Fungal infection is an infectious skin disease caused by a fungus. Usually, treatment with antifungal cream is applied, which gives good results, but not in the long run. The following tips can help prevent fungus between the legs that recur after treatment.
Who can get fungal infections and how can it be prevented?
Fungal infection is a fungal infection that affects the feet. This condition is very common - one in four people have a transgenic fungus on their feet. If this disease starts, its treatment can be very difficult. Fungal pathogens (fungi) are often found in small amounts in human skin, where they usually do not harm. However, under favorable conditions, they can penetrate the skin, multiply and cause infection. Favorable conditions for fungi are warm, moist and airless areas of the skin, such as between the fingers.
Almost anyone can get fungal infections. But it is more common in people who sweat more or in those who wear thick shoes and socks, which causes excessive sweating of the feet. The fungus can spread from person to person. For example, it can happen in public showers used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungus-infected skin may fall in the shower. Once a small piece 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 fingers will usually be the first to be affected. The first signs of fungus, when the infection has just formed on the skin, are small. The manifestation will be felt when the rash begins to spread, the skin begins to itch and scaly. Cracks and inflammation may occur. Large cracks in the skin between the legs can enlarge and can be very painful. Small scales of infected skin can peel off. If the genital fungus is not treated, the rash may gradually spread to the entire leg. In some cases, it extends to the sole. Often, the infection causes exfoliation of the entire sole and sides of the foot. Sometimes the fungus causes large blister rashes all over the sole. In this case, we are dealing with a foot fungus.
Is fungal infection between the fingers serious?
As a rule, no. Most people successfully treat itchy fingers before the infection spreads. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin of other parts of the body. These are usually wet and airless areas, such as the groin. Usually, fungi, including fungus on the feet between the legs, do not spread deeper, but only on the surface of the skin. However, other germs (bacteria) can enter cracks left over from neglected or untreated fungal infections. It can sometimes cause more serious infections of the foot or leg.
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 transgenic foot fungus is best done in time, as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.
Treatment of fungal infections
The treatment of the fungus between the toes usually involves the application of various fungal creams and sprays. You can buy topical antifungals at your nearest pharmacy or get one with a prescription. To treat the fungus between the feet, it is necessary to apply the antifungal agent directly to the affected area, ie the skin of the feet. There are different types and brands of drugs. They are usually sold in the form of creams, but can also be sprays, liquids and powders. The preparations are very good at cleansing the skin from fungal infections. However, there is no evidence that one drug is better than the other.
It is essential to use medication as recommended. It depends on the different treatments, so read the instructions carefully before treating the fungus between your legs. It often happens that the inflammation seems to disappear quite quickly, but you may need to be treated for 1 to 2 weeks after the rash has disappeared. This is necessary for the complete elimination of fungi on the skin - something that will prevent recurrence.
If you are experiencing this disease for the first time and you do not know how to cure foot fungus and do not make a mistake in choosing a drug for treatment, it is better to consult a doctor.
For the skin, especially for inflamed skin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream in combination with a mild steroid ointment. They are usually used for no more than seven days. You may need to continue using only one antifungal cream for a while. 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 the steroid cream alone should not be used for treatment.
Antifungal pills for fungus between the legs are sometimes prescribed for adults if the infection is severe and cannot be cleared with creams. The tablets are also needed if the infection is in many places on the skin except the feet.
However, treating a transgenic fungus using the above procedures is not the same for everyone.
Antifungal pills are not always recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or for people with liver disease. Some people may be prescribed another medicine that interacts with antifungal pills. Children usually do not take antifungal medications.
While fungus on the skin between the legs can spread from person to person, you do not 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 feet covered until the rash disappears. Also, try not to scratch the damaged skin, as this can spread the infection to other areas.
The following tips can prevent recurrent fungal infections:
- You should wash your feet daily and dry the skin between your feet well after washing. This is perhaps the most important point. Wear socks if your feet are not completely dry. Wet skin between the toes is the ideal breeding ground for fungi.
- Do not use other people's towels in shared locker rooms! Towels should be washed as often as possible.
- Change your socks daily. Fungi can grow on flakes of skin in unwashed socks. Cotton socks and leather shoes are in many ways better than nylon socks and shoes made of synthetic materials that increase sweat.
- 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 prevents your feet from touching the floor, which may have flakes of skin from other people.
- When you are at home, walk barefoot as much as possible - without shoes or socks so that air can reach your feet. However, this may not be practical for some people.
- If myositis persists, you can prevent relapse by regularly applying one of the antifungal sprays or creams as a precaution. As a precaution, it can be used daily.