Yeast infection is an infectious disease of the skin caused by a fungus. Usually, treatment with an antifungal cream is applied, which gives good results, but not in the long term. The tips below can help prevent fungus between the toes that recurs after treatment.
Who can get yeast infection and how to prevent it?
Yeast infection is a fungal infection that affects the legs. This condition is very common - one in four people have interdigital fungus on their feet. If this disease is started, its treatment can be very cumbersome. Fungal pathogens (fungi) are often found in small amounts on human skin, where they usually do not harm. However, under favorable conditions, they can penetrate the epidermis, multiply and cause infection. Favorable conditions for fungus are hot, moist, airless areas of the skin, such as between the toes.
Almost anyone can get a yeast infection. But it is more common in people who sweat more, or in those who wear thick shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating on the feet. Yeast infection can be passed from person to person. For example, this can happen in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of skin infected with fungus may fall out while showering. Once a small area of infection begins to grow, it tends to spread along the skin. About other places where you can pick up the mushroom is written here.
What are the symptoms of yeast infection of the feet?
The skin between the little toes will usually be the first to be affected. The first signs of a fungus, when infection has just formed on the skin, are minor. The manifestation will become noticeable when the rash begins to spread, the skin will begin to itch and scaly. Cracks and inflammation may appear there. Large slits (cracks) in the skin between the toes can get larger and very painful. Tiny scales of infected skin can peel off. If your interdigital yeast infection is not treated, the rash may gradually spread all over your leg. In some cases, it extends to the sole. Often the infection causes peeling of the entire sole of the foot and the sides of the foot. Sometimes the yeast infection causes large, blistering rashes all over the plant. In this case, we are dealing with a foot fungus.
Is mycosis between the fingers serious?
Usually no. Most people successfully treat itchy toes before the infection spreads. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. These are usually moist, airless areas, such as the groin. Usually, fungi, including the fungus on the feet between the toes, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other microbes (bacteria) can enter the cracks left by neglected or untreated yeast infection. It can sometimes cause more serious infections of the foot or leg.
Sometimes 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 get rid of the nail infection.
Therefore, treatment of interdigital fungus on the legs is best done in a timely manner, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Treatment of fungal infection
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 drugstore or get 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 as creams, but they can also be sprays, liquids, and powders. The preparations are very effective in cleaning the skin from fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one remedy is better than another.
It is necessary to use drugs as much as recommended. It depends on the different treatments, so read the instructions carefully before treating the fungus between your toes. Often times, the inflammation seems to go away quite quickly, but you may need to be treated for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash is gone. This is necessary to completely remove the fungus on the skin - which will prevent relapses.
If you have encountered this disease for the first time, and you do not know how to cure the fungus on the feet, and you do not make a mistake in choosing a drug for treatment, it is better to consult a doctor.
For skin, especially inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream together with a mild steroid ointment. They are generally used for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using one antifungal cream for a while afterwards. Anabolic steroids reduce inflammation in a short time and can relieve itching and redness. However, the steroid does not completely eliminate the fungus between the toes and therefore 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. Tablets are also needed if the infection is found in many areas of the skin other than the feet.
However, treating an interdigital fungus using the above procedures is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for people with liver disease. Some people may be prescribed another drug that interacts with antifungal pills. Children usually do not receive antifungal medication.
While fungus on the skin between the toes can spread from person to person, you don't need to stay away from work, school, or sports if you have a fungus. However, in public places like a swimming pool or sauna, try to keep your legs covered until the rash subsides. Also, try not to scratch the damaged skin, as this can spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent recurrent yeast infection:
- You should wash your feet daily and dry the skin between your toes thoroughly after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. Moist skin between the toes is an ideal breeding ground for fungi.
- Do not use other people's towels in public locker rooms! Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks every day. Fungi can grow in the 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 wear.
- Wear flip flops or plastic sandals in public locker rooms and showers. This keeps your feet from touching the ground, which can cause other people's skin scales.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot for as long as possible - no shoes or socks so the air can reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some people.
- If the yeast 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 daily.