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 tips below 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 flakes of fungus-infected skin may fall off while taking a shower. Once a small spot of infection begins to develop, it usually spreads along the skin. Read about where else you can catch the fungus here.
What are the symptoms
The skin between the small toes will usually be affected first. The first signs of fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are minor. The onset will become noticeable when the rash begins to spread and the skin begins to become itchy and scaly. Cracks and inflammation will appear on it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes may become larger and may be very painful. Tiny flakes of infected skin will peel off.
If interdigital mycosis is left untreated, the rash will gradually spread along the entire leg. In some cases it extends to the sole. Often the infection causes peeling on the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes mycosis causes large blistering rashes throughout the sole. In this case, we are dealing with foot fungus.
How serious is this?
As a rule, no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection takes hold. 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 between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can get into the cracks left by neglected or untreated mycosis. 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 of taking antifungal tablets to clear the infection from your nails.Therefore, it is better to treat interdigital fungus on the feet in a timely manner, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Treatment of mycosis
Treatment for fungus between the toes 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 fungus between the toes, it is necessary to apply an antifungal agent directly to the affected area, that is, the skin of the feet. There are various medications that will help against fungal infections.
They are usually sold in the form of creams, but may 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 remedy is better than another.For children, gentler drugs should be used.Other options are undecenoic acid or tolnaftate, which are used only as directed by a doctor.
During treatment, it is often the case 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 in order to completely eliminate fungi on the skin - which will prevent relapse.
- Preparations with the active ingredient clotrimazole: use 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.
- Drugs from the triazole group: apply twice a day for seven days. To cure toenail fungus between the toes, you must continue to use the drug 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 are encountering this disease for the first time and do not know how to cure foot fungus and not make a mistake in choosing a drug 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 for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using just one antifungal cream for a while after this.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness over a short period of time. However, the steroid does not eliminate toe fungus completely, and thus steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal tablets for toenail fungus are sometimes prescribed for 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 not usually prescribed antifungal drug treatment.
Although skin fungus between the toes can be spread from person to person, you don't have to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have the fungus.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 may spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent recurring athlete's foot:
- It is necessary to wash your feet daily and thoroughly dry the skin between your toes after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The moist skin between your fingers is an ideal place for fungi to grow.
- Do not share other people's towels in public locker rooms. Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungi multiply in skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from artificial materials, which increase sweating.
- Try to alternate different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wear.
- Wear flip-flops or sandals in public locker rooms and showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the floor, which may have flakes of other people's skin on it.
- When you're at home, walk barefoot as much as possible—without 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 various preventative creams daily.