Foot skin fungus, or mycosis, according to statistics, affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet. This disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness and an unpleasant smell. coming from the legs. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner to eliminate the disease at the initial stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will enter a chronic stage and therefore it will be very difficult for honey fingers to eliminate the symptoms of the skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy mushrooms;
- dermatophytes;
- brewer's yeast.
Depending on the type of fungus that caused the disease, the symptoms of the disease will be different:
- Mold develops mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin thins.
- A disease caused by yeast fungi, will spread not only to the areas between the fingers, but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, caused by dermatophytes, begins to manifest itself on the little finger or in the areas close to the thumb, and then spreads throughout the foot.
Symptoms of mycosis differ depending on the stage of the disease:
- At the initial stage of the development of the disease, not all sufferers will suspect that they have a fungal infection. During this period, the ailment manifests itself with small cracks, itchy sensation between the fingers, increased flaking and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, areas of redness are formed between the fingers, peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and enlargement of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. Legs itch unbearably. The skin becomes covered with deep cracks and constantly gets wet. Ulcers and sores look like a continuous wound. The nails begin to come off the bed.
It is quite simple to identify mycosis at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will paint healthy skin a pinkish tint, while areas with fungus between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Pharmacological treatment
If there is even a slight suspicion of the presence of a fungal infection, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist is able to distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe a therapy that will be effective against a specific pathogen.
At the initial stage of the disease, it is possible to carry out effective treatment at home using special drugs prescribed by the attending physician. Most often, medicines are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using them, the legs must be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. L. sodium bicarbonate. Steamed feet must be dried and, rubbing thoroughly, apply the product.
In the active and neglected stage, the use of exclusively external agents for the high-quality treatment of a fungal infection is not enough. In this case, the administration of drugs inside is additionally prescribed. This must be done in strict accordance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is too advanced and the infectious process has affected not only the skin, but also the internal organs, then the treatment is carried out only in the hospital with the use of powerful drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
Effectively copes with interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient of this ointment is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the causative agent of the disease.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after preliminary steaming in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. One course of treatment is enough to eliminate the initial stage of the infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient, which allows you to quickly cope with the causative agent of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after preliminary steaming of the limbs.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 3 weeks to one and a half months. The ointment can also cope with advanced mycoses, but it is a rather toxic drug. It cannot be used to eliminate fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after applying the product, pain, burning or itching may occur in this area. This is how his action manifests itself. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfuric ointment
This is another inexpensive but effective remedy for athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungus.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric ointment depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 4 weeks to several months. The tool just needs to be rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The drug has no toxic effects, so it can also be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Iodine massage
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. In the initial stage of the disease, it can be used to eliminate the infection.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied undiluted strictly to the areas of localization of the lesion using a cotton swab. The procedure is carried out twice a day until improvement. For greater efficiency, it is recommended to make foot baths by dissolving a small amount of iodine in warm water.
Boric acid
This is another good antiseptic that can be used to fight infections. They usually take warm baths with boric acid before bed. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of hot water. L. powder and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are thoroughly cleaned.
Also, you can sprinkle the affected areas with powdered boric acid and put on socks. In the morning, rinse off the remnants of the product, then wipe your feet.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or lactating women or children.
glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation must be used in conjunction with table vinegar. For the treatment you will need:
- 20 ml of glycerin;
- 20 ml of table vinegar.
Using:
- Combine the components in a glass container.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Apply on a cotton ball.
- Apply it to the damaged area of the skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be done every day until the improvement begins.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to get rid of athlete's foot. Most often, the procedures are carried out in the form of baths. They are prepared in the evening, just before bedtime. For the bath, you need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide with the same amount of water and lower it into the foot fluid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the feet must be thoroughly cleaned.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a remedy for mycoses in the different stages of the disease. You can use these baths as a preventative measure.
complex means
If the disease has passed from the initial stage to active or neglected, the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. In these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes complex treatment, which implies the simultaneous use of medicines inside and external treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of ointments or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| First name | Description |
| Ketoconazole | The medicine is available in the form of tablets. Effectively eliminates foot fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, an appropriate cream or shampoo can be applied |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively copes with most types of pathogens of mycosis. It is produced in different forms, which allows you to get rid of the disease in different stages, acting in a complex way |
| terbinafine | One of the most effective drugs for eliminating the signs of the fungus. A complete cure is possible after taking the pills for a 30 day cycle. In addition, you can apply a cream - this will improve the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
The use of folk methods
Methods for treating fungal infections related to alternative medicine are used in conjunction with medications. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Various homemade remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
bathrooms
Effective Bath Recipes:
| Name of the bathroom | recipe | Features of use |
| Euphorbia |
|
Dip your feet in the bath and wait 40 minutes. Perform the procedures once every 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Mix in 1 liter of warm water 1 tbsp. L. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Soak your feet in the solution and keep for 30 minutes. Perform the procedures every day until the symptoms disappear |
| absinthe |
|
Keep your feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Perform the procedures every other day |
| With celandine |
|
Immerse your feet in the infusion and keep for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every other day |
| Drink | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of warm water. L. sodium bicarbonate |
|
| Acetic | Pour the apple or wine cider vinegar into a wide wide container |
|
| Coffee bar |
|
|
lotions
Lotions that effectively help to cope with a fungal infection:
| Means | recipe | Features of use |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice of 1 onion, after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve some potassium permanganate crystals in warm water so that the solution acquires a pale pink color |
|
| apple cider vinegar | Dip a 9% cotton ball into table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Dip a cotton ball in the wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton ball and apply it to the affected area overnight |
ointments
Effective homemade ointments for interdigital mycosis:
| First name | recipe | Features of use |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
birch tar
A good result at the initial stage of the development of mycosis is provided by the use of birch tar:
- It is good to steam your feet in hot water.
- Apply a generous layer of birch tar to the areas with mycosis.
- Roll up with a towel or other natural cloth.
- Leave for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure must be repeated 5 times. At the first sign of disease, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without resorting to drugs.
Features of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital region of the legs can appear at any age, even in children. This usually happens due to low immunity or after receiving microtrauma of the skin of the feet.
At the first signs of interdigital fungus, you should immediately consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. In no case can you prescribe the treatment yourself.
If for the treatment of adults, in the absence of contraindications, all drugs can be used without restrictions, then for the treatment of children it is necessary to use non-toxic topical agents. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and act on time.
Most often, a fungal infection is treated with Terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, the treatment should be carried out:
- 10 days of using the ointment;
- 10 days of rest.
It is necessary to repeat the course as many times as necessary for the complete disappearance of signs of damage.
At a more advanced stage of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungal agents with the use of antibacterial drugs. The specific treatment regimen must be prescribed by a specialist.
Also be careful when treating pregnant women for fungus between the toes. During this period of a woman's life, many drugs for internal use are prohibited; these include strong antifungal agents. On the recommendation of a doctor, it is necessary to apply Clotrimazole or Naftifin ointments. It is necessary to combine them with treatment with folk remedies. The most favorite folk remedies are various baths.