Unbearable itching and redness between the toes, sharp pains when walking are the first signs of the most common dermatological problem - fungal skin lesions. The mycelium of the fungus, which sprouts from the delicate epithelium of the skin, gradually "spreads" to the entire plantar surface of the feet, causing unpleasant moisture and broken parts, painful cracks and deformation of the nails.
Malignant fungi and related factors
The causative agent of the disease are dermatomycetes, the most common of which is the genus Trichophyton. They live almost everywhere - in pools and beaches, in people's shoes and animal hair, but the disease is not always provoked. Creating an infection gate through which the dermatomycete can penetrate to a sufficient depth is an important factor.
Fungus between the toes appears when the barrier functions of the skin are weakened:
- When wearing tight, closed shoes. This is especially true for the hot season, when widespread sweat creates conditions for skin maceration, when it becomes a habitat for many microorganisms.
- Abrasions and scratches are ready doors for fungus to enter. If you have these, you should not risk walking barefoot in the pool, sauna and steam bath and trying on someone else's shoes on your bare feet.
- An effective remedy for fungus between the toes should be sought by fans of cheap pedicures in salons of dubious fame. The procedure itself involves cutting the cuticles and cleansing the skin, and non-sterile instruments can be "enriched" with fungus.
Fungus between the toes: symptoms and complications
How the fungus looks on the feet between the toes can not be described unequivocally, because the disease has several forms, each of which is characterized by specific manifestations:
- Dyshidrotic foot fungus is characterized by three stages - the formation of bubbles with redness, liquid and dry crusts, peeling. As a rule, all three phases are present in the same areas of the skin. The insidiousness of the dyshidrotic form of dermatomycosis is highly similar to eczema. A laboratory smear test is required for a correct diagnosis.
- The squamous form is characterized by redness and severe cracking of the skin.
- The squamous-hyperkeratotic lesion causes severe itching and burning, and the seals and peeling scales appear shortly after.
- Manifestations with an intertriginous form are so typical that you do not need to look at the fungus between the fingers in the photo: it is accompanied by severe itching, burning, peeling and painful cracks, and very large foci of epidermal erosion are often visible.
- Intertriginous and dyshridrotic forms of dermatomycosis require careful and gentle treatment, as the secondary microflora can easily penetrate weeping fires and cracks, which can lead to the formation of abscesses. Despite the chronic course, they expressed inflammatory processes that require the use of emollient ointments and anti-inflammatory baths.
Drug treatment
In the arsenal of modern medicine, there are a number of drugs for the treatment of fungus between the toes. Among them are both local ointments and tablets that destroy the fungus from the inside. As a rule, a specialist selects a drug by analyzing the degree, form and scope of the disease. Systemic therapy using pills is used only in advanced cases, when the entire skin of the foot is involved in the process and there are characteristic changes in the nail plates.
Antifungal ointments have been divided into several generations. However, it should be understood that even the most effective remedy for fungus between the toes does not guarantee that it will be discarded if you neglect the rules of personal hygiene and a number of measures.
A gentle pedicure should be done at least once a week during treatment. Subsequently, the frequency can be reduced to once every two weeks.
Since fungi can live in socks and shoes, they also need treatment. To do this, use chlorine-containing liquids as bleach.
If you are thinking about how to get rid of the fungus between your toes, do not forget to change your socks every day. Wearing clothes for two or three days in a row retains the traces of sweat that parasites already live and multiply.
The combination of a course of therapy chosen by only one specialist and careful adherence to all hygiene rules can ensure a quick recovery from the disease.
Treatment of fungus between the toes with folk remedies
Traditional medicine has collected many recipes to combat the fungus, including products from kitchen cabinets, as well as many exotic herbs and medicines. The most accessible of them are:
- Iodine, daily lubrication of lesions that bring visible results in a week.
- Hydrogen peroxide, which gained popularity thanks to the work of a famous doctor. The ability of the fungus to destroy cell membranes and form a film on the surface of the damaged skin provides a quick recovery from the disease.
If you have gone through a lot of means and are thinking about how to treat the fungus between your toes, you should also try the effect of vinegar. Despite the fungi living in a slightly acidic environment, it does not tolerate an increase in pH. Lubrication of the affected areas with a solution of 9% vinegar and water in a ratio of 1: 8 gives positive results in 2-3 weeks.
The most popular remedies in folk medicine - onions and garlic also have an antifungal effect. Corn made from them is mixed with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1: 1 and applied to the affected skin before bedtime.
If you have not decided how to treat the fungus between the toes, do not forget about the destruction of shoes and personal hygiene items. This guarantees that there will be no relapses in the near future.