Cutaneous mycoses are a common group of diseases.
Patients do not always take them seriously enough, leading to advanced forms of pathology that are difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of fungal infections on your feet and get rid of nasty diseases such as fungal infections of your toes and feet.
Cutaneous mycosis between the fingers - how does the disease occur?
Mycosis of the skin is an infectious disease caused by fungi that parasitize the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body. But more often they choose skin folds. The spaces between the toes are their favorite place. This is due to the fact that the feet often sweat, and in tight shoes the moisture does not have time to evaporate. Therefore, the spaces between the fingers are often wet and damp. And these conditions are exactly what the fungus needs to reproduce. It is not uncommon for the fungus to enter the cavities between the fingers from infected nails.
Contribute to the development of skin diseases:
- poor foot hygiene, overheating or hypothermia;
- predisposition to increased sweating;
- poor blood circulation in the foot associated with heart disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus;
- stress;
- calluses and cuts on the skin of the feet;
- lack of vitamins and minerals (mainly zinc) in the body;
- trophic leg ulcers;
- 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 a healthy immunity.
The disease is more common in men due to the more frequent wearing of tight shoes. Foot fungus can occur not only in adults but also in children.
Skin mycoses between the fingers in 90% of cases are caused by the activity of three types of fungi from the group of dermatomycetes - Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton. Also, the skin in the interdigital spaces is often affected by fungi of the genus Candida.
Most often, the infection initially develops in the cavity between the two smallest fingers. However, other inter-digit spaces may 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.
The skin infection can spread from person to person. For this, a simple contact of the skin of the feet with surfaces containing the fungus is sufficient. Transmission of the pathogen can be done with the help of foreign shoes, socks, common towels and a wet floor in the shower. It is necessary to carefully monitor personal hygiene, to use only personal belongings. Disposable slippers or flip-flops should 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, worse at night;
- dryness;
- skin peeling;
- small cracks.
With the development of the disease, the symptoms intensify, the itching and burning become unbearable, lead to scratching and irritation of the skin, the cracks become deeper. The skin of the feet becomes rough. There is pain, an unpleasant odor that does not pass even after washing, swelling and redness, there is a discharge of the epidermis.
Bubbles filled with serous fluid then appear. After opening them, non-healing purulent ulcers remain on the skin. Bacterial joins the fungal infection.
Nail peeling, abscesses may occur. A complication of mycosis of the feet can be the penetration of the fungus into the blood and the spread of infection in the body. At the same time, the body temperature rises. Gangrenous lesions of the legs may also develop. Cardiovascular diseases, immunodeficiency and diabetes complicate the course of skin diseases.
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. To do this, take a scrape 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 for determining the presence of foot fungus. To do this, you need to put your feet in a tub of potassium permanganate. If there is no fungus on the skin, then it will turn pink and the affected areas will turn white.
How to remove the fungus between the toes?
Getting an infection on your skin is very easy, but getting rid of it is much harder. Mycoses of the skin are always treated at home, but this does not mean that the patient will definitely be assisted by completely independent treatment. In any case, a doctor's consultation is required.
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 has gone too far, it will be difficult to get rid of the infection. In the initial stage, external antifungal drugs are used. If the disease is already underway, then doctors recommend treatment with systemic drugs. Most often terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole are prescribed in tablet form.
Popular antifungals:
- nystatin,
- fluconazole,
- ketoconazole,
- clotrimazole,
- terbinafine,
- naftifine,
- miconazole,
- itraconazole,
- natamycin.
Some antifungal ointments also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients.
The method of application of all ointments is the same - they should be regularly applied to the affected areas of the skin with a thin layer. Some ointments are sufficient for 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 prolonged. Some types of ointments can get rid of the infection after 2 weeks. However, in severe injuries, 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. And once every six months it is necessary to lubricate the toes with ointments for preventive purposes.
Also, systemic antifungal drugs can be used for severe infection. However, they have a long list of contraindications and side effects. In particular, antifungal pills are contraindicated in pregnant women. Also, many skin ointments are prohibited during pregnancy. If there is a need to use such topical preparations, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Not all medicines are allowed in children. Therefore, you should review the instructions for the selected tool. Some medicines can be used from the age of 2, others from the age of 12.
The specialist must choose the right medicine. Improper use of antifungal drugs will not only 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 further contributes to the 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. Treatment can be supplemented with anti-inflammatory ointments, salicylic, sulfur, ichthyol and zinc ointments.
Salicylic ointment:
- has antiseptic properties,
- prevents keratinization of the skin,
- promotes the recovery 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.
Sulfur ointment has anti-inflammatory, emollient and disinfectant properties. Ichthyol ointment has keratolytic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal effect. Ichthyol ointment also promotes tissue regeneration.
And don't forget about foot hygiene. It is necessary to give up tight, uncomfortable shoes, synthetic socks and stockings, change the insoles regularly. Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays. In fact, the treatment will have no effect if the patient's skin is constantly infected with new portions of the fungus that lives in the shoes.
Fungus between the toes: treatment with folk remedies at home
Treatment with pharmaceuticals does not always have the desired effect. That is why people turn to folk remedies. This approach is also understandable because many synthetic antifungal ointments and sprays are by no means cheap. Treatment with folk remedies can be carried out in addition to treatment with pharmacy skin ointments.
The simplest folk remedies for removing fungus are salt and soda baths. To prepare the pans, 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 an herbal bath with antiseptic properties. This can be chamomile, sage, calendula, nettle, St. John's wort. To prepare the bath, you need 2-3 tablespoons of plant materials (you can take a mixture of different herbs) insist in a glass of boiling water, strain and add to a 5-liter container of bath water. The water should be warm, but not burn the skin of the feet. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.
Many people in the presence of fungus on the skin of the feet and help baths with a solution of potassium permanganate. Only a few grains of potassium permanganate are needed to prepare a light pink solution. 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. Acid can be added to baths and treated with 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, it is enough to 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 from keratinized and flaky tissues. Baths are recommended to be done at least once a day, preferably at night.
Also, to treat athlete's foot, you can use garlic ointment, pharmacy anti-dandruff shampoos with antifungal components, lotions with chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide.
Prevention of skin mycoses of the toes
The disease occurs as a result of non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. It is therefore necessary:
- do not use other people's pedicure tools, towels, slippers, socks and shoes, do not allow strangers to use your shoes, socks, hygiene items;
- observe foot hygiene, wash the skin daily with soap, carefully treating the interdigital spaces;
- trim your toenails regularly;
- wear comfortable shoes and socks made of breathable fabric;
- change socks regularly, wear socks, wash at a temperature of at least + 40 ° C;
- exercise to improve blood circulation in the legs.
What is the fastest treatment?
It is impossible to say unequivocally which drug is the fastest and best. After all, the effectiveness of therapy for fungal skin disease depends on many circumstances - the severity of the pathology, the level of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases. Some patients are assisted by traditional methods, others by pharmaceutical ointments. It is important not to start the disease and start treatment at the first signs of it. It is also important to identify the type of pathogen. To do this, you need to see a doctor. Maybe he will be able to find the best option for the drug.