Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Usually, an antifungal cream treatment is applied, which works well, but not for long. The following tips can help prevent toe fungus, which can reappear even after treatment.
Who can get infected?
The disease is very common: one in four people has a toenail fungus. If this disease starts, 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, 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 those who wear thick shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating of the feet.
Mycosis can be transmitted from person to person. For example, it can happen in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungal-infected skin may fall off while you shower. 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 fingers is usually the first to be affected. The first signs of a fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are mild. The manifestation will be noticed when the rash begins to spread, the skin begins to itch and peel. Cracks and inflammation will appear on it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can become enlarged, which can be very painful. Small flakes of infected skin will come off.
If your interdigital mycosis is not treated, the rash will gradually spread throughout the entire leg. In some cases, it extends to the sole. Often times, the infection causes scaling of the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes mycosis causes large blistering rashes all over the plant. In this case, it is 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 on other parts of the body. These are usually humid and airless areas, such as the groin.
Usually fungi, including foot fungus between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can enter the cracks that remain from a neglected or untreated fungal infection. Sometimes it can cause more serious foot or leg infections.
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 nail infection. 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
Treatment of the fungus between the toes usually involves the application of various 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 cleaning the skin from fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than the other.
During treatment, it often happens that the swelling seems to go away fairly quickly, but you may need therapy for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash is gone. This is necessary to completely eliminate the fungus on the skin, which will prevent relapse.
If it is the first time you have suffered from this disease and you do not know how to cure the fungus on the feet and do 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 worn for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using just 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 therefore the 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 cured 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 fungi is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for pregnant or nursing women, or for people with liver disease. Children are generally not given antifungal medications.
While fungus on the skin between your toes can be passed from person to person, you don't need to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have fungus. However, in public places like a swimming pool or sauna, try to keep your legs covered until the rash clears. 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 dry the skin between the toes well 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. The fungi grow on skin flakes in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from man-made materials that increase perspiration.
- Try to alternate between different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to dry completely after wearing.
- Wear flip flops or sandals in changing rooms and public showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the ground, which may contain other people's skin flakes.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot as long as possible, without shoes or socks so that the air reaches your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If the fungal infection persists, you can prevent recurrence by regularly applying one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a preventive measure.