Cutaneous mycoses are a common group of diseases.
They are not always taken seriously enough by patients, leading to advanced forms of pathology that are difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of fungal foot infections and nasty diseases like toe and toe fungal infections.
Cutaneous mycosis between the fingers: how does the disease occur?
Cutaneous mycosis is an infectious disease caused by fungi that parasitize the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body. But most of the time, they choose the skin folds. The spaces between the toes are his favorite place. This is due to the fact that the legs often sweat, and in tight shoes the moisture does not have time to evaporate. Therefore, the spaces between the toes are usually wet and damp. And these conditions are just what the fungus needs to reproduce. It is not uncommon for the fungus to enter the indentations between the toes of infected nails.
Contribute to the development of skin diseases:
- insufficient hygiene of the feet, their overheating or hypothermia;
- predisposition to increased sweating;
- poor blood circulation in the foot associated with heart disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus;
- stress;
- calluses and cuts on the skin of the feet;
- lack of vitamins and minerals (mainly zinc) in the body;
- trophic ulcers on the leg;
- hormonal imbalance and thyroid disease;
- over weight;
- excessively dry skin
However, in most cases, fungus between the toes does not develop if the person has a healthy immunity.
The disease is more common in men, due to the more frequent use of tight shoes. Leg fungus can appear not only in adults, but also in children.
Cutaneous mycoses 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. In addition, the skin of 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 toes. However, other interdigital spaces may also be affected. Once on the skin, the fungus actively multiplies on it. The remains of the stratum corneum of the skin serve as food for microorganisms.
A skin infection can be spread from person to person. To do this, a simple contact of the skin of the feet with the surfaces that contain the fungus is enough. Transmission of the pathogen can occur with the help of shoes, socks, shared towels, and a wet floor in someone else's shower. It is necessary to carefully monitor personal hygiene, use only personal belongings. Personal or disposable slippers and flip-flops should be worn in swimming pools, showers, baths and saunas.
Often times, a 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 mycosis of the feet at an early stage:
- itching and burning, worse at night;
- dryness;
- peeling of the skin;
- small cracks.
With the development of the disease, the symptoms intensify, the itching and burning become unbearable, leading to scratches and irritation of the skin, the cracks become deeper. The skin on the feet becomes rough. Pains appear, an unpleasant smell that does not pass even after washing, edema and hyperemia, there is a detachment of the epidermis.
Then bubbles filled with serous fluid appear. After opening, oozing sores that do not heal remain on the skin. A bacterial binds to the fungal infection.
Nail peeling, abscesses may appear. A complication of mycosis of the feet can be the penetration of the fungus into the bloodstream and the spread of the infection throughout the body. At the same time, the body temperature increases. Gangrenous lesions may also appear on the feet. Cardiovascular diseases, immunodeficiency states, and diabetes mellitus complicate the course of skin disease.
To diagnose mycosis of the feet, it may not be enough for a doctor to examine the skin. It is often necessary to analyze the composition of the skin's microflora. To do this, a scraping of the affected surface is taken. The fungus can be found on the skin even if there are no visible symptoms of infection.
There is also a popular method of determining the presence of a fungus on the leg. To do this, you need to place your foot in a potassium permanganate bath. If there is no fungus on the skin, it will turn pink and the affected areas will turn white.
How to remove fungus between the toes?
It is very easy to get a skin infection, but getting rid of it is much more difficult. Mycoses of the skin are always treated at home, but this does not mean that the patient will definitely benefit from completely independent treatment. In any case, a doctor's consultation is required.
There are many antifungal medications that effectively kill the fungus. However, the success of treatment depends largely on the stage of the disease. If you have gone too far, it will be difficult to get rid of the infection. At the initial stage, external antifungal drugs are used. If the disease is already running, doctors recommend treating it with systemic means. Most often, terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole are prescribed in the form of tablets.
Popular antifungal agents:
- nystatin,
- fluconazole,
- ketoconazole,
- clotrimazole,
- terbinafine,
- naftifino
- miconazole,
- itraconazole,
- natamycin.
Some antifungal ointments also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients.
The method of application of all ointments is the same: they should be applied regularly to the affected areas of the skin with a thin layer. Some ointments are sufficient to use once a day, others require a more frequent application. Antifungal sprays that can be sprayed on the affected area are even more convenient than ointments.
Treatment with antifungal ointments can be prolonged. Certain types of ointments can clear the infection after 2 weeks. But with severe damage, the duration of treatment can take up to 3 months. Doctors recommend applying the ointment at least 2 weeks after the visible symptoms of the disease have passed. And once every six months, it is necessary to lubricate the toes with ointments for preventive purposes.
Also, in severe infection, systemic antifungal drugs can be used. However, they have a long list of contraindications and side effects. In particular, mushroom pills are contraindicated in pregnant women. Also, many skin ointments are prohibited during pregnancy. If it is necessary to use such topical preparations, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Not all drugs are allowed in childhood. Therefore, you should refer to the instructions for the selected tool. Some medications can be used from the age of 2, others from the age of 12.
A specialist must select the appropriate drug. The incorrect use of antifungal drugs will not only not relieve the patient of pathogenic microorganisms, but can also lead to the development of resistance in them (especially in conditions where the patient is constantly reinfected). The toxins secreted by many fungi suppress local immunity, which contributes to further development of the infection.
In addition, vitamin-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. Treatment can be supplemented with anti-inflammatory ointments, salicylic, sulfuric, ichthyol, and zinc ointments.
Salicylic ointment:
- has antiseptic properties,
- prevents keratinization of the skin,
- promotes the restoration 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 and bactericidal effect. In addition, the ichthyol ointment promotes tissue regeneration.
Don't forget about foot hygiene too. It is necessary to give up tight and uncomfortable shoes, socks and synthetic stockings, regularly change insoles. Shoes should be disinfected with antifungal sprays. In fact, the treatment will have no effect if the patient's skin is continually infected with new portions of the fungus that lives on the shoes.
Fungus between the toes: treatment with folk remedies at home.
Treatment with pharmaceutical preparations does not always produce the desired effect. Therefore, people turn to home remedies. This approach is also understandable because many synthetic antifungal ointments and sprays don't come cheap. Treatment with home remedies can be done as an adjunct to treatment with pharmacy skin ointments.
The simplest home remedies to get rid of the fungus are salt and soda baths. To prepare the trays, you will need 2-3 tablespoons of salt or soda for every 5 liters. Water. Water temperature - + 40-45 ° C. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.
One of the best home remedies is a 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. plant materials (you can take a mixture of various herbs) insist in a glass of boiling water, strain and add to a 5-liter container with water for a bath. The water should be warm, but not burn the skin on your feet. The duration of the procedure is 15 to 20 minutes.
Baths with a solution of potassium permanganate also help many people with fungus on the skin of their feet. To prepare a light pink solution, only a few grains of potassium permanganate are needed. You can also moisten pieces of cotton with a solution of potassium permanganate and glue them between your fingers.
Boric acid is also effective in treating the disease. You can use both liquid and powder boric acid. Acid can be added to baths and treated affected areas.
For the trays, you can also use a slightly warm 9% solution of table apple cider vinegar. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes. You can also make vinegar lotions.
Another recipe is iodine baths. To prepare the solution, just dilute 20 drops in 3 liters of warm water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, the course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
After the end of water procedures, it is necessary to cleanse the skin of keratinized and scaly tissues. It is recommended to take baths at least once a day, preferably at night.
Also, for the treatment of mycosis of the feet, you can use garlic ointment, pharmacy anti-dandruff shampoos with antifungal components, lotions with chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide.
Prevention of cutaneous 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 your shoes, socks, hygiene items;
- observe the hygiene of the feet, wash the skin daily with soap, carefully treating the interdigital spaces;
- trim toenails regularly;
- wear comfortable shoes and socks made of breathable fabric;
- regularly change socks, put on socks washed at a temperature of at least + 40 ° С;
- exercise to improve blood circulation in the legs.
What is the fastest treatment?
It is impossible to say unequivocally which remedy is the fastest and the best. After all, the effectiveness of therapy for a 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 by pharmaceutical ointments. It is important not to start the disease and start treatment at the first sign of it. It is also important to identify the type of pathogen. To do this, you need to see a doctor. Perhaps you can find the best option for the drug.