Foot fungus, or mycosis, according to statistics, affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet. This disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness and unpleasant odor. emanating from the feet. It is important to start treatment at the right time in order to get rid of the disease in the initial stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will go into a chronic stage, and then it will be very difficult for the honey fingers to eliminate the symptoms of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy mushrooms;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungi.
Depending on the type of fungus that provoked the disease, the symptoms of the disease will vary:
- Mold fungus develops mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin weakens.
- A disease caused by yeast fungus, it will spread not only to the areas between the toes but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, provoked by dermatophytes, begins to appear on the little toe or in the areas near the big toe, and then spreads throughout the foot.
Symptoms of mycosis vary depending on the stage of the disease:
- In the initial stage of disease development, not every sick person will suspect that he has a fungal infection. During this period, the disease manifests itself as small cracks, an itchy sensation between the fingers, increased redness and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, areas of redness form between the fingers, the peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and thickening of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. The feet itch unbearably. The skin becomes covered with deep cracks and is constantly moisturized. Ulcers and sores look like a persistent sore. The nails begin to peel off the bed.
Quite simple enough to identify mycosis at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet into a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will paint healthy skin a pink color, while fungal areas between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is accompanied by structural changes in the skin.
Medication treatment
If there is even a slight suspicion of the presence of a fungal infection, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist is able to distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe a therapy that will be effective against a specific pathogen.
In the initial stage of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home using special medications prescribed by the attending physician. Most often, medicinal products are used in the form of oils and creams.
Before using them, the feet should be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tbsp in 1 liter of water. lsode buke. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and, rubbing thoroughly, place the product.
In the active and neglected phase, the use of exclusively external agents for the high-quality treatment of a fungal infection is not sufficient. In this case, the administration of the medication inside is additionally prescribed. This should be done in full compliance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is very advanced and the infectious process has affected not only the skin but also the internal organs, treatment is carried out only in a hospital with the use of powerful medicines.
Ointment dioxotetrahydroxyethrahydronaphthalenic
Effectively copes with interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient of this oil is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the disease-causing agent.
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 sufficient to eliminate the initial stage of infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this oil.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient, which allows you to quickly cope with the causative agent of 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 varies from 3 weeks to a month and a half. Ointment can also cope with advanced mycosis, but it is a very toxic medicine. Cannot be used to eliminate fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after applying the product, pain, burning or itching may occur in this area. This is how her action manifests itself. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfur ointment
This is another cheap but effective remedy for athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungi.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric oil depends on the stage of the disease and varies from 4 weeks to several months. The tool should simply be rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The drug has no toxic effect, so it can also be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Destruction of iodine
This medicine has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. In the initial stage of the disease, it can be used to eliminate the infection.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied undiluted strictly to the wound localization areas using a cotton swab. The procedure is performed twice a day until improvement occurs. For greater efficiency, it is recommended to make 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 infection. Usually they take hot baths with boric acid before bed. To do this, dissolve 2 tbsp in 1 liter of hot water. dusted and lowered the legs there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are carefully wiped.
Furthermore, you can spray the affected areas with boric acid powder and put on socks. In the morning, rinse off product residue, then wipe dry feet.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.
glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation should be used in combination with table vinegar. For treatment you will need:
- 20 ml glycerin;
- 20 ml table vinegar.
The use of:
- Combine ingredients in a glass container.
- To stir completely.
- Put on a cotton swab.
- Place it on the damaged area of skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be performed daily until improvement begins.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to eliminate athlete's foot. Most often, the procedures are performed in the form of baths. They are done in the evening, just before you go to bed. For the bath, you need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide with the same amount of water and lower it into the foot fluid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the feet should be completely wiped.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a remedy against mycosis at different stages of the disease. You can use baths such as a preventative measure.
Complex tools
If the disease has passed from the initial stage to active or neglected, the use of oils alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. In these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes complex treatment, which means the simultaneous use of drugs inside and external treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of oils or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Description |
| Ketoconazole | The medicinal product is available in the form of tablets. Effectively eliminates toenail fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, a suitable cream or shampoo can be applied |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively copes with most types of mycosis pathogens. It is produced in different forms, which allows you to eliminate the disease in different stages, acting in a complex way |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective medicines for eliminating the signs of fungus. A complete cure is possible after taking the pills for a course of 30 days. Furthermore, you can apply a cream: this will increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
Using folk methods
Methods for treating fungal infections associated with alternative medicine are used in combination with medications. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only in the initial stage of disease development, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Various household remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
baths
Effective bath recipes:
| The name of the bath | Recipe | Features of use |
| Euforbia |
|
Soak your feet in the bath and wait 40 minutes. Do the procedures once in 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Stir in 1 liter of warm water 1 tbsp. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Soak your feet in the solution and hold for 30 minutes. Perform the procedure daily until the symptoms disappear |
| Wormwood |
|
Keep your feet in the soup for 30 minutes. Do the procedures every other day |
| Me celandine |
|
Soak your feet in the infusion and hold for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every other day |
| Soda | Dissolve 2 tbsp in 1 liter of warm water. lsode buke |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple cider vinegar or wine into a large container |
|
| Coffee shop |
|
|
lotions
Lotions that help effectively fight a fungal infection:
| Means | Recipe | Features of use |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice from 1 onion, after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Melt some crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water so that the solution takes on a faint pink color. |
|
| Apple cider vinegar | Soak a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Vinegar wine | Soak a cotton swab in wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Wet a cotton swab and apply to the affected area overnight |
ointment
Effective household ointment for interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Recipe | Features of use |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
Birch pitch
A good result in the initial stage of mycosis development is ensured by the use of birch tar:
- It is good to steam the feet in hot water.
- Apply a generous layer of birch tar to areas with mycosis.
- Wrap with a towel or other natural cloth.
- Leave on for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure should be repeated 5 times. At the first sign of illness, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without using medication.
Characteristics of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital region of the feet can occur at any age, including in children. This usually occurs due to low immunity or after receiving microtraumas of the skin of the feet.
At the first signs of interdigital fungus, you should immediately consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. In no case can you prescribe treatment yourself.
If for the treatment of adults, in the absence of contraindications, all drugs can be used without restrictions, then for the treatment of children it is necessary to use local non-toxic agents. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and take measures in time.
Most often, a fungal infection is treated with Terbinafine in the form of a cream or oil. In this case, the treatment should be of the following:
- 10 days of using the oil;
- 10 days off.
You should repeat the course as many times as required for the complete disappearance of the signs of damage.
In a more advanced stage of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungal agents with the use of antibacterial drugs. The specific treatment regimen should be prescribed by a specialist.
Caution should also be exercised when treating pregnant women for fungus between the toes. During this period of a woman's life, many medicines for internal use are prohibited; these include strong antifungal agents. On the recommendation of your doctor, you should apply Clotrimazole oils or Naftifin. It is necessary to combine them with treatment with folk remedies. The most popular folk remedies are various baths.