Fungus on the skin of the feet, or yeast infection, according to statistics, affects one in five people on our planet. This disease, although not fatal, is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms: severe itching, peeling of the skin between the fingers, redness and an unpleasant odor. emanating from the legs. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner in order to get rid of the disease at the initial stage of development. If this is not done, the disease will enter a chronic stage and then it will be very difficult for the honey toes to remove the symptoms of the skin fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The causative agents of the yeast infection can be:
- moldy mushrooms;
- dermatophytes;
- yeast fungus.
Depending on the type of fungus that caused the disease, the symptoms of the disease will be different:
- Downy mildew mainly develops in the summer, in hot, humid weather, when the skin thins.
- A disease caused by yeast fungi, it will spread not only to the areas between the fingers, but also to the nail plates.
- The disease, caused by dermatophytes, begins to show on the little finger or areas next to the thumb and then spreads throughout the foot.
Symptoms of yeast infection differ depending on the stage of the disease:
- At the initial stage of disease development, not all sick people will suspect that he has a fungal infection. During this period, the disease is manifested by small cracks, a feeling of itching between the fingers, increased peeling and dryness in the affected areas.
- In the active phase, if not treated, areas of redness form between the fingers, the desquamation is accentuated with the appearance of blisters filled with liquid. There is an inflammatory process, tissue edema and enlargement of the epidermis.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the appearance of pus, inflammation, redness and swelling. The legs are unbearably itchy. The skin becomes covered with deep crevices and gets wet constantly. Ulcers and sores look like a continuous sore. The nails are starting to peel off the bed.
It is quite easy to identify the yeast infection at home. To do this, you need to lower your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for a few seconds. Potassium permanganate will give healthy skin a pinkish tinge, while the fungal areas between the toes will remain the same color. This reaction is associated with structural changes in the skin.
Medical treatment
If there is even a slight suspicion of the presence of a fungal infection, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Only a qualified specialist is able to distinguish mycosis from other similar dermatological diseases and prescribe therapy that will be effective against a specific pathogen.
At the initial stage of the disease, effective treatment can be carried out at home with the help of special drugs prescribed by the attending physician. Most often, drugs are used in the form of ointments and creams.
Before using them, the thighs should be steamed in a hot soda bath, diluting 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of water. l. baking soda. Steamed feet should be wiped dry and, rubbing carefully, apply the product.
In the active and neglected phase, the use of exclusively external agents for high-quality treatment of a fungal infection is not enough. In this case, the administration of drugs inside is additionally prescribed. This must be done in strict accordance with the attached instructions.
If the disease is too advanced, and the infectious process has affected not only the skin, but also internal organs, treatment is carried out only in a hospital with the use of strong drugs.
Dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene ointment
Effectively copes with interdigital mycosis, onychomycosis, a disease caused by dermatophytosis. The main active ingredient in this ointment is oxolinic acid, which penetrates the skin and destroys the cells of the causative agent of the disease.
The agent is applied to the affected areas after preliminary steaming in a soda bath. Apply 2-3 times a day for 30 days. Treatment is sufficient to eliminate the initial stage of infection. It is impossible to cure a neglected disease with this ointment.
Salicylic ointment
Salicylic acid acts as an active ingredient, which allows you to quickly cope with the causative agent of the disease. The ointment should be applied twice a day after preliminary steaming of the limbs.
The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 3 weeks to a month and a half. The ointment can even cope with advanced yeast infection, but it is a rather toxic drug. It cannot be used to eliminate fungal infections in children and pregnant women.
Immediately after applying the product, pain, burning or itching may appear in this area. This is how its action is manifested. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 20-30 minutes.
Sulfuric ointment
This is another inexpensive yet effective remedy for athlete's foot. The active ingredient is sulfur, which is effective against many diseases, including interdigital fungi.
The duration of treatment with sulfuric ointment depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from 4 weeks to several months. The tool just needs to be rubbed over the damaged areas twice a day. The drug does not have a toxic effect, so it can even be used to treat children and pregnant women.
Iodine scrub
This drug has long been known as an excellent antiseptic. At the initial stage of the disease, it can be used to clear the infection.
In this case, the alcohol solution is applied undiluted strictly to the areas of localization of the lesion using a cotton swab. The procedure is carried out twice a day until improvement. For more efficiency, it is recommended to do foot baths by dissolving a small amount of iodine in lukewarm water.
Boric acid
It is another good antiseptic that can be used to fight infection. Usually they take hot baths with boric acid before bedtime. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of hot water. l. powder and lower your feet there for 15 minutes. Then the feet are thoroughly wiped.
In addition, you can sprinkle the affected areas with powdered boric acid and put on socks. In the morning, rinse off any residue, then wipe your feet.
Boric acid should not be used to treat pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.
Glycerol
This pharmaceutical preparation should be used in combination with table vinegar. For the treatment you will need:
- 20 ml of glycerin;
- 20 ml of table vinegar.
Using:
- Combine the components in a glass container.
- Mix well.
- Apply on a cotton swab.
- Apply it on the damaged area of the skin between the fingers.
- The procedure should be carried out every day until the onset of improvement.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the most popular ways to get rid of athlete's foot. Most often, the procedures are carried out in the form of baths. They are made in the evening, shortly before going to bed. For the bath, you need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide with the same amount of water and lower it into the foot fluid. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. After that, the feet should be thoroughly wiped.
Hydrogen peroxide is suitable as a remedy for yeast infection at different stages of the disease. You can use such baths as a preventive measure.
Complex means
If the disease has passed from the initial stage to active or neglected, then the use of ointments alone is not enough to achieve an effective result. Under these conditions, the doctor usually prescribes complex treatment, which involves the simultaneous use of drugs inside and external treatment with drugs of the same name in the form of ointments or creams.
The most effective drugs for the treatment of interdigital mycosis:
| Last name | The description | |
| Ketoconazole | The drug is available in the form of tablets. Effectively eliminates foot fungus, interdigital mycosis and onychomycosis (nail fungus). For external use, a suitable cream or shampoo can be applied | |
| clotrimazole | The tool effectively copes with most types of fungal pathogens. It is produced in different forms, which allows you to eliminate the disease at different stages, acting in a complex way | |
| Terbinafine | One of the most effective drugs for eliminating the signs of fungus. Full recovery is possible after taking the pills for 30 days. In addition, you can apply a cream: this will increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The drug eliminates various types of infectious agents |
| Bath name | Recipe | Usage characteristics |
| Euphorbia |
|
Soak your feet in the bath and wait 40 minutes. Do the procedures once every 3 days |
| Salt and soda | Stir in 1 liter of lukewarm water 1 tbsp. l. table salt or sea salt and the same amount of baking soda | Soak the feet in the solution and keep for 30 minutes. Do daily procedures until symptoms subside |
| Mugwort |
|
Keep your feet in the broth for 30 minutes. Do procedures every other day |
| with celandine |
|
Soak your feet in the infusion and keep for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure every two days |
| A soda | Dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 liter of lukewarm water. l. baking soda |
|
| Acetic | Pour apple or wine vinegar into a large container |
|
| Coffee |
|
|
| Means | Recipe | Usage characteristics |
| Onion juice | Squeeze the juice of 1 onion, after passing it through a meat grinder |
|
| Potassium permanganate | Dissolve a few crystals of potassium permanganate in lukewarm water so that the solution acquires a light pink color |
|
| Apple vinegar | Dip a 9% cotton swab in table vinegar |
|
| Wine vinegar | Dip a cotton swab in wine vinegar |
|
| Vinegar tea |
|
Moisten a cotton swab and apply to the affected area overnight |
| Last name | Recipe | Usage characteristics |
| Garlic ointment |
|
|
| Onion ointment |
|
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