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 shoes or sharing personal hygiene products with them. The probability of infection increases in those whose immunity is reduced - due to chronic diseases, taking certain medications or due to lack of vitamins.
At risk are patients with:
- endocrine system disorders;
- 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 trim pedicure is extremely sensitive to fungi. And wearing shoes that are too tight can significantly worsen the situation.
Symptoms
Interdigital mycosis in the initial stages is manifested by mild itching of the skin between the fingers. 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 blisters that tend to coalesce 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 because of infection - wounds can fester.
It is important to note that in the long-term course of interdigital mycosis, the forms of the disease can transform into one another 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 procedures and with excessive sweating of the feet).
Diagnosis of fungus between the toes
As practice shows, in about every third case of skin lesions between the fingers, a fungal infection is diagnosed.
When prescribing the treatment of mycosis, the podiatrist takes into account many factors: the presence or absence of accompanying 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 to fight, the podiatrist can prescribe laboratory tests and bacterial culture to the patient.
How to treat interdigital fungus?
Complex therapy is used for interdigital mycoses. This includes:
- local antifungal drugs (creams, lotions, ointments, etc. );
- It is also possible to take oral antifungal drugs.
The course of treatment is determined individually for the patient. Traditional medicine (compresses, baths, herbal lotions, 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 sensitivity of the body to viral diseases increases, the risk of bacterial infection and allergic reactions increases.
Strict adherence to podiatrist recommendations and complete treatment are important. Pathogens can become resistant to the drugs used, and in combination 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 interrupted.
Advice and recommendations from a podiatrist
In order 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 footwear.
- Do not wear other people's shoes and use only individual towels.
- Do not walk barefoot in the bathroom, sauna or swimming pool - this is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi, because it is always warm and high humidity.
- If you experience excessive sweating of the skin of the feet, you should consult a pediatrician 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".
For the care of the skin of the feet, podiatrists recommend giving preference to hardware methods - a clipped pedicure is considered outdated and unsafe today. It is very difficult to control how pedicure tools are processed for trimming - the risk of infection increases significantly. With a hardware pedicure, the possibility of infection is excluded.