Interdigital mycosis is a fungal infection of the skin in the spaces between the fingers, caused by opportunistic organisms and anthropophilic fungi.
Causes of mycosis
The cause of any mycosis is contact with an infected person, wearing their shoes or sharing personal hygiene items with them. The probability of infection increases in those whose immunity is reduced - due to chronic diseases, intake of certain drugs or due to lack of vitamins.
At risk are patients with:
- disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
- diabetes mellitus and its complications (especially 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 clean pedicure is extremely vulnerable to fungus. And wearing shoes that are too tight can significantly worsen the situation.
Symptoms
Interdigital mycosis in the initial stages is manifested by a slight 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 measures and do not consult a specialist, the problem gradually worsens - burning, diaper rash, swelling of the area between the fingers appear. Small blisters that tend to coalesce may begin to form in the interdigital folds. When such bubbles burst, weeping erosions remain in their place and become crusted. 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 each other or develop in parallel.
Interdigital mycosis can also appear in an erased form - in this case, the patient periodically experiences unpleasant symptoms of the disease (usually during and after water treatments and with excessive sweating of the feet).
Diagnosis of fungus between the toes
As practice shows, a fungal infection is diagnosed in approximately every third case of skin lesions between the toes.
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.
The diagnosis of a specific pathogen is the key to effective treatment and successful recovery. To determine which fungi need to be fought, the podiatrist can prescribe the patient laboratory tests and bacterial culture.
How to treat interdigital fungus?
For interdigital mycoses, complex therapy is carried out. Includes:
- local antifungal drugs (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
- It is also possible to take oral antifungals.
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 the 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 throughout the foot and affects the nails.
In addition, in patients with mycosis, the sensitivity of the body to viral diseases increases and the risk of bacterial infection and allergic reactions increases.
Strict adherence to the podiatrist's recommendations and a full course of treatment is important. Pathogens can become resistant to the drugs used, and in combination 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.
Advice and recommendations from a podiatrist
To avoid a fungal infection, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene - first of all, this applies to personal hygiene items and shoes.
- Do not wear other people's shoes and use only individual bath towels.
- Do not go barefoot in a bath, sauna or pool - this is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi, as it is always warm and high humidity.
- If you have excessive sweating of the skin of the feet, you should consult an orthopedist about the use of anti-hyperhidrosis drugs.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight and avoid synthetic socks and stockings that do not allow the skin to "breathe".
To care for the skin of the feet, orthopedists recommend giving priority to hardware methods - a trimmed pedicure is considered outdated and dangerous today. It is very difficult to control how the pedicure tools are handled - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, the possibility of infection is excluded.