Feet are a favorable place for the development of pathogenic bacteria, because they spend a lot of time in shoes and sweat. Therefore, mycotic ulcers are a frequent companion of many people. The delicate skin on the heel, near the little toe, is most often affected. Nail fungus is no less common. However, the most common variety is considered to be interdigital mycosis, which occurs in adults and children. The disease is transmitted by household means. Common saunas, baths, swimming pools, as well as personal hygiene products can be a source 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 drugs 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 where the skin melts.
- Violation of hygiene requirements.
- Avitaminosis.
- Weakened immunity.
- Metabolic disease.
- Various dermatological and internal diseases (diabetes, varicose veins, etc. ).
Interdigital mycosis often affects young children because their skin is more delicate than that of adults.
Important: wounds, ulcers, cuts and microcracks on the legs are a favorable environment for the development of fungal infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a fungal infection:
- The initial stage is characterized by reddening of the skin between the fingers, which indicates the beginning of inflammation.
- Unbearable itching, peeling, unpleasant odor appears.
- In addition, the nails are involved in the pathological process, turn yellow, exfoliate.
- The patient feels a burning sensation.
- The epidermis between the fingers becomes wet and looks like a persistent 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 an indifferent form, which can lead to complications in the form of bacterial infection.
Treatment
It is almost impossible to get rid of fungal disease quickly. The treatment will last from 1 to 3 months, the time depends on the severity of the pathology. The problem needs to be solved internally and externally.
Pharmaceutical preparations:
- Internally, systemic antimycotic drugs are usually prescribed. Means are available in the form of tablets and capsules. They are effective even in advanced stages of the disease. It is necessary to know 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. Cheap but effective means - ointments with sulfur and zinc. Special attention is paid to ointments from the group of allylamines, because they can be used for the treatment of children from 2 years of age and 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 there is a 10-day break, and then the therapy is resumed.
It is strictly forbidden to choose medicines independently. If the disease has affected all family members, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will prescribe a suitable medicine for each of them.
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 salty solutions, so daily baths with the addition of sea or table salt will help not only to cope with the disease, but also to soften the epidermis of the feet. Procedures should be carried out in the evening. Add 50-60 g of salt for 3 liters of water.
- A good result is to wipe 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. A reaction may occur in patients prone to allergic manifestations, so an individual sensitivity test should be performed 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 soaked in it and the lesions are lubricated. The procedure is performed every day before going to bed.
- Soda solution effectively fights fungal infection. It is used for daily washing of feet instead of ordinary soap. A popular method is to use therapeutic soda baths. 2 tablespoons of soda are taken for 2 liters of water. Feet are soaked in a warm solution and kept for 10-15 minutes. The minimum duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Onion juice has long been considered the best remedy against fungus. To use it, you need to squeeze the juice of a large onion, moisten a cotton swab in it and apply it to the damaged area for a few minutes. To avoid irritation, the composition should be washed off the skin after a certain period of time for a therapeutic effect.
- The combination of tea and vinegar perfectly copes with the disease. To prepare the solution, you need to brew a tablespoon of black tea in a glass of boiling water, cool, filter and add 10 ml of 9% vinegar. It is recommended to use the tool every day before going to bed to lubricate the affected areas of the epidermis.
- The antiseptic properties of boric acid are successfully used in the fight against fungal diseases. The product in powder form can be used as a powder at night and the solution can be added to baths. 20 ml of solution is needed for 2 liters of water. Keep your feet in the water for no more than 15 minutes. Such a tool has its own contraindications and is not used to treat children, pregnant women, and patients with kidney failure.
- Glycerin together with vinegar has a good healing effect. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions in a glass container. Apply a cotton swab dipped in the solution to the affected areas every day.
- Based on vinegar and glycerin, you can make a homemade ointment. To do this, you need to take a spoonful 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 with soap in the morning.
- The recipe for ointment based on lard is popular. To get it, you need to mix 50 g of oil, 15 g of birch resin, 10 g of sulfur powder, melt the mixture in a water bath and apply it to the inflammation every day.
- 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 changed and applied to the affected areas with a thick layer. To get the best result, you need 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 condition of the skin, but after the completion of the full course, the therapeutic effect will be noticeable. The tool should not be used by those who are allergic 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, and 20 ml of eucalyptus essential oil. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and leave to brew for 3 days. Use the ointment daily for 2 weeks to treat the affected epidermis.
- Compresses made of sea salt and crushed mint leaves in a ratio of 1: 2 have a good effect on the disease. The compress is applied at night.
- One of the simple recipes is to rub the feet with garlic juice every day until they are completely healed.
- Gruel from fresh burdock leaves should be applied to painful 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 tool is 14 days. The recipe should be used with caution, because celandine is a poisonous plant and can cause allergic reactions.
- Traditional healers recommend using potato baths to fight fungus. For this, the peel of the vegetable is boiled in a large amount of water, the raw material is removed, and the resulting broth is used to steam the feet. 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. The use of home remedies is allowed only after consultation with your doctor. It is important to conduct a test for individual sensitivity to the selected folk remedy.