According to statistics, the fungus on the skin of the feet, or mycosis, affects one in five inhabitants of our planet. This disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness, and an unpleasant odor. emanating from the legs. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner to get rid of the disease at the initial stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will enter a chronic stage and then it will be very difficult for the toes to eliminate the symptoms of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease.
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy fungi;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungus.
Depending on the type of fungus that caused the disease, the symptoms of the disease will be different:
- Moldy mildew develops mainly in summer, in hot, humid climates, when the skin thins out.
- A disease caused by yeast fungi, it will spread not only to the areas between the fingers, but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, caused by dermatophytes, begins to manifest itself in the little finger or areas near the thumb and then spreads throughout the foot.
Symptoms of mycosis differ depending on the stage of the disease:
- In the initial stage of the development of the disease, not all sick people will suspect that they have a fungal infection. During this period, the ailment manifests itself as small cracks, an itchy sensation between the fingers, increased scaling and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, areas of redness form between the fingers, the peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and thickening of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. The legs itch excruciatingly. The skin becomes covered with deep cracks and constantly gets wet. Ulcers and sores look like a continuous wound. Nails begin to peel off the bed.
It is fairly easy to identify mycosis at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will give healthy skin a pinkish tint, while the fungal areas between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Drug treatment
If there is a slight suspicion of a fungal infection, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist can distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe a therapy that will be effective against a specific pathogen.
At the initial stage of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home using special drugs prescribed by the attending physician. Most often, drugs are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before use, the legs should be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. l. sodium bicarbonate. Steamed feet should be dried with a cloth and, rubbing well, apply the product.
In the active and neglected phase, the use of exclusively external agents for the high-quality treatment of a fungal infection is not enough. In this case, the administration of drugs inside is also prescribed. This must be done in strict accordance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is too advanced, and the infectious process has affected not only the skin, but also internal organs, the treatment is carried out only in a hospital with the use of powerful drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
It effectively copes with interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient in this ointment is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the disease-causing agent.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after preliminary steaming in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. One course of treatment is enough to eliminate the initial stage of the infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient, allowing you to quickly cope with the causative agent of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after preliminary spraying of the extremities.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 3 weeks to a month and a half. The ointment can even cope with advanced mycosis, but it is quite a toxic drug. It cannot be used to eliminate yeast infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after applying the product, pain, burning or itching may occur in this area. This is how its action manifests itself. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfuric ointment
This is another inexpensive but effective remedy for athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungi.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric ointment depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 4 weeks to several months. The tool only needs to be rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The drug does not have any toxic effects, so it can even be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Iodine massage
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. In the initial stage of the disease, it can be used to clear the infection.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied undiluted strictly to the lesion localization areas with a cotton swab. The procedure is done twice a day until improvement occurs. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to do foot baths by dissolving a small amount of iodine in warm water.
Boric acid
This is another good antiseptic that can be used to fight infection. They usually do hot baths with boric acid before going to bed. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of hot water. l. powder and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are carefully cleaned.
Also, you can spray the affected areas with boric acid powder and put on socks. In the morning, rinse off the remains of the product and then dry your feet.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or nursing women or children.
Glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation should be used in combination with table vinegar. For treatment you will need:
- 20 ml of glycerin;
- 20 ml of table vinegar.
Using:
- Combine the components in a glass container.
- Stir well.
- Apply to a cotton swab.
- Apply to the damaged area of the skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be performed every day until the onset of improvement.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to remove athlete's foot. Most often, the procedures are carried out in the form of baths. They are done at night, shortly before bedtime. For the bath, you need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide with the same amount of water and put it in the foot liquid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the feet must be thoroughly cleaned.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a remedy against mycosis at different stages of the disease. You can use such baths as a preventive measure.
Complex media
If the disease has passed from the initial stage to active or neglected, the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. In these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes complex treatment, which involves the simultaneous use of drugs inside and external treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of ointments or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Description |
| Ketoconazole | The drug is available in the form of tablets. Effectively eliminates foot fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, a suitable cream or shampoo can be applied. |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively copes with most pathogens of mycosis. It is produced in different forms, which makes it possible to eliminate the disease in different stages, acting in a complex way. |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective drugs to eliminate the signs of fungus. Complete healing is possible after taking the pills for 30 days. Also, you can apply a cream - this will enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents. |
The use of folk methods.
Alternative medicine-related methods of treating fungal infections are used in combination with medications. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Various home remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
Spa
Effective bath recipes:
| Bath name | Prescription | Usage characteristics |
| Euphorbia |
|
Dip your feet in the tub and wait 40 minutes. Perform the procedures once every 3 days. |
| Salt and soda | Add 1 liter of warm water to 1 tablespoon. l. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Dip your feet in the solution and leave it for 30 minutes. Perform procedures daily until symptoms disappear. |
| Wormwood |
|
Keep the feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Perform procedures every other day |
| With celandine |
|
Dip your feet in the infusion and let it steep for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every two days. |
| soda | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of warm water. l. sodium bicarbonate |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple cider vinegar or wine into a wide container |
|
| Coffee shop |
|
|
Lotions
Lotions that effectively help to cope with a fungal infection:
| Half | Prescription | Usage characteristics |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice from 1 onion, after passing it through a meat grinder. |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve some crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water to make the solution pale pink. |
|
| Apple vinager | Soak a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Soak a cotton swab in wine vinegar. |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Dampen a cotton swab and apply it to the affected area overnight. |
Ointments
Effective homemade ointments for interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Prescription | Usage characteristics |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
Birch tar
The use of birch tar provides a good result at the initial stage of the development of mycosis:
- It is good to steam your feet in hot water.
- Apply a generous layer of birch tar to the areas with mycosis.
- Roll up with a towel or other natural cloth.
- Leave to act for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure must be repeated 5 times. At the first sign of disease, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without resorting to drugs.
Features of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital region of the legs can appear at any age, even in children. This usually occurs due to low immunity or after receiving microtrauma to the skin of the feet.
At the first signs of interdigital fungus, you should immediately consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. In no case can you prescribe a treatment on your own.
If for the treatment of adults, in the absence of contraindications, all drugs can be used without restrictions, then for the treatment of children it is necessary to use non-toxic topical agents. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to their toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and act on time.
Most of the time, a yeast infection is treated with terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, the treatment should be as follows:
- 10 days of use of the ointment;
- 10 days off.
You need to repeat the course as many times as necessary for the complete disappearance of the signs of damage.
In a more advanced stage of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungal agents with the use of antibacterial drugs. The specific treatment regimen must be prescribed by a specialist.
Care should also be taken when treating pregnant women for toe fungus. During this period of a woman's life, many drugs for internal use are prohibited; these include strong antifungal agents. On the recommendation of a doctor, you should apply clotrimazole or naftifine ointments. It is necessary to combine them with a treatment with home remedies. The most preferred home remedies are various baths.