How to treat itching between fingers and toes: folk remedies, ointments

When the question arises of how to soothe the itching between the toes, the doctor usually opts for the following medications:

1. Antihistamines block histamine receptors and slow down the allergic process. After taking the medicine (Claritin, Suprastin, Cetrin), itching and swelling are eliminated within a few hours. Such drugs have virtually no contraindications and are sold in pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor.
2. Glucocorticoids are powerful hormonal drugs that affect the cells responsible for the development of the allergic process. Potent glucocorticoid drugs really help to quickly eliminate itching, but they have a number of side effects, among which the most common are dyspeptic disorders, changes in blood pressure, headaches, etc. That is why such drugs are prescribed only in exceptional cases when other therapy is unsuccessful. The duration of their use is limited: it is highly undesirable to continue the course of treatment for more than 10 days.
3. Antibiotics and antifungal agents do not directly affect the elimination of itching between the fingers. However, these medications inhibit the growth and development of the infectious agent, the activity of which causes the itching sensation. Such drugs are prescribed after laboratory tests to identify the infection. In the laboratory, a scraping is taken from the skin at the site of the lesion, a culture is carried out with determination of sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs (in the presence of a bacterial infection). The duration of therapy usually does not exceed ten days: antifungal agents or antibiotics (penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolide group) are prescribed.

Various ointments and creams for itching between the toes are suitable for external use. For example, if the problem is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe an ointment with an antibiotic - Erythromycin ointment, Levomekol and other similar products will do their job perfectly.

For fungal pathogens, Miconazole, Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole are often prescribed. Rivanol, Boric acid, Resorcinol are considered equally effective.

If a scabies mite is detected, the skin between the fingers is treated with disinfectants and anti-inflammatory drugs (Wilkinson's ointment based on tar, green soap, naphthalene oil and sulfur is excellent).

If the problem is caused by a skin disease (for example, dermatitis), then the use of hormonal creams is indicated, among which Fucicort, Advantan, Lorinden are especially popular. In case of dermatitis and psoriasis, you can additionally use Zinc and Tar ointments, or external agents such as Solipsor.

Medicines that a doctor may prescribe

	Method of administration and dosage	Side effects	Special instructions
Suprastin	The tablets are taken with food, one tablet up to 4 times a day.	Drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, thirst, dyspepsia.	Suprastin is incompatible with alcoholic beverages.
Loratadine	Take one tablet orally daily for 10-14 days.	Rarely – thirst, nausea.	The drug may have an additional calming effect.
Erius	Take one tablet daily.	Rarely – allergic reactions.	Erius is a non-sedative antihistamine and therefore does not cause a calming effect.
Ketoconazole	Take 200 mg once daily with food.	Dyspepsia, abdominal pain, insomnia or drowsiness, joint pain.	It is better to refrain from driving during treatment.
Ketotifen	Take 0.001 g in the morning and at night, with food.	Dry mucous membranes, drowsiness.	The drug has an additional pronounced calming effect.
Dexamethasone	The dosage is selected individually, starting from 0.75 mg per day, depending on the indications.	Increased appetite, weight gain, and with prolonged use – dysfunction of the adrenal glands.	The drug is prescribed only if treatment with other non-hormonal medications is ineffective.

If itching between the fingers is caused by inflammatory processes, then it is necessary to use a combination of anti-inflammatory and antihistamine drugs. Hormonal and non-hormonal ointments, as well as antifungal and antibacterial agents, are widely used. Unfortunately, it is impossible to identify any one medication - external or for internal use - that could relieve a person of itching at once. However, some ointments and creams are especially popular among patients. For example, excellent reviews were received after using the Nezulin cream-gel. This cream stops the development of the inflammatory process, eliminates itching and burning sensations, strengthens local immunity, and at the same time acts gently and safely.

The best ointment for fungus between the toes, according to the patients themselves, is Ketoconazole. This drug exists under different names: Dermazole, Ketozoral, etc. There is also an effective combination of Ketoconazole and a corticosteroid. We are talking about Candid-B cream, which is successfully used to treat fungal infections. This drug is especially recommended if the itching between the toes is accompanied by eczematous phenomena - for example, with dermatomycosis, epidermophytosis, etc.

Vitamins

Depending on the direction of the drug treatment, the doctor may recommend additional intake of multivitamin preparations. Vitamins will help normalize tissue trophism, accelerate healing and recovery. For itching between the toes, the following drugs are considered recommended:

• Solgar Vitamins "Skin, Nails and Hair" is a popular American tablet preparation for accelerating the processes of restoration of the skin and appendages.
• Doppelherz Active Coenzyme Q10 – contains vitamins, minerals and plant components that optimize metabolic processes, nourish the skin, strengthen and restore its structure.
• Effervescent vitamins Swiss Energy Multivitamins with biotin are a Swiss product that strengthens not only the skin and hair, but also the body as a whole.
• Doppelherz Aktiv "For healthy skin, hair and nails" has a rich vitamin-mineral-plant composition that strengthens and protects the skin from the aggressive influence of the environment.
• Duovit is a Slovenian preparation containing B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, C and E, biotin, zinc and iron. The composition of the complex provides additional protection of the skin from harmful oxidative processes and rapid age-related changes.
• AlphaVit Cosmetic is a preparation containing all the vitamins, minerals and plant components that are necessary to maintain healthy skin.

Physiotherapy treatment

Since eliminating itching between the toes usually involves a comprehensive approach, doctors often prescribe physical therapy in addition to the main drug treatment. There is no single procedure that can eliminate the unpleasant symptom, so physical therapy is aimed at eliminating the immediate cause of discomfort.

To stabilize a person’s mental state and correct the functioning of the nervous system, we can recommend:

• electrosleep therapy;
• electrostatic shower (general franklinization procedure).

To activate and stabilize the immune function, laser therapy with an infrared spectrum is used on the thymus gland area.

Ultraviolet irradiation (general method) with long waves will help improve the general condition of the patient, and at the same time will have a bactericidal effect.

Baths and other water treatments will help relieve itching, soften the skin, and normalize the psycho-emotional background.

Among the local procedures for relieving itching between the toes, the following are especially frequently prescribed:

• darsonvalization and galvanization procedures;
• paraffin applications;
• electrophoresis with antipruritic (antiallergic) drugs;
• local cryotherapy or magnetic therapy sessions;
• UFO, laser therapy.

Most often, to speed up recovery, doctors prescribe a combination that includes 2-3 physiotherapy procedures: for example, one of them provides a general effect, and the other two provide a local effect.

The basic contraindications to this type of treatment for itching between the fingers are:

• tumor processes;
• decompensated conditions;
• acute phase of tuberculosis;
• severe mental pathologies;
• systemic lupus erythematosus;
• cutaneous porphyria;
• Vesicular dermatoses.

UV irradiation is not used for the summer form of psoriasis.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies will help to overcome itching between the toes. But their use must be combined with traditional treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of the painful condition. We offer you several of the most popular recipes of folk medicine:

• Propolis is a well-known beekeeping product, as it has long been used as a tonic and antimicrobial agent. Propolis is included in many medications for dermatological diseases, burns, ulcerative processes, rashes. If you regularly apply propolis ointment to itchy areas, the problem will disappear much faster. A 10% propolis tincture is no less effective: the tincture is applied to itchy areas up to three times a day.
• Mumiyo is a natural product rich in mineral and organic components. Its use to eliminate itching between the fingers always meets all expectations. Usually, a 2% solution of mumiyo is used: it can be used to treat problem areas or used in the form of compresses.
• Natural laundry soap is an excellent remedy for infectious skin lesions between the fingers. If itching and other unpleasant symptoms appear, thoroughly wash the problem areas with cold water and laundry soap. Next, soap your hands or feet between the fingers and leave for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water and wipe the skin dry. To enhance the effect, you can add baking soda to the rinse water (1 tablespoon per liter of water). There is no need to rinse off this solution. The procedure is carried out twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, until the condition improves steadily.

Herbal treatment is also effective - for example, celandine juice, which should be applied between the fingers twice a day for a week. Other herbal recipes can also be used:

• Tea brewed from lemon balm leaves has a calming effect, slows down the development of the inflammatory process, and reduces the severity of itching. To prepare such tea, one teaspoon of dry leaves is brewed in 200 ml of boiling water and consumed between meals three times a day. Treatment should last at least a month.
• Baths with succession accelerate skin recovery, soften the manifestations of allergies, eliminate itching between the fingers. To prepare the bath, brew 2 tbsp. of the plant in 1 liter of water, keep for about half an hour. Affected feet or hands are immersed in a warm solution for 15-30 minutes, after which, without rinsing, wipe dry. The procedure is carried out daily at night.
• Calendula tincture not only reduces itching, but also successfully fights the bacteria that cause it. The tincture can be bought at a pharmacy or prepared independently (take 10 g of raw material per 0.5 l of alcohol, keep for 2 weeks in a dark place). The resulting tincture is used to wipe the itchy areas 2-3 times a day.

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Homeopathy

As with many other disease conditions, homeopathy potentiates the effectiveness of other therapeutic agents. The homeopathic physician decides which drug to prescribe: usually the prescription is based on the characteristics of the itching between the toes, as well as the constitutional and mental characteristics of the patient.

The dosage may vary among patients, as it is selected individually. Side effects are extremely rare, almost impossible. Only in isolated cases were allergic reactions to individual homeopathic preparations recorded.

Itching between the fingers without a rash is treated with the following remedies:

• for tingling - Rus, Graphites, Mercurius solubilis;
• for burning - Arsenicum album, Causticum, Phosphorus, Graphites;
• for a sensation of "crawling ants" Rus, Sepia, Pulsatilla, Sulfuris, Secale;
• if the itching sensation is intensified by heat – Pulsatilla, Sulfuris, Mercurius solubilis, Sepia;
• if the itching sensation intensifies under the influence of cold – Arsenicum album, Hepar sulfuris, Causticum;
• if the itching sensation intensifies after scratching – Phosphorus, Rus, Pulsatilla;
• if the itching sensation decreases after scratching – Sulfuris, Calcium carbonicum, Thuja.