After the swimming pool, horny skin appeared on me. Is it ringworm?
I’ve been going to the swimming pool for a while. Dry skin appeared on my foot, which became callous after a while. Now, in addition, new spots appear and spread over the larger area of the foot. Is it ringworm? How to deal with this problem? Do I have to give up the swimming pool?
Tinea pedis is one of the most common skin diseases, especially among athletes. In turn, fungal infections account for over 20% of diagnosed foot diseases. There are three types of athlete’s foot, which may sometimes coexist. The described clinical picture corresponds best to the exfoliating variant, dominated by erythema, hyperkeratosis and exfoliation with deepening of the skin lines and numerous cracks. Keratotic lesions can cover the soles of the feet. The surface of the lesions has a whitish color due to the fine-flecked exfoliation. This gives an image similar to a lightly floured image. In the chronic course of the lesions, the changes spread to the side surfaces of the feet, which is referred to as moccasin mycosis (shape similar to moccasins). This form of the disease sometimes also affects the back of the feet and is often associated with onychomycosis. Itching may or may not be present. However, this type of athlete’s foot does not have the spots described by the patient. Hence, we should consider the possibility of a different type of athlete’s foot in the patient, the so-called potnicowa. In this type of disease, numerous blisters (often cloudy or purulent) appear on the soles of the feet, which may coalesce, burst and lead to exfoliation and formation of characteristic erosions (wounds). Significant itching is characteristic of this form. In order to make a correct diagnosis, the dermatologist must see the patient, perform the necessary tests (mycological, biopsy if necessary) to confirm the presence of the fungus as a causative factor or to exclude other skin diseases that may manifest themselves in a similar way. Among them, the most important are contact and sweat eczema, psoriasis vulgaris and pustular, hand and foot keratosis. Tinea pedis is most often caused by anthropophilic dermatophytes (you can get infected from other people, usually Trichophyton rubrum). In the treatment, topical preparations are used, mainly allylamines (terbinafine, naphtifine) and ciclopirox. In the case of resistance to treatment, general treatment is applied, e.g. itraconazole or terbinafine. An important element of therapeutic management is the prevention of reinfection (recurrence of infection). To do this, disinfect shoes, socks and towels using antifungal agents available in pharmacies (e.g. 10% formalin, 0,1-1% quinoxizole). The causative agent of mycosis is infectious, anthropophilic and therefore the typical route of infection is the use of public sanitary facilities, e.g. showers, paddling pools. For this reason, people with mycosis should not use such places because they are a source of infection and this is the main reason for temporarily (until cured) abandoning the swimming pool. In addition, maceration of the epidermis as a result of prolonged contact with water creates excellent conditions for the growth of the fungus and hinders the healing process.
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