Many people, seeing advertisements on TV for antifungal drugs, switch the channel and think: "This does not concern me, I will never have fungus! "It would be nice if it was, but catching this infection is easier than you think, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult.
Sometimes they don't consult a dermatologist in time for a fungal infection of the feet because they don't believe it's her. "It's not a fungus, my friend had a fungus and he didn't look like one, " some say. In fact, the symptoms of this infection can be different and if you have any discomfort in the foot, see a doctor immediately. He will take tests and only then determine the diagnosis.
Or maybe you don't pay attention to itching, flaking of the skin, changes in the condition of the toenails? After all, it is not a disease of the internal organs and does not threaten anything terrible. And it's a shame to go to the doctor, he suddenly thinks he's some kind of tramp. And this opinion is also widespread among the population. And such an attitude to one's own health can be called irresponsible. After all, it is easier to cure the fungus by catching it at an early stage, otherwise the disease will either go away or get worse again. And most importantly, your family members can also become infected with the fungus. Therefore, there can be no two opinions on this issue. Treat yourself, period!
How and where do they become infected with the fungus?
Fungi can lurk anywhere we go barefoot: on the beach, in the pool, in the bathroom and even in an ordinary apartment. In general, this infection can affect any area of the skin, but the feet are most commonly affected due to several factors. These include constant wearing of shoes made of low-quality materials, increased sweating of the feet, more frequent contact with surfaces on which the fungus can live. The mycelium spreads very quickly under the skin, causing itching and other discomfort.
Let's take a closer look at the ways of infection.
- The fungus can be spread from person to person when wearing the same shoes (such as indoor slippers), socks using a towel, and from sexual partners who go to bed.
- In public pools, baths, saunas, on the beaches when you walk barefoot. For fungi, a humid environment is an ideal breeding ground. Slate or shoe covers can protect you from infection.
- In the manicure and pedicure room if the instruments are not sterilized well enough, or just when using other people's tools at home. It is best to visit an established manicurist who has not had such excesses, and use personal tools at home and treat them each time with alcohol.
Strengthening the immune system will help reduce risk factors, but no one has repealed the rules of personal hygiene. It is important to trust the treatment of the fungus to doctors, and not to use folk recipes.
How to recognize foot fungus?
Many infections are suitable for the concept of fungus, their manifestations may be different. But there are a number of symptoms that are common to most of them.
First of all, itching. At first it is weak, but over time it becomes stronger, it becomes unbearable, especially at night. Foot baths with succession, sage and other herbs provide temporary relief, but the fungus does not disappear and continues to cause itching and burning.
Nails acquire an unpresentable appearance. They turn yellow and darken, the color can be heterogeneous, break, exfoliate, their surface is uneven. The changes in the nail plate start from the edge and gradually spread to the cuticle itself.
Over time, your feet begin to sweat, even in sandals and flip-flops, and an unbearable odor appears.
The skin on your feet may not discolor at all or may turn slightly red and then peel off.
If you experience at least one of these symptoms, you should see a doctor. Maybe it will rule out the diagnosis of fungus and itching can be a common allergy. But you can find out only after passing the tests. Neglecting the disease can lead to complete peeling of the nails, constant scratching of the skin can damage it and the infection can get inside, causing ulcers.
How to treat foot fungus?
Treat as prescribed by your doctor! Tests will show you what type of fungus you are infected with and treatment will depend on that. Sometimes the doctor may advise the use of folk remedies in combination with pharmaceuticals and medical procedures. Let's take a closer look at all these methods.
- Laser treatment.During laser treatment, the beam penetrates deep into the skin, destroying the fungal thread - mycelium. The number of sessions is from three to ten. Wave radiation is created by a special device. Fungi of this effect are gradually destroyed. Sometimes treatment with waves can take up to three months with short breaks.
- Medical procedures.These include treatment with wave radiation, cleansing the skin with a medical manicure or pedicure. Medical manicures or pedicures do not provide a deep treatment for the fungus, they are used already at the end of the disease to bring the nails of the hands or feet in a more or less normal form.
- Medicines.Only a doctor can prescribe this or that medicine. These can be tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, varnishes.
- Folk remedies.These are trays, infusions, oils with herbs and other parts of plants. They are used only in combination with drugs. Baths can relieve itching, improve the appearance of the skin, but will not completely get rid of the fungus. The most popular are baths with oak bark or celandine, propolis tincture on alcohol, tea tree oil.
It makes sense to repeat once again: the treatment of fungus is not an easy task and you should not start it without a doctor, otherwise you can dig the disease deeper, but it will remind you regularly about yourself.