Fungus of the skin of the feet, 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 an unpleasant odor. emanating from the legs. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner in order to get rid of the disease at 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 honey toes to eliminate the symptoms of skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of mycosis can be:
- moldy fungi;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungus.
Depending on what kind of fungus provoked the disease, the symptoms of the disease will differ:
- Moldy fungus develops mainly in summer, in hot and humid weather, when the skin is thinning.
- A disease caused by yeast fungi, it will spread not only to the areas between the fingers, but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, provoked by dermatophytes, begins to manifest itself on the little finger or areas next to the thumb, and then spreads throughout the foot.
The symptoms of mycosis differ depending on the stage of the disease:
- At the initial stage of the development of the disease, not every sick person will suspect he has a fungal infection. During this period, the ailment manifests itself as small cracks, an itching sensation between the fingers, increased peeling and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if untreated, areas of redness form between the fingers, peeling becomes more pronounced with the appearance of fluid-filled blisters. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and coarsening of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. Legs itch unbearably. The skin becomes covered with deep cracks and constantly gets wet. Ulcers and sores look like one continuous wound. The nails begin to peel off the bed.
It is quite simple 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 paint healthy skin a pinkish tint, while the 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 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.
At the initial stage of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home, using special drugs prescribed by the attending physician. Most often, medicinal products are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using them, the legs must be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tbsp in 1 liter of water. l. baking soda. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and, rubbing thoroughly, apply the product.
In the active and neglected phase, the use of exclusively external agents for high-quality treatment of a fungal infection is not enough. In this case, the administration of medications inside is additionally prescribed. This must be done in strict accordance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is too 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 potent drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
Effectively copes with interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient of this ointment is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the causative agent of the disease.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after preliminary steaming in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. One course of treatment is enough to eliminate the initial stage of 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 cope with the causative agent of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after preliminary steaming of 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 cope with advanced mycosis, but it is a rather toxic drug. It cannot be used to eliminate fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after application of the product, pain, burning or itching may occur in this area. This is how its action manifests itself. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfuric ointment
This is another inexpensive but effective remedy for athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungus.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric ointment depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 4 weeks to several months. The tool just needs to be rubbed into the damaged areas twice a day. The drug has no toxic effect, therefore it can even be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Iodine rubdown
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. At the initial stage of the disease, it can be used to eliminate infection.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied undiluted strictly to the areas of localization of the lesion using a cotton swab. The procedure is performed twice a day until improvement occurs. For greater efficiency, it is recommended to do 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 do hot baths with boric acid before bedtime. To do this, dissolve 2 tbsp in 1 liter of hot water. l. powder and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are carefully wiped off.
Additionally, you can sprinkle the affected areas with powdered boric acid and put on socks. In the morning, rinse off the remnants of the product, and then wipe your feet dry.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or lactating women or children.
Glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation must be used in combination with table vinegar. For treatment you will need:
- 20 ml glycerin;
- 20 ml table vinegar.
Using:
- Combine the components in a glass container.
- To stir thoroughly.
- Apply to a cotton swab.
- Apply it to the damaged area of the skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be carried out every day until the onset of improvement.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to eliminate athlete's foot. Most often, the procedures are carried out in the form of baths. They are made in the evening, shortly before going to bed. For the bath, you need to combine hydrogen peroxide 3% with the same amount of water and lower it into the liquid of the foot. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the feet must be thoroughly wiped off.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a remedy against mycosis at different stages of the disease. You can use such baths as a preventive measure.
Complex means
If the disease has passed from the initial stage to an active or neglected one, the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. Under these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes a complex treatment, which implies the simultaneous use of medicines 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 | The medicinal product is available in the form of tablets. Effectively eliminates foot fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, an appropriate cream or shampoo can be applied |
| Clotrimazole | The tool effectively copes with most types of pathogens of mycosis. It is produced in different forms, which allows you to eliminate the disease at different stages, acting in a complex way |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective drugs for eliminating the signs of fungus. A complete cure is possible after taking the pills for a course of 30 days. Additionally, you can apply a cream: this will enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
The use of folk methods
Methods for treating fungal infections related to alternative medicine are used in combination with medications. As an independent therapy, alternative methods are effective only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when the area of the affected areas of the skin is insignificant, and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Various homemade remedies are commonly used to treat mycosis between the toes.
Baths
Effective bath recipes:
| Bath name | Recipe | Features of use |
| Euphorbia |
|
Dip your feet into the bath and wait 40 minutes. Do the procedures 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 the feet into the solution and keep for 30 minutes. Do procedures daily until symptoms disappear |
| Wormwood |
|
Keep your feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Do procedures every other day |
| With celandine |
|
Dip your feet into the infusion and keep for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every other day |
| Soda | Dissolve 2 tbsp in 1 liter of warm water. l. baking soda |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple or wine vinegar into a wide container |
|
| Coffee shop |
|
|
Lotions
Lotions that effectively help to cope with a fungal infection:
| Means | Recipe | Features of use |
| Onion juice | Squeeze juice from 1 onion, after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve several crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water so that the solution acquires a faint pink color |
|
| Apple vinegar | Soak a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Soak a cotton swab in wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton swab and apply to the affected area overnight |
Ointments
Effective homemade ointments against interdigital mycosis:
| Name | Recipe | Features of use |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
|
Birch tar
A good result at the initial stage of mycosis development is provided by the use of birch tar:
- It is good to steam your feet in hot water.
- Apply a generous layer of birch tar to areas with mycosis.
- Roll up with a towel or other natural cloth.
- Leave on for 2 hours.
- Do not rinse for 2 days.
The procedure must be repeated 5 times. At the first signs of illness, this method of treatment allows you to get rid of the infection without resorting to medication.
Features of treatment in children and pregnant women
Mycosis in the interdigital region of the legs can appear at any age, including in children. This usually happens 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 on your own.
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 non-toxic topical agents. Systemic drugs are not used in childhood due to toxicity. Therefore, it is especially important not to start the disease and take action in time.
Most often, a fungal infection is treated with Terbinafine in the form of a cream or ointment. In this case, the treatment should be course:
- 10 days of applying the ointment;
- 10 days off.
You need to repeat the course as many times as is required for the complete disappearance of 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 must be prescribed by a specialist.
Care should also be taken when treating pregnant women for fungus between the fingers. During this period of a woman's life, many drugs for internal use are prohibited; these include strong antifungal agents. On the recommendation of a doctor, you need to use Clotrimazole or Naftifin ointments. It is necessary to combine them with treatment with folk remedies. The most preferred folk remedies are various baths.