One of the most common problems that almost all people have encountered is fungus on their toes. Such a prevalence of the disease is due to the fact that you can get infected anywhere, regularly visiting the gym, swimming pool or walking barefoot on the ground or grass. In this case, it does not matter at all whether a person adheres to the rules of personal hygiene or not.
Like other diseases, this infection requires proper and timely treatment. If you ignore this recommendation, the disease will progress, the symptoms will begin to appear more intense, and the skin will become thin and covered with small but painful cracks.
What is a fungus and how does infection occur?
Toe fungus or mycosis is an infectious disease. Such skin lesions are also called dermatomycosis. In total, there are a very large number of bacteria in nature, but not all of them can cause human health problems. Mycosis is one of the most common diseases and ranks second after purulent pathologies, that is, boils, streptoderma, carbuncles and staphyloderma.
As for the groups of fungi that affect the skin of the legs, they are divided into 3 groups, namely:
- Candida. It belongs to the group of yeast-like fungi.
- Zooanthropophilous. Infection can occur from both an animal and a person.
- Anthropophilic. In this case, you can only get infected from other people.
How does the fungus manifest itself on the toes?
The first symptoms of toenail fungus have vague characteristics, so it is very difficult to recognize the disease from the first days of infection. Sometimes people do not go to the doctor right away, not because they do not want to, but because they do not understand what situation they are in. In order not to get into such situations, doctors always recommend, even with the smallest symptoms, to seek help. In this case, the patient will be spared the problem as quickly as possible.
The main signs of a toe infection are:
- spots of a yellowish tint and seals on the skin;
- increased sweating;
- the gaps between the fingers begin to hurt and itch;
- spots and exfoliation of the skin appear in the places of localization of the infection.
The intensity of symptoms can also depend on the form of the disease, squamous or intertrigious. In the second case, the person will suffer from swelling of the legs, redness and constant moisture in places affected by the infection. This form is characterized by localization between the last 4 fingers.
With a squamous form of pathology, white crusts appear on the legs, peeling, as well as an increased drawing of skin lines. In the first days after infection, the patient feels burning and itching. If treatment is absent, symptoms will be complemented by an uncharacteristic shine of the skin of the legs and peeling of small gray or white scales.
How to Treat Toe Fungus?
Nowadays, the patient can choose a variety of drugs that are equally effective in fighting the fungus between the toes. To get rid of the disease as quickly as possible, doctors recommend using complex therapy, which includes the following measures:
- Taking pills.
- The use of immunostimulants and vitamin complexes.
- Gels and creams.
Note!Almost all drugs are highly effective, but this does not mean that the treatment period will be short. Depending on the state of the body's protective functions, the patient will have to fight the fungus for at least 1 month.
Effective medications for the treatment of toe fungus
The fungus on the feet is usually treated with varnishes, gels or tablets. The most suitable drug will be selected by a specialist.
How is toe fungus treated with folk remedies?
Together with the drug treatment of the fungus on the toes, experts advise using alternative therapy, but when using any remedy, you should consult a doctor. This will avoid allergies and other adverse reactions.
Traditional healers are advised to pay attention to the following methods:
- Using apple cider vinegar. This is necessary for the "acidification" of the body. Regardless of food intake, vinegar is dissolved in a glass of water and drunk 1 time per day.
- Foot baths. In this case, it is worth pouring 9 percent vinegar into the basin in such an amount that it covers the foot. The liquid should be slightly warm. The procedure lasts no more than 15 minutes.
- Vinegar and vegetable oil. From these two components for the treatment of fungus on the feet, it is necessary to prepare an ointment, in a ratio of 1 to 1. It covers the affected areas for the whole night. To enhance the effect on the leg, it is worth wearing a sock.
Effects of fungal infections on the toes
If you do not deal with the treatment of the fungus on the feet, this can provoke the following deviations:
- when the fungus remains on the fingers for a long period, it can cause increased sensitivity to other types of fungi, and also affect the development of bronchial asthma, allergic dermatitis or other skin diseases;
- mycosis of the thumb can affect the development of diabetes mellitus or gangrene;
- if there is no treatment, the infection can spread throughout the body and affect the internal organs, in which case the patient will have to undergo a protracted and more complex therapy. It doesn’t matter if it’s fungus on the little toe or on the other toes.
How to avoid re-infection with mycosis after treatment?
To prevent the fungus on the toes from showing up anymore, you must adhere to all precautionary rules, they include the following:
- Use of rubber slippers when visiting the pool or public shower.
- Compliance with personal hygiene.
- Taking vitamin complexes to enhance the protective functions of the body.
- Feet should be washed daily before going to bed.
- You can't wear someone else's shoes.
- Good nutrition and an active lifestyle.
- In special cases, it is advisable to have removable, looser shoes.
- Do not use other people's hygiene items and do not give your own to anyone.
- Do not wear dirty socks.
- For preventive purposes, use foot baths.
Antifungal treatment of shoes
A special product can be used to treat footwear against fungus on the skin of the toes. It will not only help get rid of the infection, but also eliminate the unpleasant odor and rid the shoes of yeast and dermatitis.
After the infection has been cured, the shoes can be treated with an antiseptic. You can buy it at a pharmacy, the tool will allow you to clean shoes not only from the fungus, but also from other bacteria, which pose a danger to human health.