Interdigital mycosis is a fungal infection of the skin in the spaces between the fingers, the causative agent of which is opportunistic organisms and anthropophilic fungi.
Causes of mycoses
The cause of any mycoses is contact with an infected person, wearing his shoes or sharing personal hygiene items with him. The likelihood of infection increases in those whose immunity is reduced - due to chronic diseases, taking certain medications or due to vitamin deficiency.
At risk are patients with:
- disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
- diabetes mellitus and its complications (in particular, diabetic foot);
- allergic dermatitis;
- varicose veins;
- obesity;
- increased sweating;
- immune disorders;
- hormonal disorders;
- metabolic disorders in the body, etc.
The skin of the feet after a trim pedicure is extremely vulnerable to fungus. And wearing shoes that are too tight can significantly aggravate the situation.
Symptoms
Interdigital mycosis in the initial stages is manifested by mild itching of the skin between the toes. Later, peeling of the skin, redness and the appearance of cracks are added to this symptom.
If you do not take action and consult a specialist, the problem gradually worsens - burning, diaper rash, and swelling of the area between the fingers appear. Small bubbles that are prone to coalescence may begin to form in the interdigital folds. When such bubbles burst, weeping erosions remain in their place and become covered with crusts. This condition is dangerous due to infection - the wounds can fester.
It is important to note that with a long course of interdigital mycosis, the forms of the disease can transform into one another or develop in parallel.
Interdigital mycosis can also occur in an erased form - in this case, the patient experiences unpleasant symptoms of the disease periodically (usually during and after water procedures and with excessive sweating of the feet).
Diagnosis of fungus between toes
As practice shows, in approximately every third case of skin lesions between the toes, a fungal infection is diagnosed.
When prescribing treatment for mycosis, the podologist takes into account many factors: the presence or absence of concomitant pathologies in the patient, the clinical picture of the disease, its form and degree.
Diagnosis of a specific pathogen is the key to effective treatment and successful recovery. To determine which fungus needs to be combated, the podologist may prescribe the patient laboratory tests and bacterial culture.
How to treat interdigital fungus?
For interdigital mycoses, complex therapy is carried out. It includes:
- topical antifungal medications (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
- It is also possible to take oral antifungal agents.
The course of treatment is determined individually for the patient. Traditional medicine (compresses, baths, lotions from medicinal plants, etc. ) can be used as auxiliary methods, but only after consultation with a specialist.
If mycosis develops against the background of internal diseases, local therapy is combined with treatment of the underlying pathology.
Possible contraindications and complications
Interdigital mycosis requires referral to a specialist and complex therapy. Without timely treatment, it quickly spreads to the entire foot and affects the nails.
In addition, in patients with mycosis, the body's susceptibility to viral diseases increases, and the risk of bacterial infection and allergic reactions increases.
Strict adherence to the podologist’s recommendations and a full course of treatment are important. Pathogens can become resistant to the drugs used, and combined with repeated infections, this makes it much more difficult to get rid of the infection - even if there are positive dynamics, the course of treatment cannot be interrupted.
Tips and recommendations from a podologist
To avoid fungal infection, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene - first of all, this applies to personal hygiene items and shoes.
- Do not wear someone else's shoes and use only individual bath towels.
- Do not walk barefoot in a bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool - this is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi, since it is always warm and high humidity.
- If you experience excessive sweating of the skin of your feet, you should consult a podiatrist about the use of anti-hyperhidrosis medications.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight and avoid synthetic socks and stockings, which do not allow the skin to "breathe. "
To care for the skin of the feet, podiatrists recommend giving preference to hardware methods - trimmed pedicure is considered today outdated and unsafe. It is very difficult to control how trimming pedicure tools are processed - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, the likelihood of infection is excluded.