Fungal infection affects mainly the epidermis of the feet, is a common dermatological diseases. Initially localized fungus between the toes, and with the development of the infectious process spreads to adjacent areas of healthy skin.
The etiology of the disease
Foot fungus can be infected anyone while visiting public showers, pools, saunas, beaches and other places that are supposed to walk barefoot. Interdigital athlete's foot is transferred through someone else's shoes, poorly treated pedicure tools.
According to research by mycologists, even when there is contact with pathogens, the infection occurs if the patient has predisposing factors to this:
- a weakened immune system;
- of metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus;
- excessive fullness;
- violations of blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- dry skin of the feet, cracks skin;
- sweating;
- shoes of the wrong size or of poor quality.
- mechanical damage of the epidermis of the feet;
- old age.
Persons at risk for fungal diseases, should be especially careful to monitor the hygiene of the feet and to avoid contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms of the fungus at different stages
Fungus on the toes in the initial stage looks about the same, and occurs without symptoms. Over time the clinical picture of the disease varies depending on the shape of the lesion.
Important! Dryness, flaking, itchy and cracked between toes – the first signs of mycosis. Upon detection of the alarming symptoms you need to seek help to a specialized doctor, not waiting for the deterioration of the infection.
From the look of the fungus between the fingers, depends largely on the definition of its form and stage of the disease. Experts distinguish four main types of athlete's foot between the toes:
- Intertriginous. The most common form of fungal infections of the toes. Affects only the skin between the fingers, without affecting the surface of the foot. Localized fungus on little toe, and between the closest three fingers. There is peeling, itching, redness, cracking of the epidermis. The accession of a bacterial infection, which complicates treatment of the fungus between the toes and creates the risk of infection of the whole organism.
- Disgidroticheskaya. Characterized by the formation of blisters filled with fluid exudate which is poured out in violation of the integrity of the shell. In places of a rupture of the vesicles is shown the change of the skin. Wet the fungus is accompanied by severe itching and occurs against a background of excessive sweating on the feet.
- Squamous hyperkeratotic. Is appearance white patches on the skin of the fingers and light growths resembling blisters. The skin of the foot and under the toes thickens which leads to the appearance of deep slow-healing fractures. This form of athlete's foot affects both feet.
- Erased. The symptoms similar to the initial stage of all fungal infections. Characterized by minor skin damage, occurs without clinical manifestations and practically do not cause discomfort, what happens unnoticed for a long time remains without proper treatment.
Important! External symptoms of fungal infections identical with the manifestations of diaper rash, chemical dermatitis and other skin diseases. To determine the presence of pathogenic mycelium and its species enable laboratory studies of infected material.
Medication
The initial stage of the fungus does not require oral antifungals. To fight the disease should be through applying topical antifungal medications prescribed by your doctor.
Modern pharmaceuticals offers easy to use dosage forms of agents for the treatment of fungal infections:
- creams;
- ointment;
- gels;
- pencils;
- solutions;
- lucky;
- powder.
The composition of all drugs local actions are active substances that destroy the fungal infection and preventing their further reproduction.
Note! Toe fungus requires prolonged combination therapy. If financial possibilities do not allow to buy popular expensive medications, you should discuss this with your doctor. An experienced specialist will choose inexpensive but effective drugs for the treatment of infection.
Independent selection of medicines, regardless of cost, can only aggravate the situation, as pathogens can have a high resistance to the effects of the antifungals of a particular group. Universal drug for the treatment of fungal infections does not exist, so how to treat the fungus, the doctor will decide.
Caution should be taken to oral antifungal drugs. Tablets used to treat fungus in the body, are highly toxic and have a lot of contraindications. Tablet form of antimycotic funds allowable to be used for medical therapy in adults with normal liver function.
Treatment of folk remedies
Quickly get rid of fungus on your toes with the help of recipes of traditional medicine cannot. But if you use home remedies in combination with pharmacy drugs, the healing process will flow easier.
Baths
The healing bath is effective remedy for fungus between toes:
- Healing and disinfecting the skin of the feet help baths with soda and sea salt. Soda bath is great for training the fingers with the fungus to the procedure for application of antifungal compounds.
- Coffee and foot bath, we contribute to a better regeneration of the affected tissues and prevent the spread of infection. To prepare the solution you need to brew 5 tablespoons of ground coffee in a liter of boiling water. Coffee bath should not be too hot.
To relieve irritation and itching can due to regular foot baths with the decoction of medicinal herbs: celandine, chamomile, calendula, oak bark, birch leaves, flowers, lilac.
Compresses
Different lotions according to the recipes of folk medicine can cure uncomfortable symptoms of athlete's foot between the toes, but their fungicidal properties are insufficient to eradicate the pathogenic mycelium.
Compresses with birch tar, oil of celandine, garlic paste, ammonia or wine vinegar will relieve aching feet from the discomfort and prevent the accession of secondary bacterial infections.
Effective antimicotic ointment is prepared from chicken eggs, which for several days placed in a beaker with concentrated acetic essence (70%) to dissolve its hard shell. After removal of the film, it is dissolved in vinegar the egg add a little butter and insist another day. The course of treatment lasts for a week, the composition is applied to the affected areas of the epidermis twice a day.
Important! Without consulting specialist and medical appointments to use any means of folk and traditional medicine to treat fungus between fingers in children is not recommended.