Ringworm is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Usually, treatment with an antifungal cream is applied, which gives good results, but not for a long time. The tips below can help prevent fungus between your toes, which can reappear even after treatment.
Who can be infected
The disease is very common - one in four people has an interdigital fungus on their feet. If this disease starts, its treatment can be very complicated.
Fungi are often found in small amounts on human skin, where they are not harmful. However, under favorable conditions, they 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 have athlete's foot. But it's more common in people who sweat more, or who wear thick shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating on the feet.
Ringworm can be spread from person to person. For example, it can take place in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungus-infected skin may fall off during bathing. When a small patch of infection starts to develop, it tends to spread along the skin.
What are the symptoms
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 minor. The manifestation will become noticeable when the rash starts to spread, the skin starts to become itchy and scaly. Cracks and inflammation will appear on it. Large cracks in the skin between the toes can grow, which can be very painful. The tiny flakes of infected skin will peel off.
If your interdigital ringworm is not treated, the rash will gradually spread all over your leg. In some cases, it extends to the sole. The infection often causes desquamation all over the sole and sides of the foot. Ringworm sometimes causes large rashes with blisters all over the sole. In this case, we are dealing with a foot fungus.
how serious is this
As a rule, no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection spreads. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin from other parts of the body. These are usually moist and airless areas, such as the groin.
Normally, fungi, including foot fungus between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can get into cracks left over from neglected or untreated ringworm. It can sometimes cause more serious foot or leg infections.
It turns out 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 in the legs must be done in a timely manner, as soon as the first symptoms start to appear.
Ringworm treatment
The treatment of 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 directly to the affected area, that is, to the skin of the feet.
They are usually sold in the form of creams, but they can also be sprays, liquids and powders. These preparations are very good for clearing the skin of fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than the other.
During treatment, it often happens that the inflammation seems to go away quickly, but you may need therapy for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash disappears. This is necessary to completely eliminate the fungus from the skin - which will prevent relapses.
If this is your first time with this disease and you do not know how to cure foot fungus and you are not mistaken when choosing a drug for treatment, see a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid ointment. They are generally used for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using only an antifungal cream for a while afterwards.
Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness in a short period of time. 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 removed with creams. Pills are also needed if the infection is detected in many places on the skin besides the feet.
However, this treatment for interdigital fungi is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for pregnant or nursing women, or for people with liver disease. Children are generally not given antifungal medications.
Although fungus on the skin between your toes can be spread from person to person, you don't need to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have fungus. However, in public places such as a swimming pool or sauna, try to keep your legs covered until the rash goes away. Also, try not to scratch damaged skin as this can spread the infection elsewhere.
The following tips can prevent recurrent ringworm:
- You should wash your feet daily and dry the skin well between your toes after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. The damp skin between the toes is an ideal breeding ground for fungi.
- Do not use other people's towels in public locker rooms. Wash towels whenever possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungi grow on skin flakes on dirty socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made from artificial materials that increase perspiration.
- Try switching between different shoes every 2-3 days, this will allow each pair to completely dry after use.
- Wear flip flops or sandals in public changing rooms and showers. This prevents your feet from coming into contact with the floor, which may contain other people's skin flakes.
- When you're at home, go barefoot as much as possible - no shoes or socks so that air gets to your feet. However, this may not be practical for some.
If ringworm persists, you can prevent recurrence by regularly applying one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a preventative measure.