After a few days of winding through the rain on the way home from work, Ms. Anh (30 years old, Ho Chi Minh City)'s legs began to become red and itchy. Thinking that she only suffered minor irritation from exposure to dirty water, she bought topical ointments. However, a few days later, the injuries did not subside but gradually spread to the hands and neck, Ms. Anh went to the hospital for examination.
Doctor Vo Thi Tuong Duy, Dermatology - Dermatology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, noted that Ms. Anh's skin and feet had many red patches and leaks, suspected of skin fungus. Test results showed that she had skin fungus.
Flooded water creates an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow. When the skin is soaked in water for a long time, it is easy to lose the protective layer, making it easy for fungi to invade and damage. Ms. Anh's case may have been due to early treatment intervention and improper treatment at home, so her skin damage did not stop at her feet but spread quickly to her hands and neck, causing widespread and more severe inflammation.
After 2 weeks of treatment with topical medications combined with antifungal drugs, Ms. Anh's dermatitis gradually improved, the red patches decreased, and no longer spread.
Doctor Duy warns that the initial signs of skin fungus are often quite similar to common allergies, so many patients are easily subjective, even self-treating, making the condition worse, leading to infection or spreading inflammation. If not treated early, foot fungus can progress chronically, causing cracks, bleeding, and even a buildup of bacteria, affecting travel and work.
Therefore, when experiencing skin problems such as itching, redness, peeling or blisters, patients should go to the hospital for examination and treatment by a doctor.
After going in the rain or soaking their feet in flooded areas for a long time, people need to pay close attention to cleaning their skin to prevent fungus and skin diseases.
Wash your hands and feet, especially between your fingers, with soap, dry thoroughly; quickly change your clothes and shoes to avoid moisture. For people with scratches, it is necessary to disinfect and cover carefully. Limit the use of towels, sandals or personal items together to prevent spread.
