Fungus on the skin of the feet or mycosis, according to statistics, affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet. This disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, flaking of the skin between the fingers, redness and an unpleasant odor. coming out of the legs. It is important to start treatment early to get rid of the disease at an early stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will go into a chronic stage and then it will be very difficult for the honey fingers to eliminate the symptoms of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causes of mycosis can be:
- moldy fungi;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungus.
Depending on the type of fungus that provoked the disease, the symptoms of the disease will vary:
- Mold must develop mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin thins.
- A disease caused by a yeast fungus, it will spread not only in the areas between the fingers, but also on the nail plates.
- The disease, provoked by dermatophytes, begins to appear on the little finger or the areas next to the thumb and then spreads throughout the foot.
The symptoms of mycosis vary depending on the stage of the disease:
- In the early stages of the disease, not every sick person will suspect that they have a fungal infection. During this period, the disease manifests itself as small cracks, itching between the fingers, increased desquamation and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, areas of redness form between the fingers, the peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of blisters filled with fluid. There is an inflammatory process, swelling of the tissues and roughening of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. The legs itch unbearably. The skin is covered with deep cracks and is constantly wet. Ulcers and wounds look like a continuous wound. The nails begin to peel off the bed.
It is quite easy to identify mycosis at home. To do this, you need to dip your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will color healthy skin pink, while the areas with fungus between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Medication treatment
If there is even a slight suspicion of a fungal infection, you should contact a dermatologist immediately. Only a qualified specialist is able to distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe therapy that will be effective against a particular pathogen.
In the initial stage of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home, using special drugs prescribed by your doctor. Most often, medicinal products are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using them, the feet should be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. l. baking soda. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and rubbed thoroughly to apply the product.
In the active and neglected phase, the use of exclusively external agents for high-quality treatment of 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 enclosed instructions.
If the disease is too advanced and the infectious process has affected not only the skin but also the internal organs, treatment is carried out only in a 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 pathogen.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after pre-steam preparation in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. One course of treatment is sufficient to eliminate the initial stage of infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient that allows you to quickly deal with the cause of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after steaming the limbs.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 3 weeks to a month and a half. The ointment can even deal with advanced mycosis, but it is quite a toxic drug. It cannot be used to eliminate fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Pain, burning or itching may occur in this area immediately after application of the product. This is how its action manifests itself. The unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfur ointment
This is another cheap but effective means of foot protection. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungi.
The duration of treatment with sulfur ointment depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 4 weeks to several months. The tool simply needs to be rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The drug has no toxic effect, so it can even be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Iodine rubbing
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. In the early stages of the disease it can be used to eliminate the infection.
In this case, the alcoholic solution is applied undiluted strictly on the areas of localization of the lesion using a cotton swab. The procedure is performed twice a day until improvement occurs. 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 infection. 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 gently wiped.
You can also sprinkle the affected areas with boric acid powder and put on socks. In the morning, rinse the remnants of the product, then wipe your feet dry.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or lactating women or children.
Glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation should be used in combination with table vinegar. For treatment you will need:
- 20 ml glycerin;
- 20 ml of table vinegar.
Using:
- Combine the components in a glass container.
- Stir thoroughly.
- Apply on a cotton swab.
- Apply it on the damaged area of skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be performed every day until the beginning of the improvement.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to remove an athlete's foot. Most often the procedures are performed in the form of baths. They are made in the evening, just before bedtime. For the bath you need to combine hydrogen peroxide 3% with the same amount of water and lower it into the foot fluid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. The feet should then be thoroughly wiped.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as an antifungal agent in various stages of the disease. You can use such baths as a preventive 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. Under these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes a complex treatment, which involves the simultaneous use of drugs inside and outside treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of ointments or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Description |
| Ketoconazole | The medicine is available as tablets. Effectively eliminates fungus on the feet, intercostal mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, a suitable cream or shampoo can be applied |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively deals with most types of mycosis pathogens. It is produced in different forms, which allows you to eliminate the disease at different stages, acting in a complex way |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective drugs to eliminate the signs of fungus. Complete cure is possible after taking the pill for 30 days. You can also 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 of treating fungal infections associated with alternative medicine are used in combination with drugs. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only in the initial stage of the disease, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Various home remedies are commonly used to treat ringworm between the toes.
Baths
Effective bath recipes:
| Name of the bathroom | Recipe | Characteristics of use |
| Euphorbia |
|
Immerse your feet in the bath and wait 40 minutes. Perform the procedures once every 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Stir in 1 liter of warm water 1 tbsp. l. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Immerse your feet in the solution and hold for 30 minutes. Perform procedures daily until symptoms disappear |
| Wormwood |
|
Keep your feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Perform procedures every other day |
| With celandine |
|
Dip your feet into the infusion and hold for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every other day |
| Carbonated drinks | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of warm water. l. baking soda |
|
| Vinegar | Pour apple or wine vinegar into a large bowl |
|
| Cafe |
|
|
Lotions
Lotions that effectively help deal with a fungal infection:
| It means | Recipe | Characteristics of use |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice from 1 onion after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve a few crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water so that the solution acquires a faint pink color. |
|
| Apple vinegar | Soak a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Soak a cotton swab in wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton swab and apply on the affected area overnight |
Ointments
Effective home ointments for interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Recipe | Characteristics of use |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
Birch tar
A good result in the initial stage of mycosis development 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 on areas with mycosis.
- Wrap with a towel or other natural towel.
- Leave on for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure should be repeated 5 times. At the first signs of illness, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without resorting to medication.
Features of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital area of the legs can occur at any age, including in children. This usually happens due to low immunity or after getting microtraumas on the skin of the feet.
At the first signs of interdigital fungus you should immediately consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Under no circumstances can you prescribe 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 children due to toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and not to take timely action.
Most often, the fungal infection is treated with Terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, the treatment should be course:
- 10 days use of ointment;
- 10 days off.
You should repeat the course as many times as necessary for the complete disappearance of signs of damage.
In a more advanced stage of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungals with the use of antibacterial drugs. The specific treatment regimen must be prescribed by a specialist.
Care should also be taken when treating pregnant women for fungus between the fingers. During this period of a woman's life, many drugs for internal use are prohibited; they include strong antifungals. On the advice of a doctor you should apply Clotrimazole or Naftifin ointments. It is necessary to combine them with folk remedies. The most preferred folk remedies are various baths.