Skin diseases of the legs - symptoms and manifestations, causes, photos

The occurrence of inflammatory processes on the skin is a fairly common ailment. Doctors say that skin diseases can affect a variety of areas, even the epidermis on the head, but according to statistics, various rashes are most often localized on the legs.

Each foot skin disease has a specific cause and development mechanism, and the symptoms may also differ. To prevent the progression of the disease and transition to a chronic form, treatment must begin immediately, at the first signs of pathology.

Causes of skin diseases of the legs

Basically, there are several reasons that can cause problems with the skin of the legs. Let's look at them in more detail:

First of all, it is worth highlighting that not all people are accustomed to following the rules of foot hygiene, so skin diseases arise, as crazy as it may sound, precisely because of dirt and germs that get on the skin.
Prolonged exposure to water can also cause skin diseases.
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures does not have a beneficial effect on the epidermis of the lower extremities; ulcers may open on the legs, which take a long time and are difficult to treat.
Problems with the skin on the feet can occur in a person who has to wear tight or poor-quality shoes.

Let's celebrate! Naturally, these are not all the reasons that can cause skin problems on the legs, but they are considered the most common today.

Internal reasons

Other diseases that a person has can cause problems with the epidermis. Few people know that there are a number of diseases in which changes in the skin are considered the main symptom.

Internal causes are most often associated with diseases such as:

Impaired functioning of internal organs, namely the kidneys, liver and intestines.
Rashes on the skin can appear when immunity decreases, in which case it can become dry, peeling begins, which leads to ulcers.
Doctors often note that the skin changes significantly during diseases of the cardiovascular system.
One should not lose sight of a person’s allergic reactions to various substances.
It happens that the main reason is hidden in vitamin deficiency, when a person lacks vitamins and microelements.

Note! Along with internal reasons, there is also a separate category of external ones, which are also considered important.

External reasons

External factors in human health also play an important role, so leg health can deteriorate for the following reasons:

Detrimental effects of the environment.
Strong temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation.
Varying degrees of injury and cuts that are complicated by infections and bacteria.
Constant stress and depression.
Being in a risk area, for example, in a pool, beach or bathhouse.
A trip to a pedicure salon, where insufficient attention is paid to the treatment of tools, can have a detrimental effect on the health of your feet.

Let's celebrate! There are more external causes than internal ones, but there is no difference in their danger; whatever the influencing factors, they all pose threats to human life and health.

Symptoms

Skin diseases of the legs are of a different nature, therefore the signs of pathology will be varied. To find out the cause of what is happening, you need to analyze the clinical picture, which is what the doctor will do. After the interview, he will conduct an examination, confirming it with palpation, and, if necessary, refer the patient for additional studies. All this is necessary for one single purpose - to make an accurate diagnosis.

Eczema

The disease, known as eczema, occurs in several stages. First, a swollen area of redness appears on the skin - erythema. Then, against this background, multiple small vesicular eruptions (vesicles or seropapules) appear, which very quickly burst with the formation of erosions. From the depths of the latter, a transparent liquid constantly oozes, which creates a continuous wet surface. The serous exudate gradually dries out, transforming into yellowish crusts, under which epithelization occurs.

Different elements can be present simultaneously, creating a polymorphic picture. The acute process gradually turns into a chronic form, manifested by increased infiltration and lichenification (emphasis of the skin pattern). The color of the affected areas becomes more stagnant (bluish), and peeling appears. The lesions do not have clear outlines, and the inflammatory process is accompanied by intense itching. Eczema is also characterized by symmetry of the lesion and a tendency to spread peripherally.

There are several types of eczema: true, microbial, seborrheic, occupational, etc. But all forms of the disease have a number of common symptoms.

Neurodermatitis

The development of neurodermatitis or atopic dermatitis is caused by an allergization of the body to a certain substance. Signs of the disease on the lower extremities are usually localized in the area of the popliteal folds. At first, limited neurodermatitis does not manifest itself in any way; patients are only bothered by intense itching, which causes them to scratch their skin.

Over time, dense papules covered with small scales appear at the site of the lesion. Individual nodules merge into larger flat plaques - they have an oval or round shape, and are colored pale pink or brownish-red. The skin pattern becomes more pronounced, lichenification forms, and the period of exacerbation intensifies redness and peeling.

The course of atopic dermatitis is long. Due to intense itching, patients develop neurotic disorders:

Emotional lability.
Irritability.
Insomnia.
Exhaustion, etc.

This is accompanied by functional disorders of the autonomic nervous system in the form of white dermographism, impaired sweating, enhanced pilomotor reflex, etc. These disorders, in turn, support the course of the disease, forming a vicious circle.

Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is a skin disease of the legs that is of fungal origin. First, red scaly spots with a diameter of up to 10 mm are formed on the skin, which increase in size. As a result, the lesions become quite large, with a hyperemic and flaky surface, on which blisters and crusts can be seen.

Further development of the disease leads to the formation of large areas with polycyclic outlines. Their center gradually turns pale and sinks, and along the periphery, on the contrary, a more raised edge is noticeable, covered with macerated and flaky epithelium. Patients report mild itching as a subjective sensation. The onset of epidermophytosis is acute, but it quickly becomes chronic with a long, undulating course.

Onychomycosis

When the skin of the feet is affected, the fungus can spread to the nail plates, which leads to the development of onychomycosis. The disease is accompanied by a change in the appearance and normal structure of the nails:

White or yellow spots.
Loss of transparency.
Thickening.
Fragility.

Damage to the skin of the fingers is accompanied by peeling, cracks and itching. Redness and secondary infection may appear around the nail.

Onychomycosis is a common fungal disease that primarily affects the toenails.

Plantar warts

Plantar warts are localized on the skin of the feet. A deep process is accompanied by the appearance of a rounded compaction, which is a focus of hyperkeratosis. When pressing on it, pain is felt. After removing the central part, the papillary surface becomes visible, surrounded by a ridge of keratinized skin.

Superficial warts do not cause physical discomfort. They disguise themselves as calluses and corns because they are very similar to them. Diffuse foci of hyperkeratosis can exist for years. Both types of plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus.

Trophic ulcers

Trophic ulcers can form on the legs and feet, the development of which is associated with microcirculatory, neuropathic and metabolic disorders. In diabetes mellitus, ulcers are usually localized on the sole in areas of greatest pressure and over bony protrusions. Against the background of a decrease or loss of sensitivity, pain is practically not felt, so the wound can be quite deep. If the process progresses, gangrene may form, requiring amputation.

With venous insufficiency or pathology of the arteries, trophic ulcers are localized mainly on the legs. First, a small whitish spot forms, in the center of which an epithelial defect appears, and the latter gradually increases in size and deepens. The bottom of the ulcer is covered with fibrin clots, exudate with an unpleasant odor oozes from it, and when the wound becomes bacterially infected, pus is formed. Along the periphery, the ulcer is surrounded by a rim of hyperemia and infiltration; with deep defects, pain occurs.

Types of skin diseases on the legs, feet and toes

Taking into account the international classification of diseases, skin lesions of the legs can be divided into the following types:

Infectious, which often manifest themselves through various rashes and neoplasms and are of infectious origin. We are talking about boils and abscesses.
There are diseases that are transmitted at the genetic level, the most common of which is psoriasis.
There is a separate classification of autoimmune diseases.
Neurotic types of diseases are caused by stress and constant emotional swings.
The parasitic species is most often caused by various parasites.
A separate category includes various types of tumors, for example, melanomas and moles.

Each type of disease requires special attention and treatment. It should be remembered that there are diseases that can be temporary, and there are those that poison a person’s life all the time.

Note! With proper treatment in the early stages, you can get rid of many ailments within two weeks, but if you ignore all the symptoms, you can get a chronic disease.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis can occur in both adults and children, and is more often chronic. It will not be possible to completely get rid of this disease; in any case, there will be periods when it will worsen. It is not difficult to recognize the disease, as rashes and redness can be seen all over the skin of the legs.

Psoriasis affects not only the foot, but can spread to the lower leg, knee joint and nail beds. When the rashes begin to unite, plaques with white and gray scales form. Psoriasis is very similar to eczema or mycosis, so a doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis after the test results.

Photo and treatment

It is not possible to completely cure psoriasis, especially since doctors have not been able to establish the exact reasons why this disease occurs. But it is known that there are several stages of psoriasis, and the sooner treatment is started, the better.

The rashes on the legs are very dense, but under no circumstances should you try to remove them yourself, much less scratch them. During an exacerbation, the doctor will definitely prescribe medications that reduce itching and burning.

Note! All ointments and creams are selected individually, as there are contraindications. In addition to taking medications, certain physiotherapeutic measures are prescribed.

Treatment of foot fungus

Mycosis of the foot (foot fungus) is an infectious disease caused by parasitic fungi and transmitted from person to person.

It should be noted that in the past, fungal skin infections were so common that only a small number of people managed to avoid infection. The situation changed dramatically in the 60-70s of the last century, when many effective medications became available, which not only brought relief to the patient, but also allowed recovery. Today, the disease remains the most common skin disease, followed by ringworm.

With mycosis of the feet, the surface of the foot and the skin between the toes are often affected; in rare cases, the hands are involved in the pathological process. The latter is caused not so much by the spread of the fungus itself, but by the circulation of fungal toxins in the bloodstream. In addition, additional infection of the hands is caused by scratching the skin of the legs, after which the parasitic agent can be transferred from the hands even to the scalp. This route of spread should be taken into account by patients with mycosis of the foot in order to protect not only themselves, but also those around them.

This is what skin affected by a fungus looks like

Causes of fungus

Mycosis of the foot is caused by opportunistic and pathogenic fungi.

Pathogenic varieties of fungi always cause a pathological process and lead to the development of disease.
Opportunistic fungi colonize the human skin from birth, but cause disease only in the presence of predisposing factors.

Infection occurs when visiting the pool, trying on shoes and not maintaining personal hygiene.

The fungus often affects the skin of people over 40 years of age with a history of diabetes.

Skin trauma is a predisposing factor that contributes to the development of the disease: reduced immunity, chronic diseases, and circulatory disorders.

The ideal environment for the growth of fungi is humid and warm, so athletes, military personnel, miners, and those people who, due to their duty and due to the specifics of their work, are required to wear tight and closed shoes for a long time, are at risk.

It should be noted that in children such a pathology is extremely rare, which is due to the acidic reaction of sweat and the rapid replacement of the epidermis.

Symptoms of foot fungus

The following forms of foot fungus are distinguished:

Squamous . the skin peels between the toes and at the base, on the arch of the heels and feet. As a rule, there are no subjective symptoms.
Squamous-hyperkeratotic . the skin on the soles is infiltrated, thickened, the skin furrows and patterns are enhanced, and floury peeling is noted in the folds. The patient complains of itching, intertriginous . Skin folds are affected. On the skin between the fingers there is redness with cracks, detachment of the epidermis, peeling, the patient notes the presence of itching, burning sensation and discomfort.
Dyshidrotic form . Against the background of erythema, bubbles with clear liquid appear. After themselves, the bubbles can leave erosions, areas of peeling or layers of skin detachment. Symptoms in this form are acute, with weeping, burning, increased body temperature in rare cases, constant itching and swelling.

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Treatment of foot fungus

Treatment of foot fungus requires a mandatory visit to a dermatologist, who, after tests and a thorough examination, prescribes appropriate treatment.

It should be noted that, even despite the effectiveness of modern antifungal drugs, it is not always possible to quickly cure a patient of foot fungus, which is explained by the patient’s late appearance to the doctor and the incompetence of the doctor himself.

At the preliminary stage, it is mandatory to disinfect shoes, linen, bathrooms and personal care items using a 25% formaldehyde solution. Feet require proper care, which means frequent baths, ironing socks, and changing them.

In the initial forms of the disease, the patient is prescribed:

Solutions of aniline dyes, silver nitrate, boric acid, resorcinol, etc. are used as local therapy.

In advanced cases, in addition to the main local treatment, oral medications are prescribed.

You should know that healing in the first stages of the disease occurs faster and more painlessly than in advanced cases. However, even with a low severity of the pathological process, treatment requires patience and scrupulousness.

Folk recipes

In the presence of erosions and scales, it is recommended to use baths with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. During the procedure, the maximum number of scales should be separated. If the skin is thick and there are a huge number of scales, you can use salicylic petroleum jelly, which is applied 2 times a day until all the scales are separated.

Only after removing the scales can you start using traditional recipes.

Treatment with celandine . For the bath you will need 4 tablespoons of celandine, 1.5 liters of hot water. Soar your feet for 30 minutes. The course of treatment is 20 procedures. Sometimes celandine is replaced with wormwood.
Treatment with burdock leaf . Use a hammer to remove the juice from the burdock leaf, then wrap the leg in burdock and secure with a bandage. The compress is changed 2 times a day. The course lasts 3 weeks.
Treatment with rowan . To do this, you need to mash fresh rowan leaves, then apply them to the affected area of the skin and secure with a bandage. Keep the bandage on for 24 hours, change once a day. Before securing with a bandage, you can wrap the leaves with a burdock leaf.
Treatment with sea salt . For the bath you will need 1 teaspoon of sea salt dissolved in 1 liter of water. Pour the prepared solution over your feet every evening for 2 weeks.

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Prevention

do not wear someone else’s shoes, do not let others wear your shoes;
a sick family member must have his own personal scissors, nail file and other personal hygiene items;
disinfect the premises;
do not use false nails for a long time;
Dry your skin thoroughly after taking a shower;
Change your socks daily.

Advice! Shoe treatment plays a very important role in prevention. Take acetic acid 40% or chlorhexidine 1%. Put on rubber gloves and use a cotton swab to clean the inside of the shoe and the insoles. Prepare a sealed plastic bag and place the treated shoes in it for 2-3 days.

Sources

https://MoyaKoja.ru/bolezni-s-kozhnymi-proyavleniyami/kozhnye-zabolevaniya-na-nogax.html
https://FeetInfo.ru/nedugi/dermatologiya/kozhnye-zabolevaniya-na-nogax.html
https://skindiary.ru/zabolevaniya/kozhnye-bolezni-nog.html
https://helplegs.ru/boli-v-nogah/bolezni-kozhi-na-nogah.html
https://www.vzdorovomtele.ru/zabolevanija-kozhi/zabolevanija-kozhi-stopy-nog-foto-i-opisanie.html

Mycosis

Mycosis, or otherwise foot fungus, is the most common disease. Most often it affects the feet, but with severe infection it can spread to all the legs.

Mycosis occurs when a person wears uncomfortable shoes, and this is an excellent environment for the growth of bacteria. The fungus can progress quickly, and its symptoms include: peeling of the skin, thickening of the epidermis on the feet, itching, burning and the appearance of microcracks.

Let's celebrate! In this case, you should not self-medicate under any circumstances, since the fight against the fungus requires a whole range of measures. It is also important to remember that mycosis is a disease that can be transmitted to another person.

Photo and treatment

Mycosis is caused by a pathogenic organism that has begun to actively develop, so basically all treatment is aimed at eliminating it. In order to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible, various baths, tablets and ointments are used.

Let's look at the main drugs that are used in the treatment of mycosis:

If the fungus has affected the toenails, then there are special varnishes that can penetrate into the very depths of the nail plate and remove the cause. In addition, such drugs will help disfigure clothes and shoes.
When choosing sprays and creams, you need to carefully read that they contain a substance such as Terbinafine, which is what fungi are sensitive to.
Today, there are a large number of different creams and ointments that do an excellent job against yeast-like fungi. They are also used to eliminate sweaty feet.
Vishnevsky ointment is often used in wrestling, but many refuse it because of the pungent odor.
For mycosis, you can take foot baths with a few drops of tea tree, which also has a disinfecting effect.

Note! In particularly difficult cases, when a large area of skin is affected, doctors may prescribe tablets that the patient will take in parallel with ointments and creams.

Calluses

Every person has encountered calluses. The main reasons for their appearance are considered to be inappropriate shoes, excessive stress on the feet, and excessive sweating. They are very painful and often make walking difficult or even impossible. The callus can be dry or wet. A wet callus develops very quickly, within one day, while a dry callus can take a long time to form. Typically, dry calluses are less painful.

To prevent calluses, you need to take good care of your foot skin and regularly use emollients. But if a callus does form, you need to cover it with a band-aid and provide your feet with complete rest. To remove dry calluses and calluses, you need to contact a specialist, since doing this at home is quite difficult. You can get rid of core calluses using laser, cryotherapy or hardware procedures.

Advice
Under no circumstances should you try to pierce a wet callus. The liquid contained in it protects tissues from infection. Over time, it will resolve on its own.

Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a disease that occurs against the background of allergies and is inherited. The disease can arise due to a person’s nervous or emotional state.

The more a person worries, the greater the risk that neurodermatitis will manifest itself. As a rule, the symptoms are that the skin begins to itch very much, and in some places you can even feel a tingling sensation.

Photo and treatment

Treatment of neurodermatitis consists of the following actions:

First of all, the doctor must accurately identify the source; if this all happens due to nervousness, then drugs are prescribed that will help calm the patient.
At the same time, medications against allergies are prescribed.
Skin rashes are treated with special ointments and creams that reduce itching and burning.
In acute forms, injections are prescribed.
Additionally, you can use medicinal baths with herbal decoctions and oils, but only after prior consultation with your doctor.

Neurodermatitis can be cured quite quickly, and in the future, to prevent it from appearing again, it is enough to monitor your emotional state.

Other tips

Protect your feet from adverse weather conditions, i.e. too cold or hot weather
Wash your feet daily
Change shoes and socks as often as possible
Maintain good hygiene
If corns or calluses form, consult your doctor.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
Avoid excessive sweating, such as wearing tight shoes or socks made of poor quality materials
Avoid hot showers as they strip the skin of moisture.

Malignant melanoma

Melanoma on the leg may appear as a dark brown growth. It is considered dangerous as it can cause metastases. Malignant melanoma progresses very quickly and is classified as an oncological disease, so at the first detection it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Photo and treatment

There is only one way to cure malignant melanoma - removal. In the first and second stages, it is removed with small areas of skin around it, but if lymph nodes were involved in the process, then they are also removed surgically.

Self-medication is dangerous because the bones may be affected in the future and then radiation therapy cannot be avoided. In the third and fourth stages, the patient is given a course of chemotherapy.

How can you get infected?

A trophic ulcer develops not only as a result of diseases, but can also be diagnosed in the case of infection of the soft tissues of the legs, when the cause is anthrax or syphilis.

In the photo below you can see what a trophic ulcer of the lower extremities looks like.

Syphilis is transmitted through contact and household contact. Infection of the foot is quite possible if simple hygiene conditions, timely treatment of the wound, or a cut on the sole of the foot are not observed.

Infection can occur in children during intrauterine development, passage through the birth canal, or through mother's breast milk. Syphilis can be contracted through blood during a transfusion.

The source of anthrax infection can be contact with animals or consumption of contaminated milk or meat.

Approximately 5-6 days after the first degenerative changes appear on the skin (in particular the leg) in the form of a small erosive wound with uneven edges.

Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot occurs if the feet are constantly in a damp environment, for example, people who work in baths, gyms or saunas most often suffer.

This disease is contagious and can be transmitted to another person. Athlete's foot may not be noticed immediately, so the first symptoms appear a long time after the infection itself.

Photo and treatment

The main treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause. As a rule, doctors prescribe almost the same ointments as for mycosis.

If ulcers and cracks appear, they should be constantly treated with special medications. Today, there are a sufficient number of ointments and creams.

Skin diseases on the legs with diabetes

With diabetes mellitus, the following changes occur in the skin of the legs:

It becomes rough and dry.
The nail plates begin to grow.
More calluses appear.
The skin becomes bright yellow.

Let's celebrate! All skin diseases of the legs that can occur with diabetes are pathological. Most often, diseases are associated not only with changes in the skin, but also with a deterioration in metabolic metabolism, problems in blood vessels and the enrichment of the skin with nutrients.

Photo and treatment

With diabetes, the skin first becomes covered with spots that become inflamed. Diabetics must adhere to a special diet, which is important for improving the condition of the skin of a sick person.

Additionally, the attending physician may prescribe the use of medicinal ointments that have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. It is recommended to regularly anoint your hands and feet with vegetable oils; such a massage will not only improve blood circulation, but also soften dead skin.

Measures to prevent skin diseases of the legs

The main preventive measures are proper care of your feet. It is important to choose shoes made from natural materials and not tight. It is advisable to take foot baths with different oils once a week, after which use special creams to soften the skin.

If you have even the slightest suspicion of skin diseases on your legs, you should immediately contact a dermatologist, he will conduct an examination, collect anamnesis and prescribe tests.

It is important to remember that many diseases are easier to cure in the early stages. If a chronic disease of the skin of the legs occurs constantly, then it is worth using longer treatment. It is wiser to prevent the development of any disease than to treat it for a long time, and preventive measures will help with this.

Eczema

Eczema on the legs can develop in anyone, regardless of their age and lifestyle. The patient notes a burning sensation, severe itching, watery pimples, and erosive formations. After the blisters burst, the skin becomes covered with a dry crust. Subsequently, it cracks and causes a lot of unpleasant sensations. Its occurrence is facilitated by high environmental humidity, since pathogenic bacteria develop most quickly in it. Sometimes eczema is a consequence of an advanced allergic reaction, but among the causes of its development are also hormonal imbalances in the body, weakened immunity, frequent and severe stress, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and metabolic disorders. It is very difficult to cure eczema on your own; you need to consult a dermatologist.

Advice
Proper nutrition plays an important role in treating eczema, so try to reduce your intake of fatty and fried foods.

Manifestations of psoriasis on the skin