Unfortunately, the number of patients suffering from fungal infections is increasing very quickly.And the reason for this is the people themselves, who neglect the basic rules of personal hygiene.Foot fungus progresses very quickly and brings a lot of discomfort to the person.And to know how to treat this disease it is necessary, firstly, to know exactly how the infection occurs and, secondly, how the disease manifests itself in order to make a correct diagnosis in the early stages of its development.
Infection routes
Infection with fungal diseases can occur in several ways:
- direct way;
- indirectly.
In the first case, the fungus “installs” itself in the human body through direct contact with the soil, wet tiles, sick people and animals and some types of plants.
In the second case, infection occurs through household items used by the patient.For example, if you came to visit and wiped your feet or hands with someone else's towel, the probability of getting a fungal infection is 60%.
At the same time, some factors play an important role in this, which increase the body's susceptibility to the fungus.Namely:
- age (fungal infection is more often observed in children due to imperfections in the body's defense mechanisms and thin skin);
- weakened immune system;
- disruption of the functionality of the nervous and endocrine systems (they strongly affect the protective functions of the body);
- increased work of sweat glands;
- composition of sweat (in some cases, the composition of the secretion of sweat glands changes, which creates a favorable environment for the development of fungi).
Types of fungal infection
Before we talk about how to treat foot fungus, it is necessary to talk about the types of fungal infection.After all, it can be different, and therefore the treatment of the disease occurs differently.
The most common type of fungal infection is athlete's foot.This disease affects not only the skin of the feet, but also the nails.Infection with this type of fungal infection most often occurs in environments where high humidity and temperatures of at least 10 degrees prevail.Examples of such facilities are swimming pools, saunas, gyms, baths and so on.
In this case, epidermophytosis can be found on all objects in the room.These are:
- cloths;
- towels;
- oilcloths;
- thermometers;
- carpets and so on.
This type of fungus predominantly affects the male part of the world's population.The main reason for infection is the increased activity of sweat glands in the skin of the legs.
Another common type of fungal infection is trichophytosis.This is one of the most contagious diseases, which is transmitted through:
- bath accessories;
- sports equipment;
- shoes and socks;
- other common items.
Men are also more susceptible to this disease.Furthermore, the older they get, the greater the likelihood of trichophytosis infection.This disease is especially common among athletes and workers in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Candidiasis is another common form of fungal infection of the feet.The causative agent of the disease is the Candida fungus, which is present on everyone's skin and is not essentially a disease.This fungus begins to parasitize only when favorable conditions arise.And they arise when a person's immunity decreases.
The fungus enters the body through direct contact with contaminated objects and food.They are absolutely everywhere.There is especially a lot of this fungus in fermented dairy products and meat.
The “activation” of the vital activity of the Candida fungus is influenced by the following factors:
- damage to the skin;
- decreased immunity;
- increased sweating;
- increased content of fungi in the ambient air (there are especially many fungi in workshops for the production of meat products).
Symptoms of a fungal infection
The symptoms of foot fungus are as follows:
- itching and burning;
- unpleasant odor exhaustion;
- peeling of the skin;
- white layer on the skin (more like dust);
- change in the color and shape of the nail plates;
- destruction of nails;
- increased foot sweating.
In some cases, fluid-filled pustules and blisters may form near affected skin surfaces.
How to treat foot fungus?
Only a doctor should treat fungal diseases.It turns out that at home it is only possible to eliminate the external manifestations of the disease.A fungal infection affects the entire body, not just the upper layers of the epidermis.Penetrating through the skin, the fungus comes into contact with the capillaries and through them penetrates the arteries and then spreads throughout the body.For this reason, the treatment of fungal diseases should include not only antifungals for external use, but also agents for oral administration.
However, these medications should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.After all, there are more than 500 varieties of fungi in the world, each with its own characteristics and resistance threshold to various aggressive substances.This is why the same antifungal agent may help some people deal with the symptoms of the disease, but not others.
When you visit a doctor, a scraping will be taken from the affected surface to determine what type of fungus has taken hold on your feet.And then they will do a series of tests to exclude the development of complications.After that, having received all the necessary information about the patient's health, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, which can quickly eliminate the unpleasant external manifestations of the disease.
However, it is worth noting that the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease is not yet a sign of a complete cure.Treatment for fungal infections can last several months, in some cases it can be extended up to 6 months.If the infection is not completely treated, symptoms will begin to appear a few weeks after stopping medication.
To treat fungi, a fungistatic agent is often prescribed, which inhibits the development of pathogenic microorganisms.This product is available both in the form of ointments for external use and in the form of tablets for oral administration.
Most often, doctors combine several medicines at the same time to obtain the maximum effect of the treatment.After taking the medication for a week, the patient is tested again to make sure the treatment is bringing positive results.
Fungus treatment with folk remedies
How to cure foot fungus at home?No chance.Why?We have already given the answer to this question above - the fungus colonizes the entire body, and not just the upper epidermis of the skin.Therefore, at home you can only eliminate the symptoms of the disease and alleviate its condition, nothing more.Therefore, one should not expect a “miracle” from traditional medicine.
So, at home you can relieve itching with a wine vinegar bath.To prepare it, you will need a strong wine vinegar solution, in which you will need to soak your feet for a few minutes.But before doing this, your feet should be washed well under running soapy water and wiped dry.
After the procedure, you must put socks on your feet, which must also be pre-moistened in a wine vinegar solution.After a few days of using this procedure, the itching should disappear and the manifestations of the fungus will decrease.
Baths based on salt and soda are also good for fighting fungal infections.The fungus is afraid of these substances, so it quickly dies from them.To prepare a healing bath, you will need a liter of water, in which you need to dissolve a tablespoon of table salt and baking soda.
Soak your feet in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse them with warm water and pat dry.2-3 procedures will help you get rid of the external manifestations of the fungus.
Several medicinal herbs help combat the symptoms of fungal infections.You can prepare a decoction to wash affected feet with the following ingredients:
- marigold inflorescences;
- oak bark;
- dried blackberries;
- verbena officinalis.
To prepare the decoction, take all the herbs in equal quantities and mix well.Then take 3 tbsp.I.herb mixture, pour a glass of water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
After that, the broth must be slightly cooled and strained, and then the limbs must be washed with it daily.Additionally, you can moisten a bandage in this decoction and apply it to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.
If you do not have the opportunity to use all these herbs, you can overcome the manifestations of the fungus with the help of regular coffee.Make strong coffee and stir it into a liter of warm water.Then lower your feet and keep them in the solution for 15 minutes.Then rinse your feet in warm water and dry them.
A milkweed-based bath helps combat the manifestations of fungus on the feet.To prepare it, you need to take fresh grass and pour several liters of boiling water over it.Then let it ferment and strain.The infusion does not need to be diluted with water.Just pour it into a basin and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes.This bath must be used daily for two weeks.
fungus cream at home
At home you can also prepare a cream to treat the affected surfaces.
To prepare the cream you will need:
- sifted wood ash;
- pork fat.
These ingredients must be mixed until smooth.It is better, of course, to use a mixer for this.The cream should be used every 12 hours, applying it to clean, dry skin on the feet.
You can also prepare a cream for yeast infections using the following ingredients:
- yellow sulfur;
- goose fat;
- copper sulfate.
All ingredients must be taken in equal amounts and mixed well.Then transfer to a small saucepan, place on heat and bring to a boil.Then the cream must rest in a dark, cool and cool place.This cream only needs to be used once a day.But before applying it, you also need to wash your feet in warm water.
Compresses and masks against foot fungus
Foot fungus treatment can also be done through the use of masks and compresses.For example, you can use a compress made with onion and garlic.To do this, take a small onion and a head of garlic, peel them and grind them in a meat grinder.
Then apply the resulting mixture to the affected area, wrap it with plastic on top and put warm socks on your feet.Leave the compress overnight.In the morning, some symptoms of the disease will disappear.The procedure must be carried out daily until the foot fungus stops bothering you.
If the fungal infection has spread to your toenails, you can use a mixture made of vinegar, glycerin, and isopropyl alcohol.All ingredients need to be taken 1 teaspoon.and mix well.Then the resulting liquid must be applied to the nails (literally a few drops).This must be done every day until the affected nail recovers.
Remember that a fungal infection requires an integrated approach to treatment.Therefore, traditional medicine alone will not be enough.Requires oral antifungal medications.But you shouldn't buy them on the advice of a pharmacist in a pharmacy.You must consult a doctor.Only he can really help you overcome this disease and forget about it for many years.