The feet are a favorable place for the development of pathogenic bacteria, since they spend a lot of time in shoes and sweat. Therefore, mycotic sores are a frequent companion of many people. Most often, the delicate skin near the little finger, on the soles, 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 transmitted by household route. 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 use of medications and folk remedies.
Causes of mycosis
There are several factors that contribute to the development of an unpleasant pathology.
- Excessive sweating of the feet.
- Regular wearing of 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 legs are a favorable environment for the development of a fungal infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a fungal infection:
- The initial stage is characterized by reddening of the skin between the fingers, which indicates the onset of inflammation.
- Unbearable itching, peeling, unpleasant odor appear.
- Further, the nails are involved in the pathological process, they turn yellow, exfoliate.
- The patient feels a burning sensation.
- The epidermis between the fingers gets wet and looks like a continuous 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 a bacterial infection.
Medical treatment
It is almost impossible to quickly get rid of a fungal disease. 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:
- Inside, systemic antimycotic drugs are usually prescribed. The funds are available in the form of tablets and capsules. They are effective even in advanced stages of the disease. It is worth knowing that such drugs have a toxic effect on the liver, therefore, 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 agents are available in the form of ointments, solutions, sprays, creams. Inexpensive, but effective means - ointments with sulfur and zinc. Particular attention is paid to ointments from the group of allylamines, as they can be used for treatment in 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 made, then the therapy is resumed.
It is strictly forbidden to independently select drugs. If the disease has affected all family members, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will prescribe a suitable medicine for each.
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 saline solutions, so daily baths with the addition of sea or table salt will help not only cope with the disease, but also soften the epidermis of the feet. Procedures should be carried out in the evening. For 3 liters of water, add 50-60 g of salt.
- A good result is wiping the affected areas with wine vinegar. This should be done only with a cotton swab. Do not rub the product with your fingers.
- Iodine has excellent antiseptic properties. You can use it to lubricate 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, therefore, an individual sensitivity test should be carried out before the procedures.
- A solution of manganese is used to treat areas affected by the 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 carried out daily before going to bed.
- Soda solution effectively fights fungal infection. It is used for daily washing of the feet instead of regular soap. A popular way is to use therapeutic soda baths. For 2 liters of water, 2 tablespoons of soda are taken. The feet are dipped in a warm solution and held for 10-15 minutes. The minimum duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Onion juice has long been considered the best remedy in the fight against fungus. To use it, it is necessary to squeeze the juice of a large onion, moisten a cotton swab in it and apply it to the affected area for several minutes. To avoid irritation, the composition must be washed off the skin after a certain time for the therapeutic effect.
- The combination of tea and vinegar copes with the disease perfectly. To prepare the solution, it is necessary to brew a 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 diseased areas of the epidermis daily before bedtime.
- The antiseptic properties of boric acid are successfully used in the fight against fungal disease. The product in the form of a powder can be used as a powder at night, and the solution can be added to the 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 remedy has its own contraindications and is not used to treat children, pregnant women, patients with renal insufficiency.
- Glycerin in combination with vinegar has a good therapeutic effect. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions in a glass container. Daily apply a cotton swab dipped in the solution to the affected areas.
- Based on vinegar and glycerin, you can prepare a homemade ointment. To do this, you need to take a tablespoon of olive oil, dimethyl phthalate, vinegar and glycerin. All components should be thoroughly mixed and rubbed into the affected areas of the epidermis overnight. Wash off in the morning with soap.
- The recipe for ointment based on pork fat is popular. To obtain 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 to get rid of the problem forever. The recipe consists of 100 ml of medical alcohol combined with 50 g of propolis. The composition is carefully altered 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 therapy, there is a deterioration in the skin condition, but after completing the full course, the therapeutic effect will be noticeable. The tool should not be used by those 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. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and leave to infuse for 3 days. Use the ointment to treat the affected epidermis daily for 2 weeks.
- Compresses from sea salt and crushed mint leaves in a ratio of 1: 2 do well with the disease. The compress is applied at night.
- One of the simple recipes involves daily rubbing the feet with garlic juice until complete recovery.
- Gruel from fresh burdock leaves must be applied to sore spots at night, fixed with a bandage or put on socks.
- Applications from the infusion of celandine and meadowsweet in a ratio of 2: 1 are effective. The duration of treatment with this remedy is 14 days. The recipe should be used with caution, since celandine is a poisonous plant and can provoke allergic reactions.
- Traditional healers recommend fighting the fungus using 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 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. Use of home remedies is allowed only after consultation with your doctor. It is imperative to conduct a test for individual sensitivity to the chosen folk remedy.