Interdigital mycosis (fungus)

Interdigital mycosis is a fungal infection of the skin between the fingers, caused by opportunistic microorganisms and anthropophilic fungi.

causes of fungal diseases

The cause of any fungal disease is contact with an infected person, wearing his shoes or sharing personal hygiene products with him. People with weakened immunity due to chronic illness, taking certain medications, or vitamin deficiencies have an increased likelihood of infection.Patients with the following conditions are at risk:

• Endocrine system dysfunction;
• Diabetes and its complications (especially diabetic foot);
• allergic dermatitis;
• Varicose veins;
• obesity;
• increased sweating;
• immune system diseases;
• hormone imbalance;
• Metabolic disorders in the body, etc.

The skin of your feet after a pedicure is extremely susceptible to fungal attack. Wearing shoes that are too tight can seriously aggravate this condition.

symptom

The initial manifestation of interdigital mycosis is mild itching of the skin between the toes. Later, the symptoms include peeling, redness, and cracking of the skin.If you do not take action and consult a specialist, the problem will gradually worsen - burning sensations, diaper rash and swelling of the area between the fingers will appear. Small air bubbles that coalesce easily may begin to form in the interdigital folds. When these bubbles burst, the leaking erosion remains in place and is covered by a crust. This condition is dangerous due to infection - the wound may fester.It is worth noting that the course of interdigital mycosis is long, and the forms of the disease can transform into each other or develop simultaneously.Interdigital mycosis can also occur in a resolving form - in this case, the patient regularly experiences unpleasant symptoms of the disease (usually during and after water treatments and excessive sweating of the feet).

Diagnosis of fungus between toes

Practice shows that about one-third of cases of skin damage between the toes are diagnosed as fungal infections.When prescribing treatment for mycosis, podiatrists consider many factors: the presence or absence of concomitant conditions in the patient, the clinical manifestations, form and extent of the disease.Diagnosis of the specific pathogen is key to effective treatment and successful recovery. To determine which fungus needs to be fought, a podiatrist may perform laboratory tests and bacterial cultures on the patient.

How to Treat Interdigital Fungus?

For interdigital mycosis, complex treatment is required. This includes:

• Topical antifungal medications (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
• Oral antifungal medications may also be taken.

The course of treatment is determined individually based on the patient's condition. Traditional medicine (hot compresses, baths, lotions with medicinal plants, etc. ) can be used as a complementary method, but only after consultation with a specialist.If mycosis occurs against the background of internal disease, topical treatment is combined with treatment of the underlying pathology.

Possible contraindications and complications

Interdigital mycosis requires referral to a specialist and complex treatment. If left untreated, it can quickly spread throughout the foot and affect the nails.In addition, patients with fungal diseases have an increased susceptibility to viral diseases and are at increased risk of bacterial infections and allergic reactions.It is important to strictly adhere to your podiatrist's recommendations and complete course of treatment. Pathogens develop resistance to the drugs used, which, combined with recurring infections, makes getting rid of the infection even more difficult - even with a positive dynamic, the treatment process cannot be interrupted.

Tips and Advice 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 products and shoes.

• Don't wear someone else's shoes and only use a separate bath towel.
• Do not walk barefoot in the bathroom, sauna or swimming pool - this is an ideal environment for fungal growth as it is always warm and has high humidity.
• If the skin on your feet sweats excessively, you should talk to your podiatrist about using anti-hyperhidrosis medications.
• Avoid shoes that are too tight and synthetic socks and stockings, which prevent the skin from "breathing. "

To care for the skin of the feet, podiatrists recommend giving priority to hardware methods - trim pedicures are now considered outdated and unsafe. It is very difficult to control how pedicure tools are processed - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, you eliminate the possibility of infection.