Feet are a favorable place for the development of pathogenic bacteria, as they spend a lot of time in shoes and sweat. Therefore, mycotic wounds are a frequent companion of many people. The delicate skin near the little toe, on the feet, is most often affected. Nail fungus is no less common. However, the most common variety is considered to be interdigital mycosis, which occurs in adults and children. The disease is transmitted by household means. Common saunas, baths, swimming pools, as well as personal hygiene items can become sources of pathogens. The therapy of the pathology is quite long, but the initial stage of the pathology is successfully treated at home with the help of drugs and folk remedies.
Causes of mycosis
There are several factors that contribute to the development of unpleasant pathology.
- Excessive sweating of the feet.
- Regularly wearing uncomfortable shoes in which the skin melts.
- Violation of hygiene requirements.
- Avitaminosis.
- Weakened immunity.
- Metabolic disease.
- Various dermatological and internal diseases (diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, etc. ).
Interdigital mycosis often affects young children, as their skin is more delicate than that of an adult.
Important: wounds, ulcers, cuts and microcracks on the feet are a favorable environment for the development of a fungal infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a yeast infection:
- The initial stage is characterized by reddening of the skin between the fingers, which indicates the beginning of inflammation.
- Unbearable itching, peeling, unpleasant odor appear.
- In addition, the nails are involved in the pathological process, they turn yellow, exfoliate.
- The patient feels a burning sensation.
- The epidermis between the fingers becomes wet and looks like a continuous non-healing wound.
- The weeping surface dries out, 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 a bacterial infection.
Medical treatment
It is almost impossible to quickly get rid of a fungal disease. The treatment will take from 1 to 3 months, the time depends on the severity of the pathology. It is necessary to deal with the problem internally and externally.
Pharmaceutical preparations:
- Internally, systemic antifungal drugs are usually prescribed. The means are available in the form of tablets and capsules. They are effective even in an advanced stage of the disease. It is worth knowing that such drugs have a toxic effect on the liver, which is why they are contraindicated in young children, pregnant and lactating women, and are prescribed with caution to the elderly and patients suffering from liver failure.
- External means are available in the form of ointments, solutions, sprays, creams. Cheap but effective means - ointments with sulfur and zinc. Special attention is paid to ointments from the group of allylamines, as they can be used to treat children from 2 years of age, pregnant women. The advantage of these drugs 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 taken, after which the therapy is resumed.
It is strictly forbidden to independently choose medicines. If the disease has affected all family members, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will prescribe a suitable medicine for everyone.
Alternative therapy
Most doctors approve the use of folk recipes as part of the complex therapy of the fungus between the toes:
- Fungal bacteria do not tolerate salt solutions, so daily baths with the addition of sea or table salt will help not only to cope with the disease, but also to soften the epidermis of the feet. Procedures should be carried out in the evening. Add 50-60 g of salt to 3 liters of water.
- A good result is wiping the affected areas with wine vinegar. This should only be done with a cotton swab. Do not rub the product with your fingers.
- Iodine has excellent antiseptic properties. You can use it to apply to the affected areas twice a day. To prepare therapeutic baths, a few drops of iodine are dissolved in a small amount of water, the feet are lowered for 15 minutes. The duration of treatment is 14 days. In patients prone to allergic manifestations, a reaction may occur, which is why an individual sensitivity test should be done before the procedures.
- A solution of manganese is used to treat areas affected by fungus. The color of the resulting liquid should be pale pink. A cotton swab is wetted in it and the lesions are lubricated. The procedure is performed daily before going to bed.
- Soda solution effectively fights the fungal infection. It is used for daily foot washing instead of regular soap. A popular way is to use therapeutic soda baths. 2 tablespoons of soda are taken per 2 liters of water. The feet are immersed in a warm solution and kept for 10-15 minutes. The minimum duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Onion juice has long been considered the best tool in the fight against fungus. To use it, you need to squeeze the juice from a large onion, moisten a cotton pad and apply it to the affected area for a few minutes. To avoid irritation, the composition should be washed off the skin after a certain time for a therapeutic effect.
- The combination of tea and vinegar perfectly copes with the disease. To prepare the solution, it is necessary to brew one tablespoon of black tea in a glass of boiling water, cool, strain and add 10 ml of 9% vinegar. The tool is recommended to be used to lubricate the affected areas of the epidermis every day before going to bed.
- The antiseptic properties of boric acid are successfully used in the fight against fungal diseases. The powdered product can be used as a powder at night and the solution can be added to baths. For 2 liters of water you will need 20 ml of solution. Keep your feet in the water for no more than 15 minutes. Such a drug has its own contraindications and is not used to treat children, pregnant women, patients with kidney failure.
- Glycerin in combination with vinegar has a good therapeutic effect. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions in a glass container. Apply a cotton swab dipped in the solution to the affected areas every day.
- On the basis of vinegar and glycerin, you can prepare a homemade ointment. To do this, you need to take one tablespoon of olive oil, dimethyl phthalate, vinegar and glycerin. All components should be mixed well and rubbed into the affected areas of the epidermis overnight. In the morning, wash with soap.
- The recipe for ointment based on pork fat is 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 daily into the foci of inflammation.
- The healing properties of propolis will help you get rid of the problem forever. The recipe consists of 100 ml medical alcohol mixed with 50 g propolis. The composition is changed carefully and applied to the affected areas in a thick layer. To achieve the best result, it is necessary to wrap the feet with a film and put on socks made of natural fabric. At the beginning of the therapy, there is a deterioration of the skin condition, but after completing the full course, the therapeutic effect will be noticeable. The tool should not be used by people who suffer from allergies to bee products.
- 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. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and left to infuse for 3 days. Use the ointment to treat the affected epidermis daily for 2 weeks.
- Compresses of sea salt and crushed mint leaves in a ratio of 1: 2 cope well with the disease. The compress is done at night.
- One of the simple recipes involves daily rubbing of the feet with garlic juice until full recovery.
- A mash of fresh burdock leaves should be applied to sore spots at night, fixed with a bandage or put on socks.
- Applications of infusion of celandine and meadowsweet in a 2: 1 ratio are effective. The duration of treatment with this drug is 14 days. The recipe should be used with caution, as yarrows are poisonous plants and can cause allergic reactions.
- Traditional healers recommend fighting fungus with the help of potato baths. To do this, the peel of the vegetable is boiled in a large amount of water, the raw materials are removed and the resulting broth is used to steam the feet. The duration of the procedure is a minimum of 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 most suitable for themselves. The use of home remedies is allowed only after consultation with your doctor. It is mandatory to conduct an individual sensitivity test to the selected folk remedy.