Mycotic lesions of the skin and stratum corneum are extremely unpleasant. But these infections are quite common: omniscient statistics claim that one fifth of humanity has experienced all the "charm" of getting acquainted with them. One type of pathology is a fungus between the toes, which, without the necessary treatment, will soon spread to the nails. There is noit is easy to deal with it, but deliverance is still possible. Complex therapy will help in the fight against the disease, but it must be done patiently and competently.
What is interdigital foot fungus and what does it look like?
Three types of fungi cause finger infections: molds, yeasts, and dermatophytes. Each of them has their preferences. Microorganisms of the mold family settle in those areas of the feet where it is warm and moist, so they usually appear where there is already a similar lesion. Yeast fungi do not despise either the nails or the skin. Dermatophytes are the most common culprits of mycosis, thumb fungi and interdigital pathology are their "specialization". Common to all species is a preference for heat and high humidity.
The symptoms of the fungus in the initial stage are quite mild. It can be suspected if the following signs are present:
- cracks that suddenly appear on the foot and toes, most often the medical history begins with the little toe;
- the skin around the cracks peels off;
- slight itching, disappearing without a trace after hygienic 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 appearance of bubbles with transparent contents is not excluded. As cracks deepen, they become erosions. The inflammatory process leads to tissue swelling.
If this period is neglected, then the advanced stage of the fungus begins:
- transparent blisters between the fingers turn into ulcers that burst, forming sores;
- itching, burning intensifies, severe pain appears;
- Mycosis, which spreads in the nails, begins to destroy them.
It is no longer possible to ignore such symptoms. Going to the doctor becomes the only option to restore health.
Causes of interdigital mycosis
The fungus between the toes has no shortage of victims, on the contrary, the number of infected is even growing. The reason for this sad picture is ignorance 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 one walks barefoot or uses other people's shoes, towels or towels;
- tight shoes leading to microtraumas;
- excessive sweating, combined with a careless attitude to hygiene procedures;
- reduced immunity;
- varicose veins;
- hormonal imbalance;
- dysbiosis.
Risk of mycotic infection
Some people don't think that athlete's foot is a serious problem. But this opinion is wrong. The biggest danger is the chronic form of the disease, which leads to nail damage, 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 the fungus between the toes of a child or an elderly person is fraught with major health problems.
If the disease is left to its own devices, the body will suffer from toxins that are formed as a result of the activity of the fungus. Fungal infections in some cases provoke severe allergic reactions. Against the background of mycosis, immunity is suppressed, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. As a result, this "minor" disease will lead to the penetration of many other infections - bacterial or viral - with consequences of varying degrees of severity.
How to treat toe fungus
Not everyone can quickly get rid of the fungus, so it is better to prepare in advance for a long battle. Therapy is usually carried out at home, so you should first undergo an examination to find the real culprit. After determining 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, which help to get rid of the scourge quite quickly.
- The drug from the allylamine group is most often prescribed. He copes with the fungus on the 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 necessary to take two two-week courses with a 21-day break between them.
- The product from the triazole group is capsules used for various skin diseases. The medicine also helps against foot fungus between the toes. There are 2 options for intake: either once a day 50 mg, or once a week, but immediately 150 mg. The course of treatment is 4-6 weeks.
Ointments
Oral drugs should be supplemented with drugs for external use - creams or ointments. They are the first answer to the question of how to get rid of toe fungus. Local remedies are numerous and vary in cost.
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 dried well.
- The imidazole derivative is the leader of the sympathies of those who have decided to destroy foot fungus at home. The reason is efficiency and reasonable price. The medicine is applied to clean fingers and nails 2-3 times a day. The duration of the course is individual, supervised by a doctor. After the disappearance of symptoms, it is recommended to continue the treatment for 2 weeks or more.
- A product from the group of imidazoles is used twice a day, the duration of therapy is 4-6 weeks, but in advanced cases it is necessary to apply the composition for a few more days. When the fungus has spread to the nails, compresses are made from the ointment.
- Allylamine cream is also in the category of external products. The active ingredient is the substance that gives the cream its name. The cream is applied 1-2 times a day, for feet the application period 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 the procedures and compliance with the prescribed deadlines. In other cases, the treatment may become ineffective.
Bathrooms
This folk treatment for fungus between the toes at home will not take much time, but it will give an effect if the stage of mycosis is easily treatable.
- coffee.For the procedure, you will need ground coffee: pour 10 tbsp with 2 liters of boiling water. When the "drink" cools, lower your feet into it. It is allowed to make coffee foot baths twice a day.
- Wormwood.For preparation, take one liter of boiling water and 150 g of herbs. The decoction is prepared in a water bath for 30 minutes. The duration of the procedure is at least half an hour.
- Boric acid- a well-known remedy for fungus between the toes. For the bath, take 40 g of powder, which is dissolved in water (50-60 °C). There is no need to overdo the procedure, do it 2-3 times a week.
- Salt and soda.Pour warm water into a container, add 1 tbsp of sodium chloride and carbonate. Keep your feet in the bath for at least 15 minutes, then rinse with water.
- yellow flowers.2 tbsp pour the herbs with a liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and wait for them 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 not for everyone. This feature is inherent not only in folk methods. But this does not mean that you should give up: there are many ways to cure the fungus between the fingers.
Compresses
This type of treatment is good because the drugs remain on the affected areas for a long time, as many of them are recommended to be kept at night. The following folk remedies are recommended in this category:
- propolis.An alcohol tincture is used for the compress. Cotton is moistened in it, which is then fixed between the fingers. The procedures last a week and a half.
- Birch tar.Before applying the composition, the legs 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, after which 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 on for too long. The product is left for 1-2 hours.
- Ammonia.Take 1 tablespoon per glass of water. l. Then a piece of gauze is soaked in the solution and wrapped around the leg. A bag is put on top and a sock on top of it. It is necessary to do about 8-10 procedures.
- Onionas effective as garlic. Only in this case juice is used. Compresses are left overnight. If the skin between your fingers gets wet and you are concerned about severe burning, you can mix the juice with vaseline in equal proportions.
Physiotherapy
In order to achieve success, the complex treatment of interdigital foot fungus also includes physiotherapy procedures:
- Ozone therapy.This procedure significantly accelerates the growth of a healthy nail when the disease is very advanced. During the procedure, both the plate and the skin are saturated with ozone and oxygen, which stimulates nail growth while destroying the fungal infection. Not only fungus on the skin of the toes, but also absolutely all types of mycoses are successfully treated.
- Laser treatment.During this operation, only those cells in which the fungus has settled are destroyed. The course of treatment includes 4-10 procedures. No prior preparation is necessary, but parallel drug treatment is required.
Diet
To successfully defeat toenail fungus, it is important to change your diet.
Certain foods from the diet should be either completely excluded or their consumption severely limited. They include:
- alcoholic beverages;
- confectionery, flour products;
- fermented milk products that contain sugar;
- sweets;
- sausages;
- canned foods;
- smoked meats;
- meat;
- semi-finished products.
The following are permitted:
- cereals (only semolina and rice are excluded);
- coffee;
- milk and fermented milk products without sugar;
- Seafood;
- vegetables, vegetables;
- nuts, seeds;
- boiled fish;
- oil and vegetable oil;
- tea;
- eggs.
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. Frequent disinfection of shoes is necessary.
- After public places, the feet need preventive measures: they should be washed and smeared with lemon juice, and a lot of attention should be paid to the toes.
- Daily change of socks is mandatory. It is better to choose cotton products.
- It is forbidden to change shoes and underwear, as well as to use other people's towels and pedicure items.
- Strengthening the immune system is a priority, so your diet should always include fruits, juices and vegetables.
To care for the skin and nails of the feet, it is recommended to do a pedicure every month and a half.