Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Treatment with an antifungal cream is usually used, which gives good results, but does not last long. The following tips will help prevent toe fungus, which can return even after treatment.
Who can get infected?
Almost anyone can get athlete's foot. But it is more common in people who sweat more, or in those who wear tight shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating of the feet.
Mycosis can be transmitted from person to person. This could occur, for example, in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungal-infected skin may fall off while you shower. Once a small spot of infection begins to develop, it usually spreads along the skin. Read about where else you can get the fungus here.
What are the symptoms
The skin between the little toes is usually the first to be affected. The first signs of fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are minor. The onset will be noticeable when the rash begins to spread and the skin begins to itch and peel. Cracks and inflammation will appear. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can become larger and very painful. Small scales of infected skin will come off.
If interdigital mycosis is not treated, the rash will gradually spread throughout the leg. In some cases it extends to the sole. Often, the infection causes peeling over the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes mycosis causes large blistering rashes all over the plant. In this case, we are dealing with foot fungus.
How serious is this?
As a general rule, no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before infection occurs. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. They tend to be moist, airless areas, such as the groin.
Fungus, including toenail fungus, usually does not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can get into the cracks left by a neglected or untreated fungal infection. Sometimes this can cause more serious infections in the feet or legs.
It happens that the infection spreads to the nail and can be cured. But in this case, to get rid of the fungus, you will need several weeks of taking antifungal tablets to clear the nail infection.Therefore, it is better to treat interdigital fungus on the feet in a timely manner, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Mycosis treatment
Treatment for toe fungus usually involves the use of various antifungal creams and sprays. You can purchase topical antifungals at your local pharmacy or get one with a prescription.
To treat fungus between the toes, it is necessary to apply an antifungal agent directly to the affected area, that is, the skin of the feet. There are several medications that will help against fungal infections.
They are generally sold in the form of creams, but can also come in sprays, liquids, and powders. These medicines are very good for clearing the skin of fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than another.For children, milder medications should be used.Other options include undecenoic acid or tolnaftate, which are used only as directed by a doctor.
During treatment, it is often the case that the inflammation seems to go away quite quickly; However, you may need therapy for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash has cleared. This is necessary to completely eliminate the fungus from the skin, which will prevent relapses.
- Preparations with the active ingredient clotrimazole: use 2-3 times a day for at least four weeks.
- Preparations with the active ingredient miconazole nitrate: apply twice a day and continue for 10 days after the skin returns to normal.
- Preparations with the active ingredient econazole nitrate: apply twice a day until the skin returns to its normal state.
- Medicines from the triazole group: apply twice a day for seven days. To cure toenail fungus, you should continue using the medicine for a few more days if the symptoms are more severe. Not suitable for children.
- Preparations with the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride: apply once or twice a day for seven days. Not suitable for children.
- Preparations with undecenoic acid: apply twice a day and continue for a week after the skin has returned to normal.
If you encounter this disease for the first time and do not know how to cure foot fungus and not make a mistake when choosing a medication for treatment, consult a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid ointment. They are usually used no more than seven days. You may have to continue using a single antifungal cream for a while after this.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness in a short period of time. However, the steroid does not completely eliminate toe fungus and therefore a steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal tablets are sometimes prescribed for toenail fungus to adults if the infection is severe and does not go away with creams. The tablets are also necessary if the infection, in addition to the legs, is located in many places on the skin.
However, this treatment for interdigital fungus is not suitable for everyone.
The use of antifungal tablets is not always recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding women, or people with liver disease. Children are not usually prescribed any antifungal medication treatment.
Although fungus on the skin between your toes can be spread from person to person, you don't need to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have the fungus.However, in public places, such as a pool or sauna, try to keep your feet covered until the rash disappears.Also, try not to scratch the broken skin, as this can spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent the recurrence of athlete's foot:
- It is necessary to wash your feet daily and dry the skin between your toes well after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The moist skin between your fingers is an ideal place for fungus to grow.
- Do not share other people's towels in public locker rooms. Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungus multiplies on skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from artificial materials, which increase sweating.
- Try alternating different shoes every 2 or 3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wearing.
- Wear flip flops or sandals in locker rooms and public showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the ground, which may have flakes of other people's skin on it.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot as much as possible (no shoes or socks) to allow air to reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If athlete's foot keeps coming back, you can prevent it from coming back by regularly using one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a preventive measure. As a preventive measure, you can use several preventive creams daily.