Interdigital mycosis is a fungal infection of the skin in the spaces between the fingers, the causative agent of which are opportunistic organisms and anthropophilic fungi.
Causes of mycosis
The cause of any mycosis 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 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 finished pedicure is extremely vulnerable to fungi. 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. Subsequently, peeling of the skin, redness and the appearance of cracks are added to this symptom.
If you do not intervene and consult a specialist, the problem gradually worsens: burning, diaper rash and swelling of the area between the toes appear. Small bubbles prone to coalescence may begin to form in the interdigital folds. When such bubbles burst, weeping erosions remain in place and become covered with crusts. This condition is dangerous due to infection: wounds can rot.
It is important to note that with a long course of interdigital mycosis, the forms of the disease can transform into each other or develop in parallel.
Interdigital mycosis can also manifest itself in an erased form: in this case, the patient periodically experiences unpleasant symptoms of the disease (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 podiatrist 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 fought, the podiatrist may prescribe laboratory tests and bacterial culture to the patient.
How to treat interdigital fungus?
For interdigital mycosis, complex therapy is performed. Includes:
- topical antifungal medications (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
- You can also 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 consulting 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
Interdigital mycosis requires referral to specialized 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 infections and allergic reactions increases.
It is important to strictly adhere to the podiatrist's recommendations and follow a full course of treatment. Pathogens can become resistant to the drugs used, and combined with repeated infections, this makes it much more difficult to eliminate the infection - even if there are positive dynamics, the course of treatment cannot be stopped.
Advice and recommendations from a podiatrist
To avoid fungal infections, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene - first of all, this applies to personal hygiene items and shoes.
- Don't 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 fungus growth, as it is always warm and with high humidity.
- If you experience excessive sweating of the skin on your feet, you should consult a podiatrist about using anti-hyperhidrosis medications.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight and avoid synthetic socks and hold-ups, which do not allow the skin to "breathe".
To care for the skin of the feet, podiatrists recommend giving preference to hardware methods: the finished pedicure is considered obsolete and dangerous today. It is very difficult to control how pedicure finishing tools are processed - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, the probability of infection is excluded.