Effective treatment of foot fungus. Foot fungus is a fairly common disease, according to statistics, at least a quarter of people on Earth have it. The situation is aggravated because most people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the fungus, because it both settles and grows imperceptibly.
Mushrooms not only bring aesthetic and physical inconvenience, but also synthesize harmful substances that can accumulate in the body and cause intoxication. That's why it's important to know about ways to prevent and combat this disease to maintain your health. How does fungus affect the feet and what contributes to this?
Causes of foot fungus
Easy ways for parasitic fungi to enter the skin can be cracks and abrasions between the toes that occur when sweating a lot or vice versa, dry feet, scratches caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow, wipingVacuum thoroughly after water procedures. . In addition, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as weakened immunity or stress can cause fungal infections.
The fungus is transmitted by close contact with the patient, through the objects he uses - towels, washcloths, shoes, clothes, manicure tools and even combs. , as heat and humidity are ideal conditions for fungal growth. Once inside the nail, which is almost entirely made of keratin, the fungus begins to slowly grow and multiply. It gradually takes the place of the nail, disappears and begins to spread to the surrounding skin. With a fungal infection, cracks and flaking first form between the toes, then the skin begins to become red and itchy.
Signs of foot fungus
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- dark nails
- Platinum nails become brittle and peel off
- the shape of the nail is deformed
- pain in the tips of the toes
- bad smell
Therefore, at the very first manifestations of a fungal infection, you need to urgently take measures against the fungus to prevent further spread on the skin. If the fungus is not completely treated, the fungus will move from one nail to another and further to nearby skin areas, in very severe cases, even internal organs are damaged.
If you suspect you have a yeast infection, you can perform one such 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 light, and the unaffected areas will become brown.
You can contact a skin specialist - a dermatologist, most likely they will send you to analyze - scrape the pus to determine the type of fungus, then the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Treatment of foot fungus with folk methods
You can effectively treat foot fungus with folk methods, especially this treatment method can be successful in the early stages of the disease. In the past, when there were no such powerful antifungal drugs for sale in pharmacies, people managed and coped with fungal infections on their own with folk recipes:
- Treat foot fungus with onions. The simplest way to treat is with onions. Grate the top of the onion and squeeze the juice, apply it on the fungal areas of the feet. When the juice dries, the feet do not need to be washed, best done before going to bed.
- Sea salt. Sea salt solution will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, wash your feet in a bath with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Then moisten the cotton ball in the saline solution, place the cotton ball on the affected area and keep it until it dries. Then wash your feet with a soda solution (the ratio is like sea water) and dry your feet.
- With garlic. A good effect is to treat foot fungus with salted garlic. 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 crushed garlic clove to it. Strain and squeeze through cheesecloth, add 4 tablespoons of brine 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 new solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another help for foot fungus. Dilute the clay powder (sold at the pharmacy) with cold water to a thick sour cream consistency and apply a thick layer to the affected area, covering with a linen cloth. You'll need to remove the bandages before the clay dries and then rinse your feet with a lemon solution (1 teaspoon of lemon juice in 1 cup of water). Clay lotion should be applied at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, each time preparing a new portion of clay.
- Gotu kola juice. In the summer, if celandine grows in your house, then you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to uproot the plant, orange water will immediately appear on it, and lubricate the affected areas with it. Just be aware that the process is not very pleasant, you will feel an itch, but once the juice is absorbed, it will pass. After a few minutes, apply the juice on the area again and do this 3-4 times. You need to repeat the procedure twice a day for a month. In addition, you can prepare your own celandine oil that can also fight foot fungus all year round, not only in the summer this plant blooms.
- Treatment with celandine antlers. If you have dried celandine herb, grind it into a powder and mix with tea tree oil to form a thick emulsion. Apply as a compress to the affected area of the legs daily. Continue doing so until the old nail fungus falls off and a new nail grows in its place.
- Propolis. Propolis tincture is an effective and affordable remedy against fungus, you can always buy it in a pharmacy. Having anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerative and anesthetic effects, propolis is detrimental to fungi. Moisten a cotton swab with 20% propolis alcohol and apply to the affected area, wrap your leg in polyethylene and secure everything with a bandage, the procedure is best done at night. After about a month of treatment, the infected nail will fall off and a new nail will grow in its place.
- Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another effective home remedy for toenail fungus, lubricate the affected areas with it several times a day and the fungus will go into remission. For example, you can do this while sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite show. Use a cotton swab soaked in apple cider vinegar to apply to the problem area, then when it dries, replace it with a new one. Over time, the fungus on the feet will collapse.
- Herbal skin care. You can prepare yourself a healing anti-fungal herbal balm: pour 0. 5 quarts of sunflower oil into the yeast bowl, and add 1 tablespoon of chopped dried herbs: mint, bellflower and golden root. (Rhodiola rosea). Reduce heat to low and bring to a boil but not over 65 degrees. Turn off the stove and let it brew for 12 hours, filter the water. Add an oil solution of vitamins A, E and D to the balm, 1 tablespoon each, mix everything and lubricate the affected areas with the balm at least 2 times a day. You need to store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life should not exceed six months.
- Birch oil. Birch sap, sold in pharmacies, is one of the strongest enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas on toes and nails each time after bathing and do not rinse afterwards. After several such procedures, you won't even notice how the fungus will disappear without leaving a trace. Personally, this method has helped me a lot to deal with foot fungus, which I picked up while visiting the pool.
If someone in your family has a yeast infection, you need to take precautions to avoid infection.
- Until the patient has recovered from the fungus, do not walk around the house barefoot, and at the same time sit on the sofa with legs propped up.
- Before bathing, it is advisable to rinse thoroughly with any liquid product containing chlorine to kill the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other items for manicure and pedicure must be wiped with alcohol.
- If fungus is found in one of the couple, he needs to go to bed in clean cotton socks, iron and change his bedding weekly.
- Be sure to treat your shoes by wiping the inside of the shoes 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 given slippers. You're better off changing your shoes or wearing socks into the room.
- In the cold season, regularly change your shoes with replaceable shoes, do not let your feet get too hot, because it is when the feet sweat that the fungus begins to attack.
- Don't forget to bring rubber slippers when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath, or therapeutic baths in the sanatorium. In the bath, pour boiling water over the benches and basins, spread a bed sheet or towel on the shelves, only you can lie and sit on them.
- Do not walk barefoot in hotels, sports locker rooms, train compartments and other public places, as well as on slate-free beaches. A last resort is not superfluous, in hot, humid sand is a breeding ground for fungal diseases, it hides a lot of infected scales and nail fragments.
- Change bath mats and bath mats from fabric and sponge to rubber. Moisture collects in their folds, skin flakes and nail fragments stick, and the rubber mat can always be easily dipped in hot water.
- After bathing, dry your feet thoroughly until dry, and be especially careful between your toes so that there is no moisture left, which could potentially cause fungus.
- Change socks, stockings, or tights every day. Do not let anyone use temporary files, nail tools, sponges, wipes.
- Do not wear the same shoes for more than two days in a row. Let it dry appropriately during the day.
- When buying shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor foot condition, take appropriate foot care - take timely treatment measures when sweating, dry, calluses, prevent cracked feet.
- However, if you suspect you may have a fungal infection when you go to the pool or the beach, when you get home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in 6% vinegar solution or washing your feet. with tar soap.
Follow these tips, remembering that this disease is always easier to prevent than to treat later.