According to dermatologists, mycoses, including the fungus between the toes, develop against the background of weakened immunity. The skin of the feet and especially between the toes is susceptible to the negative influence of shoes and lack of personal hygiene. These factors make it vulnerable to fungal infection. Cracks, micro-scratches, scrapes, calluses, etc. predispose to the development of toe fungus. Sweaty feet play an important role in the appearance of this unpleasant disease, which is important for young people. In the elderly, the fungus develops between the toes for reasons related to diseases of the limbs, metabolic disorders, etc. People who are overweight are especially susceptible to mycoses on the feet.
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, pop and crack. They can get wet and cause pain. When the bacterial flora accumulates at the site of the cracks, wet ulcers appear. Fungus between the toes is characterized by severe itching. When the blisters are scratched, the infection spreads further. This is what nail fungus looks like between the toes.
Interdigital fungus of the toes is almost always combined with onychomycosis, a fungus of the nail plates. Fungi progress slowly but steadily in healthy areas of the skin on the feet. The acute form without appropriate and timely treatment becomes chronic. The surface of the foot and the spaces between the toes become rough and acquire a yellowish-dirty color.
Diagnosis of interdigital fungi
Before determining how to treat toenail fungus, it is necessary to diagnose it. Identifying foot mycosis is not difficult for a specialist. It is enough to examine the skin between the toes and see the signs characteristic of this disease. To find out how to treat 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 cause of the disease and then choose the most effective methods and means for future treatment.
Treatment
The treatment of fungus between the toes, as well as other areas, should be carried out comprehensively. 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 of such drugs is quite wide, which allows effective treatment of fungus between the toes. But self-treatment of the disease even in its initial stage is risky, due to the wrong choice of medicine, which may not solve the problem, but worsen it. Only a dermatologist can choose and prescribe topical antifungals. Well-proven dosage forms are ointments and creams. They should be applied in a thin layer to the interdigital space, covering cracks and ulcers. It is imperative to treat non-fungal areas to prevent further spread of the infection.
Which dosage form is better - ointment or cream? It is preferable to use the ointment on scaly, dry areas. It is convenient to use under a bandage for better penetration into the underlying layers of the dermis. The cream is recommended for use in the stage of more pronounced symptoms of the disease. It is used for oozing and erosive ulcers between the fingers. 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 should 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 solution of manganese. Such baths dry the weeping ulcers and relieve the inflammation around them. After the bath, ointments with glucocorticosteroids are applied to the legs.
Treatment of bacterial infection
Bad feet odor indicates a layer of bacterial infection and fungus between the toes. The treatment of a complicated form of foot fungus involves the prescription of combined drugs with antibiotics.
Systemic treatment of fungus with tablets
In patients with diabetes mellitus, diseases of the blood vessels of 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 grounds. Interrupted treatment can lead to drug resistance to a number of drugs, primarily antibiotics.
People's funds
Traditional medicine is also used to treat foot fungus. They can give a good effect in the initial stage of the disease, relieve symptoms such as itching and redness.
One of the tested means is kombucha.
Kombucha treatment
Its effectiveness is explained by the large composition of substances included in it and vinegar. Grind up a small piece of old kombucha, rinsed well with water, and rub it into the interdigital space. You can use kombucha for one month. Repeat the course of treatment as a prophylaxis after two weeks.
Propolis tincture
Another popular remedy in folk medicine is propolis tincture. It has a powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal effect. A cotton pad or bandage moistened with propolis tincture is squeezed and placed between the fingers. On top, you need to put on cotton socks and leave them all night. The course of treatment is 15-20 days. Since the tincture is alcohol-based, you should lubricate your feet with a nourishing cream after removing the lotion.
Jaundice 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 the juice. It is used as an independent medicine, which can simply be used to lubricate areas of the skin damaged by fungus. With daily use of celandine juice, uninfected fungi disappear within 2 weeks.
Foot baths
Baths with apple cider vinegar have a good healing effect. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to 2 quarts of warm water. And keep your feet in the bath for 25-30 minutes. After the bath, remove the dead skin between the toes and apply a healing salve.
Baths with vinegar can be alternated with baths with yolks.
Prevention of foot fungus between the toes
Although yeast infections are common, they can be avoided. Following simple recommendations will help prevent a fungal infection:
- observe the rules of personal hygiene. Washing your feet daily with antibacterial soap will help prevent excessive sweating. In order not to burn your feet, you should not wear tight, uncomfortable shoes. From time to time it is necessary to disinfect the shoes;
- When visiting public saunas, baths and pools, you must wear special shoes;
- keep the bathroom clean by regularly disinfecting it with detergents and warm water;
- Personal hygiene items - towels and sponges - should be regularly treated with disinfectant solutions. Never use other people's towels and sponges;
- monitor the condition of your feet. For care, use special creams that contain components that prevent the development of fungal infections.
And of course, we must not forget about strengthening the immune system. After all, mycotic infections, including toenail fungus between the toes, occur in those people whose immunity cannot cope with the fungus whose spores are constantly around us. And only people with a weakened immune system develop fungal diseases.