foot fungus It is an extremely unpleasant and very common infectious disease.According to statistics, one in five people in the world experiences symptoms of a fungal infection at least once in their life.The widespread spread of the fungus can only be prevented thanks to the body's defenses, as well as the achievements of modern medicine.Mycosis can be cured;It is only important to detect the disease in time and start appropriate therapy.
Causes of fungus
Fungal skin diseases (mycoses) most often occur against a background of reduced immunity.The human body, unable to protect itself from dangerous infectious agents, is susceptible to a wide variety of diseases.In this case, not only the internal organs suffer.
Changes in local immunity lead to increased skin permeability.The skin can no longer perform its protective function and pathogens enter the interior, causing the development of inflammation.Fungus that develops on the feet is an unpleasant phenomenon that can significantly ruin the life of any person.
They cause fungal diseases and any damage to the skin.Abrasions, scrapes and cuts, not to mention open wounds – these are all entry points for any infection.
And if a healthy person can still cope with the fungus, then with reduced immunity, any wound can cause illness.The fungus penetrates the skin, multiplies and causes significant discomfort with its mere existence.
In advanced cases, toe fungus can spread to the skin of the feet and legs, causing serious illness.
Factors provoking the development of mycosis:
- vascular diseases of the legs;
- metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus);
- excess body weight;
- wear tight shoes;
- toe injuries;
- Damage to the skin around the nails during pedicure.
Foot fungus is a common problem among people who visit public baths and saunas.A warm, humid room is an ideal environment for fungi to multiply and spread to human skin.
You can get an infection both in the pool and on the beach.Anywhere you have to walk barefoot or wear other people's (public) shoes, the risk of fungal infection increases several times.
It has been noted that fungal diseases of the skin of the feet and nails are more common in people with excess body weight.Mycoses also occur against the background of diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases.
The fact is that with such pathologies the blood circulation of the lower extremities is affected.Any small scratch in diabetes takes a long time to heal and is an ideal entry point for a fungal infection.
Fungus between the toes is also a common companion in older people due to age-related decline in immunity.
Symptoms of a fungal infection.
What does interdigital fungus look like?Signs of the disease are difficult to confuse with anything else, and an experienced doctor will only need to observe the patient to make a diagnosis.Typical symptoms allow you to recognize the fungus at the earliest stage of its appearance:
- cracks or sores between the toes;
- excessive peeling (yellow or whitish scales);
- areas of peeling skin between the fingers;
- itching;
- getting wet
The symptoms of the disease can be very varied.In some people, fungus between the toes appears as oozing sores.
In some cases, ulcers and cracks may be covered by the typical whitish or yellowish scales.The peeling can be quite intense or slightly noticeable.
Areas of loose, dead skin often appear between the toes.A typical sign of a fungal infection is itching, but its severity can vary greatly.
For some, itching becomes a very painful companion of the disease, while for others the fungus causes only mild discomfort.Skin with mycosis is usually red, traces of scratching may appear.
All these signs allow you to accurately recognize foot fungus and distinguish it from other skin diseases.
A fungal infection between the toes is often combined with nail infections.A typical nail fungus looks like this:
- nail thickening;
- change in nail color (from pale pink to yellow, gray or brown);
- nail peeling;
- fragility of the nail plate;
- itching and pain around the nails.
Special forms of mushrooms.
In some cases, foot fungus provokes not only the appearance of cracks and weeping ulcers.When a fungal infection develops, small blisters filled with clear or cloudy fluid may appear.
The skin becomes swollen and red.Over time, the bubbles burst and shallow depressions appear in their place.Ulcers hurt a lot and heal quite slowly.Scar formation is not typical.
This form of fungal infection is often called vesicular-erosive.With the erased form of the disease, the skin does not change as much.In the chronic course of the disease, the skin peels off only in certain areas.
The first thing is the peeling and roughness of the skin.Little by little, the skin becomes increasingly rough and acquires a characteristic yellowish color.Over time, the process can spread to the lower leg, thigh, and gluteal region.
Diagnosis
To recognize foot fungus, it is enough to carefully examine the skin of the foot, the spaces between the toes and the nails.The typical signs of the disease do not allow doubts about the diagnosis.
To find out what type of fungus lives on the skin, it is necessary to scrape the affected areas and send the material to the laboratory.Bacteriological sowing of the material makes it possible to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease.
The test results will be ready in a few days, after which the doctor can begin treating the fungal infection.
Local therapy
Treatment of fungus between the fingers begins with the selection of antifungal medications.All means that can be used to treat an infection are divided into general and local medications.
Local therapy is used in the early stages of the disease, when the fungal infection affects only the skin between the toes.Additionally, topical preparations are widely used for combined nail lesions.
A wide selection of medications allows you to choose the right medication for almost any situation.A dermatologist should prescribe antifungal medications.
Self-medication in this situation can lead to a worsening of the disease, since inappropriate medication can accelerate the progression of the disease.In addition, many antifungal drugs have a large number of contraindications and can cause serious harm to health.
What remedies help against foot fungus?When the interdigital folds are affected, it is best to use creams and ointments.It should be remembered that the skin in this area is quite thin.Careless actions can damage the space between the fingers and lead to the spread of infections.
The ointment or cream should be applied carefully, in a thin layer on cracks and ulcers.When processing, you should cover not only the area affected by the fungus, but also the 2-3 cm skin around the spots.
This is necessary to destroy the elements of the fungus in areas of still healthy skin.What is better to use for foot fungus: ointment or cream?The choice depends solely on the form of the disease.It is recommended to apply the ointment to dry, flaky skin.
It penetrates deeply into the affected area and effectively combats fungi that have become chronic.The ointment can also be applied under the bandage to allow the medication to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.
Fungal infections should be treated with cream at the stage of severe exacerbation of the disease.Itching, crying, ulcers and erosions are direct indications for the application of the cream.The cream is quickly absorbed into the skin and leaves practically no traces on clothing.
Preparations in cream form do not penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and are not used for severe roughness and peeling of the skin.Many drugs that eliminate foot fungus are available in two forms at once.
Dermatologists recommend applying the ointment at night to enhance the effect of the product on dry and thickened areas of the skin.The cream can be used during the day to eliminate ulcers and suppuration, as well as under clothing.
Unlike cream, ointment is absorbed much less easily and often leaves marks that are difficult to remove on clothing.What medications can be used to treat toe fungus?
The choice of remedy will depend on the pathogen identified.
Many medications can treat not only fungus, but also bacterial infections, so they can be used for mixed lesions of the skin of the feet.
Systemic therapy
Treatment of foot fungus is possible not only with local medications.In some cases, doctors prescribe medications that affect the entire body.
Systemic therapy may be required if several interdigital spaces are affected at once, as well as if the process spreads to the nails and feet.
In their practice, dermatologists often use antifungal medications that effectively relieve itching and inflammation and help eliminate the main symptoms of a fungal infection.
- dysbacteriosis;
- dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea);
- headaches;
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- liver and kidney damage;
- allergic reactions.
Long-term treatment of foot fungus with systemic medications can lead to serious malfunctions in the functioning of the entire body.
That is why it is so important that these remedies are only prescribed by a doctor after a thorough examination.The duration of therapy and the dosage of drugs are selected taking into account the course of the infection and the presence of various concomitant pathologies in the patient.
An important point: treatment with systemic antifungal drugs must be completed!Do not stop medication unless absolutely necessary.
Incomplete therapy can lead to the development of drug resistance.In the future, it will be quite difficult to get rid of the mutated fungus and achieve recovery.
Folk remedies
Is it possible to treat foot fungus with home remedies?It is believed that alternative therapy methods can actually relieve itching and eliminate other symptoms of skin and nail fungal infections.
Kombucha is considered a good remedy for mycosis.This plant was brought from Japan in the last century and has been very popular for many years.
A small piece of kombucha is rubbed in the spaces between the fingers twice a day for a month.If necessary, the treatment can be repeated after a two-week break.
Propolis and tea tree oil are also used to eliminate fungus.Treatment of foot fungus is also possible with the help of ordinary soda diluted in hot water (at the rate of 1 tablespoon of soda per 3 liters of water).
The cooled solution is used to treat affected areas of the skin and nails twice a day.It should be remembered that fungal treatment with folk remedies is possible only in the early stages of the disease.In advanced cases, when the fungus affects the entire skin of the feet and nails, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Ways to treat fungus with homemade products.
- Garlic.
You need to cut half a clove of garlic, roll it in salt and rub it on problem areas of the skin.Another option for using garlic is to grind the clove into a pulp and make a compress with it on the affected areas or simply rub them with the mixture.
- Onion.
Grind the onion into a paste and then spread it on the sore spots on the surface of the skin.If there are wounds or burst blisters on the skin, you can add Vaseline to the onion mixture (one to one ratio).Squeezed onion juice is also used to treat infections.You should clean the infected areas of the skin with this liquid.
- Chicken egg.
To prepare the medicine, it is necessary to pour vinegar over a whole raw egg and leave it in a dark place to infuse until the shell dissolves.Next, you need to get rid of the film and add butter (1 teaspoon) to the resulting mixture of yolk, white and vinegar.
The resulting mass must be mixed well until the consistency of an ointment is obtained.Apply the ointment to clean, steamed feet, wrap with plastic wrap and gauze.The ointment should be stored in the refrigerator.
- Natural ground coffee.
This is another effective remedy in the fight against toe fungus.Before going to bed, it is recommended to take strong ground coffee baths.Such procedures will help eliminate unpleasant or painful sensations and cure irritations.
- Wine vinegar.
Apply wine vinegar to the affected areas and let it sit until the vinegar dries;no need to rinse with water.
- Apple cider vinegar.
In combination with sea salt, apple cider vinegar will help get rid of the annoying disease.To do this, it is necessary to prepare a bath, which includes: 100 grams of sea salt, 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 5 liters of water.By repeating these baths every day, the disease can be overcome.
- Baking soda.
It is necessary to wet the soda with water until it turns into a thin paste, which should be applied to the areas affected by the fungus for 20 minutes, then rinse the feet with warm water, wipe and apply baby powder.
Additionally, soda can be used in the form of cold baths.To do this, mix a tablespoon of soda and table salt and dilute everything in water.It is recommended to perform these baths before going to bed and then rinse the solution with clean water.
Toe fungus treatment with herbs.
- Marigold flowers.
To prepare the infusion, pour 250 g of dried flowers into a glass of boiling water and let it steep for half an hour.
- Celandine.
A decoction for foot baths is prepared from celandine;To do this, you need to prepare 4 tablespoons of the plant in 1 liter of water and boil for 5 minutes.These baths should be done for three weeks.
- Burdock leaves.
It is necessary to crush a fresh burdock leaf so that the juice appears on the surface.Wrap the wrinkled sheet around your foot and put on a sock overnight.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
When the disease has already been defeated, it is advisable to take care of personal hygiene items and footwear so that the infection does not spread again.You can treat the inside of the shoes with vinegar (30% solution) or antiseptic.
So, despite the persistence and vitality of the fungus, there are many ways that will help get rid of it forever, you just have to have a little patience and not be lazy to repeat the daily procedures.
Prevention of fungal infection.
Treating toe fungus with traditional or home remedies is a long and complex process.Is it possible to prevent fungal development?
The following recommendations will help prevent foot skin infections.Do not forget about the rules of personal hygiene.Always wear slippers in the pool, sauna or beach.Monitor the condition of the skin on your feet.
Moisturize your skin with special creams to avoid dryness and cracks.Strengthen your immune system and take care of your health.When the first signs of fungus appear between the fingers, consult a doctor.