Mycotic lesions on the skin and stratum corneum are very unpleasant. But these infections are quite common: omniscient statistics claim that a fifth of humanity has experienced all the "charms" to recognize them. One type of pathology is the fungus between the toes, which without the necessary treatment will soon spread to the nail. It will not be easy to overcome it, but liberation is still possible. Complex therapy will help in the fight against this disease, but it must be carried out patiently and efficiently.
What is interdigital fungus on the feet and what does it look like?
Three types of fungi cause finger infections: fungi, yeasts and dermatophytes. Each of them has their own preferences. Microorganisms from the mold family live in warm, moist areas of the feet, so they usually appear where there are already similar lesions. Yeast fungi do not insult either the nails or the skin. Dermatophytes are the most common cause of mycosis; Fungus on the thumb and interdigital pathology are their "specialties". What all species have in common is a preference for heat and high humidity.
Fungal symptoms in the early stages are relatively mild. It can be suspected if the following signs are present:
- cracks that suddenly appear on the feet and on the toes, often the medical history begins with the toes;
- the skin around the crack 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 occurrence of bubbles with transparent contents cannot be ruled out. As the crack deepens, it becomes erosion. 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, having spread to the nail, begins to destroy it.
It is impossible to ignore such symptoms. Going to the doctor becomes the only option to regain health.
Causes of interdigital mycosis
The fungus between the toes has no shortage of victims; on the contrary, the number of infected people is increasing. The reason for this sad picture is ignorance of hygiene rules. Since this pathogenic organism likes high humidity and heat, and its entrance is skin wounds, the risk increases if the following factors are present:
- visit a public place where a person walks barefoot or uses other people's shoes, towels or washcloths;
- tight shoes that lead to microtraumas;
- excessive sweating coupled with a careless attitude to hygiene procedures;
- decreased immunity;
- varicose veins;
- hormonal imbalance;
- dysbiosis.
The danger of mycotic infections
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 the elderly is fraught with serious health problems.
If the disease is left untreated, the body will experience toxins formed as a result of fungal activity. Fungal infections in some cases trigger a severe allergic reaction. Against the background of mycosis, immunity is suppressed, which is very dangerous for children and the elderly. As a result, "not serious" diseases will lead to the penetration of many other infections - bacteria or viruses - with consequences of various degrees of severity.
How to treat toe fungus
Not everyone can get rid of fungus quickly, so it is better to prepare yourself in advance for a long battle. Therapy is usually carried out at home, so first of all you need to undergo an examination to find out the real cause. After determining it, the doctor (dermatologist or mycologist) will prescribe a comprehensive treatment.
Pills
Advanced infections require oral medication. For this type of therapy, effective antifungal tablets and capsules are used to help get rid of the disease quickly.
- Drugs from the allylamine group are most often prescribed. He overcomes the fungus on the finger in 3-4 weeks. The maximum daily dose is 250 mg.
- Triazole derivatives are the next broad spectrum drugs. The intake is limited to two tablets a day. It is required to complete two two-week courses, with a 21-day break between them.
- Products of the triazole group are capsules used for various skin diseases. This medicine also helps fight fungus on the feet between the toes. There are 2 options for taking it: either once a day, 50 mg, or once a week, but immediately 150 mg. The course of therapy is 4-6 weeks.
Ointment
Oral drugs must 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 plentiful, and the cost varies.
All ointments will be effective if one condition is met: the feet must first be steamed in a solution of soap and soda, then thoroughly dried.
- Imidazole derivatives are the sympathizers of those who decide to destroy foot fungus at home. The reason is efficiency and reasonable price. This medicine is used to clean fingers and nails 2-3 times a day. The duration of the course is individual, it is controlled by the doctor. After symptoms disappear, it is recommended to continue treatment for 2 weeks or more.
- Products from the imidazole group are used twice a day, the duration of therapy is 4-6 weeks, but in advanced cases, the composition should be used for several more days. When the fungus has spread to the nail, a compress is made from the ointment.
- Creams from the allylamine group are also in the category of external products. The active ingredient is the ingredient that gives the cream its name. The cream is used 1-2 times a day; if the feet are affected, the duration of use is up to 4 weeks. If the nail plate is already affected by mycosis, it is recommended to treat the feet for 3 to 6 months.
The main rule is the regularity of the procedure and compliance with the set deadline. In other cases, treatment may be ineffective.
Take a shower
This folk treatment for fungus between the toes at home will not take much time, but will give an effect if the stage of mycosis is easily cured.
- Coffee.For the procedure, you need ground coffee: 10 tablespoons. l. pour 2 liters of boiling water. When the "drink" has cooled, lower your feet into it. It is allowed to take a coffee foot bath twice a day.
- Sagebrush.To prepare, take a liter of boiling water and 150 g of herbs. Prepare the stew 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 fingers. For bathing, take 40 g of powder, which dissolves in water (50-60 °C). There is no need to overuse the procedure; do 2-3 times a week.
- Salt and soda.Pour warm 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 tablespoons. 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.
This procedure does not always help and not everyone. This feature exists not only in folk methods. But this does not mean that you should give up: there are many ways to cure the fungus between your fingers.
Compress
This type of treatment is good because the drugs stay on the affected area for a long time, as most of them are recommended to be kept overnight. The following folk remedies are recommended in this category:
- Propolis.Alcohol tincture is used for compresses. Cotton is moistened in it, which is then attached between the fingers. The procedure lasts a week and a half.
- Birch tar.Before using the composition, the feet are well steamed and cleaned of dead skin. Dry feet are lubricated with tar, the space between the toes is carefully treated. This compress is kept for at least an hour, then excess tar is removed with a napkin. It is forbidden to wash feet for 2 days. The number of procedures is 4-5 times.
- garliccrushed, then mixed with salt. Garlic compresses should not be left 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. The bag is placed on top and the socks on top. About 8-10 procedures should be done.
- Onioneffective like garlic. Only in this case juice is used. The compress is left overnight. If the skin between your fingers becomes wet and a strong burning sensation bothers you, you can mix the juice with Vaseline in equal proportions.
Physiotherapy
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 healthy nails when the disease is severe. During the procedure, both the plate and the skin are saturated with ozone and oxygen, and this stimulates nail growth, at the same time destroying fungal infections. Not only the fungus on the skin of the toes, but also all types of mycoses are successfully cured.
- Laser treatment.During this operation, only the cells in which the fungus has settled are destroyed. The course of therapy includes 4-10 procedures. No preliminary preparation is required, but parallel drug treatment is necessary.
Diet
To successfully defeat finger fungus, it is important to change your diet.
Some foods in the diet must be either completely excluded or their use is very limited. This includes:
- alcoholic beverages;
- sweets, flour products;
- fermented milk products containing sugar;
- candy;
- sausage;
- canned food;
- smoked meat;
- meat;
- semi-finished products.
The following are allowed:
- cereals (only semolina and rice are excluded);
- coffee;
- dairy and fermented milk products without sugar;
- seafood;
- vegetables, vegetables;
- nuts, seeds;
- boiled fish;
- butter and vegetable oil;
- tea;
- eggs.
How to prevent the disease from recurring
In order for toe mycosis to disappear forever, you must comply with the following rules:
- Wear shoes that fit your feet to prevent injury to your toes. It is better to give preference to natural ingredients. Frequent disinfection of shoes is necessary.
- After public places, feet need preventive measures: they should be washed and lubricated with lemon juice, and a lot of attention should be paid to the toes.
- Changing socks every day is a must. It is better to choose cotton products.
- It is forbidden to change shoes and linen, or 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 take care of your skin and toenails, it is recommended to do a pedicure every month and a half.