According to statistics, fungus or mycosis of the skin of the feet affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet. Although the disease is not fatal, it is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness and an unpleasant odor. coming out of his feet. It is important to start treatment on time to get rid of the disease at an early stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will become chronic and then it will be very difficult for the honey fingers to eliminate the signs of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy mushrooms;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungus.
The symptoms of the disease will vary depending on which fungus is causing the disease:
- Mold grows mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin is thin.
- A disease caused by yeast will spread not only to the areas between the fingers, but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, provoked by dermatophytes, begins to manifest itself in the area of the little finger or near the big toe, and then spreads to the feet.
The symptoms of mycosis vary depending on the stage of the disease:
- In the early stages of the disease, not every patient can suspect a fungal infection. During this period, the disease manifests itself as small cracks, itching between the fingers, increased desquamation and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, red areas develop between the fingers, and peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and hardening of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. The feet are unbearably itchy. The skin is covered with deep cracks and is constantly moisturized. Ulcers and sores look like a permanent wound. The nails begin to peel off the bed.
Mycosis is very simple to diagnose at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will color healthy skin pink, leaving areas of fungus between the fingers the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Drug treatment
If you have a slight suspicion of the presence of a fungal infection, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist can distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe an effective therapy against a specific pathogen.
In the early stages of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home using special drugs prescribed by the attending physician. Medicinal products are often used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using them, the legs should be steamed in a hot soda bath diluted with 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. l. baking soda. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and apply the product by rubbing thoroughly.
In the active and inactive stage, the use of foreign substances alone is not enough for high-quality treatment of fungal infections. In this case, the intake of drugs inside is determined additionally. This must be done in accordance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is very advanced and the infection affects not only the skin but also the internal organs, treatment is carried out only in a hospital with the use of strong drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
Interdigital mycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis, effectively combats onychomycosis. The main active ingredient of this ointment is oxolic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the pathogen.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after pre-evaporation 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 infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient that allows you to quickly fight the substance that causes the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after pre-evaporation of the limbs.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 3 weeks to one and a half months. The ointment can cope with advanced mycosis, but it is a very toxic drug. Cannot be used to treat fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Pain, burning or itching may occur in this area immediately after application of the product. The activity manifests itself in this way. Unpleasant feelings disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfur ointment
This is a cheap but effective tool for the athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungus.
The duration of treatment with sulfur ointment depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 4 weeks to several months. The tool should be rubbed on the damaged areas twice a day. The drug has no toxic effects, so it can be used to treat even children and pregnant women.
Iodine wear
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. It can be used to eliminate infection in the early stages of the disease.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied to the lesion site using a cotton swab without drastic dilution. The procedure is performed twice a day until improvement. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to take 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 the infection. They usually take hot baths with boric acid before going to bed. To do this, dissolve 2 liters spoon in 1 liter of warm water. l. dust and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the legs are carefully wiped.
In addition, you can sprinkle powdered boric acid on the affected areas and wear socks. In the morning, wash off any product residue, then wipe your feet dry.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or lactating women or children.
Glycerol
This drug should be used in combination with table vinegar. For treatment you will need:
- 20 ml of glycerin;
- 20 ml of table vinegar.
Use:
- Combine ingredients in a glass bowl.
- To mix thoroughly.
- Apply to a cotton swab.
- Apply to the damaged area between the fingers.
- The procedure should be performed daily until improvement begins.
Hydrogen peroxide
It is one of the most popular ways to remove an athlete's foot. Often the procedures are performed in the form of a bath. They are prepared in the evening, shortly before bedtime. For the bath, you need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide with the same amount of water and dip it in the foot liquid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the legs should be thoroughly wiped.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a tool against mycosis at various stages of the disease. You can use such baths as a preventive measure.
It means complex
If the disease is active or indifferent from the initial stage, the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. In these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes a complex treatment, which involves the simultaneous use of drugs 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:
| Ad | Description |
| Ketoconazole | The drug is available in tablet form. Effectively eliminates toenail fungus, digitalis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). A cream or shampoo suitable for external use can be applied |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively fights most types of mycosis pathogens. It is produced in different forms, which allows the disease to move in different stages, in a complex way |
| Terbinafine | It is one of the most effective medicines to relieve the symptoms of fungus. Complete treatment is possible after taking the pills for 30 days. In addition, you can apply a cream: it will increase the effectiveness of treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
Use of folk methods
Alternative medicine-related fungal infections are treated with medication. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only in the early stages of the disease, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant and the symptoms are not expressed.
Various home remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
Baths
Effective bath recipes:
| The name of the bath | Recipe | Features of use |
| Eforhoria |
|
Soak your feet in the bath and wait 40 minutes. Perform the procedure once every 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 liter of warm water. l. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of soda | Dip one foot into warm paraffin for 30 minutes. Perform daily procedures until symptoms disappear |
| Wormwood |
|
Soak your feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Follow the procedures every day |
| With celandine |
|
Immerse your feet in the infusion and hold for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every day |
| Soda | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of warm water. l. baking soda |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple or wine vinegar into a large bowl |
|
| Coffee shop |
|
|
Lotions
Lotions that effectively help to cope with fungal infections:
| Tool | Recipe | Features of use |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice of 1 onion after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve a few crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water so that the solution acquires a faint pink color. |
|
| Apple cider vinegar | Dip a 9% cotton swab into table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Dip a cotton swab into the wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton swab and apply to the affected area overnight |
Ointments
Effective home ointments for interigital mycosis:
| Ad | Recipe | Features of use |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
Birch resin
A good result in the early stages of mycosis development is provided by the use of birch resin:
- It is good to steam your feet in hot water.
- Apply a generous amount of birch resin to areas with mycosis.
- Roll with a towel or other natural cloth.
- Leave for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure should be repeated 5 times. At the first signs of the disease, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without resorting to medication.
Treatment features in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital region of the feet can appear at any age, including children. This usually occurs due to low immunity or after receiving microtrauma on the skin of the feet.
At the first signs of interdigital fungus, you should consult a doctor immediately for an accurate diagnosis. Under no circumstances can you prescribe treatment for yourself.
For the treatment of adults, in the absence of contraindications, if all drugs can be used without restriction, it is necessary to use non-toxic local substances for the treatment of children. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and not to act in time.
Fungal infections are often treated with terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, the course of treatment should be:
- Use the ointment for 10 days;
- 10 days vacation.
You should repeat the course as often as necessary to completely eliminate the symptoms of damage.
At a more advanced stage of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungal agents and antibacterial drugs. The specific treatment regimen should be prescribed by a specialist.
Care should also be taken during the treatment of fungus between the fingers of pregnant women. Many drugs for internal use are prohibited during this period of a woman's life; these include strong antifungal agents. You should apply Clotrimazole or Naftif ointments on the advice of a doctor. They need to be combined with folk remedies. The most popular folk remedies are various baths.