Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Usually, treatment with an antifungal cream is applied, which gives good results, but not for long. The tips below will help prevent fungus between the toes, which can recur even after treatment.
Who can get infected
The disease is very common - one in four people have an interdigital fungus on their feet. If this disease is started, its treatment can be very cumbersome.
Fungi are often found in small amounts on human skin where they are not harmful. However, under favorable conditions, they penetrate the epidermis, multiply and cause infection. Favorable conditions for fungi are warm, moist, and airless areas of the skin, such as between the toes.
Almost anyone can get athlete's foot. But it is more common in people who sweat more, or in those who wear thick shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating of the feet.
Mycosis can be spread from person to person. For example, it can happen in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungus-infected skin can fall off while showering. Once a small patch of infection begins to develop, it tends to spread along the skin.
What are the symptoms
The skin between the little toes will usually be the first to be affected. The first signs of a fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are minor. The manifestation will become noticeable when the rash begins to spread, the skin begins to become itchy and scaly. Cracks and inflammation will appear on it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can enlarge, which can be very painful. The tiny flakes of the infected skin will peel off.
If your interdigital mycosis is left untreated, the rash will gradually spread along the entire leg. In some cases, it extends to the sole. Often, the infection causes flaking of the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes mycosis causes large blistering rashes all over the sole. In this case, we are dealing with a foot fungus.
How serious is it
As a rule, no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection has spread. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. These are usually damp and airless areas, such as the groin.
Usually, fungi, including fungus on the feet between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can get into cracks left over from neglected or untreated mycosis. It can sometimes cause more serious infections of the foot or leg.
It happens that the infection spreads to the nail - it can be cured. But in this case, to get rid of the fungus, it will take several weeks of taking antifungal pills to clear the infection from the nails. Therefore, the treatment of interdigital fungus on the legs is best done in a timely manner, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Mycosis treatment
Treatments for the fungus between the toes usually include the application of a variety of antifungal creams and sprays. You can buy topical antifungals at your nearest pharmacy, or get one with a prescription.
To treat the fungus between the toes, it is necessary to apply the antifungal agent directly to the affected area, that is, the skin of the feet.
They are usually sold in the form of creams, but they can also be sprays, liquids, and powders. These preparations are very good at clearing the skin of fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than the other.
During treatment, it often happens that the inflammation seems to go away rather quickly, but you may need therapy for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash has cleared. This is necessary in order to completely eliminate the fungi on the skin - which will prevent relapse.
If this is your first time with this disease and do not know how to cure the fungus on the feet and not make a mistake in choosing a drug for treatment, consult a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid ointment. They are usually used for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using only one antifungal cream for a while afterward.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness in a short period. However, the steroid does not completely eliminate the fungus between the toes and thus steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal pills for fungus between the toes are sometimes prescribed for adults if the infection is severe and cannot be cleared up with creams. Tablets are also needed if the infection is found in many places on the skin other than the feet.
However, this treatment for interdigital fungus is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for people with liver disease. Children are usually not given antifungal medication.
While skin fungus between toes can be spread from person to person, you don't need to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have fungus. However, in public places such as a swimming pool or sauna, try to keep your legs covered until the rash goes away. Also, try not to scratch the damaged skin, as this can spread the infection to other places.
The following tips can prevent recurrent mycosis:
- You should wash your feet daily and thoroughly dry the skin between your toes after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The moist skin between the toes is an ideal breeding ground for fungi.
- Do not use other people's towels in public changing rooms. Wash towels as often as possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungi grow in skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from artificial materials that increase perspiration.
- Try to alternate between different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wear.
- Wear flip flops or sandals in public locker rooms and showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the floor, which may contain flakes of other people's skin.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot as long as possible - no shoes or socks so that the air reaches your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If mycosis persists, you can prevent recurrence by regularly applying one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a prophylaxis.