What are the causes of dark spots on the bottom or top of feet. Discover the diagnosis, treatment, and remedies for tinea nigra, a rare fungal infection that can lead to black or brown patches on the skin.

Tinea Nigra: A Rare Fungal Infection

Tinea nigra is an uncommon fungal infection that can cause brown or black patches to develop on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, or, in rare cases, the torso. The infection is typically caused by a type of yeast called Hortaea werneckii, which can enter the body through a small wound or break in the skin.

Symptoms of Tinea Nigra

The most common symptoms of tinea nigra include:

• A single, round, linear, or irregularly shaped patch on the foot or hand that grows slowly
• Patches that either cause no symptoms or itch
• Patches that resemble a growing mole or freckle
• A slow-growing brown patch on the torso

Tinea nigra primarily affects people who live in or have recently traveled to tropical regions, and is more likely to occur in young individuals under the age of 20.

Causes of Tinea Nigra

Tinea nigra is a fungal infection caused by the Hortaea werneckii yeast, which was previously known as Cladosporium werneckii, Exophiala werneckii, or Phaeoannellomyces werneckii. Another yeast called Stenella araguata may also cause some cases of tinea nigra. The fungus thrives in moist, humid environments and can enter the body through contact with soil, wood, or other organic materials.

Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing tinea nigra, including:

• Living in or recently traveling to a tropical or subtropical region
• Having a history of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
• Sustaining a recent injury
• Contact with wood, soil, or compost, such as from gardening without gloves or woodworking in a tropical or subtropical region

Diagnosis and Testing for Tinea Nigra

Diagnosing tinea nigra can be challenging, as the symptoms can resemble those of several other conditions. To confirm the diagnosis, a doctor may take a culture of the affected skin and send it to a laboratory to test for the presence of Hortaea werneckii. In some cases, a skin biopsy may also be performed to rule out skin cancer, as certain types of skin cancer can appear similar to tinea nigra.

Home Remedies and Treatment Options

For mild cases of tinea nigra, individuals may see improvements with the use of over-the-counter keratolytic agents, which help to remove excess skin. Examples of potentially effective keratolytics include wart creams, salicylic acid, and Whitfield’s ointment. However, these remedies may not be safe for use during pregnancy, so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should consult a doctor instead of attempting home treatments.

If home treatment is unsuccessful, a doctor will typically prescribe topical antifungal creams to be applied directly to the affected area. In some cases, oral antifungal medications may also be necessary, especially for larger lesions or if topical creams have not been effective. The optimal treatment duration is not well-established, but one study suggests that 1 month of treatment may be sufficient.

Preventing Tinea Nigra

To reduce the risk of developing tinea nigra, it is important to protect the skin from exposure to soil, compost, and other materials in which the Hortaea werneckii fungus can thrive. Some effective preventive measures include:

• Practicing frequent handwashing, especially after spending time outdoors
• Wearing gloves or other protective gear when gardening
• Avoiding walking barefoot outdoors
• Wearing socks or shoes in public places
• Changing socks frequently, especially if they become damp

These strategies are particularly important for individuals who live in or travel to tropical regions, where the Hortaea werneckii fungus is more prevalent.

Other Causes of Dark Spots on Feet

While tinea nigra is a potential cause of dark spots on the bottom or top of the feet, there are other conditions that can also lead to similar symptoms. These include:

• Seborrheic keratosis: A non-cancerous skin growth that can appear as a dark, waxy patch on the skin
• Acanthosis nigricans: A skin condition characterized by velvety, hyperpigmented patches, often seen on the neck, armpits, or groin
• Melanoma: A type of skin cancer that can appear as a new or changing mole or dark spot on the skin

If you notice any unusual or concerning changes to the skin on your feet, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Tinea nigra: Diagnosis, treatment, and remedies

Tinea nigra is a very rare fungal infection. It causes brown or black patches to develop on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, or, on rare occasions, the torso.

A type of yeast called Hortaea werneckii causes most tinea nigra infections. A person can get the infection when the yeast gets into their body, often through a small wound.

Keep reading to learn more about a tinea nigra infection, including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Tinea nigra causes brown or black patches to appear on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The patches may be so small and faint that a person does not notice them. They also tend to grow slowly. The most common symptoms include:

• a patch on the foot or hand following an injury
• a single round, linear, or irregularly shaped patch that grows slowly
• growing patches that either cause no symptoms or itch
• patches that resemble a growing mole or freckle
• a slow growing brown patch on the torso

The infection affects people who live in tropical regions and those who have recently traveled to these areas.

Most people with tinea nigra have just one lesion. However, if the fungus comes into contact with multiple points of entry, such as wounds on both hands, a person may have several patches.

In healthy people, tinea nigra lives only on the superficial layers of the skin. It does not spread, cause serious infections, or present major health risks. It is more likely to affect young people under the age of 20 years.

Tinea nigra is a fungal infection, which means that a person gets it when they come into contact with a fungus that can cause the infection.

Scientists used to call Hortaea werneckii either Cladosporium werneckii, Exophiala werneckii, or Phaeoannellomyces werneckii. Another yeast called Stenella araguata may cause some cases of tinea nigra.

As with many other fungi, Hortaea werneckii thrives in moist or humid environments. It lives on dead and decaying organic material, such as soil and wood. It can get into the human body when it comes into contact with the skin, usually through a wound. It is most likely to live on parts of the body with many sweat glands, such as the hands and feet.

Certain risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing this infection. They include:

• living in a tropical or subtropical region
• recent travel to a subtropical or tropical region
• a history of hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating
• a recent injury
• contact with wood, soil, or compost, such as from gardening without gloves or woodworking in a tropical or subtropical region

In many cases, a person’s symptoms may lead a doctor to suspect tinea nigra. However, as tinea nigra can resemble the symptoms of several other conditions, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

The doctor may ask the individual about their recent travel, injury history, and exposure to wood, compost, or soil. They will also usually take a culture of the skin and send it to a lab to see whether Hortaea werneckii grows within a week. If it does, this means that the test is positive for tinea nigra.

Sometimes, a doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to test for skin cancer, as certain types of skin cancer can look similar to tinea nigra.

People who wish to try home remedies may see improvements with keratolytic agents. A keratolytic is a chemical that helps remove excess skin. Some potentially effective keratolytics include:

• wart cream
• salicylic acid
• Whitfield’s ointment

These drugs may not be safe during pregnancy, so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should see a doctor instead of trying home remedies.

If home treatment fails, it is best to see a doctor. There are other possible causes of brown lesions on the skin.

Doctors usually prescribe topical antifungal creams to treat tinea nigra. People should apply the cream directly to the patch exactly as a doctor advises.

In some cases, a person may also need to take oral antifungal drugs, especially if the lesions are very large or if antifungal creams have not worked. However, oral drugs may not be effective.

Doctors do not know what treatment duration is optimal, but the authors of one report suggest that 1 month of treatment is sufficient.

People can reduce the risk of tinea nigra infections by protecting the skin from exposure to soil, compost, and other materials in which the Hortaea werneckii fungus likes to grow. Following this advice is especially important for people who travel to or live in tropical regions.

These strategies can help:

• practicing frequent handwashing, especially after spending time outside
• wearing gloves or other protective gear in the garden
• refraining from walking outside with bare feet
• wearing socks or shoes in public places
• changing socks frequently, especially if they get wet
• covering any wounds on the hands or feet before spending time outside

Several other skin conditions may look similar to tinea nigra. Other fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, may also cause skin lesions, but they are not usually brown.

Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can be deadly. It may also look very similar to tinea nigra in the early stages. Similarly to tinea nigra, melanoma is not typically painful at first. Therefore, people who do not get relief from home or medical treatment should see a dermatologist and request a biopsy.

Some other medical conditions and factors that may cause brown patches include:

• skin staining from henna
• skin hyperpigmentation from pregnancy or Addison’s disease
• complications of syphilis
• exposure to certain chemicals, such as silver nitrate

Tinea nigra is not a serious medical condition. Most people do not notice any symptoms other than brown spots on the skin.

However, as tinea nigra looks similar to several other conditions, it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Prompt treatment can prevent serious skin-related conditions from getting worse.

Tinea nigra: Diagnosis, treatment, and remedies

Tinea nigra is a very rare fungal infection. It causes brown or black patches to develop on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, or, on rare occasions, the torso.

A type of yeast called Hortaea werneckii causes most tinea nigra infections. A person can get the infection when the yeast gets into their body, often through a small wound.

Keep reading to learn more about a tinea nigra infection, including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Tinea nigra causes brown or black patches to appear on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The patches may be so small and faint that a person does not notice them. They also tend to grow slowly. The most common symptoms include:

• a patch on the foot or hand following an injury
• a single round, linear, or irregularly shaped patch that grows slowly
• growing patches that either cause no symptoms or itch
• patches that resemble a growing mole or freckle
• a slow growing brown patch on the torso

The infection affects people who live in tropical regions and those who have recently traveled to these areas.

Most people with tinea nigra have just one lesion. However, if the fungus comes into contact with multiple points of entry, such as wounds on both hands, a person may have several patches.

In healthy people, tinea nigra lives only on the superficial layers of the skin. It does not spread, cause serious infections, or present major health risks. It is more likely to affect young people under the age of 20 years.

Tinea nigra is a fungal infection, which means that a person gets it when they come into contact with a fungus that can cause the infection.

Scientists used to call Hortaea werneckii either Cladosporium werneckii, Exophiala werneckii, or Phaeoannellomyces werneckii. Another yeast called Stenella araguata may cause some cases of tinea nigra.

As with many other fungi, Hortaea werneckii thrives in moist or humid environments. It lives on dead and decaying organic material, such as soil and wood. It can get into the human body when it comes into contact with the skin, usually through a wound. It is most likely to live on parts of the body with many sweat glands, such as the hands and feet.

Certain risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing this infection. They include:

• living in a tropical or subtropical region
• recent travel to a subtropical or tropical region
• a history of hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating
• a recent injury
• contact with wood, soil, or compost, such as from gardening without gloves or woodworking in a tropical or subtropical region

In many cases, a person’s symptoms may lead a doctor to suspect tinea nigra. However, as tinea nigra can resemble the symptoms of several other conditions, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

The doctor may ask the individual about their recent travel, injury history, and exposure to wood, compost, or soil. They will also usually take a culture of the skin and send it to a lab to see whether Hortaea werneckii grows within a week. If it does, this means that the test is positive for tinea nigra.

Sometimes, a doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to test for skin cancer, as certain types of skin cancer can look similar to tinea nigra.

People who wish to try home remedies may see improvements with keratolytic agents. A keratolytic is a chemical that helps remove excess skin. Some potentially effective keratolytics include:

• wart cream
• salicylic acid
• Whitfield’s ointment

These drugs may not be safe during pregnancy, so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should see a doctor instead of trying home remedies.

If home treatment fails, it is best to see a doctor. There are other possible causes of brown lesions on the skin.

Doctors usually prescribe topical antifungal creams to treat tinea nigra. People should apply the cream directly to the patch exactly as a doctor advises.

In some cases, a person may also need to take oral antifungal drugs, especially if the lesions are very large or if antifungal creams have not worked. However, oral drugs may not be effective.

Doctors do not know what treatment duration is optimal, but the authors of one report suggest that 1 month of treatment is sufficient.

People can reduce the risk of tinea nigra infections by protecting the skin from exposure to soil, compost, and other materials in which the Hortaea werneckii fungus likes to grow. Following this advice is especially important for people who travel to or live in tropical regions.

These strategies can help:

• practicing frequent handwashing, especially after spending time outside
• wearing gloves or other protective gear in the garden
• refraining from walking outside with bare feet
• wearing socks or shoes in public places
• changing socks frequently, especially if they get wet
• covering any wounds on the hands or feet before spending time outside

Several other skin conditions may look similar to tinea nigra. Other fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, may also cause skin lesions, but they are not usually brown.

Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can be deadly. It may also look very similar to tinea nigra in the early stages. Similarly to tinea nigra, melanoma is not typically painful at first. Therefore, people who do not get relief from home or medical treatment should see a dermatologist and request a biopsy.

Some other medical conditions and factors that may cause brown patches include:

• skin staining from henna
• skin hyperpigmentation from pregnancy or Addison’s disease
• complications of syphilis
• exposure to certain chemicals, such as silver nitrate

Tinea nigra is not a serious medical condition. Most people do not notice any symptoms other than brown spots on the skin.

However, as tinea nigra looks similar to several other conditions, it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Prompt treatment can prevent serious skin-related conditions from getting worse.

Fungus on the feet – prevention and effective treatment

Epidermophytosis of the feet is a group of fungal diseases that have a common localization and similar clinical manifestations. Very common and affect people of any age (rarely children) prone to chronic relapsing course.

Infection occurs in baths, showers, on beaches, gyms, when using someone else’s shoes and other household items contaminated with fungal elements.

In the pathogenesis of the disease, the anatomical and physiological features of the skin of the feet, increased sweating, changes in the chemistry of sweat, metabolic and endocrine abnormalities, injuries of the lower extremities, and vegetative dystonia are of great importance. Pathogens can be in a saprophytic state for a long time without causing active clinical manifestations. Athlete’s foot has several clinical forms, each of which can be combined with nail lesions.

Symptoms and course

The process most often begins in the interdigital spaces, mainly between the most closely adjacent 4th and 5th fingers. When you feel a slight itch at the bottom of the interdigital fold, a strip of swollen and slightly flaky epidermis appears. After 2-3 days, a small crack appears here, releasing a small amount of serous fluid. Sometimes the stratum corneum falls off, exposing a pink-red surface. The disease, gradually progressing, can spread to all interdigital folds, the plantar surface of the fingers and adjacent parts of the foot itself. The serous fluid seeping to the surface serves as an excellent nutrient material for the further reproduction of fungi.

When fungi enter through the disturbed stratum corneum into the deeper parts of the epidermis, the process is complicated by an eczematous reaction. Numerous, strongly itchy, clear fluid-filled blisters appear, which merge and erode in places, leaving weeping areas.

The process can move to the back surface of the foot and fingers, the sole, capturing its arch to the very heel. The disease, then weakening, then again intensifying, without proper treatment and care, can drag on for many years. Often, this is accompanied by a complication of a secondary pyogenic infection: the transparent contents of the vesicles become purulent, the inflammatory redness intensifies and spreads beyond the boundaries of the lesion, the foot becomes edematous, the patient’s movements are difficult or impossible due to severe pain; subsequent complications may develop in the form of lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, erysipelas, etc.

In some cases, epidermophytosis on the soles is expressed by the appearance on the initially unchanged skin of separate groups of itchy, deeply located, dense to the touch blisters and blisters with transparent or slightly cloudy contents. After their spontaneous opening, the cover of the bubbles disappears, remaining in the form of a corolla only along the edges of the lesion; the central parts have a smooth, pink-red color, slightly flaky, less often – a weeping surface; often new bubbles appear on it. Due to their merger, the lesion expands and can capture significant areas of the soles.

The absorption of allergens (fungi and their toxins) is a sensitizing factor for the whole organism, increases the sensitivity of the skin, and an allergic rash may appear on it. It is more often observed on the hands (palms). Sharply limited erythematous discs are formed, dotted with a large number of small bubbles with transparent contents, which burst, exposing an erosive, weeping surface surrounded by a widening rim of swollen and exfoliating epidermis. Fungi are not usually found in these lesions.

Epidermophytosis of the feet begins mainly in the summer. Increased sweating, insufficient drying of the interdigital spaces after bathing contribute to the introduction of the fungus.

The defeat of the nails with mycosis of the feet is observed mainly on the 1st and 5th fingers, usually starting from the free edge. The nail is thickened, has a yellowish color and a jagged edge. Gradually, more or less pronounced subungual hyperkeratosis develops.

Treatment

Particular attention should be paid to the careful processing of lesions.

The patient should take daily warm foot baths with potassium permanganate. In this case, it is necessary to remove the crusts, open the blisters, cut off the fringe along the edges of the erosion, as well as the covers of festering blisters. After the bath, wet-drying dressings or lotions are applied with an aqueous solution of copper sulfate (0.1%) and zinc (0. 4%) or with a 1% aqueous solution of resorcinol. After wetting stops, dermozolon, mycosolone, and then alcoholic fungicidal solutions, Castellani paint, and, finally, if necessary, fungicidal pastes and ointments, are applied.

The effectiveness of treatment depends not so much on the choice of a pharmacological drug, but on their correct, consistent use in accordance with the nature of the inflammatory reaction.

Fungicidal treatment is carried out until the test results for fungi are negative.

Extremely important is the anti-relapse treatment carried out within a month after the elimination of the lesions – wiping the skin of the feet with 2% salicylic or 1% thymol alcohol and dusting with 10% boric powder. For the same purpose, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the inner surface of the shoe with a formaldehyde solution, wrap it for 2 days in an airtight fabric, then ventilate and dry, and socks and stockings for 10 minutes. boil.

With the complication of athlete’s foot with pyococcal infection, antibiotics are prescribed – methicillin, cephaloridine, oleandomycin, metacycline, erythromycin. The patient must comply with bed rest.

Prophylaxis

Provides, firstly, disinfection of floors, wooden flooring, benches, basins, gangs in baths, showers, pools, as well as disinfection of impersonal shoes; secondly, regular examinations of attendants and persons involved in swimming pools in order to identify patients with epidermophytosis and treat them early; thirdly, carrying out sanitary and educational work. The population needs to be explained the rules for personal prevention of epidermophytosis: wash your feet daily at night (preferably with cold water and laundry soap), wipe them thoroughly; at least every other day, change socks and stockings; do not use someone else’s shoes; have your own rubber sandals or slippers for the bath, shower, pool.

To harden the skin of the soles, it is recommended to walk barefoot on sand, grass in the hot season.

Foot acupressure ⋆ Massage center ⋆ Article 1

FOOT MASSAGE.
FOOT-MASSAGE.
STOP ACUPUNCTURE MASSAGE.
STOP REFLECTOR MASSAGE.

“Massage and painting are two arts that combine
good knowledge of human anatomy
and creativity.”
Aphorism

Acupressure foot massage (foot-massage / foot-massage / acupuncture foot massage / reflex foot massage) has been used for thousands of years by traditional and non-traditional medicine of different peoples to cure human ailments, harmonize body and soul. According to legend, it was invented by the Buddha himself. In China, acupressure of the feet has long been the privilege of only emperors. Mentions of the healing effect on the feet are found in ancient wall paintings and documents of India, Egypt, as well as the Maya Indians.

Many centuries ago, people noticed an interesting fact: those who walk barefoot a lot usually feel good and are noticeably healthier than others. There are more than 70,000 nerve endings on the human feet, forming reflexogenic zones that connect parts of the foot with certain internal organs and physiological systems. On the soles, the projection zones of the internal organs are located very close to each other and have clear boundaries. Reflexologists view the sole of the foot as a map of the human body.

Each area of ​​the foot surface corresponds to a specific organ. The right foot corresponds to the right side of the body, and the left to the left side. The pads of the four nail phalanges of the toes (except for the pads of the thumbs) are connected with the frontal and maxillary sinuses. That’s why wet feet are the most common cause of a cold, which is accompanied by a runny nose and headache. The eye zones are located in the fold of the second and third toes. It is enough to walk barefoot a little, and a person’s visual acuity will improve, intraocular pressure will normalize. The forefoot and the lateral surface of the feet on the plantar surface are the locations of the zones of the inner ear, throat and bronchi. The heart area is located in the front of the arch of the left foot. In older people, a day or two before the development of a heart attack, mild left-sided lameness often appears, which people themselves often notice (“Something has entered the leg . ..”). If you feel the left foot, then if there is a problem, the heart area usually responds with pain. In the depths of the arch of the feet, there are zones of the kidneys, adrenal glands, stomach and solar plexus – organs whose activity should not greatly depend on the physical activity of a person. In the same place, nearby and only on the right foot, there is a zone of the liver. A sedentary lifestyle has a relaxing effect on the kidneys and liver, which generally contributes to the development of diseases of these organs. At the same time, moderate physical activity keeps these areas in good shape. Almost in the center of each of the woman’s heels is a large, rounded one of the ovarian zones, connected with the ovary on the same side of the body: the left – with the left, the right – with the right. It has been noticed that long before the appearance of pulling pains in the lower abdomen and other symptoms, it becomes painful for many women to step on the heel of the leg on the side of which adnexitis begins. The fallopian tube zone runs along the Achilles tendon on the outside of each leg and also reflects the condition of the tube.

The pictures show the location of active points on the foot under certain numbers. And on the left, under the same numbers, a list of organs and systems is given. In the list, you need to find the organs necessary for the therapeutic effect, and by the number in the picture, determine the points associated with each organ. Next, we do acupressure foot massage / foot massage / foot-massage / acupuncture foot massage / reflex foot massage.

Right foot

1 Head, brain, left side
2 Frontal sinuses, left side
3 Cerebellum, cerebral cortex
4 Pituitary gland
6 Nose
7 Occiput
8 Left eye
9 Left ear
10 Right shoulder
11 Trapezius muscle 9 0044 12 Thyroid gland
13 Parathyroid glands,
14 Right lungs and bronchi
15 Stomach
16 Duodenum
17 Pancreas
18 Liver
19 Gall bladder
20 Solar plexus
21 Right adrenal gland
22 Right kidney
23 Right urinary tract
24 Bladder
25 Small intestine
29 Transverse colon
31 Rectum
35 Right knee
36 Sex glands, right ovaries
38 Right hip joint 9 0044 57 Nervous system
60 Knee
61 Throat

Left foot

1 Head, brain, right side
2 Frontal sinuses, right side
3 Cerebellum, brainstem
4 Pituitary
5 Trigeminal nerve, right temple
6 Nose
7 Nape
8 Right eye
9 Right ear
10 Left shoulder
11 Trapezius muscle
12 Thyroid gland
14 Left lung bronchi
15 Stomach
16 Duodenum
17 Pancreas
20 Solar plexus
21 Left adrenal gland
22 Left kidney
23 Urinary tract
24 Bladder
29 Transverse colon
30 Descending colon
31 Rectum
32 Anus
33 Heart
34 Spleen
35 Left knee
36 Sex glands, ovaries left
38 Hip joint left
57 Nervous system
60 Knee joint
61 Throat

FOOT – BACK SIDE

39.