of cells in the foot area.
Often the disease is caused by wearing rubber shoes for a long time during the cold season.
The skin of the feet becomes hyperemic, numerous bubbles form between the toes, after their destruction, scabs of a dark shade appear. Lack of treatment leads to tissue necrosis.
Dry skin between fingers
Peeling and dryness of the skin between the toes is a manifestation of malfunctions in the body. The provoking factors of this phenomenon are the following:
- Diabetes. The pads of the fingers are covered with bleeding cracks;
- Shingles, mycosis, candidiasis. Fungi settle between the fingers, causing an unpleasant odor, inflammation, cracks;
- Foot hyperhidrosis. Peeling is caused by excessive sweating, as a result of which microflora actively multiplies on the surface of the skin;
- Eczema. Peeling is accompanied by the formation of bubbles, severe itching.
Peeling feet in children
Peeling of the skin on the feet of a child is almost always a sign of an imbalance in the body or a manifestation of dermatological pathology. Under the age of 3 years baby's feet are especially sensitive, so dryness may be associated with improper child care:
- Bathing in too hot water;
- The use of low-quality cosmetics;
- Lack of protection from UV rays while walking;
- Allergy to food. Peeling is usually associated with an allergy to milk protein.
Etiology of peeling
The provoking factors of peeling feet are:
Symptoms
The problem of skin peeling due to violation of hygiene rules is solved quickly. Enough to remove rough skin and use special moisturizers. But if such methods do not help, you need to be alert and take into account the following symptoms:
- burning, itching, most often between the fingers;
- redness of various shapes and sizes;
- rashes of vesicles, inside which is a clear or serous fluid;
- large bumps on the skin;
- bad smell;
- hypersensitivity in the area of peeling;
- deformation, discoloration of nails;
- the appearance of a venous network on the feet.
Specific information about the presence of the disease is given by the color of the scales: with ichthyosis it is grayish-black, with psoriasis it is silver-white, with mycoses it is yellowish. These symptoms are specific and indicate the development of an infectious process.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is almost impossible to establish the exact cause of the peeling of the feet at home, so special diagnostics are needed to solve the problem:
Treatment
Peeling of the skin on the legs requires complex treatment. If the problem is caused by diseases, first of all, they are treated.
Prevention and prognosis
The main measure for the prevention of peeling is personal hygiene, careful foot care. If the cause of the problem is a disease, it is impossible to get rid of it with hygiene procedures. First of all, you need to see a doctor for an examination.
Well-chosen therapy will help get rid of peeling and restore the skin on the legs. The success of the treatment depends on careful foot hygiene at the same time.
After the use of specific drugs, the symptoms disappear quickly, but the treatment must be brought to a stable result. If the disease is not treated, the problem will return very quickly. Chronic desquamation can lead to deep skin lesions that cannot be repaired.
Methods for moisturizing the skin
So that the skin of the feet stops peeling, and the legs look well-groomed, it is enough to adhere to the following rules:
Home Care
Along with specific treatment, folk recipes for foot care will help to alleviate the skin condition and remove peeling:
How Doctors Treat Peeling Skin
Therapy of peeling legs with medications is aimed at eliminating the root cause of the problem:
Antifungal ointments, sprays: "Lamisil", "Nystatin", "Exoderil";
Antihistamines: "Zodak", "Claritin", "Fenistil", "Tsetrin";
Anti-inflammatory drugs: "Bepanten", "Panthenol", "Belosalik".
An integrated approach to the treatment of skin peeling will keep your legs in perfect condition. It is necessary to solve the problem when the first signs appear, having previously found out the root cause of the appearance of dry scales on the feet.
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