Effective treatment for foot fungus. Foot fungus is a fairly common disease; according to statistics, at least up to a quarter of all people on Earth suffer from it. The situation is aggravated by the fact that most people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the fungus, since it settles and develops imperceptibly.
The fungus not only brings aesthetic and physical drawbacks, but also synthesizes toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. That is why it is so important to know the ways to prevent and combat this disease to maintain health. How does the fungus affect the legs and what contributes to this?
Causes of foot fungus
Easy ways for parasitic fungi to penetrate the skin can be cracks and abrasions between the toes that occur with excessive sweating or, conversely, dry feet, all kinds of abrasions from wearing shoes that are too narrow, poor cleaning of feet after taking water procedures. In addition, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as decreased immunity or stress can cause a fungal infection.
The fungus is transmitted through close contact with the patient, through the objects that he used: a towel, a washcloth, shoes, clothes, manicure devices, and even a comb. . Especially in this regard, common areas such as bathrooms and swimming pools become dangerous. , because heat and humidity are ideal conditions for the development of the fungus. Once on the surface of the nail, which is composed almost entirely of keratin, the fungus begins to grow and multiply slowly. It gradually takes the place of the nail, dissolves it and begins to spread further into the surrounding skin. With a fungal infection, cracks and peeling first form between the toes, and then the skin begins to redden and itch.
Signs of foot fungus
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- darkening of the nail
- nail platinum becomes brittle and exfoliates
- the shape of the nail itself is deformed
- 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 spread along the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, it will move from one nail to another and beyond the nearby areas of the skin, in very advanced cases, even the internal organs are damaged.
If you are in doubt whether you have a fungus, you can perform such a screening test at home: Dilute potassium permanganate crystals in warm water to make a purple solution. Dip your feet in it and hold for a while. The affected areas of the nail will remain clear and the unaffected areas will turn brown.
You can contact a specialist in skin diseases, a dermatologist who, most likely, will send you for an analysis, scraping to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Foot fungus treatment home remedies.
You can effectively treat the fungus on the legs with folk methods, especially this treatment can be successful at the very beginning of the disease. Previously, when such powerful antifungal drugs were not sold in a pharmacy, people managed and coped with fungal infection without using folk recipes:
- Treatment of foot fungus with onion. The easiest way to treat is with onions. Grate the onion head and squeeze out the juice and grease the areas affected by the fungus on the legs. When the juice dries, it is not necessary to wash the legs, it is better to carry out the procedure before going to bed.
- Sea salt. A solution of sea salt will help cure the fungus within 10 days. Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, wash your feet in baths with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Then moisten the cotton in 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 sea solution) and dry your feet.
- with garlicA good effect is the treatment of foot fungus with 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. Strain and squeeze through cheesecloth, add 4 more tablespoons of saline 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 helper for foot mycosis. He dilute clay powder (sold at a pharmacy) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer to the affected areas, bandage with a linen cloth. He should remove the bandage before the clay dries and then rinse the feet with a lemon solution (1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 glass of water). Clay lotions should be made 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 at your dacha, you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to uproot the plant, orange juice will immediately appear 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 couple of minutes, grease the area again with juice and do this 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 the summer when this plant blooms.
- Treatment with celandine compressesIf you have dried celandine herb, grind it into a powder and mix it with tea tree oil to make a thick emulsion. Apply as a compress to the affected areas of the legs daily. Keep doing this until the old fungal nail sloughs off and a new one grows in its place.
- Propolis. Propolis alcohol tincture is an effective and affordable remedy against fungus, you can always buy it at a pharmacy. Possessing antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerative and anesthetic action, propolis is harmful to the fungus. Moisten a cotton swab with 20% propolis tincture and apply it to the affected area, wrap the legs in polyethylene and secure everything with a bandage, the procedure is best done at night. After about a month of treatment, the nail affected by the fungus will fall 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 with it several times a day and the fungus will recede. You can do this, for example, while sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite show. Apply a cotton swab dipped in apple cider vinegar to the problem areas on your legs, and then when it dries, switch to a new one. Over time, the fungus on the legs will go down.
- herbal balm. An antifungal healing herbal balm can be prepared: pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil into an enamel container and add 1 tablespoon of chopped dry herbs: mint, comfrey and golden root (Rhodiola rosea). Light a small, hot fire, but no more than 65 degrees. Turn off the stove and let it brew for 12 hours, strain. 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 a pharmacy, is another of the strongest enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas on the toes and nail plates every time you 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 to deal with foot fungus, which I once picked up while visiting the pool.
If someone in her family has a fungus, then he must take precautions so that an infection does not occur.
- Until the patient has cured the fungus, he should not walk around the house barefoot, and also sit with his feet on the sofa or chairs.
- Before bathing, you should wash very well with any liquid product with chlorine, which kills the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other manicure and pedicure items should be cleaned with alcohol.
- If the fungus was found in one of the spouses, then you need to go to bed in clean ironed cotton socks and change the bedding every week.
- Be sure to treat your shoes by cleaning 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, slippers are provided. It is better to take a change of shoes with you or go to the room in socks.
- In cold weather, always change your shoes for spare shoes, do not allow your feet to overheat, because it is when the feet sweat that the fungi begin their attack.
- Do not forget to wear rubber slippers when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic baths in the sanatorium. In the bathroom, pour boiling water over a bench and a bowl, put a sheet or towel on the shelf, only you can lie down and sit on them.
- Do not walk barefoot in hotels, sports locker rooms, train compartments and other public places, as well as on a beach without blackboards. The last precaution is not superfluous, in the wet and hot sand is a breeding ground for fungal infections, many fungal-infected scales and nail fragments hide.
- Replace cloth and sponge bath and shower mats to rubber. Moisture remains in its folds, skin flakes and nail fragments get stuck, and a rubber mat can always be easily doused with hot water.
- After showering or bathing, clean your feet well until dry, and with special care between the fingers so that there is no moisture left there, and with it, the chances of the fungus settling.
- Change your socks, tights or tights every day. Do not let anyone use files, manicure tools, sponges, cloths, even temporarily.
- Don't wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Let it dry properly during the day.
- When shopping for shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take care of them properly: take measures in time for sweating, dryness, calluses, and prevent leg cracks.
- However, if you suspect that you might pick up a fungus while visiting the pool or beach, when you get home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in a 6% solution of table vinegar or wash your feet . with tar soap.
Observe these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to treat it later.