No one today can be immune to foot fungus. Its development occurs under certain favorable conditions (humidity and heat). Often the fungus is found not only on the nails, but also between the fingers. Infection with them occurs simply, for this it is also possible not to directly contact a person sick with this disease. After all, the spores of such a fungus live for a long time on all kinds of objects, clothes, shoes.
Particular susceptibility to fungus between the toes
It happens that someone is completely immune to fungi, even with frequent contact with infected objects. For someone, on the contrary, this disease develops instantly. Factors predisposing to the fungus:
- the state of immunity: when it is weakened, the risk of developing the disease increases;
- age - in children, the skin is more susceptible to various types of fungal diseases;
- chronic or infectious diseases - weaken the body, as a result of which it is easier for the fungus to penetrate the thickness of the skin or nail;
- increased sweating and the characteristics of the composition of sweat create a favorable environment for the introduction and development of the fungus.
Possibility of infection
There are two main types of infection with this disease. Straight way:
- when walking barefoot on the floor, earth, grass;
- on contact with a person with mycosis;
- when it "communicates" with an infected animal.
Indirect way:
- when using items that have a fungus (towels, shoes, underwear);
- when using animal care items, which may also contain fungi that are dangerous to humans.
- Causes of the appearance of fungus between the fingers
Causes of the appearance of fungus between the fingers
The causes of the appearance and fungus on the legs between the fingers are very diverse:
- warm and humid environment between the toes;
- violations of the integrity of the skin, even small ones: cracks, sores, pustules, wounds;
- poor quality, uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- physical fatigue, exhaustion;
- infection is possible in common areas (baths, saunas, thermal beauty salons, swimming pools);
- pregnancy, dysbiosis, varicose veins.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of the disease, which in the future need to be treated, look like this:
- peeling between the fingers;
- cracks that occur for unknown reasons;
- pain accompanied by severe itching;
- severe sweating of the legs;
- seals in the sole area;
- the formation of large spots of a grayish or yellowish hue.
Initially, the symptoms of the disease are not pronounced: there is almost no itching, no discomfort is felt. Therefore, many simply do not attach importance to the early warning signs of problems.
If you ignore the first symptoms and do not start treatment of the disease, the process will progress: mycosis will capture not only the interdigital spaces, but also other areas of the skin of the foot, move to the nails, which will change color, thicken, deform and exfoliate.
Therapeutic procedures using drugs
Treating a fungus is a long process that requires a lot of patience and responsibility on the part of the patient. At a minimum, the treatment will take a month, but in some cases the treatment process can take up to a year.
You need to find out from a specialist about the correct treatment of the fungus between the toes. To do this, you need to contact a dermatologist. In no case should you self-medicate, otherwise there is a possibility of spreading the disease to other parts of the body.
Only a doctor can prescribe the correct and effective treatment, which will aim not only to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also to rid the patient of the cause itself - the causative agent of the fungal disease. For this purpose, various drugs are used:
- compresses made with a special solution - in this product it is necessary to moisten cotton swabs, distribute them between the toes, after 20 minutes the compress must be removed;
- antifungal ointments - they not only relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but also destroy its cause, the fungus;
- tablets - drugs that must be taken orally, acting on the fungus systemically;
- in some cases, immunostimulants are also needed, which strengthen the immune system, making the treatment more effective.
Effective treatment of mushroom folk remedies
There are folk methods of treating fungi that have stood the test of time:
- A decoction of absinthe. For cooking, you will need half a kilogram of wormwood grass, it must be boiled for a quarter of an hour in clean water (3 l). Then the remedy is infused for 30 minutes, filtered and placed in a basin. In such a bathroom, you need to hold your feet just before going to bed.
- Salt baths. An effective treatment for fungus between the toes is the preparation of foot baths with sea salt. You will need to heat the water, pour a small amount of salt. As soon as the product has time to dissolve in the bath, it is necessary to lower the legs there, steam thoroughly. There is no need to wash your feet after the procedure. It is recommended to wear natural fabric socks and go to bed. Such baths help make the skin of the legs soft, healthy. In the initial stages of the fungus, such baths perfectly help to solve this problem.
Consolidation of the result
After the end of the treatment, the cracks and itching disappear. Some symptoms cease to bother the patient, but this does not mean that the treatment is over. In the pharmacy it is necessary to order a special 25% solution of aluminum chloride. It will eventually remove the fungus between the toes.
It is very important to remember that the treatment of the fungus will be successful if you constantly keep the skin of the feet clean: perform pedicure at home with individual tools, remove the skin that exfoliates. Contains pathogenic spores of the fungus. If they are not removed, another infection is likely, a relapse. Therefore, when making foot baths, it is recommended to use a special brush to remove dead skin.
At the end of the treatment it is important to disinfect clothes and shoes. If not, a relapse of the disease is likely. For disinfection, the following agent can be used: formalin 25% + vinegar 30%.
With this tool, you have to process all things and put them in one package. And after 2-3 hours, things will need to be let on the air. The fungus will be completely destroyed and the person will be protected from reinfection.
Disease prevention
To prevent the return of the fungus affecting the area between the toes, it is necessary to follow simple measures:
- wear only comfortable and high-quality shoes only with natural "breathable" materials;
- after returning home from work or a walk, the shoes must be treated with a spray with a disinfectant effect;
- you can't try on someone else's shoes;
- after visiting public places, it is necessary to wash your feet thoroughly, dry them, and at home, it is possible to treat with a special remedy from a pharmacy for prevention;
- need to maintain immunity at an adequate level. To this end, it is recommended to include more fruits, vegetables, herbal teas, juices in the diet.
Don't neglect foot fungus prevention. It will help protect against this disease. Otherwise, having been infected with a fungus, it will take a long time to be treated. After treatment, it is necessary to ensure that there are no relapses. Remember: like any other disease, foot fungus is much easier to prevent than to cure later.