How and how to treat fungus between toes

According to dermatologists, fungal diseases, including those between the toes, occur against the background of weakened immunity. The skin on your feet, especially between your toes, is easily negatively affected by shoes and a lack of personal hygiene. These factors make it susceptible to fungal infections. Cracks, microabrasions, abrasions, calluses, etc. can easily breed fungus on your toes. Sweaty feet play an important role in the development of this unpleasant disease, which is important for young people. For the elderly, fungi can appear between the toes due to limb diseases, metabolic disorders and other reasons. Overweight people are particularly susceptible to fungal diseases of the legs.

Symptoms of fungus between toes

Mycosis of the lower limbs begins with interdigital fungus and then spreads to other areas. Symptoms of fungus between the toes vary. The number of signs of the disease depends on its stage. In the first phase, there were few signs. They appear as redness and itching between the fingers. Then, if the infection is not stopped, symptoms can progress further. Bubbles appear, burst and form cracks. They may get wet and cause pain. Weeping ulcers occur when bacterial flora accumulates in cracks. Fungus between the toes is characterized by severe itching. When the blisters are scratched, the infection can spread further. This is what onychomycosis looks like between the toes.Interdigital fungus on the toes is almost always associated with onychomycosis (a fungus of the nail plate). The fungus slowly but steadily makes its way into healthy areas of the foot skin. Without proper and timely treatment, the acute form can turn into a chronic form. The surface of the foot and the spaces between the toes become rough and appear yellowish-brown.

Diagnosis of interdigital fungus

Before determining how to treat onychomycosis between the toes, it is necessary to diagnose it. For experts, identifying mycosis of the legs is not difficult. It is enough to examine the skin between the toes and see the characteristic symptoms of this disease. In order to understand how to treat fungus between the toes and what types of fungal flora are present on the patient's skin, scrapings are taken from the affected area and sent to a laboratory. Inoculation with fungal spores allows you to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease and then choose the most effective methods and means of future treatment.

treat

Treatment of fungi between the toes and other areas should be carried out in a complex manner. It includes the following types of treatments:

• Local;
• anti-inflammatory (drug;
• Antibacterial;
• Systemic.

topical treatment

Topical treatments are effective in the initial stages of the disease. First, the doctor chooses an antifungal medication. They are effective when the infection has not spread beyond the interdigital space. Today, the market for such drugs is quite widespread and can effectively treat fungus between the toes. But even in the initial stages of the disease, self-treating the disease can be risky, because choosing the wrong treatment may not solve the problem, but may exacerbate it. Only a dermatologist can select and prescribe topical antifungal medications. Well-proven dosage forms are ointments and creams. They should be applied in a thin layer between the fingers, covering cracks and ulcers. Areas not affected by the fungus must be treated to prevent the infection from spreading further.Which dosage form is better – ointment or cream? This ointment is best used on flaky dry areas. It is convenient to use under a bandage and allows better penetration into the lower layers of the dermis. It is recommended to use this cream at the stage when the symptoms of the disease are more noticeable. It is used for exudative and erosive ulcers between the fingers. Generally, ointments and creams are prescription medications. Apply the ointment to the affected area at night. The cream is best used during the day.

Before using ointments and creams, it is necessary to prepare the feet - wash them thoroughly with antibacterial soap and dry them.

anti-inflammatory treatment

Inflammation in the affected area can be treated with foot baths. A bath with a slightly pinkish manganese solution works well. Such baths can dry out oozing ulcers and reduce surrounding inflammation. After bathing, apply corticosteroid-containing ointment to the legs.

Treatment of bacterial infections

Bad odor coming from your feet indicates a layer of bacterial infection and fungus between your toes. Treatment of complex forms of foot fungus involves prescribing a combination of antibiotics.

Treat fungus with tablet system

Topical medications may not be effective in patients with diabetes, vascular disease in the legs, and those taking long-term antibiotics. In this case, systemic treatment is used. Most commonly these drugs are from the triazole class.

These drugs are strictly prescribed by medical experts for serious indications. They have limitations because their use can produce side effects such as dysbiosis, dyspepsia, and impaired kidney and liver function. The course of systemic treatment prescribed by your doctor cannot be interrupted without good reason. Interruption of treatment may lead to the development of resistance to a variety of drugs, mainly antibiotics.

folk remedies

Traditional medicine is also used to treat foot fungus. They can be very effective in the early stages of the disease, relieving symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling.One of the proven remedies is kombucha.

kombucha treatment

Its efficacy is explained by the large composition of the substances contained in it and vinegar. Grind a small piece of old kombucha, rinse it with water, and rub it into the spaces between your fingers. You can use kombucha for a month. Repeat the treatment course after two weeks as a prophylaxis.

Propolis Tincture

Another popular remedy in folk medicine is propolis tincture. It has powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal effects. Wring out a cotton swab or bandage swab moistened with propolis tincture and place it between your fingers. You should wear cotton socks over it and leave it on overnight. The course of treatment is 15-20 days. Since the tincture contains alcohol, you should lubricate your feet with a nourishing cream after removing the lotion.

celandine juice

Chelidonium flower juice is an effective remedy for the early stages of fungus between the toes. To get it, just crush the green part of the plant and squeeze out the juice. It is used as a stand-alone remedy and can be applied simply to lubricate fungus-damaged areas of skin. Use celandine juice daily and uninfected fungi will disappear within two weeks.

foot bath

Apple cider vinegar baths have great healing properties. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to 2 liters of warm water. And keep your feet in the bathtub for 25-30 minutes. After bathing, remove dead skin between your fingers and apply ointment.Vinegar baths can be alternated with celandine baths.

Prevent fungus between toes on feet

Although fungal infections are common, they are avoidable. The following simple tips will help prevent fungal infections:

• Follow personal hygiene rules. Washing your feet with antibacterial soap every day can help prevent excessive sweating. To prevent your feet from being burned, avoid wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes. Shoes need to be disinfected from time to time;
• Special shoes must be worn when visiting public saunas, baths, and swimming pools;
• Keep the bathroom clean by regularly disinfecting with cleaning products and hot water;
• Personal hygiene items (towels and sponges) should be treated regularly with disinfectant. Never use someone else’s towels and sponges;
• Monitor the condition of your feet. For care, use special creams containing ingredients that prevent the occurrence of fungal infections.

Of course, we cannot forget to strengthen the immune system. After all, fungal infections, including those between the toes, occur in people whose immunity is unable to deal with the fungus, whose spores are all around us all the time. Only people with weak immune systems can develop fungal diseases.