Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Treatment with an antifungal cream is usually used, which gives good results, but does not last long. The following tips will help prevent toe fungus, which can recur even after treatment.
Who can be infected
Almost anyone can get athlete's foot. But it is more common in individuals who sweat more, or in those who wear tight shoes and socks, which also cause excessive sweating of the feet.
Mycosis can be transmitted from person to person. This could happen, for example, in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungal-infected skin may fall off while you shower. Once a small patch of infection begins to develop, it usually spreads along the skin. Read here where else you can catch the mushroom.
What are the symptoms?
The skin between the toes is usually affected first. The first signs of fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are mild. The onset will become noticeable when the rash starts to spread and the skin starts to become itchy and scaly. Cracks and inflammation will appear on it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can become larger and can be very painful. Small flakes of infected skin will peel off.
If interdigital mycosis is left untreated, the rash will gradually spread down the entire leg. In some cases it extends to the sole. The infection often causes scaling of the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes mycosis causes large blistering rashes all over the plant. In this case it is foot fungus.
How serious is this?
As a rule no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection takes hold. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. These are usually moist, airless areas, such as the groin.
Typically, fungi, including toenail fungus between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can enter the cracks left by a neglected or untreated yeast infection. Sometimes this can cause more serious infections in the feet or legs.
It happens that the infection spreads to the nail - it can be cured. But in this case, to get rid of the fungus, you will need several weeks of taking antifungal tablets to get rid of the infection from the nails.Therefore, it is better to treat interdigital fungus of the feet in a timely manner as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Treatment of mycosis
Treatment of fungus between the toes usually involves the use of various antifungal creams and sprays. You can purchase topical antifungals at your local pharmacy or purchase one with a prescription.
To treat fungus between the toes, you need to apply an antifungal agent directly to the affected area, that is, to the skin of the feet. There are various drugs that help against fungal infections.
They are usually sold in the form of creams, but can also come in sprays, liquids and powders. These drugs are very effective in ridding the skin of fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than another.For children, gentler drugs should be used.Other options are undecenoic acid or tolnaftate, which are used only as directed by a doctor.
During treatment, it is often the case that the inflammation seems to disappear quite quickly, however therapy may be required for 1-2 weeks after the rash disappears. This is necessary to completely eliminate fungus on the skin, preventing relapses.
- Preparations with the active ingredient clotrimazole: use 2-3 times a day for at least four weeks.
- Preparations with the active ingredient miconazole nitrate: apply twice a day and continue for 10 days after the skin has returned to normal.
- Preparations with the active ingredient econazole nitrate: apply twice a day until the skin returns to its normal state.
- Drugs of the triazole group: apply twice a day for seven days. To cure toenail fungus between the toes, you need to continue using the medication for a few more days if the symptoms are more severe. Not suitable for children.
- Preparations with the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride: apply once or twice a day for seven days. Not suitable for children.
- Undecenoic acid preparations: apply twice a day and continue for a week after the skin returns to normal.
If you encounter this disease for the first time and do not know how to cure foot fungus and do not make a mistake in choosing a drug for treatment, consult a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a gentle steroid ointment. They are usually used for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using only an antifungal cream for a while.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness in a short period of time. However, the steroid does not completely eliminate toe fungus and therefore steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal tablets for toenail fungus are sometimes prescribed to adults if the infection is severe and does not clear up with creams. Compresses are also necessary if the infection, in addition to the legs, is found in many places on the skin.
However, this treatment for interdigital fungus is not suitable for everyone.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with liver disease are not always recommended to use antifungal tablets. Children are usually not prescribed antifungal drug treatment.
Although skin fungus between your toes can spread from person to person, you don't have to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have the fungus.However, in public places, such as a pool or sauna, try to keep your feet covered until the rash goes away.Also, try not to scratch the broken skin as this could spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent the occurrence of athlete's foot:
- It is necessary to wash your feet every day and carefully dry the skin between the toes after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The moist skin between your toes is an ideal place for fungus to grow.
- Don't share other people's towels in public changing rooms. Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks every day. Fungi multiply in skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from artificial materials, which increase sweating.
- Try alternating different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wearing them.
- Wear flip flops or sandals in public changing rooms and showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the floor, which may have flakes of other people's skin on them.
- When you're at home, walk barefoot as much as possible, without shoes or socks, to allow air to reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If your athlete's foot continues to recur, you can prevent it by regularly using an antifungal spray or cream as a preventative. As a preventive measure, you can use various preventive creams daily.