Toe fungus is recognized among doctors as the most common dermatological disease. According to statistics, every fifth person on the planet suffers from it at least once in their life. The disease is caused by the fungus Tinea pedum , which multiplies in warm and humid environments, so the pathology most often appears in people prone to excessive sweating.
Fungus appears between the toes in people with weakened immune systems. Therefore, in the same favorable environment for the reproduction of Tinea pedum, a person whose body is unable to resist infection is more at risk of becoming infected.
Fungus on the feet appears due to a number of other factors:
Not the least reason for infection is close contact with the belongings and household items of an infected person, including being in saunas, steam baths, and swimming pools without shoes.
Dermatologists state the fact that interdigital fungus can also appear when communicating with infected animals, through plants and soil. The cause of infection can be socks and shoes worn by an infected person. The risk group includes patients with diabetes and those who have been taking antibiotic therapy for a long time. How to treat fungus between the toes can only be determined by identifying the source of the infection.
In addition, the fungus on the feet between the toes spreads due to factors accompanying the disease. If the human body is predisposed to fungal infections, the cause may be regular wearing of narrow and tight shoes, frequent grueling workouts in the gym, non-healing microcracks, pustules and wounds on the feet and fingers.
The development of pathology has a number of characteristic signs. If you notice the appearance of at least one of them, take immediate action or contact a specialist.
Toe fungus has the following symptoms:
But the most obvious symptom that fungus on the toes has begun to develop is excessive sweating of the feet, not only during movement, but also at rest, since in the first stages of the pathology a person does not feel any discomfort.
If the disease is not detected in time or treatment is ignored, the affected area may spread to the sole and nails. In this case, it will be quite difficult to cure mycosis.
Treating finger fungus is quite difficult. At the same time, along with traditional therapy, physiotherapeutic measures necessarily take part in the process.
How to treat fungus on the feet between the toes, and what means are best to use for this, can only be answered by the attending physician, after conducting a series of diagnostic examinations. This allows you to identify the type of fungus and the degree of damage to the skin.
Today, the pharmacy chain has a number of antimycotic drugs, the regular use of which allows you to get rid of the pathology once and for all. At the same time, the treatment regimen is drawn up by a dermatologist, since long breaks must be taken between courses of such therapy.
In addition, the right choice of how to cure fungus between the toes depends on your skin type. For example, for a dry type, oil-based ointments and creams are suitable; for a wet type, a product in the form of a suspension or varnish with fungicidal components is suitable.
Traditionally, mycosis can be cured only using complex treatment, therefore, along with local drugs, systemic drugs can be included in therapy.
In the early stages of the spread of pathology, you can cope with the disease by using ointments such as Nizoral, Candide, Lamisil, Amorolfine, Zalain.
However, their use should not be long-term, since Tinea pedum is one of the types of fungus with the characteristic feature of quickly becoming addicted to the dosage form. For therapy to be effective, after 15-20 days the ointment should be replaced with drugs with a similar effect, but with a different composition.
Traditional therapy must be approached with a degree of patience and perseverance, since treatment for interdigital fungus on the feet can take quite a long time. With moderate severity, it is possible to completely get rid of mycosis within 10-12 months. Antifungal drugs have a number of contraindications, so all activities should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.
Alternative medicine offers a number of proven and reliable ways to eliminate pathology on the toe. Basically, these are cleansing antiseptic and antifungal baths, compresses and ointments made from natural products.
Here are just a few methods for treating mycosis at home:
In the initial stages of fungus on the toes, treatment can be carried out using onion pulp. To do this, grate the head of an onion on a coarse grater, place it on a cotton swab and apply it to the sore spot. Wrap your leg in cellophane and put on a cotton sock.
An inexpensive but effective way to stop the spread of a fungal infection is to soak your feet in a bath of medicinal herbs every day. In the initial stages, you can prepare it based on nettle, mint, sage and chamomile, taken in equal proportions. Infuse 100 grams of this mixture in 1 liter of boiled water for at least 60 minutes, and then add it to a bath with a water temperature of at least 50 ° C.
If you are prone to viral and fungal infections, or have already suffered from these ailments, do not forget about preventive measures. First of all, take care of replacement shoes for visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths, showers after the gym.
A new unique product will also help prevent foot fungus - Lotseryl cream and nail polish, which is based on components of fungicidal and fungistatic action.
If you feel slight discomfort, itching or burning between your toes, do not rush to purchase an expensive ointment for fungus between your toes. Limit your use of saunas and swimming pools, trying to keep your feet in a dry and clean environment. For 10 days, simply lubricate the area between your fingers with pure medical alcohol. As a rule, such precautions prevent further development of the infectious process.
Only a specialist - a dermatologist - can tell you how to treat fungus between your toes. It is necessary to contact him in cases where burning and itching become regular, the skin on the legs is red and inflamed, peeling and cracking begins. Do not self-medicate; remember that not all dermatological drugs available in pharmacies can cure the fungus once and for all. Much depends on the individual approach and choice, which only the attending physician can make.