Effective treatment of foot fungus. Foot fungus is a fairly common disease, according to statistics, at least 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, as they are established and develop imperceptibly.
The fungus brings not only aesthetic and physical inconveniences, but also synthesizes toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. That is why it is so important to know about ways to prevent and combat this disease in order to maintain your health. How does the fungus affect the feet and what contributes to it?
Causes of foot fungus
Easy ways to penetrate parasitic fungi into the skin can be cracks and abrasions between the toes, which occur with excessive sweating or, conversely, dry feet, any abrasions from wearing too tight shoes, poor wiping of the feet after water treatments. In addition, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as reduced immunity or stress can cause a fungal infection.
The fungus is transmitted through close contact with the patient, through objects he has used - a towel, towel, shoes, clothes, manicure tools and even a comb. Especially in this regard, common areas, such as baths and swimming pools, become dangerous, as heat and moisture are ideal conditions for the development of the fungus. Once in the nail plate, which is almost entirely composed of keratin, the fungus begins to grow and multiply slowly. Gradually it takes the place of the nail, dissolving it and begins to spread further to the surrounding skin. In a fungal infection, cracks and flakes first form between the toes, and later the skin begins to turn red and itchy.
Signs of foot fungus
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- darkening of the nail
- the platinum of the nails 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 signs of a fungal infection, it is urgent to take measures to control the fungus in order to stop its further spread on the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, it will move from one nail to another and further to nearby areas of the skin, in very advanced cases even the internal organs are damaged.
If you doubt whether you have a fungus, then you can conduct such a screening test at home: dilute the crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water to make a purple solution. Dip your feet into it and hold for a while. Affected areas of the nail will remain light and unaffected areas will turn brown.
You can contact a dermatologist, a dermatologist, who will most likely send you for a scraping test to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Treatment of fungus on the feet with folk remedies
You can effectively treat fungus on the feet with the help of folk methods, especially this treatment can be successful at the very beginning of the disease. Previously, when there were no such powerful antifungal drugs sold in pharmacies, people coped and coped with a fungal infection without them, using folk recipes:
- Treatment of fungus on the feet with onions. The easiest way to treat is with onions. Grate the onion head and squeeze the juice from it and spread the fungus on the feet. When the juice dries, the feet should not be washed, the procedure is best done before bedtime.
- Sea salt. Sea salt solution will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - morning and evening, wash your feet in baths with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 cup of water). Then moisten the cotton wool in saline solution, apply the cotton wool to the area 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 garlic. A good effect is the treatment of fungus on the feet with a salty infusion of garlic. Prepare a solution of salt (1 teaspoon of salt is taken per 1 liter of water). Take 1 tablespoon of this solution and add to it 1 large clove of crushed garlic. Strain and squeeze through cheesecloth, add another 4 tablespoons of saline to the resulting mixture. Lubricate the affected areas with the prepared solution twice a day. Each time it is necessary to prepare a fresh solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another helper in mycosis of the feet. Dilute clay powder (sold in pharmacies) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer on 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 lemon solution (1 tablespoon lemon juice in 1 cup water). Clay lotions should be made at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, each time preparing a new portion of clay.
- Celery juice. In summer, if celandine grows in your country house, then you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to tear off the plant, 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, you will feel itchy, but when the juice is absorbed, it will pass. After a few minutes, re-lubricate the area with juice and do this 3-4 times. The procedure should be repeated twice a day for a month. In addition, you can prepare celandine oil, which can be used against foot fungus throughout the year, not just in summer, when this plant blooms.
- Treatment with compresses of celandine. If you have a dry herb celandine, grind it to a powder and mix it with tea tree oil to make a thick emulsion. Apply as a compress on the affected areas of the feet every day. Keep doing this until the old mushroom claw comes off and a new one grows in its place.
- propolis. Alcoholic tincture of propolis is an effective and affordable remedy against fungus, you can always buy it at the pharmacy. Possessing antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerating and anesthetic effects, propolis is harmful to fungi. Moisten a cotton swab with 20% propolis tincture and apply on the affected area, wrap your feet with 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 separate and a new one will grow in its place.
- Apple vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another effective remedy for fungus on the feet, lubricate with it several times a day the affected areas and the fungus will recede. You can do this, for example, while sitting in front of the TV and watching your favorite show. Apply a cotton swab moistened with apple cider vinegar on the problem areas of the feet and then, when dry, replace with a new one. Over time, the fungus on the feet will fall off.
- Herbal balm. You can prepare a medicinal herbal antifungal balm: pour 0, 5 liters of sunflower oil in an enamel bowl and add 1 tablespoon of chopped dried herbs: mint, oman and golden root (Rhodiola rosea). Put on low heat and heat, but not more than 65 degrees. Turn off the heat and simmer for 12 hours, strain. Add oil solutions of vitamins A, E and D to the balm, 1 tablespoon, mix everything and lubricate the affected areas with balm at least 2 times a day. You must store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life is not more than six months.
- Birch tar. Birch tar, which is sold in pharmacies, is another of the strongest enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas on the toes and nail plates every time after a shower and do not wash it afterwards. After a few 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 the fungus on my feet, which I once caught while visiting the pool.
If someone in your family has the fungus, then you need to take precautions to prevent infection.
- Until the patient cures the fungus, he should not walk around the house barefoot and also sit with his feet on the sofa or chairs.
- Before bathing, it should be washed thoroughly with any liquid product with chlorine, which kills the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other pedicure and manicure items should be wiped with alcohol.
- If the fungus is found in one of the spouses, then he should go to bed in clean, ironed cotton socks and change the bed linen every week.
- Be sure to treat the shoes by wiping the inside with apple cider vinegar, 40% acetic acid or formalin solution.
Prevention of fungus on the feet
- Never wear someone else's shoes, and when visiting - slippers offered to you. It is better to take a change of shoes with you or go to the room in socks.
- During the cold season, always change your shoes into changeable shoes, do not allow your feet to overheat, because it is when your feet sweat that the fungus starts its attack.
- Be sure to bring rubber slippers when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic baths in 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 them.
- Do not walk barefoot in hotels, sports locker rooms, train compartments and other public places, as well as on a beach without slate. The last precaution is not superfluous, in the wet hot sand is a place for the multiplication of fungal infections, hides a lot of fungus-infected scales and nail fragments.
- Change bath and shower mats from fabric and sponge to rubber. Moisture is retained in the folds, skin flakes and nail fragments get stuck, and a rubber mat can always be easily watered with hot water.
- After taking a shower or bath, wipe your feet well until dry, and especially carefully between the toes so that no moisture remains, and thus the chances of settling the fungus.
- Change your socks, stockings or tights every day. Do not allow anyone to even temporarily use files, manicure tools, sponges, towels.
- Do not wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Allow it to dry well during the day.
- When buying shoes, never try them on bare feet.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take proper care of your feet - take timely measures for sweating, dryness, calluses and prevent cracks on the feet.
- If you still suspect that you may catch fungus while visiting the pool or beach, then when you get home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in 6% table vinegar solution or wash your feet with tar. soap.
Follow these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to cure later.