Unfortunately, the number of patients suffering from fungal infections is increasing very rapidly.And the reason for this is the people themselves who ignore the basic rules of personal hygiene.Fungus on the feet progresses very quickly and brings a lot of discomfort to a person.And in order to know how to treat this disease, it is necessary, firstly, to know exactly how the infection occurs and, secondly, how the disease manifests itself, in order to make the correct diagnosis in the initial stages of its development.
Routes of infection
Infection with fungal diseases can occur in several ways:
- direct way;
- indirectly.
In the first case, the fungus "settles" on the human body through direct contact with soil, wet tiles, sick people and animals, and some types of plants.
In the second case, the infection occurs through household items used by a sick person.For example, if you came to visit and wiped your feet or hands with someone else's towel, then the probability of contracting a fungal infection is 60%.
At the same time, an important role is played by some factors that increase the body's sensitivity to fungi.namely:
- age (fungal infection is most often observed in children due to imperfections in the body's protective mechanisms and thin skin);
- weakened immune system;
- disruption of the functionality of the nervous and endocrine systems (they strongly affect the protective functions of the body);
- increased work of sweat glands;
- composition of sweat (in some cases, the composition of the secretion of the sweat glands changes, which as a result creates a favorable environment for the development of fungi).
Types of fungal infections
Before talking about how to treat foot fungus, it is necessary to talk about the types of fungal infection.After all, it can be different, and therefore the treatment of the disease is carried out differently.
The most common type of fungal infection is athlete's foot.This disease affects not only the skin of the feet, but also the nails.Infection with this type of fungal infection most often occurs in rooms where high humidity and temperatures of at least 10 degrees prevail.Examples of such premises are swimming pools, saunas, gyms, bathrooms, etc.
In this case, epidermophytosis can be found on all objects in the room.These are:
- towels for washing;
- towels;
- raincoats;
- thermometers;
- doormats and so on.
This type of fungus mainly affects the male part of the planet's population.Because the main reason for infection with it is the increased activity of the sweat glands on the skin of the legs.
Another common type of fungal infection is ringworm.It is one of the most contagious diseases that is transmitted through:
- bathroom accessories;
- sports equipment;
- shoes and socks;
- other common subjects.
Men are also most susceptible to this disease.Also, the older they get, the more likely they are to be infected with ringworm.This disease is especially common among athletes and workers in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Candidiasis is another common form of fungal infection of the feet.The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Candida, which is present on the skin of every person and is essentially not a disease.This fungus begins to parasitize only when favorable conditions arise.And they occur when a person's immunity decreases.
Fungi enter the body through direct contact with contaminated objects and food.They are absolutely everywhere.This fungus is especially abundant in fermented milk products and meat.
The "activation" of the vital activity of Candida fungi is influenced by the following factors:
- skin damage;
- reduced immunity;
- increased sweating;
- increased content of fungi in the ambient air (there are especially many in workshops for the production of meat products).
Symptoms of a fungal infection
Symptoms of foot fungus are as follows:
- itching and burning;
- exhaustion of the unpleasant smell;
- peeling of the skin;
- white coating on the skin (rather powder);
- change in the color and shape of the nail plates;
- destruction of nails;
- increased sweating of the feet.
In some cases, pustules and fluid-filled blisters may form near the affected skin surfaces.
How to treat foot fungus?
Only a doctor should treat fungal diseases.The thing is that at home you can remove only the external manifestations of the disease.Because the fungal infection affects the whole body, not just the upper layers of the epidermis.Penetrating through the skin, the fungi come into contact with the capillaries and through them penetrate the arteries, after which they spread throughout the body.For this reason, the treatment of fungal diseases should include not only antifungal drugs for external use, but also means for oral administration.
However, such drugs should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.After all, there are more than 500 varieties of fungi in the world, each of which has its own characteristics and threshold of resistance to various aggressive substances.That's why the same antifungal drug may help some people manage the symptoms of the disease, but not others.
When visiting a doctor, a scraping will be taken from the affected surface to determine what kind of fungus has settled on his feet.And then they will conduct a series of tests to exclude the development of complications.Then, after receiving all the necessary information about the patient's health, the doctor will prescribe an appropriate treatment that can quickly get rid of the unpleasant external manifestations of the disease.
However, it is worth noting that the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease is not yet a sign of a complete cure.Treatment of fungal infections can last several months, in some cases it can be extended up to 6 months.If the infection is not completely treated, symptoms will begin to appear within a few weeks after you stop using the drugs.
For the treatment of fungi, a fungistatic agent is often prescribed, which inhibits the development of pathogenic microorganisms.This product is available both in the form of ointments for external use and in the form of tablets for oral administration.
Most often, doctors combine several drugs at once to achieve the maximum effect of treatment.After a week of taking the drug, the patient is tested again to make sure that the treatment is producing positive results.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies
How to cure foot fungus at home?There is no way.why We have already answered this question above - fungi colonize the whole body, not just the upper epidermis of the skin.Therefore, at home you can only eliminate the symptoms of the disease and alleviate your condition, but nothing more.Therefore, you should not expect a "miracle" from traditional medicine.
So, at home you can relieve itching with a wine vinegar bath.To prepare it, you will need a strong solution of wine vinegar, in which you should soak your feet for several minutes.But before doing this, the feet should be washed well under running water with soap and dried.
After the procedure, you should put socks on your feet, which should also be pre-moistened in a solution of wine vinegar.After a few days of using this procedure, the itching should disappear and the manifestations of the fungus will decrease.
Baths based on salt and soda are also good at fighting fungal infections.The fungus is afraid of these substances, so it quickly dies from it.To prepare a healing bath, you will need a liter of water in which you must dissolve one tablespoon of table salt and baking soda.
Soak your feet in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and dry.2-3 procedures will help you get rid of the external manifestations of the fungus.
Various medicinal herbs help fight the symptoms of fungal infections.You can prepare a decoction for washing the affected feet from the following ingredients:
- marigold inflorescences;
- oak bark;
- dried blackberries;
- Verbena officinalis.
To prepare the potion, take all the herbs in equal amounts and mix them well.Then take 3 tbsp.l herbal mixture, pour a glass of water and let it simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
After that, the broth should be cooled slightly and strained, and then the limbs should be washed daily with it.You can also soak a bandage in this decoction and apply it to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.
If you do not have the opportunity to use all these herbs, you can overcome the manifestations of the fungus with the help of ordinary coffee.Brew strong coffee and mix it in a liter of warm water.Then lower your feet into it and keep them in the solution for 15 minutes.Then rinse your feet with warm water and dry them.
A bath based on milkweed helps fight the manifestations of fungus on the feet.To prepare it, you need to take fresh grass and pour several liters of boiling water over it.Then let it steep and strain.It is not necessary to dilute the infusion with water.Just pour it into a basin and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes.This bath should be used daily for two weeks.
Antifungal cream at home
At home, you can also prepare a cream to treat the affected surfaces.
To prepare the cream you will need:
- sifted wood ash;
- lard.
These ingredients should be mixed together until smooth.It is better, of course, to use a mixer for this.The cream should be used every 12 hours, applying it to clean and dry skin of the feet.
You can also prepare a cream for fungal infections using the following ingredients:
- yellow sulfur;
- goose fat;
- copper sulfate.
All ingredients should be taken in equal amounts and mixed well.Then transfer to a small saucepan, put on the heat and bring to a boil.After that, the cream should stay in a dark and cool place and cool.This cream should only be used once a day.But before applying it, you should also wash your feet in warm water.
Compresses and masks against foot fungus
The treatment of foot fungus can also be done with the help of masks and compresses.For example, you can use a compress made from onion and garlic.To do this, take a small onion and a head of garlic, peel them and grind them through a meat grinder.
Then apply the resulting mixture to the sore spot, wrap it with nylon on top and put warm socks on your feet.Leave the compress all night.In the morning, some symptoms of the disease will disappear.The procedure should be carried out daily until the fungus on the feet stops bothering you.
If the fungal infection has spread to your toenails, you can use a mixture of vinegar, glycerin and alcohol.All ingredients should be taken 1 tsp.and mix well.After that, the resulting liquid should be applied to the nails (literally a few drops).This should be done every day until the affected nail recovers.
Remember that a fungal infection requires an integrated approach to treatment.Therefore, traditional medicine alone will not be enough.Requires oral antifungal medication.But you should not buy them yourself on the advice of a pharmacist in a pharmacy.You should consult a doctor.Only he can really help you overcome this disease and forget about it for many years.