Among all types of fungal diseases lesions of the feet the most common. One type of mycosis is a fungus of the foot between the toes. The disease causes intense itching and flaking of the skin that causes severe discomfort. Infected with fungus can be in any public places with high humidity. This type of fungal infection occurs in adults and in children.
The reasons for the development of the disease
Fungus between toes – this is one of the types of athlete's foot. The disease is contagious and difficult to treat. Therapy can last several months.
Fungus between the toes develops due to the following reasons:
- poor cleanliness of the feet;
- visit public places with high humidity;
- wearing someone else's shoes;
- using someone else's towels.
The easiest way to get an infection when visiting public showers without the necessary means of protection. No individual Slippers in public shower, gym locker room or even in a sauna with moderate to high temperature, may cause fungus infection between the toes, photos of symptoms which will not doubt the nature of the flaking of the skin.
The development of the fungus between the toes of the child and the adult can be caused by neglect of personal hygiene. The lack of proper foot care leads to the accumulation of sweat and dirt in the interdigital intervals. This is a favorable environment for reproduction of the fungus. Since some pathogens are always present in the human body, the development of fungal microflora on the skin can happen even without contact with a potential source of infection.
The fungus feet and the skin between the toes is a very contagious fungus. It is possible to ache with fitting someone else's shoes, if the person is infected. This is because spores of the fungus are deposited on the inner surface of the Shoe and easily fall on the healthy skin.
One can fall ill even if one family member is struggling with the fungal infection. The fact that the spores of pathogenic organisms settle on everything that came into contact with infected skin. The spores remain in the pile of the carpet, the towels and the surface of the bath and shower enclosure. The slightest contact with these items enough spores got on healthy skin.
However, not everyone infected with fungus when using someone else's towels or shower. Factors that provoke the development of fungus between toes:
- reduced immunity, both General and local;
- the presence of lesions on the skin of the feet;
- sweating;
- long-term use of antibiotics;
- frequent stress;
- wearing too narrow a Shoe;
- diseases that cause poor circulation in the lower extremities.
Long-term medical therapy and frequent stress weakens the body, making it vulnerable to various bacteria and fungi. Wearing narrow shoes leads to violation of local blood circulation, which reduces the immunity of the feet. This creates favorable conditions for rapid development of pathogenic microflora.
Fungus of the feet and interdigital spaces is particularly strong are those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and varicose veins of the lower extremities. All these pathologies lead to deterioration of local metabolic processes and the disturbance of cellular immunity, which increases the risk of infection by the fungus.
The factors that provoke the development of infection include the wearing of very tight shoes with high quality materials, synthetic socks and sweating. All this creates a favorable environment for development of pathogenic microflora. Sweating accelerates the process of increase in the population of fungi, as this microflora loves hot and humid environment.
The types of the disease
The exact classification depends on the form of fungal infection and type of pathogen. With the defeat of the stop often found yeast-like and mold fungi. These two kinds of pathogenic organisms easier to just multiply on human skin.
According to the severity of the pathological process can be divided into mild and severe stage of the disease. A mild form of fungal infection is interdigital mycosis. Without treatment, this form quickly turns into heavy, which is characterized by the spread of the pathological process on the entire sole.
Isolated chronic form of the disease. It is accompanied by severe edema, which extends to the sole and ankle. In most cases, joins the secondary infection, which on the surface of the epidermis appear nodules and vesicles of the rash. If the damage bubbles you notice pus.
The symptoms of athlete's foot between the toes
Looks like a fungus on the feet between the toes, knows, probably, everyone. Specific symptoms:
- redness between the toes;
- severe itching;
- odor;
- peeling of the skin;
- Department of gray scales;
- exfoliation of the skin;
- the appearance of shallow scars.
Children also suffer from this disease, fungus between toes, the child has the same symptoms as that of the adults. The disease begins with lesions of the skin near the little finger of the lower extremities, at the initial stage or the stage of development of the fungus between the toes looks like a little redness. The disease progresses fairly quickly, affecting the skin between the 4 and 3 finger. Over time the fungus spreads throughout the foot.
As the progression of the disease is severe flaking and itching. Patients note the sudden appearance of a sharp and unpleasant odor from the feet, which is difficult eliminated by washing. The progression of the fungal infection leads to the appearance of shallow scars. This usually indicates the accession of infection.
Over time the peeling becomes very strong, separate whole areas of keratinized epidermis, which acquires a grayish color. If the fungus at this stage not to start to treat in time, it spreads to the entire foot.
Interdigital spaces are the most vulnerable part of the foot. When walking in these folds accumulate sweat, which irritates the affected skin fungus. The result is cracks that hurt when walking. Eventually in their place are formed deep ulcers and erosion, which cause itching and burning.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made on the basis of visual inspection. Fungus interdigital spaces has a very striking and characteristic symptoms, so confuse it with other diseases difficult.
Additionally takes a scraping from the affected area. When peeling is not difficult, as the particles of the epidermis can be easily separated, without causing discomfort.
Based on the analysis of a scraping doctor will determine how to treat fungus between the toes. There is also the General scheme of treatment which includes an antifungal cream fungus on feet and between toes and solutions for skin antisepsis. On admission the patient is recommended to check with the doctor whether the use of folk remedies from fungus between the toes. At the initial stage of the disease, traditional medicine helps to quickly deal with pathogens.
Medication
When a fungus between toes treatment should be comprehensive. The patient needs daily to perform the same ritual:
- thoroughly wash your feet soap and wipe dry;
- treating affected areas with an antiseptic solution and wait until it dries;
- applied to the skin antifungal drug;
- after half an hour to wear clean socks made of natural fabrics.
How to cure fungus between toes – it depends on the severity of symptoms. At the initial stage, it is sufficient to use antiseptics and folk remedies in patients with severe lesions of the skin, special products are needed.
As an antiseptic it is better to use the solution or chlorhexidine miramistina. These products do not irritate the skin. They are used not for treatment and for disinfection of the skin. Moreover, antiseptics prevent the spread of fungus to healthy skin.
The main treatment is creams and ointments, the best ointment for fungus between toes is a drug which is prescribed by a doctor. Usually used means broad-spectrum.
Ointment for the treatment should be applied to previously prepared skin twice a day. In advanced cases, one drug may not be enough. When the doctor prescribes a long-term therapy with the change of meds in the middle of the course. This avoids development of resistance of fungal microflora up to one drug.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine knows how to get rid of fungus between your toes. For this proposed use of baths and solutions for skin treatment.
- In the bowl of water, add 2 bags of boric acid and place the feet for 20 minutes. Apply through the day.
- Effective bath from mycoses in 4 liters of hot water, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, salt and iodine. Take 15 minutes, then lubricate the foot curative ointment.
- You can use an application of soda solution with vinegar. To prepare the means necessary in half a glass of water dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda and vinegar. Then in the solution, moisten a cotton swab and carefully treat the skin.
For daily hygiene of the feet is recommended to use tar or soap. They are perfectly degrease the skin and have a weak antifungal activity.
To prevent the development of fungus between the toes and is careful hygiene of the feet. It is important to always take in a swimming pool, gym and sauna own rubber Slippers. Do not use other people's hygiene items or to try on shoes of a stranger, as it can remain spores.