Skin mycoses are a common group of diseases.
Patients don't always take them seriously enough, which leads to advanced forms of the condition that are difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of fungal foot infections and get rid of a nasty disease like toe and toe fungal infections.
Cutaneous mycosis between the fingers: how does the disease manifest itself?
Skin mycosis is an infectious disease caused by fungi that parasitize the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body. But more often than not, they choose the folds of the skin. The spaces between the toes are their favorite place. This is due to the fact that the legs often sweat, and in tight shoes, moisture does not have time to evaporate. Therefore, the spaces between the fingers are often wet and damp. And these conditions are just what the fungus needs for reproduction. It is not uncommon for the fungus to enter the indentations between the fingers of infected nails.
Contribute to the development of skin disease:
- insufficient hygiene of the feet, their overheating or hypothermia;
- predisposition to increased sweating;
- poor blood circulation in the foot associated with heart disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus;
- fatigue;
- calluses and cuts on the skin of the feet;
- lack of vitamins and minerals (mainly zinc) in the body;
- trophic ulcers on the leg;
- hormonal imbalance and thyroid disease;
- overweight;
- excessively dry skin.
However, in most cases, the fungus between the toes does not develop if the person has healthy immunity.
The disease is more common in men, due to the more frequent use of tight shoes. The fungus on the legs can appear not only in adults, but also in children.
Cutaneous mycoses between the toes in 90% of cases are caused by the activity of three types of fungi from the group of dermatomycetes: Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton. In addition, often the skin in the interdigital spaces is affected by fungi of the genus Candida.
Most often, the infection initially develops in the cavity between the two smaller fingers. However, other interdigital spaces may also be affected. Once on the skin, the fungus actively multiplies on it. The remnants of the stratum corneum of the skin serve as food for microorganisms.
A skin infection can be passed from person to person. For this, a simple contact of the skin of the feet with the surfaces containing the fungus is sufficient. Transmission of the pathogen can occur with the help of someone else's shared shoes, socks, towels, and a wet floor in the shower. It is necessary to carefully monitor personal hygiene, use only personal items. Personal or disposable slippers and flip-flops must be used in swimming pools, showers, baths and saunas.
Often a skin disease is transmitted from one family member to another, using the same items of shoes, pedicures, socks, towels, walking around the house barefoot, etc.
Symptoms of a fungal infection on the skin of the feet.
Symptoms of mycosis of the feet at an early stage:
- itching and burning, worsening at night;
- dryness;
- peeling of the skin;
- small cracks.
With the development of the disease, the symptoms intensify, itching and burning become unbearable, lead to scratching and irritation of the skin, cracks become deeper. The skin on the feet becomes rough. Pain appears, an unpleasant smell that does not pass even after washing, edema and hyperemia, there is a detachment of the epidermis.
Then bubbles filled with serous fluid appear. After opening them, healing ulcers remain on the skin. A bacterial one joins the fungal infection.
Nail peeling, abscesses may appear. A complication of mycosis of the feet can be the penetration of the fungus into the bloodstream and the spread of the infection throughout the body. At the same time, the body temperature rises. Gangrenous lesions of the feet can also develop. Cardiovascular disease, immunodeficiency states and diabetes mellitus complicate the course of the skin disease.
To diagnose mycosis of the feet, it may not be enough for a doctor to examine the skin. It is often necessary to analyze the composition of the skin microflora. For this, a scrap is taken from the affected surface. The fungus can be found on the skin even if there are no visible symptoms of infection.
There is also a popular method of determining the presence of a fungus on the leg. To do this, you need to put your foot in a potassium permanganate bath. If there is no fungus on the skin, it will turn pink and the affected areas will turn white.
How to remove the fungus between the toes?
Getting an infection on the skin is very easy, but getting rid of it is much more difficult. Skin mycoses are always treated at home, but this does not mean that the patient will definitely be helped by completely independent treatment. In any case it is necessary to consult a doctor.
There are many antifungal drugs that effectively kill the fungus. However, the success of treatment largely depends on the stage of the disease. If it went too far, it will be difficult to get rid of the infection. At the initial stage, external antifungal drugs are used. If the disease is already ongoing, doctors advise to treat with systemic means. Most often, terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole are prescribed in the form of tablets.
Popular antifungal agents:
- nystatin,
- fluconazole,
- ketoconazole,
- clotrimazole,
- terbinafine,
- naftifine,
- miconazole,
- itraconazole,
- natamycin.
Some antifungal ointments also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients.
The method of applying all ointments is the same - they must be applied regularly to the affected areas of the skin with a thin layer. Some ointments are enough to use once a day, others require more frequent application. Antifungal sprays that can be sprayed on the affected area are even more convenient than ointments.
Treatment with antifungal ointments can be lengthy. Some types of ointments can clear the infection after 2 weeks. But with severe damage, the duration of treatment can take up to 3 months. Doctors advise to apply the ointment at least 2 weeks after the visible symptoms of the disease have passed. And once every six months, it is necessary to lubricate the toes with ointments for preventive purposes.
Also, in case of severe infection, systemic antifungal drugs can be used. However, they have a long list of contraindications and side effects. In particular, mushroom pills are contraindicated in pregnant women. Also, many skin ointments are prohibited during pregnancy. If it is necessary to use such topical preparations, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Not all drugs are allowed in childhood. Therefore, you need to consult the instructions for the selected tool. Some medicines can be used from 2 years of age, others from 12.
A specialist should select the right drug. Incorrect use of antifungal drugs not only does not relieve the patient of pathogenic microorganisms, but can also lead to the development of resistance in them (especially in conditions where the patient is constantly reinfected). Toxins secreted by many fungi suppress local immunity, which contributes to the further development of infection.
In addition, vitamin and mineral complexes are taken. If the disease is complicated by a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics, but if there are signs of allergy, antihistamines are prescribed. The treatment can be supplemented with anti-inflammatory ointments, salicylic, sulfuric, ichthyol and zinc ointments.
Salicylic ointment:
- has antiseptic properties,
- prevents keratinization of the skin,
- promotes the restoration of the epidermis,
- prevents the spread of infection.
Zinc ointment contains lanolin, menthol, zinc oxide. Zinc ointment has disinfectant properties, promotes skin regeneration, relieves itching and burning.
The sulfur ointment has anti-inflammatory, emollient and disinfectant properties. Ichthyol ointment has a keratolytic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal effect. In addition, ichthyol ointment promotes tissue regeneration.
Don't forget about foot hygiene too. It is necessary to give up tight and uncomfortable shoes, synthetic socks and stockings, regularly change the insoles. Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays. In fact, the treatment will have no effect if the patient's skin is continuously infected with new portions of the fungus that lives in the shoes.
Fungus between the toes: treatment with folk remedies at home
Treatment with pharmaceutical preparations does not always bring the desired effect. Therefore, people turn to folk remedies. This approach is also understandable because many synthetic antifungal ointments and sprays are not cheap at all. Treatment with folk remedies can be carried out in addition to treatment with pharmacy skin ointments.
The simplest folk remedies for getting rid of the fungus are salt and soda baths. To prepare the trays, you will need 2-3 tablespoons of salt or soda per 5 liters. water. Water temperature - + 40-45 ° C. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.
One of the best home remedies is a herbal bath with antiseptic properties. It can be chamomile, sage, calendula, nettle, St. John's wort. To prepare the bath, you need 2-3 tablespoons. plant materials (you can take a mixture of various herbs) insist in a glass of boiling water, strain and add to a 5-liter container with water for a bath. The water should be warm, but it shouldn't burn the skin on your feet. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.
Many people in the presence of fungus on the skin of the feet are also helped by baths with a solution of potassium permanganate. To prepare a light pink solution, only a few granules of potassium permanganate are needed. You can also moisten pieces of cotton wool with a solution of potassium permanganate and stick them between your fingers.
Boric acid is also effective in treating the disease. You can use both liquid boric acid and powder. The acid can be added to the baths and treated with the affected areas.
For the trays, you can also use a slightly warmed 9% solution of table apple cider vinegar. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes. You can also make vinegar lotions.
Another recipe is iodine baths. To prepare the solution, simply dilute 20 drops in 3 liters of warm water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, the course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
After the end of the water procedures, it is necessary to clean the skin of keratinized and flaky tissues. It is recommended to bathe at least once a day, preferably at night.
Also, for the treatment of mycosis of the feet, ointment with garlic, pharmacy anti-dandruff shampoo with antifungal components, lotions with chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide can be used.
Prevention of cutaneous mycosis of the toes
The disease occurs due to non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary:
- do not use other people's pedicure tools, towels, slippers, socks and shoes, do not allow strangers to use shoes, socks, hygiene items;
- observe the hygiene of the feet, wash the skin daily with soap, carefully treating the interdigital spaces;
- regularly cut toenails;
- wear comfortable shoes and breathable fabric socks;
- regularly change socks, wear socks washed at a temperature of at least + 40 ° С;
- exercise to improve blood circulation in the legs.
What is the fastest treatment?
It is impossible to say unequivocally which remedy is the fastest and the best. After all, the effectiveness of therapy for a fungal skin disease depends on many circumstances: the severity of the pathology, the level of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases. Some patients are helped by traditional methods, others - by pharmaceutical ointments. It is important not to start the disease and to start treatment at the first sign of it. It is also important to identify the type of pathogen. To do this, you need to consult a doctor. Perhaps he will be able to find the best option for the drug.