Mycotic lesions of the skin and stratum corneum are extremely unpleasant. But these infections are quite common: omniscient statistics claim that a fifth of humanity has experienced all the "charms" of meeting them. One type of pathology is a fungus between the toes, which without proper treatment soon spreads to the nails. It will not be easy to overcome it, but salvation is still possible. Complex therapy will help in the fight against the disease, but it must be done with patience and skill.
What is interdigital fungus on the feet and what does it look like?
Three types of fungi cause infections on the fingers: molds, yeasts, and dermatophytes. Each of them has its advantages. Microorganisms of the mold family live in places where the feet are warm and moist, so they usually appear where there is a similar lesion. Yeast does not damage nails or skin. Dermatophytes are the most common culprits of mycosis; fungus on the thumb and interdigital pathology is their "specialization". All species have a preference for heat and high humidity.
At the initial stage, the symptoms of the fungus are quite mild. It can be suspected if the following symptoms are present:
- sudden cracks in the foot and toes, in most cases, the medical history begins with the little toe;
- the skin around the cracks peels off;
- slight itching disappears without a trace after hygiene procedures.
When the fungus begins to multiply actively, the symptoms can no longer be ignored: red spots appear, intense peeling, burning and itching are possible. The formation of bubbles with transparent content cannot be excluded. As the cracks deepen, they become erosion. The inflammatory process leads to tissue swelling.
If this period is not taken into account, the advanced stage of the fungus begins:
- clear blisters between the fingers forming sores that turn into exploding ulcers;
- itching, burning intensifies, severe pain appears;
- Mycosis spreads to the nails and begins to destroy them.
It is no longer possible to ignore such symptoms. The only way to restore health is to see a doctor.
Causes of interdigital mycosis
The victims of the fungus between the toes are not few, on the contrary, the number of infected people is increasing. The reason for this sad picture is lack of knowledge of hygiene rules. Since these pathogenic organisms love high humidity and heat, and their entry points are skin wounds, the risk increases if the following factors are present:
- visiting public places where a person walks barefoot or uses other people's shoes, towels or clothes;
- tight shoes that cause microtraumas;
- excessive sweating with a careless attitude to hygiene procedures;
- decreased immunity;
- varicose veins;
- hormonal imbalance;
- dysbiosis.
The risk of mycotic infection
Some people do not think that athlete's foot is a serious problem. But this idea is wrong. The biggest danger is the chronic form of the disease, which causes damage to the nails, which in itself greatly affects the quality of life. A person with mycosis is a source of infection that can "reward" the whole family, and a fungus between the toes of a child or an elderly person is fraught with great health problems.
If the disease is left to chance, the body will suffer from toxins produced by the activity of fungi. Fungal infections sometimes cause serious allergic reactions. Against the background of mycosis, immunity is suppressed, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. As a result, the "non-serious" disease will lead to the penetration of many other infections - bacterial or viral infections - with consequences of varying degrees of severity.
How to treat toe fungus
Not everyone can get rid of the fungus quickly, so it is better to prepare in advance for a long battle. Therapy is usually carried out at home, so first you need to undergo an examination to find the real culprit. After prescribing it, the doctor (dermatologist or mycologist) will prescribe a comprehensive treatment.
Pills
An infection that has reached an advanced stage requires oral medication. For this type of therapy, effective antifungal tablets and capsules are used to get rid of the problem very quickly.
- The drug from the allylamine group is prescribed most often. He copes with the fungus on his finger in 3-4 weeks. The maximum daily dose is 250 mg.
- A triazole derivative is the next broad-spectrum drug. Its intake is limited to two tablets per day. It is required to complete two courses of two weeks with a break of 21 days between them.
- The products of the triazole group are capsules used for various skin diseases. The drug also helps against fungus on the feet between the toes. There are 2 options for taking: either once a day, 50 mg, or once a week, but immediately 150 mg. The course of treatment is 4-6 weeks.
Ointments
Medicines taken orally should be supplemented with medicines for external use - creams or ointments. They are the first answer to the question of how to get rid of toe fungus. There are many local remedies and their prices vary.
All ointments will be effective if one condition is met: the feet must first be steamed in a solution of soap and soda, and then thoroughly dried.
- The imidazole derivative is the leader in the sympathy of those who decide to destroy foot fungus at home. The reason is efficiency and reasonable price. The drug is applied to clean fingers and nails 2-3 times a day. The duration of the course is individual, controlled by the doctor. It is recommended to continue treatment for 2 weeks or more after symptoms disappear.
- A product from the group of imidazoles is used twice a day, the duration of therapy is 4-6 weeks, but in advanced cases, the composition should be applied for a few more days. When the fungus spreads to the nails, compresses are made from the ointment.
- Cream from the allylamine group is also included in the category of foreign products. The active ingredient is the substance that gives the cream its name. The cream is applied 1-2 times a day, if the legs are damaged, the duration of application is up to 4 weeks. If the nail plates are already affected by mycosis, it is recommended to treat the feet for 3 to 6 months.
The main rule is the regularity of procedures and compliance with established deadlines. In other cases, treatment may be ineffective.
Baths
This folk remedy for fungus between the toes at home will not take much time, but it will ensure the effect if the stage of mycosis is easily treated.
- Coffee.The procedure requires ground coffee: 10 tbsp. l. Pour 2 liters of boiling water. When the "drink" cools down, put your feet in it. It is allowed to take coffee foot baths twice a day.
- Sagebrush.To prepare, take one liter of boiling water and 150 g of grass. Prepare the solution in a water bath for 30 minutes. The duration of the procedure is at least half an hour.
- Boric acid- a popular remedy for fungus between the fingers. Take 40 g of powder dissolved in water (50-60 °C) for a bath. It is not necessary to use the procedure a lot, do it 2-3 times a week.
- Salt and soda.Pour hot water into a container, add 1 tbsp. l. sodium chloride and carbonate. Keep your feet in the bath for at least 15 minutes, then rinse with water.
- Celandine.2 tbsp. l. pour the herbs with a liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and wait for it to cool to room temperature. The duration of the procedure should be at least a quarter of an hour.
These procedures do not always help and do not help everyone. This feature is not unique to folk methods. But this does not mean that you should give up: there are many ways to treat the fungus between your fingers.
Compresses
This type of treatment is good because the drugs remain in the affected areas for a long time, because it is recommended to keep many of them overnight. In this category, the following folk remedies are recommended:
- Propolis.Alcohol tincture is used for the compress. Cotton is moistened in it, then fixed between the fingers. The procedures last a week and a half.
- Birch resin.Before applying the composition, the feet are well steamed and cleaned of dead skin. Dry feet are lubricated with tar, the space between the toes is especially carefully treated. This compress is kept for at least an hour, then the excess tar is removed with a napkin. It is forbidden to wash your feet for 2 days. The total number of procedures is 4-5 times.
- garliccrushed, then mixed with salt. Garlic compresses should not be left for too long. The product is stored for 1-2 hours.
- Ammonia.Take 1 tablespoon in a glass of water. l. Then a piece of gauze is soaked in the solution and wrapped around the leg. A bag and socks are placed on top. It is necessary to perform about 8-10 procedures.
- onionsit is effective like garlic. Only in this case, juice is used. Compresses are left overnight. If the skin between your fingers gets wet and a strong burning sensation bothers you, you can mix water with vaseline in equal proportions.
Physiotherapy
In order to achieve success, the complex treatment of interdigital fungus on the feet also includes physiotherapeutic procedures:
- Ozone therapy.This procedure significantly accelerates the growth of a healthy nail when the disease develops seriously. During the procedure, both the plate and the skin are saturated with ozone and oxygen, which stimulates nail growth and at the same time destroys fungal infection. Not only the fungus on the skin of the toes, but also completely all types of mycoses are successfully treated.
- Laser treatment.During this operation, only the cells where the fungus is located are destroyed. The course of therapy includes 4-10 procedures. Preliminary preparation is not required, but parallel drug treatment is necessary.
Diet
To successfully defeat toenail fungus, it is important to change your diet.
Some foods in the diet should either be completely excluded or their consumption should be very limited. These include:
- alcoholic beverages;
- confectionery, flour products;
- fermented milk products containing sugar;
- sweets;
- sausage;
- Canned food;
- smoked meat;
- meat;
- semi-finished products.
The following are allowed:
- cereals (except semolina and rice);
- coffee;
- unsweetened milk and fermented milk products;
- sea products;
- vegetables, greens;
- nuts, seeds;
- boiled fish;
- butter and vegetable oil;
- tea;
- egg.
How to prevent the recurrence of the disease
In order for mycosis of the toes to disappear forever, you must follow the following rules:
- Wear shoes that fit your feet to avoid injuring your toes. It is better to give preference to natural materials. Shoes should be disinfected often.
- After public places, the feet need preventive measures: they should be washed and lubricated with lemon juice, special attention should be paid to the toes.
- Socks must be changed daily. It is better to give preference to cotton products.
- It is forbidden to change shoes and linen, to use other people's towels and pedicure items.
- Strengthening the immune system is a priority, so you should always have fruits, juices and vegetables in your diet.
To take care of your skin and toenails, it is recommended to have a pedicure every month and a half.