Interdigital mycosis is a fungal infection of the skin in the space between the fingers, caused by opportunistic organisms and anthropophilic fungi.
Causes of mycoses
Mycoses are caused by contact, wearing shoes or sharing personal hygiene items with an infected person. The probability of infection increases in those whose immunity is reduced - due to chronic diseases, taking certain medications or vitamin deficiency.
Patients at risk include:
- disorders in the functioning of the endocrine system;
- diabetes mellitus and its complications (especially diabetic foot);
- allergic dermatitis;
- varicose veins;
- obesity;
- increased sweating;
- immune system disorders;
- hormonal disorders;
- metabolic disorders in the body, etc.
The skin of the feet is extremely sensitive to fungi after the trimmer pedicure. And wearing shoes that are too tight can significantly worsen the situation.
Symptoms
In the initial stages of interdigital mycosis, it manifests itself in mild itching of the skin between the toes. Later, this symptom is accompanied by skin peeling, redness and the appearance of cracks.
If you do not take action and do not consult a specialist, the problem will gradually worsen - a burning sensation, diaper rash, swelling of the area between the fingers will appear. Small bubbles may form in the interdigital folds, which tend to coalesce. When such bubbles burst, weeping erosions are left in place and covered with a crust. This condition is dangerous due to infection - the wounds can multiply.
It is important to note that in the case of a long course of interdigital mycosis, the forms of the disease can transform into each other or develop in parallel.
Interdigital mycosis can also occur in an erased form - in this case, the patient regularly experiences unpleasant symptoms of the disease (usually during and after water procedures, as well as in case of excessive sweating of the feet).
Diagnosis of fungus between the toes
Practice shows that skin lesions between the toes are diagnosed with a fungal infection in about every third case.
When prescribing the treatment of mycosis, the podiatrist takes into account many factors: the presence or absence of concomitant pathologies in the patient, the clinical picture, form and extent of the disease.
The diagnosis of a specific pathogen is the key to effective treatment and successful recovery. To determine which fungus to fight against, the podiatrist can prescribe laboratory tests and bacterial culture for the patient.
How to treat interdigital fungus?
In the case of interdigital mycosis, complex therapy is performed. Includes:
- local antifungal drugs (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
- Oral antifungals are also possible.
The treatment process is determined individually by the patient. Traditional medicine (compresses, baths, herbal lotions, etc. ) can be used as an auxiliary method, but only after consultation with a specialist.
If mycosis develops against the background of internal diseases, local therapy is combined with the treatment of the underlying pathology.
Possible contraindications and complications
For interdigital mycosis, you need to consult a specialist and receive complex therapy. Without timely treatment, it quickly spreads to the entire foot and affects the nails.
In addition, patients with mycosis have an increased susceptibility to viral diseases and an increased risk of bacterial infection and allergic reactions.
It is important to strictly follow the podiatrist's recommendations and complete treatment. Pathogens can become resistant to the drugs used, and this, combined with repeated infections, makes it significantly more difficult to get rid of the infection - even in the case of positive dynamics, the treatment process cannot be interrupted.
Tips and recommendations from a podiatrist
In order to avoid fungal infection, personal hygiene rules must be strictly followed - above all, this applies to personal hygiene items and shoes.
- Do not wear other shoes and use only individual bath towels.
- Do not walk barefoot in a bath, sauna or swimming pool - this is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi, as it is always warm and with high humidity.
- If you experience excessive sweating of the feet, consult a podiatrist about the use of anti-hyperhidrosis medications.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight and avoid synthetic socks and tights that do not allow the skin to "breathe".
In order to care for the skin of the feet, podiatrists recommend giving preference to hardware methods - the cut pedicure is considered outdated and unsafe today. It is very difficult to control how cutting pedicure tools are processed - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, the possibility of infection is excluded.