In medical circles, mycosis is a group of diseases caused by fungi. If the skin is damaged, dermatomycosis is diagnosed, and if the nail plate is damaged, onychomycosis is diagnosed. In most pictures, the pathologies are combined. Toe fungus develops due to the negative impact of anthropophilic, zooanthropophilic microorganisms. Infection with yeast-like fungi of the Candida family is somewhat less common. Let's look at what types of fungal diseases occur and how to cure the fungus between the toes.
Types of fungi
Fungi are divided into several varieties - dermatophytes, molds and yeast-like parasites. They provoke the development of candidiasis, rubrophytosis, onychomycosis, epidermophytosis. Depending on the symptoms, other types are distinguished. There are membranous, vesicular and moccasin-like types of the disease.
For information, infection occurs directly - through contact with soil, vegetation, with a sick person or animal, or indirectly - through contact with household items touched by a sick person.
Fungi on the skin between the toes can be of the following types:
- Athlete's foot. The pathology is accompanied by damage to the space between the toes, as well as the nail plate. In most movies, grown men are sick;
- Rubrophytia. The disease progresses slowly and there are no symptoms in the early stages of infection. In the absence of appropriate treatment, the nail plate will soon be affected;
- Candidiasis of the interdigital space is relatively rare. Divided into several types. The first is vesiculo-pustular. Distinctive signs include severe hyperemia and swelling. The second - hyperkeratosis - the horny layer of the dermis thickens, there is severe peeling;
- Intertriginous form. It is more often diagnosed in the summer. It usually affects the space between the third and fourth toes, a little less often fungus is found on the little toe;
- The deleted form has a minimal number of symptoms. Patients complain of cracks in the interdigital space, slight burning and itching.
Treatment of interdigital fungi is prescribed after the specific pathogen has been identified. To do this, the patient undergoes tests. Based on the results of laboratory diagnostics, a treatment scheme is recommended. It consists of drugs for external use, tablets taken internally (in neglected scenes).
Fungus causes and symptoms
Before learning how to treat toe fungus, let's look at the cause of the activation of the pathogenic microflora and the symptoms of the disease. Definitely the main reason is the spread of fungus in the affected area.
You can get infected in public places when you use other people's personal hygiene items; Infection is often observed in the family circle when one of the household members becomes ill.
Worth knowing: factors that increase a person's susceptibility to fungi include age - children are more sensitive due to immature defense mechanisms and the state of the immune system - a weakened body cannot resist the effects of fungi.
Fungus between the fingers develops due to the following reasons:
- High humidity. This condition is created by poor-quality shoes, socks made of synthetic materials and hyperhidrosis of the lower extremities.
- Circulation disorder. This problem is observed in chronic pathologies - diabetes, hypertension. It is also found in experienced smokers and alcohol addiction.
- Lower extremity injury. The fungi penetrate through the wound and begin to multiply rapidly. Practice shows that even with good immunity, the body cannot cope on its own.
Other causes include dermatological diseases - psoriasis, eczema, advanced age, metabolic disorders in the body, etc.
Toe fungus is accompanied by constant itching and burning, which significantly reduces the patient's quality of life. Initially, one finger is affected, but if the disease is not diagnosed in time and treatment with drugs for foot fungus is not started, the pathology quickly progresses and spreads to other fingers, feet and ankles.
Fungus between the fingers manifests itself as symptoms:
- Peeling of the skin in the interdigital fold;
- The appearance of small cracks that cause discomfort;
- Itching and pain in the affected area;
- Sealing the foot.
If damage to the nail plate occurs, the color of the nail changes and its natural shine is lost. The nail becomes thicker, easily injured, crumbles and falls off.
Initially, the clinical symptoms are not very pronounced, the itching does not cause much concern. As the disease progresses, the symptoms intensify. Most often, the treatment of interdigital fungus on the toes requires the use of two or more drugs, since the picture has advanced due to the patient's late request for help.
Fungal treatment methods
If fungus appears between the fingers, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor performs a physical examination and issues a referral for laboratory diagnostics. Based on the results, medications are recommended for toenail fungus.
How to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms? Local means will help with this - creams, gels and ointments, sprays, emulsions. They do not enter the blood and are used several times a day. It is recommended to be used for mild fungal infections.
If an advanced fungal infection is diagnosed and the area of the problem area is large, then oral tablets are prescribed. They act from the inside, destroy the cell membrane of the parasites, which leads to their death. The doctor independently determines both the method of administration and the dosage; Adverse reactions may develop if the recommended dose is exceeded.
You can treat toenail fungus with the following medications:
- Tablet form.
- Local agents.
You can supplement medical treatment of fungus between the toes with folk remedies - baths based on chamomile, baking soda, lotions with laundry soap, vinegar and other ingredients of natural origin.
Important: to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment, confirmation with laboratory methods is necessary - the analysis is done after 14 days of treatment and after 30 days. Only receiving negative results indicates the effectiveness of the course.
Antifungal agent
The antifungal agent is an anti-fungal agent, it helps eliminate the fungus and works quickly and effectively. The use of the drug is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor. The drug has several forms of release - gel, spray, cream and tablets, solution.
The principle of action of the drug is to block the ability of fungi to reproduce, as a result of which they die. When used externally, the product accumulates in the affected area, which contributes to its high effectiveness.
The dosage of the tablet form for an adult is usually 250 mg per day. If treating fungus in a child, the dose is determined according to body weight. The duration of the therapeutic course varies from 2 to 6 weeks. Spray and ointment are used 1-2 times a day. Treatment lasts 1 month. On the recommendation of a doctor, the course of treatment can be extended by several weeks.
Side effects of the tablets:
- headache;
- Impaired taste perception;
- vertigo;
- Allergic reactions;
- Decreased appetite;
- Disturbance of the digestive tract;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Painful sensations in the abdomen.
Contraindications for use are organic intolerance to the drug, impaired liver and kidney function. Patient reviews note that the product quickly relieves unpleasant symptoms - after a few days of treatment, the severity of clinical manifestations decreases.
Antifungal drug for systemic use against fungi
Medicinal forms - ointment, cream, spray and tablets. It is often prescribed to treat a fungal infection located between the toes. The ointment/cream is applied in a thin layer on a dried and cleaned area of the skin. Rubbing is not recommended. The frequency of application is twice a day.
The dosage of tablets is determined individually. Admission takes place over several weeks. For children, the dose is determined by weight and age. The drug has a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms and is a powerful healing agent. Tablets should not be prescribed in the following situations:
- Liver dysfunction;
- lactose intolerance;
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity;
- Children under the age of three;
- Patient weight up to 20 kg.
Important: the simultaneous use of antifungal drugs and alcohol increases the likelihood of toxic damage to the liver.
Such creams are well tolerated. Only some patients experience allergic reactions. In this case, drug prescriptions should be adjusted. You cannot choose analogues yourself.
To prevent the appearance of fungus, it is recommended to treat the shoes with antifungal agents; strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and do not cancel the treatment; observe the rules of hygiene; After water treatments, wipe your feet dry.