One of the most common problems that almost everyone encounters is toe fungus. Such prevalence of the disease is due to the fact that you can get infected anywhere, regularly going to the gym, swimming pool or walking barefoot on the ground or grass. In this case, it doesn't matter whether the person follows the rules of personal hygiene or not.
Like other diseases, this infection requires proper and timely treatment. If you ignore this recommendation, the disease will progress, the symptoms will start to appear more intense, and the skin will be thin and covered with small but painful cracks.
What is a fungus and how does the infection occur?
Toe fungus or ringworm is an infectious disease. These skin lesions are also called dermatomycosis. Altogether, there are a large number of bacteria in nature, but not all of them can cause problems to human health. Ringworm is one of the most common diseases and ranks second after purulent pathologies, that is, boils, streptoderma, carbuncles and staphyloderma.
The groups of fungi that affect the skin of the legs are divided into 3 groups, namely:
- Candida. It belongs to the group of yeast-like fungi.
- Zooanthropophilous. Infection can occur in either an animal or a person.
- Anthropophilic. In that case, you can only be infected by other people.
How does the fungus manifest on the toes?
The first symptoms of toenail fungus have vague features, so it is very difficult to recognize the disease from the first days of infection. Sometimes people don't go to the doctor immediately, not because they don't want to, but because they don't understand what situation they are in. To avoid getting into such situations, doctors always recommend, even with the slightest symptoms, to seek help. In that case, the patient will be spared the problem as soon as possible.
The main signs of toe infection are:
- yellowish spots and blemishes on the skin;
- increased sweating;
- the gaps between the fingers start to ache and itch;
- blemishes and skin exfoliation appear where the infection is located.
The intensity of symptoms may also depend on the form of the disease, scaly or intertriga. In the second case, the person will suffer from swelling of the legs, redness and constant moisture in the areas affected by the infection. This shape is characterized by location between the last 4 fingers.
With a form of scaly pathology, white scabs appear on the legs, flaking, as well as an increased drawing of skin wrinkles. In the first few days after infection, the patient feels burning and itchy. If treatment is absent, symptoms will be complemented by an atypical sheen of the skin on the legs and scaling of small gray or white scales.
How to Treat Toe Fungus?
Nowadays, the patient can choose from a variety of medications that are equally effective in fighting the fungus between the fingers. To get rid of the disease as quickly as possible, doctors recommend the use of complex therapy, which includes the following measures:
- Taking pills.
- The use of immunostimulants and vitamin complexes.
- Gels and creams.
Observation!Almost all medications are highly effective, but that does not mean that the treatment period is short. Depending on the state of the body's protective functions, the patient will have to fight the fungus for at least 1 month.
Effective Medications for Toe Fungus Treatment
Foot fungus is usually treated with varnishes, gels or pills. The most suitable medicine will be selected by a specialist.
How is toe fungus treated with folk remedies?
Along with drug treatment of toe fungus, experts advise the use of alternative therapy, but when using any medication, you should consult a doctor. This will prevent allergies and other adverse reactions.
Traditional healers are advised to pay attention to the following methods:
- Using apple cider vinegar. This is necessary for the "acidification" of the body. Regardless of food intake, vinegar is dissolved in a glass of water and drunk once a day.
- Foot bath. In this case, it is worth pouring 9% vinegar into the bowl, in an amount that covers the foot. The liquid should be slightly warm. The procedure takes a maximum of 15 minutes.
- Vinegar and vegetable oil. From these two components for the treatment of fungus on the feet, it is necessary to prepare an ointment, in a proportion of 1 to 1. It covers the affected areas throughout the night. To maximize the effect on the leg, it is worth wearing socks.
Effects of Fungal Infections on Toes
If you are not treating leg fungus, this can cause the following deviations:
- when the fungus remains on the fingers for a long period of time, it can cause increased sensitivity to other types of fungus, in addition to affecting the development of bronchial asthma, allergic dermatitis, or other skin conditions;
- ringworm of the thumb may affect the development of diabetes mellitus or gangrene;
- if left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the body and affect the internal organs, in which case the patient will have to undergo prolonged and more complex therapy. It doesn't matter if it's fungus on the little toe or the other toes.
How to avoid ringworm reinfection after treatment?
To prevent toe fungus from appearing more, you must follow all precautionary rules, which include the following:
- Use of rubber slippers when visiting the pool or public shower.
- Compliance with personal hygiene.
- Take vitamin complexes to improve the body's protective functions.
- Feet should be washed daily before going to bed.
- You cannot wear someone else's shoes.
- Good nutrition and active lifestyle.
- In special cases, it is advisable to have shoes that are removable and looser.
- Don't use other people's toiletries and don't give yours to anyone.
- Do not wear dirty socks.
- For preventive purposes, use footbaths.
Antifungal shoe treatment
A special product can be used to treat shoes against fungus on the skin of the toes. This will not only help get rid of the infection, it will also eliminate the unpleasant odor and rid your shoes of yeast and dermatitis.
After the infection is cured, shoes can be treated with an antiseptic. You can buy it at a pharmacy, the tool will allow you to clean your shoes not only from the fungus, but also from other bacteria, which pose a danger to human health.