Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Treatment with an antifungal cream is usually used, which gives good results, but does not last long. The following tips will help prevent toe fungus, which can recur even after treatment.
Who can get infected?
Almost anyone can get athlete's foot. But it is more common in individuals who sweat more, or in those who wear tight shoes and socks, which also cause excessive sweating of the feet.
Mycosis can be transmitted from person to person. For example, this could happen in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small spots of fungus-infected skin may fall off while you shower. Once a small spot of infection begins to develop, it usually spreads along the skin. Read about where else you can catch mushrooms here.
What are the symptoms?
The skin between the little toes is usually affected first. The first signs of fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are small. The onset will become apparent when the rash begins to spread and the skin begins to become itchy and scaly. Cracks and inflammation will appear in it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can become larger and can be very painful. Small flakes of infected skin will peel off.
If interdigital mycosis is left untreated, the rash will gradually spread over the entire foot. In some cases it extends to the sole. Often the infection causes skin all over the sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes ringworm causes a large rash with blisters all over the sole. In this case we are dealing with foot fungus.
How serious is this?
Actually, no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection sets in. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. These are usually moist and airless areas, such as the groin.
Typically, fungi, including toenail fungus, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other germs (bacteria) can enter the cracks left by neglected or untreated ringworm. Sometimes this can cause more serious foot or leg infections.
It happens that the infection spreads to the nail - it can be cured. But in this case, to get rid of the fungus, you will need several weeks to take antifungal tablets to clear the infection from your nails.Therefore, it is better to treat interdigital fungus on the feet at the right time, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Treatment of mycosis
Treatment for toenail fungus usually involves the use of various antifungal creams and sprays. You can buy topical antifungals at your local pharmacy or get one with a prescription.
To treat the fungus between the toes, it is necessary to apply an antifungal agent directly to the affected area, that is, to the skin of the feet. There are various medications that will help against fungal infections.
They are usually sold in cream form, but can also come in sprays, liquids and powders. These drugs are very good at clearing the skin of fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one drug is better than another.Milder drugs should be used for children.Other options are undecenoic acid or tolnaftate, which are used only as directed by a doctor.
During treatment, it often happens that the inflammation seems to go away quite quickly, however you may need therapy for 1-2 weeks after the rash has cleared. This is necessary to completely eliminate the fungus on the skin - which will prevent recurrence.
- Preparations with the active ingredient clotrimazole: used 2-3 times a day for at least four weeks.
- Preparations with the active ingredient miconazole nitrate: apply twice a day and continue for 10 days after the skin returns to normal.
- Preparations with the active ingredient econazole nitrate: apply twice a day until the skin returns to its normal state.
- Medicines from the triazole group: applied twice a day for seven days. To cure toenail fungus, you should continue to use the medicine for a few more days if the symptoms are more severe. Not suitable for children.
- Preparations with the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride: apply once or twice a day for seven days. Not suitable for children.
- Preparations with undecenoic acid: apply twice a day and continue for a week after the skin has returned to normal.
If you encounter this disease for the first time and do not know how to cure toenail fungus and do not make a mistake in choosing a medicine for treatment, consult a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid ointment. They are usually used no more than seven days. After that, you may need to continue using only an antifungal cream for a while.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness for a short period of time. However, the steroid does not completely eliminate toenail fungus and therefore steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal tablets for toenail fungus are sometimes prescribed to adults if the infection is severe and does not clear up with creams. Tablets are also necessary if the infection, in addition to the legs, is located in many places on the skin.
However, this treatment for interdigital fungus is not suitable for everyone.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or people with liver disease, are not always recommended to use antifungal tablets. Children are usually not prescribed treatment with antifungal drugs.
Although toenail fungus can spread from person to person, you don't have to stay away from work, school or sports if you have it.However, in public places, such as a swimming pool or sauna, try to keep your feet covered until the rash goes away.Also, try not to scratch the broken skin as this can spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent athlete's foot from recurring:
- It is necessary to wash your feet every day and thoroughly dry the skin between the toes after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The moist skin between your toes is an ideal place for fungus to grow.
- Do not share other people's towels in public changing rooms. Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks every day. Fungi multiply on skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made of artificial materials, which increase perspiration.
- Try to alternate different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wearing.
- Wear robes or sandals in changing rooms and public showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the floor, which may have pieces of other people's skin on it.
- When you're at home, walk barefoot as much as possible—no shoes or socks—to allow air to reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If your athlete's foot keeps coming back, you can prevent it from coming back by regularly using one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a preventative. As a preventive measure, you can use different preventive creams every day.