Effective treatment against fungal infections of the feet. Fungus on the feet is a fairly common disease; according to statistics, at least up to a quarter of the world's population suffers from it. The situation is aggravated by the fact that most people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the fungus, because it settles and grows imperceptibly.
The fungus not only brings aesthetic and physical inconvenience, but also synthesizes toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. This is why it is so important to know the ways to prevent and fight this disease in order to maintain your health. How does the fungus affect the legs and what contributes to it?
Causes of foot fungus
Easy ways for parasitic fungi to enter the skin can be cracks and abrasions between the toes that occur with excessive sweating or, conversely, dry feet, all kinds of abrasions due to wearing too tight shoes, improper wiping of the feet after taking water procedures . Also, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as a decrease in immunity or stress can provoke a fungal infection.
The fungus is transmitted through close contact with the patient, through objects used by him - a towel, a washcloth, shoes, clothes, manicure appliances and even a comb. Especially in this regard, common areas, such as baths and swimming pools, become dangerous, since heat and humidity are ideal conditions for the development of the fungus. Once in the nail plate, which is almost entirely made up of keratin, the fungus begins to grow and slowly multiply. It gradually takes the place of the nail, dissolves it and begins to spread further on the surrounding skin. With a fungal infection, first cracks and peeling form between the toes, then the skin begins to redden and itch.
Signs of foot fungus
The characteristic signs of mycosis of the feet are:
- nail darkening
- the platinum of the nails becomes brittle and exfoliates
- the shape of the nail itself is distorted
- pain in the tips of the toes
- bad smell
Therefore, at the first manifestations of a fungal infection, it is urgent to take measures to combat the fungus in order to stop its further spread on the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, it will move from nail to nail and further to neighboring areas of the skin, in very advanced cases even internal organs are damaged.
If you doubt that you have a fungus, you can perform such a screening test at home: dilute potassium permanganate crystals in warm water to obtain a purple solution. Dip your feet in it and hold for a while. Affected areas of the nail will remain light and unaffected areas will turn brown.
You can contact a specialist in skin diseases - a dermatologist, who, most likely, will send you for an analysis - scrape to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Treatment of foot fungus folk remedies
You can effectively treat the fungus on the legs using folk methods, especially this treatment can be successful at the very beginning of the disease. Previously, when there were no such strong antifungal drugs sold in a pharmacy, people managed and coped with a fungal infection without using folk recipes:
- Treatment of foot fungus with onions. The easiest way to treat is with onions. Grate the onion head and squeeze the juice out of it and grease the areas affected by the fungus on the legs. When the juice dries up, the legs do not need to be washed off, it is better to do the procedure before bedtime.
- Sea salt. A solution of sea salt will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - morning and evening, wash your feet in sea salt baths (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Then moisten the cotton in a saline solution, apply the cotton to the place affected by the fungus and hold it until it dries. Then wash your feet with a soda solution (the proportion is the same as for a marine solution) and pat your feet dry.
- With garlic. A good effect is the treatment of foot fungus with an infusion of garlic salt. Prepare a solution of table salt (1 teaspoon of salt is taken per 1 liter of water). Take 1 tablespoon of this solution and add 1 large clove of crushed garlic to it. Strain and squeeze through cheesecloth, add another 4 tablespoons of saline solution to the resulting mixture. Lubricate the areas affected by the fungus with the prepared solution 2 times a day. Each time it is necessary to prepare a fresh solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another help for foot mycosis. Dilute clay powder (sold in pharmacies) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer to the affected areas, bandage with a linen cloth. You will need to remove the bandage before the clay dries and then rinse your feet with a lemon solution (1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 glass of water). Clay lotions should be done at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, each time preparing a new portion of clay.
- Celandine juice. In the summer, if celandine grows in your country house, you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to pick the plant, an orange juice will immediately appear on it and lubricate the affected areas with it. Just keep in mind that the procedure is not very pleasant, itching will be felt, but as the juice is absorbed, it will pass. After a few minutes, grease the area again with juice and do it 3-4 times. You need to repeat the procedure twice a day for a month. In addition, you can prepare celandine oil yourself, which can also be used against foot fungus throughout the year, and not only in summer when this plant blooms.
- Treatment with celandine compresses. If you have dry celandine grass, grind it into a powder and mix it with tea tree oil to get a thick emulsion. Apply daily as a compress to the affected areas of the legs. Keep doing this until the old fungal nail breaks off and a new one grows in its place.
- Propolis. Alcohol tincture of propolis is an effective and affordable remedy for fungus, you can always buy it in pharmacies. Possessing an antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerating and anesthetic action, propolis is harmful to the fungus. Moisten a cotton swab with 20% propolis tincture and apply to the affected area, wrap your legs in polyethylene and fix everything with a bandage, the procedure is best done at night. After about a month of treatment, the nail affected by the fungus will break off and a new one will grow in its place.
- Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another effective remedy for foot fungus, lubricate the affected areas several times a day and the fungus will disappear. You can do this, for example, sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite show. Apply a cotton swab soaked in apple cider vinegar to the problem areas of the legs, then, when it dries, replace it with a new one. Over time, the fungus on the legs will go down.
- Herbal balm. You can prepare a healing antifungal herbal balm yourself: pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil into an enamel bowl, and add 1 tablespoon of chopped dry herbs: peppermint, comfrey and goldenroot(Rhodiola rosea). Put on a small fire and heat, but not more than 65 degrees. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 12 hours, filter. Add oil solutions of vitamins A, E and D to the balm, 1 tablespoon each, mix everything and lubricate the affected areas with balm at least 2 times a day. You need to store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life is no more than six months.
- Birch tar. Birch tar, which is sold in pharmacies, is another of the most powerful enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas on the toes and nail plates every time after a shower and do not wash them after that. After several such procedures, you will not even notice how the fungus will disappear without a trace. Personally, this method helped me a lot in dealing with foot fungus, which I once caught while visiting the pool.
If a member of your family has a fungus, you should take precautions to avoid infection.
- Until the patient has cured the fungus, he should not walk barefoot around the house, and also sit with his feet on the sofa or chairs.
- Before taking a bath, it must be thoroughly washed with any liquid product containing chlorine, which kills the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other pedicure and manicure items should be wiped with alcohol.
- If the fungus was found in one of the spouses, he should lie down in clean, ironed cotton socks and change bedding weekly.
- Be sure to treat the shoes by wiping them on the inside with apple cider vinegar, 40% acetic acid, or formalin solution.
Prevention of foot fungus
- Never wear someone else's shoes and when you visit you are offered slippers. It is better to take spare shoes with you or go to the room in socks.
- In the cold season, always change your shoes to replaceable ones, do not let your feet overheat, because it is when the feet sweat that the fungus begins its attack.
- Do not forget to bring rubber slippers when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic baths of the sanatorium. In the bath, pour boiling water on a bench and basin, put a sheet or towel on the shelf, only you can lie down and sit on it.
- Do not walk barefoot in hotels, sports locker rooms, train compartments and other public places, as well as on a beach without slates. The last precaution is not superfluous, in the hot and humid sand is a breeding ground for fungal infections, it hides a lot of scales and nail fragments infected with fungus.
- Replace bath and shower mats from fabric and sponge to rubber. Moisture lingers in their folds, skin flakes and nail fragments get stuck, and a rubber mat can always be easily doused with hot water.
- After taking a shower or a bath, wipe your feet thoroughly until they are dry, and especially carefully between your toes so that there is no more moisture, and with it the chances of settingthe mushroom.
- Change your socks, stockings or tights every day. Do not let anyone use, even temporarily, files, manicure tools, sponges, washcloths.
- Don't wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Let it dry properly during the day.
- When buying shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take good care of your feet - take timely measures for sweating, dryness, calluses and avoid cracks on your legs.
- If, however, you suspect that you might catch a fungus while visiting the pool or the beach, then when you get home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab soaked in a 6% solution of table vinegaror wash your feet with tar soap.
Observe these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to treat later.