Fungus on the skin of the feet, or mycosis, according to statistics, affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet. The disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness and an unpleasant odor. radiating from the feet. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner to get rid of the disease at an early stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will enter a chronic stage, and then it is very difficult for the honey toes to get rid of the symptoms of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy fungi;
- dermatophyte;
- yeast fungus.
Depending on the type of fungus that provokes the disease, the symptoms of the disease will be different:
- Moldy fungi grow mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin is thinning.
- Diseases caused by yeast fungus, it will spread not only to the area between the fingers, but also to the nail plate.
- The disease, provoked by dermatophytes, begins to manifest itself on the little finger or the area next to the thumb, and then spreads to the rest of the foot.
The symptoms of mycosis differ depending on the stage of the disease:
- In the early stages of the development of the disease, not every sick person will suspect he or she has a fungal infection. During this period, the disease manifests itself as small cracks, an itchy sensation between the fingers, increased desquamation and dryness in the affected area.
- In the active phase, if left untreated, reddish areas form between the fingers, exfoliation becoming more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There are inflammatory processes, tissue edema and violations of the epidermis.
- Advanced stages are characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. Itchy feet are unbearable. The skin becomes covered with deep crevices and is always wet. Ulcers and sores look like one continuous wound. Nails began to peel off the bed.
It is easy enough to identify mycosis at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will color healthy skin pink, while areas with fungus between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Drug treatment
If there is the slightest suspicion about the presence of a fungal infection, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist can distinguish mycosis from similar dermatological diseases and prescribe therapies that will be effective against specific pathogens.
In the early stages of the disease, effective treatment can be done at home using special medications prescribed by the treating physician. Often, medicinal products are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using it, the legs must be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. l. baking powder. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and, by rubbing thoroughly, apply the product.
In the active and neglected phases, the use of external agents exclusively for the treatment of high -quality fungal infections is insufficient. In this case, the administration of drugs in it is also prescribed. This must be done strictly according to the attached instructions.
If the disease is too advanced and the infectious process affects not only the skin, but also internal organs, treatment is carried out only in the hospital with the use of strong drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
Effectively treats interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, diseases caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient of this ointment is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and damages the cells of the causative agent of the disease.
The agent is applied to the affected area after being first steamed in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. One method of treatment is enough to get rid of the early stages of the infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient, which allows you to quickly overcome the causative agent of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after first steaming the limbs.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 3 weeks to one and a half months. The ointment can even treat further mycosis, but it is a relatively toxic drug. It should not be used to get rid of fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after use of the product, pain, burning or itching may occur in this area. This is how his actions stand out. The unpleasant sensation disappears after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfur ointment
This is another inexpensive but effective remedy for athlete’s foot. Its active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungi.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric ointment depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 4 weeks to several months. This tool only needs to be applied to the damaged area twice a day. This drug has no toxic effects, so it can be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Sweep iodine
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. In the early stages of the disease, it can be used to eliminate the infection.
In this case, an alcohol solution is applied without diluting it tightly to the lesion localization area using a cotton swab. The procedure is performed twice a day until an improvement occurs. For higher efficiency, it is recommended to do a foot bath by dissolving a small amount of iodine in warm water.
Boric acid
This is another good antiseptic that can be used to fight infections. Usually they take a hot bath with boric acid before bed. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of hot water. l. powder and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are wiped thoroughly.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle the affected area with powdered boric acid and wear socks. In the morning, rinse off the rest of the product, then dry your feet.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.
Glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation must be used in conjunction with table vinegar. For treatment, you need:
- 20 ml glycerin;
- Table vinegar 20 ml.
Using:
- Assemble the components in a glass container.
- Stir well.
- Apply on cotton.
- Apply on the damaged part of the skin between the fingers.
- This procedure should be performed daily until the beginning of improvement.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular methods to get rid of athlete's foot. Often, the procedure is carried out in the form of a bath. It is made in the evening, shortly before bedtime. To bathe, 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 must be thoroughly wiped.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable for use as a medicine to treat mycosis at different stages of the disease. You can use such a bath as a preventative measure.
Complex methods
If the disease persists from early to active or neglected, the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve effective results. In this case, the doctor usually prescribes a complex treatment, which means the simultaneous use of the drug inside and external treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of ointments or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Description |
| Ketoconazole | Medicinal products are available in tablet form. Effectively eliminates foot fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, a suitable cream or shampoo can be used |
| Clotrimazole | This tool is effective in overcoming most types of mycosis pathogens. It is produced in various forms, which allow you to get rid of the disease at different levels, acting in complex ways |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective remedies for getting rid of the symptoms of fungus. Complete healing can be done after taking the pill for 30 days. Alternatively, you can use a cream: this will increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
The use of 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 early stages of disease development, when the affected skin area is insignificant, and symptoms are not pronounced.
A variety of homemade remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
Take a shower
Effective bath recipes:
| The name of the bath | Recipe | Usage features |
| Euphoria |
|
Dip your feet into the bathtub and wait 40 minutes. Perform the procedure once every 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Stir in 1 liter of warm water 1 tbsp. l. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Dip feet into the solution and keep for 30 minutes. Perform the procedure daily until the symptoms disappear |
| Worm wood |
|
Keep your feet in the gravy for 30 minutes. Perform the procedure every day |
| With celandine |
|
Dip your feet into the infusion and keep for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every day |
| Soda | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of warm water. l. baking powder |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple cider vinegar or wine into a wide container |
|
| Coffee shop |
|
|
Lotion
Effective lotions to treat fungal infections:
| Meaning | Recipe | Usage features |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice from 1 onion, after spreading it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve some crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water until the solution acquires a faint pink color |
|
| Apple cider vinegar | Soak a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Soak a cotton swab in wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton ball and apply to the affected area overnight |
Ointment
Effective homemade ointment for interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Recipe | Usage features |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
Tar birch
Good results in the early stages of the development of mycosis are provided with the use of birch tar:
- It is good to steam your feet with hot water.
- Apply a copious layer of birch tar on areas that have mycosis.
- Roll up with a towel or other natural fabric.
- Leave for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure must be repeated 5 times. At the first sign of illness, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without the need for medication.
Features of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital area of the foot can appear at any age, including in children. This usually occurs due to low body resistance or after receiving microtraum on the skin of the feet.
At the first sign of interdigital fungus, you should immediately see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. You cannot treat yourself.
If for the treatment of adults, if there are no contraindications, all drugs can be used without restrictions, then for the treatment of children it is necessary to use non-toxic topical agents. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to toxicity. Therefore, it is very important not to start the disease and take timely action.
Often, fungal infections are treated with Terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, treatment must be:
- 10 days of using the ointment;
- 10 days off.
You need to repeat the course as many times as necessary to completely disappear the signs of damage.
At more advanced stages of mycosis, experts recommend combining treatment with external antifungal agents with the use of antibacterial drugs. Specific treatment regimens must be prescribed by a specialist.
Care should also be taken when treating pregnant women for fungus between the fingers. During this woman’s life span, many drugs for internal use were banned; these include strong antifungal agents. On the recommendation of a doctor, you should use Clotrimazole or Naftifin ointment. It is necessary to combine it with treatment with folk remedies. The most popular folk remedies are various baths.