Mycosis is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Usually a treatment with an antifungal cream is applied, which works well, but not in the long term. The following tips can help prevent fungus between the toes that reappears after treatment.
Who can get mycosis and how can it be prevented?
Mycosis is a fungal infection that affects the legs. This condition is very common: one in four people have a toenail fungus. If this disease starts, its treatment can be very cumbersome. Pathogenic fungi (fungi) are often found in small numbers on human skin, where they generally do not cause harm. However, under favorable conditions, they can 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 mycosis. 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 can fall off while you shower. Once a small patch of infection begins to develop, it tends to spread along the skin. About where else you can get the fungus is written here.
What are the symptoms of foot fungus?
The skin between the little toes 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 may appear. Large fractures (fissures) in the skin between the toes can become enlarged and very painful. Small flakes of infected skin may come off. If your interdigital mycosis is not treated, the rash may 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.
Is mycosis between the toes serious?
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. There are different types and brands of drugs. They are usually sold in the form of creams, but they can also be sprays, liquids, and powders. The preparations are very good for cleaning the skin from fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than the other.
It is necessary to use medications as much as recommended. It depends on the different treatments, so read the instructions carefully before treating the fungus between the toes. It often happens that the swelling seems to go away fairly quickly, but you may need to be treated 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 you came across this disease for the first time and do not know how to cure the fungus on the feet and do not make a mistake when choosing a drug for treatment, it is better to 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 in a short period and can relieve itching and redness. 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 in many places on the skin other than the feet.
However, treating a toenail fungus using the above procedures is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for pregnant or lactating women, or for people with liver disease. Some people may be prescribed another drug that interacts with antifungal pills. Children are generally not given antifungal medications.
While fungus on the skin between 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 areas.
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! Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungi can 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 plastic sandals in locker rooms and public showers. This prevents your feet from touching the floor, which may have other people's skin flakes.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot as long as possible, without shoes or socks so that the air can reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some people.
- If the fungal infection persists, you can prevent recurrence by regularly applying one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a preventive measure. As a preventive measure, it can be used on a daily basis.