Effective treatment for foot fungus. Fungus on the feet is a fairly common disease; according to statistics, at least up to a quarter of everyone on Earth suffers from it. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that most people do not suspect that they are carriers of the fungus, as it settles and grows invisibly.
Fungi bring not only aesthetic and physical discomfort, but also synthesize toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. That is why it is so important to know about how to prevent and fight this disease to maintain your health. How does the fungus affect the feet and what contributes to this?
Causes of foot fungus
An easy way 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 sorts of abrasions due to wearing too narrow shoes, wiping weak 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 fungal infections.
The fungus is spread through close contact with the patient, through objects he uses - towels, wipes, shoes, clothes, manicure tools and even combs. Especially in this case, common areas, such as baths and pools, become dangerous, as heat and humidity are ideal. conditions for fungal development. Once in the nail plate, almost entirely composed of keratin, the fungus begins to slowly grow and multiply. It gradually takes the place of the nail, dissolves it, and begins to spread further into the skin around it. With a fungal infection, first cracks and flaking form between the toes, and then the skin begins to redden and itch.
Signs of foot fungus
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- the darkness of the nails
- platinum nails become brittle and flake off
- the shape of the nail itself is deformed
- pain in the tips of the toes
- smelly
Therefore, at the first manifestation of a fungal infection, it is important to take measures to combat the fungus to stop its spread further along the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, then it will move from one nail to another and further to nearby skin areas, in very advanced cases, even internal organs are damaged.
If you doubt whether you have fungus, then you can conduct such a screening test at home: dilute crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water to make a purple solution. Dip your feet into it and hold for a while. The affected nail area will remain light, and the unaffected area will turn brown.
You can contact a specialist in skin diseases - a dermatologist, who, most likely, will send you to perform an analysis - scrape to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Treatment of foot fungus folk remedies
You can treat fungus on the feet effectively using folk methods, especially this treatment can be successful at the beginning of the disease. Previously, when there were no strong antifungal drugs sold in pharmacies, people succeeded and overcame fungal infections without using folk recipes:
- Foot fungus treatment with onions. The easiest way to treat is with onions. Grate the onion head and squeeze the juice and grease the affected part of the fungus on the foot. When the juice is dry, the feet do not need to be washed, the procedure is best done before bedtime.
- Sea salt. The sea salt solution will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - in the morning and evening, wash your feet in a bath with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Then moisten the cotton wool in a salt solution, apply the cotton wool to the area affected by the fungus and hold until it dries. Then wash your feet with a soda solution (the proportions are equal to the sea solution) and dry your feet.
- With garlic. A good effect is the treatment of foot fungus with an 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 into it. Strain and squeeze through gauze, add 4 tablespoons of salt into the resulting mixture. Lubricate the area affected by the fungus with the prepared solution 2 times a day. Each time need to prepare a fresh solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another helper for foot mycosis. Dilute clay powder (sold in pharmacies) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer on the affected area, wrap with a linen cloth. You need to remove the bandage before the clay dries and then rinse your feet with a solution of lemon (1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 glass of water). Clay lotion should be done at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, each time preparing a new portion of clay.
- Celandine 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 pluck the plant, the orange -colored juice will immediately appear on it, and lubricate the affected area with it. Just keep in mind that the procedure is not very pleasant, itching will be felt, but when the juice is absorbed, it will pass. After a few 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 for yourself, which can also be used against foot fungus throughout the year, and not just in the summer when the plant is in bloom.
- Treatment with celandine compresses. If you have dried celandine herbs, grind into a powder and mix with tea tree oil to make a thick emulsion. Apply as a compress to the affected foot area daily. Keep doing this until the old fungal nails are pulled out and new nails grow in place.
- Propolis. Propolis -colored alcohol is an effective and affordable remedy against fungi, you can always buy it at the pharmacy. Having antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, bacterial, regenerative and anesthetic action, propolis is harmful to fungi. Wet the cotton with 20% propolis dye and apply to 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 fungus-affected nails will be uprooted and new ones will grow in their place.
- Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another effective remedy for foot fungus, lubricate the affected area with it several times a day and the fungus will subside. You can do this, for example, while sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite show. Apply a cotton swab moistened with apple cider vinegar on the affected part of the foot and then, when it is dry, change to a new one. Over time, the fungus on the feet will go down.
- Herbal balm. You can prepare yourself a healing antifungal herbal balm: pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil into an enamel bowl, and add 1 tablespoon of chopped dried herbs: mint, comfrey and golden root (Rhodiola rosea). Put on a small fire and heat, but not more than 65 degrees. Turn off the stove and let it brew for 12 hours, strain. Add oil solution of vitamins A, E and D into the balm, 1 tablespoon each, mix everything and lubricate the affected area with balm at least 2 times a day. You need to store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life is not more than six months.
- Tar birch. Birch tar, which is sold in pharmacies, is another of the strongest enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected area on the toes and nail plate every time after bathing and do not wash afterwards. After several such procedures, you will not 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 your family has the fungus, then you need to take precautions so that the infection does not occur.
- Until the patient has cured the fungus, he cannot walk around the house barefoot, and even sit with his feet on a sofa or chair.
- Before bathing, it should be thoroughly washed with any liquid product with chlorine, which kills fungi.
- Scissors, nail files and other items for pedicures and nail polish must be rubbed with alcohol.
- If the fungus is found on one of the partners, then he or she should sleep with clean and ironed cotton socks, and change the bedding every week.
- Be sure to treat the shoes by wiping them inside with apple cider vinegar, 40% acetic acid or formalin solution.
Prevention of foot fungus
- Never wear other people's shoes, and when visiting - slippers are offered to you. It is better to bring a shoe exchange with you or go to the room with socks.
- In winter, always change your shoes to replaceable shoes, do not let your feet get too hot, because when the feet sweat, the fungus starts to attack.
- Don’t forget to bring rubber slippers when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic bath in the sanatorium. In the bathroom, pour boiling water over the bench and basin, place a piece of cloth or towel on the shelf, only you can lie down and sit on it.
- Do not walk barefoot in hotels, sports locker rooms, train stations and other public places, as well as on the beach without a blackboard. The last precaution is not excessive, in the hot wet sand is a breeding ground for fungal infections, it hides a lot of scales and fragments of nails infected with the fungus.
- Replace bath and bath mats from cloth and sponge to rubber. Moisture stays in the folds, pieces of skin and nail fragments get stuck, and rubber mats can always be watered with hot water easily.
- After a bath or shower, wipe your feet thoroughly until dry, and especially carefully between your toes so that no moisture is left there, and thus, a chance for the fungus to settle.
- Change your socks, stockings or tights every day. Do not let anyone use files, manicure tools, sponges, wipes temporarily.
- Do not wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Let it dry properly during the day.
- When buying shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take care of your feet properly - take timely steps to sweat, dryness, calluses, and prevent cracks in your feet.
- If, however, you have a suspicion that you may catch the fungus while visiting a pool or beach, then when you get home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in a 6% table vinegar solution or washing your feet with tar soap.
Observe these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to treat it later.