According to dermatologists, mycoses, including fungi between the fingers, develop against a background of weakened immunity. The skin of the feet, and especially between the toes, is sensitive to the negative impact of shoes and lack of personal hygiene. These factors make it vulnerable to fungal infection. Cracks, micro-abrasions, scratches, calluses, etc. , predispose to the development of mold on the toes. Sweaty feet play an important role in the appearance of this unpleasant disease, which is important for young people. In the elderly, fungus develops between the toes for reasons related to diseases of the extremities, metabolic disorders, etc. Overweight people are especially susceptible to foot mycoses.
Symptoms of fungus between the toes
Mycoses of the lower extremities begin with an interdigital fungus, which then spreads to other areas. Symptoms of toenail fungus vary. The number of signs of the disease depends on its stage. In the first stage there are few signs. They manifest as redness between the fingers and itching. Then, if the infection is not stopped, the symptoms develop further. Bubbles appear, burst and form cracks. They can become wet and cause pain. When bacterial flora accumulates at the site of cracks, weeping ulcers appear. Fungus between the toes is characterized by severe itching. When the blisters are scratched, the infection spreads further. This is what toenail fungus looks like between your toes.
Interdigital fungus on the toes is almost always combined with onychomycosis, a fungus of the nail plates. The fungus progresses slowly but steadily in healthy areas of the skin of the foot. Acute form without proper treatment and in time becomes chronic. The surface of the foot and the space between the toes becomes rough and takes on a yellow-dirty color.
Diagnosis of interdigital fungus
Before determining how to treat toenail fungus, it is necessary to diagnose it. Identifying mycosis of the feet is not difficult for a specialist. It is enough to examine the skin between the fingers and see the characteristic signs of this disease. To find out how to treat the fungus between the toes and what kind of fungal flora lives on the patient's skin, a scraping is taken from the affected areas and sent to the laboratory. Inoculation of fungal spores allows you to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease and then choose the most effective methods and tools for future treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of fungus between the toes, as well as other areas, should be carried out in a complex manner. It includes the following types of treatment:
- local;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial;
- systemic.
Local therapy
Local therapy is effective in the initial stages of the disease. First, the doctor chooses antifungal drugs. They are effective when the infection has not yet spread beyond the interdigital space. Today, the market for such drugs is quite wide, which allows effective treatment of the fungus between the toes. But self-medication of a disease even in the initial stage is dangerous, because of the wrong choice of medicine, which may not solve the problem, but may make it worse. Only a dermatologist can choose and prescribe topical antifungals. Well-established dosage forms are ointments and creams. They should be applied in a thin layer in the interdigital space, covering cracks and ulcers. It is mandatory to treat the areas that are not affected by the fungus in order to prevent the further spread of the infection.
Which dosage form is better - ointment or cream? It is preferable that the ointment is used on dry and dry areas. It is suitable for use under a bandage for better penetration into the underlying layers of the dermis. The cream is recommended for use in the stage of the most pronounced symptoms of the disease. Used for weeping and erosive ulcers between the toes. As a rule, both ointments and creams are prescribed. The ointment is applied to the affected areas at night. It is better to use the cream during the day.
Before using ointments and creams, the feet must be prepared - thoroughly washed with antibacterial soap and dried.
Anti-inflammatory therapy
Inflammatory phenomena in the affected areas can be treated with foot baths. A good effect is given by baths with a slightly pink manganese solution. Such baths dry the weeping ulcers and relieve the inflammation around them. After bathing, ointments with glucocorticosteroids are applied to the legs.
Treatment of bacterial infection
An unpleasant smell from the feet indicates a layer of bacterial infection and fungus between the toes. Treatment of a complicated form of foot fungus includes the prescription of drugs combined with antibiotics.
Systemic treatment of mold with tablets
In patients with diabetes mellitus, diseases of blood vessels in the legs and those who have taken antibiotics for a long time, treatment with local drugs may be ineffective. In such cases, systemic therapy is used. Most often these are drugs from the triazole group.
These drugs are strictly prescribed by a medical specialist for serious indications. They have limitations, as their use is associated with side effects in the form of dysbiosis, dyspeptic disorders, impaired kidney and liver function, etc. The course of systemic therapy prescribed by the doctor cannot be interrupted without sufficient reason. Interrupted treatment can lead to drug resistance to a number of drugs, mainly antibiotics.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine is also used to treat athlete's foot. They can give a good effect in the initial stage of the disease, relieve symptoms such as itching and redness.
One of the proven remedies is kombucha.
Kombucha treatment
Its effectiveness is explained by the large composition of substances included in it and vinegar. Grind a small piece of old kombucha, thoroughly rinsed in water, and rub it into the interdigital space. Kombucha can be used for a month. Repeat the course of treatment as prophylaxis after two weeks.
Tincture of propolis
Another remedy that is popular in folk medicine is propolis solution. It has powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal effects. A cotton swab or bandage swab moistened with propolis solution is squeezed and placed between the fingers. You should wear cotton socks on top and leave it on all night. The course of treatment is 15-20 days. Since the tincture is alcohol-based, you should apply a nourishing cream to your feet after removing the lotion.
Celandine juice
A powerful remedy for the initial stage of fungus between the toes is the juice of flowering celandine. To get it, simply crush the green parts of the plant and squeeze out the juice. It is used as an independent remedy that can simply be used to lubricate skin areas damaged by mold. With the daily use of celandine juice, uninfected fungi disappear within 2 weeks.
Foot bath
Apple cider vinegar baths have a good healing effect. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to 2 liters of warm water. And keep your feet in the bath for 25-30 minutes. After the bath, remove the dead skin between the fingers and apply the medicated ointment.
Vinegar baths can be alternated with celandine baths.
Prevention of foot fungus between the toes
Although fungal infections are common, they can be avoided. Following simple recommendations will help prevent fungal infection:
- observe the rules of personal hygiene. Washing your feet daily with antibacterial soap will help prevent excessive sweating. To prevent burning of the feet, you should not wear tight and uncomfortable shoes. From time to time it is necessary to disinfect the shoes;
- When visiting public saunas, baths and swimming pools, you must wear special shoes;
- keep the bathroom clean by regularly disinfecting it with cleaning products and hot water;
- Personal hygiene items – towels and sponges – should be treated regularly with disinfectant solutions. Never use someone else's rags and sponges;
- monitor the condition of your feet. For caution, use special creams containing ingredients that prevent the development of fungal infections.
And of course, we must not forget about strengthening the immune system. After all, fungal infections, including toenail fungus, occur in those people whose immunity cannot cope with the fungus, whose spores are constantly around us. And only people with weakened immune systems develop fungal diseases.