In summer, excessive sweating and tight synthetic shoes cause diseases such as fungus. Inflamed sores appear between the toes which cause discomfort and an unpleasant odor. How to recognize the disease in time and get rid of it? What preventative measures will help you forget about the disease once and for all?
The main symptoms and forms of the disease
Interdigital fungus on the feet can be identified by the following signs:
- in certain places the skin becomes dry, flakes, cracks appear;
- small blisters appear, as in an allergic reaction, which periodically open and exudate is released;
- diaper rash appears between the toes and on the side of the foot;
- in the lesions convergence of the upper layers of the skin is observed;
- itching, discomfort, pain may occur.
To make an accurate diagnosis, you still need to visit a doctor, because the symptoms of different forms of mycosis can vary. Subsequent treatment of interdigital fungi depends on the type of disease:
- Poor form. It is characterized only by increased dryness of the skin, peeling and cracking.
- Squamous-hyperkeratotic. When the disease takes this form, there is a convergence of the upper layer of skin in the affected areas, the appearance of redness, diaper rash, which causes itching and burning. If the big toes are affected, hard, yellow blisters develop.
- Intertriginous form. Swelling and strong erosion occur between the toes.
- Dyshidrotic. Weeping areas appear, bubbles with transparent contents are created. External symptoms are accompanied by very severe itching.
What does a fungus on the fingers look like? In the mild form, the affected areas appear to be sprinkled with flour. If the disease also affects the nail plate, you may notice thickening and yellowing of the nail, in more advanced forms - its deformation. In other stages, the skin becomes moist, ulcers and redness are clearly visible.
Causes of disease
Tight synthetic shoes usually lead to the athletic foot.
Fungi between and under the fingers don’t just happen. The most common reasons for its appearance:
- Diabetes.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system, blood circulation, veins.
- Decreased immunity.
- Synthetic tight shoes.
- Excessive limb sweating.
- Infection through pedicure tools, shared towels, shower mats.
Sometimes it is enough to try on a patient’s shoes to catch an unpleasant disease on their own. To prevent this from happening, follow your hygiene carefully, take vitamins, and do not buy shoes from thrift stores.
Which doctor should I go to?
If you find the symptoms described above, consult a dermatologist or mycologist immediately. After the interview and visual examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary tests. Without laboratory research, it is impossible to find out what type of fungus caused the disease. Without this, the doctor will not be able to prescribe adequate treatment.
Laboratory scraping of dead scales allows you to answer the following questions:
- Is the fungus the cause of skin changes?
- What type of mycosis caused the disease?
On average, a detailed sowing study takes about two weeks. After that, certain local preparations (gels, ointments) and tablets are prescribed.
Traditional medicine
For the treatment of interdigital fungus on the feet are prescribed:
- Antifungal creams
- Fats
- Tablets and capsules
- Local antiseptics
They alleviate inflammation, reduce dandruff, and allow deep penetration of antifungal agents under the skin. They form a film that prevents re-infection.
They effectively destroy fungal spores thanks to the active ingredients.
Suppress the development of the disease. The active substances enter the horny tissues through the blood, accumulate in them and destroy the spores of the fungus. You should not take it without a prescription, as the tablets are selected individually and have an extensive list of contraindications. Patients with liver disease are strictly forbidden to use such drugs.
Hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur ointment.
Treatment of interdigital fungus on the feet is aimed at eradicating the infection that led to the mycosis. Properly selected medications and adherence to all doctor’s prescriptions will help prevent the disease from recurring in the future. In this case, it is imperative to undergo the entire treatment, which can last from one to eight months, depending on the degree of the disease.
Folk remedies
Foot baths are very useful.
The use of folk remedies against fungus between the fingers will greatly speed up the healing process. Home treatment includes the use of various baths and compresses:
- Celandine based.
- Bath coffee.
- Soda based products.
- Octane baths and lotions.
- We remove the fungus with aloe juice.
- Effective wraps.
Celandine is a plant that is often used in skin diseases. Affected areas can be lubricated with vegetable juice. A bath based on this plant will help cure fungus on the feet. Freshly cut celandine is poured over boiling water, cooled to room temperature and the feet are immersed in water. After the procedure, you need to let your feet dry naturally, then wipe with a towel, apply antifungal ointment and put on clean cotton socks. You must perform such manipulations every day before bed.
Five tablespoons of ground coffee are poured over a liter of boiling water. After the mixture has cooled slightly, the legs are lowered for 30 minutes in a row. each. Do not dry or rinse your feet. This medicine almost immediately relieves itching and inflammation of the skin between the toes. After a month, the symptoms of the fungus disappear.
A two-tablespoon bath and grated laundry soap will help soften rough skin and remove fungus. After the procedure, keratinized skin is removed with a manicure tool. Such manipulations should be performed daily, because there are fungal spores in the dead parts of the skin. You can prepare this medicine in another way - dilute baking soda with water to a paste and apply to the affected areas.
It is useful to add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar essence to the water every time you wash your feet. Get rid of fungus on the foot will help lotions of 9% vinegar, but be prepared for painful sensations during the procedure. However, this drug is extremely effective. Remove the dressing after 10-15 minutes, grease and put on clean socks.
Agave leaves (crimson) are cut, wrapped in paper and left in the refrigerator for a week. Then squeeze the juice and lubricate the affected areas of the skin in the morning and evening. It should be used in combination with trays and fats.
You can buy a basic solution of acetate lead in a pharmacy. To treat mycosis, this agent is applied to the gauze, applied to the affected area and wrapped in a transparent foil. Exposure time is no longer than 20 minutes.
Treating wet fungus between the fingers requires a special approach. All manipulations are performed in several stages:
- cleaning the area with bubbles of hydrogen peroxide, a solution of potassium permanganate;
- medical bath;
- using cream or ointment.
In advanced cases, a sterile dressing may be applied to prevent the infection from entering the open wound and to prevent the spread of mycosis. The use of talc to dry the affected area is also shown.
Treatment of fungus between the toes folk remedies is effective only in combination with drugs. By relying on unconventional methods, you risk eliminating the symptoms, but not eliminating the cause of the disease.
Preventive measures
To prevent the return of cured fungus on the skin of the fingers, follow our recommendations:
- Go to the nail salon with your tools. When performing a hardware pedicure procedure, ask for disinfection to be performed at your place.
- Never take other people's towels, shoes, socks.
- Buy a special UV shoe dryer and use it every day.
- Do a pedicure on time and remove dead skin.
- Buy only high quality shoes by size.
- Pay attention to foot hygiene.
- Use herbal baths for prevention.
It is also important to strengthen the immune system and take vitamins, walk in the fresh air and eat enough fruits and vegetables.
Fungus on the skin of the toes is curable, but this is a long process that requires a responsible approach of the patient and strict adherence to all prescriptions of the doctor. Pay enough attention to your health and don't let the disease take its course!