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.Fungus on the feet progresses very quickly and brings a lot of discomfort to a person.And in order to know how to treat this disease, it is necessary, firstly, to know exactly how infection occurs and, secondly, how the disease manifests itself in order to correctly make a diagnosis at the initial stages of its development.
Routes of infection
Infection with fungal diseases can occur in several ways:
- direct way;
- indirectly.
In the first case, the fungus “settles” on the human body through direct contact with soil, wet tiles, sick people and animals, and some types of plants.
In the second case, infection occurs through household items used by a sick person.For example, if you came to visit and wiped your feet or hands with someone else's towel, then the probability of contracting 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 most 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 greatly affect the protective functions of the body);
- increased work of sweat glands;
- composition of sweat (in some cases, the composition of the secretion of the sweat glands changes, which as a result creates a favorable environment for the development of fungus).
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 rooms where high humidity and temperatures of at least 10 degrees prevail.Examples of such premises are swimming pools, saunas, gyms, baths, and so on.
In this case, epidermophytosis can be found on all objects in the room.This:
- washcloths;
- towels;
- oilcloths;
- thermometers;
- mats and so on.
This type of fungus predominantly affects the male part of the planet's population.Since the main reason for infection with it is increased activity of the sweat glands on 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 most susceptible to this disease.Moreover, the older they become, the greater the likelihood of infection with trichophytosis.This disease is especially common among athletes and workers of 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 the skin of every person 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 milk products and meat.
The “activation” of the life activity of the Candida fungus is influenced by the following factors:
- damage to the skin;
- decreased immunity;
- increased sweating;
- increased content of fungus in the ambient air (there is especially a lot of it in workshops for the production of meat products).
Symptoms of a fungal infection
Symptoms of foot fungus are as follows:
- itching and burning;
- depletion of unpleasant odor;
- peeling of the skin;
- white coating on the skin (more like dust);
- change in the color and shape of the nail plates;
- destruction of nails;
- increased sweating of the feet.
In some cases, pustules and blisters filled with liquid may form near the affected surfaces of the skin.
How to treat foot fungus?
Only a doctor should treat fungal diseases.The thing is that at home you can only eliminate the external manifestations of the disease.Since a fungal infection affects the entire body, and not just the upper layers of the epidermis.Penetrating through the skin, the fungus comes into contact with capillaries and through them penetrates into the arteries, and then spreads throughout the body.For this reason, treatment of fungal diseases should include not only antifungal drugs for external use, but also agents for oral administration.
However, such drugs should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.After all, there are more than 500 varieties of fungi in the world, each of which has its own characteristics and threshold of resistance to various aggressive substances.That is why the same antifungal agent can help some people cope with the symptoms of the disease, but not others.
When visiting a doctor, a scraping will be taken from the affected surface to determine what type of fungus has settled on his feet.And then they will conduct a series of tests to exclude the development of complications.After which, having received all the necessary information about the patient’s health, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, which can quickly get rid of the unpleasant external manifestations of the disease.
However, it is worth noting that the disappearance of symptoms of the disease is not yet a sign of complete healing.Treatment for fungal infections can last for 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 within a few weeks after you stop using the medications.
To treat fungus, 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 remedies at once to achieve the maximum effect of treatment.After taking the medication for a week, the patient is tested again to make sure that the treatment is bringing positive results.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies
How to cure foot fungus at home?No way.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 your condition, but nothing more.Therefore, you should not expect a “miracle” from traditional medicine.
So, at home you can relieve itching with a bath of wine vinegar.To prepare it, you will need a strong solution of wine vinegar, in which you need to soak your feet for a couple of minutes.But before doing this, your feet should be washed well under running water with soap and wiped dry.
After the procedure, you should put on socks on your feet, which must also be pre-moistened in a solution of wine vinegar.After a couple of 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 in the fight against fungal infections.The fungus is afraid of these substances, so it quickly dies from it.To prepare a healing bath, you will need a liter of water, in which you need to dissolve one tablespoon of table salt and baking soda.
Soak your feet in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse them with warm water and wipe dry.2-3 procedures will help you get rid of the external manifestations of the fungus.
Various medicinal herbs help combat the symptoms of fungal infections.You can prepare a decoction to wash the affected feet with from the following ingredients:
- calendula inflorescences;
- oak bark;
- dried blackberries;
- verbena officinalis.
To prepare the decoction, take all the herbs in equal quantities and mix them well.Then take 3 tbsp.l.herbal mixture, pour a glass of water over it and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
After which the broth should be slightly cooled and strained, and then the limbs should be washed with it daily.In addition, 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.Brew strong coffee and stir it in a liter of warm water.Then lower your feet into it and keep them in the solution for 15 minutes.Then rinse your feet in warm water and dry them.
A bath based on milkweed helps to 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 brew 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 should be used daily for two weeks.
Fungus cream at home
At home, you can also prepare a cream to treat affected surfaces.
To prepare the cream you will need:
- sifted wood ash;
- pork fat.
These ingredients must be mixed together until smooth.It is better, of course, to use a mixer for this.The cream must be used every 12 hours, applying it to clean and dry skin of the feet.
You can also prepare a cream for fungal infections using the following ingredients:
- yellow sulfur;
- goose fat;
- copper sulfate.
All ingredients must be taken in equal quantities and mixed thoroughly.Then transfer to a small saucepan, put on fire and bring to a boil.Then the cream should stand in a dark, cool place and cool.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 fungus on the feet
Treatment of fungus on the feet 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 one small onion and a head of garlic, peel them and grind them through 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 on overnight.In the morning, some symptoms of the disease will disappear.The procedure should be carried out daily until the fungus on your feet stops bothering you.
If the fungal infection has spread to your toenails, then you can use a mixture made from vinegar, glycerin and rubbing alcohol.All ingredients need to be taken 1 tsp.and mix well.Then the resulting liquid should be applied to the nails (literally a few drops).This should 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 yourself on the advice of a pharmacist at a pharmacy.You should consult a doctor.Only he can really help you overcome this illness and forget about it for many years.