Fungus between the toes: symptoms and treatment at home

Fungal infections can affect the skin between the toes

Feet are a good place for the development of pathogenic bacteria, because they spend a lot of time in shoes and sweat. Therefore, mycotic scabies is a frequent companion for many people. Often, the delicate skin near the little toe, on the soles of the feet, is affected. No less common is nail fungus. However, the most common variety is considered to be interdigital mycosis, which occurs in adults and children. The disease is spread through household routes. Ordinary saunas, baths, swimming pools, as well as personal hygiene items can be sources of pathogens. The therapy of the pathology is quite long, but the early stages of the pathology are successfully treated at home using medicines and folk remedies.

Causes of mycosis

There are several factors that contribute to the development of unpleasant pathologies.

  • Excessive sweating of the feet.
  • Constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes where the skin melts.
  • Violation of hygiene requirements.
  • Avitaminosis.
  • Weak immunity.
  • Metabolic diseases.
  • Various dermatological and internal diseases (diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, etc. ).

Interdigital mycosis often affects young children, because their skin is more delicate than that of adults.

Important: wounds, ulcers, wounds and micro cracks on the feet are a good environment for the development of fungal infections.

symptoms

Symptoms of fungal infection:

  • The initial stage is characterized by redness of the skin between the fingers, which indicates the beginning of inflammation.
  • Unbearable itching, peeling, an unpleasant odor appears.
  • Further, the nails are involved in the pathological process, they turn yellow, peel off.
  • The patient feels a burning sensation.
  • The epidermis between the fingers becomes wet and looks like a persistent non-healing wound.
  • The weeping surface dries up, cracks form in this place.

If you do not start treatment at this stage, the disease goes into a neglected form, which can cause complications in the form of bacterial infections.

Medical treatment

It is almost impossible to get rid of fungal diseases quickly. Treatment will take from 1 to 3 months, depending on the severity of the pathology. It is necessary to deal with problems internally and externally.

Pharmaceutical preparations:

  • Inside, systemic antimycotic drugs are usually prescribed. Funds are available in tablet and capsule form. They are effective even in advanced stages of the disease. It should be noted that the drug has a toxic effect on the liver, therefore, it is contraindicated in small children, pregnant and lactating women, and is prescribed with caution to the elderly and patients with liver failure.
  • External agents are available in the form of ointments, solutions, sprays, creams. A cheap, but effective way - ointment with sulfur and zinc. Special attention is paid to ointments from the group of allylamines, because they can be used for the treatment of children from the age of 2, pregnant women. The advantage of this drug is the absence of toxic effects on liver cells. The duration of the therapeutic course is usually 10 days, after which a 10-day break is made, then therapy is resumed.

It is strictly forbidden to choose medicine independently. If the disease has affected all family members, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will prescribe the appropriate medicine for each one.

Alternative therapy

Most doctors approve the use of folk recipes as part of the complex therapy of fungus between the toes:

  1. Fungal bacteria do not tolerate salt solutions, so a daily bath with the addition of sea or table salt will help not only cope with this disease, but also soften the epidermis of the feet. The procedure should be carried out in the evening. For 3 liters of water, add 50-60 g of salt.
  2. A good result is wiping the affected area with wine vinegar. This should be done only with a cotton swab. Do not rub the product with your fingers.
  3. Iodine has excellent antiseptic properties. You can use it to lubricate the affected area twice a day. To prepare a therapeutic bath, a few drops of iodine are dissolved in a little water, the feet are lowered for 15 minutes. The treatment period is 14 days. In patients prone to allergic manifestations, reactions may occur, therefore, individual sensitivity tests should be carried out before the procedure.
  4. Manganese solution is used to treat areas affected by fungus. The color of the resulting liquid should be pale pink. A cotton swab is moistened in it and the lesion is lubricated. This procedure is carried out every day before going to bed.
  5. Soda solution is effective against fungal infections. It is used to wash the feet every day instead of regular soap. A popular way is to use a therapeutic soda bath. For 2 liters of water, 2 tablespoons of soda are taken. Feet are dipped in a warm solution and held for 10-15 minutes. The minimum duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
  6. Onion juice has long been considered the best medicine in the fight against fungus. To use it, it is necessary to squeeze onion juice, moisten a cotton ball in it and apply it to the affected area for a few minutes. To avoid irritation, the composition must be washed off the skin after a certain time for a therapeutic effect.
  7. The combination of tea and vinegar overcomes this disease perfectly. To prepare a solution, it is necessary to brew a teaspoon of black tea in a glass of boiling water, cool, filter and add 10 ml of 9% vinegar. This tool is recommended to be used to lubricate the affected epidermal area every day before going to bed.
  8. The antiseptic properties of boric acid are successfully used in the fight against fungal diseases. The product in powder form can be used as a powder at night, and the solution can be added to the bath. For 2 liters of water you need 20 ml of solution. Keep your feet in the water for no more than 15 minutes. Such drugs have their own contraindications and are not used to treat children, pregnant women, patients with kidney failure.
  9. Glycerin in combination with vinegar has a good therapeutic effect. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions in a glass container. Every day apply a cotton ball dipped in the solution to the affected area.
  10. Based on vinegar and glycerin, you can prepare a homemade ointment. To do this, you need to take a spoonful of olive oil, dimethyl phthalate, vinegar and glycerin. All components should be thoroughly mixed and applied to the affected epidermal area overnight. Wash in the morning with soap.
  11. Recipes for ointments based on lard are popular. To get it, you need to mix 50 g of fat, 15 g of birch tar, 10 g of sulfur powder, melt the mixture in a water bath and rub it every day into the focus of inflammation.
  12. The healing properties of propolis will help get rid of problems forever. The recipe consists of 100 ml of medical alcohol combined with 50 g of propolis. The composition is carefully changed and applied to the affected area in a thick layer. To achieve the best results, it is necessary to wrap the feet with a film and wear socks made of natural fabrics. At the beginning of therapy, there is a deterioration in the condition of the skin, but after completing the full course, the therapeutic effect will be noticeable. This tool should not be used by those who are allergic to bee products.
  13. Healing ointment based on honey. To prepare it, you need to take 30 g of honey, 10 g of apple cider vinegar, 20 ml of eucalyptus essential oil. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and let it soak for 3 days. Use the ointment to treat the affected epidermis every day for 2 weeks.
  14. A compress from crushed sea salt and mint leaves in a 1: 2 ratio works well with this disease. Compressed for use at night.
  15. One simple recipe involves daily rubbing the feet with garlic juice until recovery is complete.
  16. Porridge from fresh burdock leaves must be applied to sore spots at night, fixed with bandages or wearing stockings.
  17. The application of the infusion of celandine and meadowsweet in a ratio of 2: 1 is effective. The duration of treatment with this drug is 14 days. The recipe should be used with caution, because celandine is a poisonous plant and can trigger an allergic reaction.
  18. Traditional healers recommend fighting fungus using potato baths. To do this, the skin of the vegetable is boiled in a large amount of water, the raw material is removed, and the resulting soup is used to steam the legs. The duration of the procedure is at least 30 minutes. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the pathology and is usually 2 weeks.

Many folk recipes allow everyone to choose the right one for themselves. The use of home remedies is only allowed after consultation with your doctor. It is important to conduct tests for individual sensitivity to selected folk remedies.