Cutaneous mycoses are a common group of diseases.
Patients do not always take them seriously enough, which leads 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 like fungal infections of your toes and feet.
Mycosis of the skin 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 they usually choose skin folds. Their favorite place is the spacing between the toes. 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 indentations between the toes of infected nails.
Contributes to the development of skin disease:
- insufficient foot hygiene, overheating or hypothermia;
- predisposition to increased sweating;
- poor blood circulation in the foot associated with heart disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus;
- stress;
- blisters and cuts on the skin of the feet;
- lack of vitamins and minerals (primarily zinc) in the body;
- trophic ulcers on the legs;
- 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 more frequent wearing of tight shoes. Fungus on the feet can occur not only in adults but also in children.
Mycoses of the skin between the toes 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 interdigital spaces may also be affected. When found on the skin, fungi actively multiply on it. The remnants of the stratum corneum serve as food for microorganisms.
A skin infection can spread from person to person. For this, a simple contact of the skin of the feet with surfaces containing fungi is sufficient. Pathogen transmission can occur with the help of other people's shoes, socks, shared towels and a wet floor in the shower. It is necessary to carefully follow personal hygiene, use only personal belongings. Disposable personal slippers or flip flops should be used in swimming pools, showers, baths and saunas.
Often, 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 early mycosis of the feet:
- itching and stinging, burning at night;
- dryness;
- peeling of the skin;
- small cracks.
With the development of the disease, the symptoms intensify, the itching and burning become unbearable, they lead to scratches and skin irritation, the cracks become deeper. The skin of the feet becomes rough. There is pain, an unpleasant odor that does not pass even after washing, edema and hyperemia, there is a separation of the epidermis.
Then bubbles filled with serous fluid appear. After opening, non-healing purulent ulcers remain on the skin. Bacterial joins mycotic infection.
Nail peeling and abscesses may occur. A complication of foot mycosis can be the penetration of fungi into the bloodstream and the spread of infection throughout the body. At the same time, the body temperature rises. Gangrenous foot lesions may also develop. Cardiovascular diseases, immunodeficiency conditions and diabetes mellitus complicate the course of skin diseases.
To diagnose foot mycosis, it may not be enough for a doctor to examine the skin. It is often necessary to analyze the composition of the skin microflora. Scraping from the affected area is taken for this. The fungus can be found on the skin even if there are no visible symptoms of infection.
It is also a popular method for determining the presence of fungus on the foot. To do this, you need to put your foot in a tub of potassium permanganate. If there are no fungi on the skin, it will take on a pink color and the affected areas will turn white.
How to remove fungus between fingers?
Achieving a skin infection is very easy, but it is much harder to deal with. Mycoses of the skin are always treated at home, but this does not mean that a completely independent treatment will certainly help the patient. In any case, a doctor's consultation is required.
There are many antifungal drugs that effectively kill fungi. However, the success of treatment largely depends on the stage of the disease. If she overdoes it, it will be hard to get rid of the infection. In the initial stage, external antifungal drugs are used. If the disease is already ongoing, doctors recommend treatment with systemic agents. Terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole are most often prescribed in the form of tablets.
Popular antifungal agents:
- 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 must be applied regularly to the affected areas of the skin in 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 suitable than ointments.
Treatment with antifungal ointments can be long-lasting. Certain types of fat can get rid of the infection after 2 weeks. But with severe damage, the duration of treatment can last up to 3 months. Doctors advise applying the ointment at least 2 weeks after the visible symptoms of the disease pass. And once in six months it is necessary to lubricate the toes with ointment for preventive purposes.
Also, systemic antifungal drugs can be used for severe infection. However, they have a long list of contraindications and side effects. Antifungal tablets are especially contraindicated in pregnant women. Also, many skin fats are prohibited during pregnancy. If there is a need for the use of such topical preparations, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Not all medications are allowed in childhood. Therefore, you need to look at the instructions for the selected tool. Some medications can be used from 2 years of age, others from 12 years of age.
The specialist should choose the right medication. Improper use of antifungal drugs will not only not free the patient from pathogenic microorganisms, but can also lead to the development of resistance in them (especially in conditions when the patient is constantly re-infected). 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. The 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 regeneration 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 a keratolytic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal effect. Also, ichthyol ointment 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 must be disinfected with antifungal sprays. In fact, the treatment will have no effect if the patient’s skin is constantly infected with new parts of the fungus that live in the shoes.
Fungus between the fingers: treatment with folk remedies at home
Treatment with pharmaceutical preparations does not always bring the desired effect. Therefore, 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 as an adjunct to the treatment of pharmacy skin ointments.
The simplest folk remedies for removing fungus are salt and soda baths. To prepare the trays 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. It can be chamomile, sage, calendula, nettle, St. John's wort. To prepare the bath you need 2-3 tbsp. herbal material (you can take a mixture of various herbs) insist on a glass of boiling water, strain and add to a 5-liter bowl with 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 are helped by baths with a solution of potassium permanganate. Only a few grains of potassium permanganate are needed to prepare the light pink solution. You can also moisten the 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 also use liquid boric acid and powder. Acid can be added to baths and treated affected areas.
You can also use a slightly warmed 9% solution of table apple cider vinegar for trays. 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, and the treatment lasts 2-3 weeks.
After the completion of water procedures, it is necessary to clean the skin from keratinized and dandruff tissues. It is recommended to take baths at least once a day, preferably at night.
You can also use garlic ointment, anti-dandruff pharmacy shampoos with antifungal components, chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide lotions to treat foot fungal infections.
Prevention of skin mycoses of the toes
The disease occurs as a result of non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. Therefore it is necessary:
- do not use other people's pedicure tools, towels, slippers, socks and shoes, do not allow strangers to use shoes, socks, hygiene items;
- pay attention to 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 washed 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 medicine is the fastest and best. Finally, the effectiveness of treatment of fungal skin disease depends on many circumstances - the severity of the pathology, the level of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases. Some patients are helped by traditional methods, others - pharmaceutical ointments. It is important not to start the disease and start treatment at the first signs. It is also important to identify the type of pathogen. To do this, you need to see a doctor. They may be able to find the best option for a cure.