Effective treatment for foot fungus. Foot fungus is a fairly common disease; according to statistics, at least up to 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, because it settles and develops imperceptibly.
The fungus brings not only aesthetic and physical discomforts, but also synthesizes toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. That is why it is so important to know the ways to prevent and fight this disease in order to maintain one's health. How does the fungus affect the legs and what contributes to this?
Causes of foot fungus
Simple ways to get parasitic fungus into the skin can be cracks and abrasions between the toes that occur with excessive sweating or, conversely, dry feet, all kinds of abrasions from wearing too tight shoes, poor cleaning of the feet after taking water procedures. In addition, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as a decrease in immunity or stress can cause a fungal infection.
The fungus is transmitted through close contact with the patient, through the objects he has used - a towel, a towel, shoes, clothes, manicure devices and even a comb. Especially in this regard, common areas, such as bathrooms and swimming pools, become dangerous, because heat and humidity are ideal conditions for the development of the fungus. Once in the nail plate, which is made up almost entirely of keratin, the fungus slowly begins to grow and multiply. It gradually takes the place of the nail, dissolving it and begins to spread further to the surrounding skin. With a fungal infection, cracks and peeling are formed between the toes first, then the skin begins to redden and itch.
Foot fungus signs
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- darkening of the nail
- nail platinum becomes brittle and exfoliates
- the shape of the nail itself is deformed
- pain in the toes
- bad smell
Therefore, at the first manifestations of a fungal infection, it is urgent to take measures to fight the fungus in order to stop its spread further along the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, it will move from nail to nail and further into neighboring areas of the skin, in very advanced cases, internal organs are also damaged.
If you doubt that you have a fungus, you can conduct such a screening test at home: dilute the potassium permanganate crystals in warm water to get a purple solution. Dip your feet in and hold for a while. The affected areas of the nail will remain clear and the unaffected areas will turn brown.
You can contact a skin disease specialist - a dermatologist, who, most likely, will send you for an analysis - scraping to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Foot fungus folk remedies treatment
You can effectively treat the fungus on the legs using 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 a pharmacy, people managed and coped with a fungal infection without them using folk recipes:
- Foot fungus treatment with onions. The easiest way to deal is with onions. Grate the onion head and squeeze the juice and grease the areas affected by the fungus on the legs. When the juice dries, it is not necessary to wash off the legs, it is better to carry out the procedure before bedtime.
- Sea salt. A sea salt solution will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, wash your feet in baths with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Then moisten the cotton ball in saline, apply the cotton ball to the spot affected by the fungus and hold it until it dries. Then wash your feet with a soda solution (the proportion is the same as in a sea solution) and dry your feet.
- With garlic. A good effect is the treatment of foot fungus with garlic salt infusion. 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 crushed garlic clove. Strain and squeeze with gauze, add another 4 tablespoons of saline to the resulting mixture. Lubricate the areas affected by the fungus with the prepared solution 2 times a day. Each time it is necessary to prepare a new solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another aid for foot mycosis. Dilute clay powder (sold in pharmacies) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer to 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 a lemon solution (1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 glass of water). Clay lotions should be done at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, preparing a new portion of clay each time.
- Celandine juice. In the summer, if celandine grows in your country house, you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to tear off the plant, juice of orange color will immediately appear on it and lubricate the affected areas with it. Just keep in mind that the procedure is not very pleasant, itching will be felt, but as the juice is absorbed, it will pass. After a couple of minutes, grease the area with the juice again and do it 3-4 times. It is necessary to repeat the procedure twice a day for a month. In addition, you can prepare celandine oil yourself, which can also be used against foot fungus throughout the year, and not just in summer, when this plant is in bloom.
- Treatment with celandine wraps. If you have dry celandine herb, grind it into a powder and mix with tea tree oil to create a thick emulsion. Apply daily as a compress on the affected areas of the legs. Keep doing this until the old fungal nail comes off and a new one grows in its place.
- Propolis. Alcoholic tincture of propolis is an effective and inexpensive remedy against fungi, you can always buy it at the pharmacy. Possessing an anti-itching, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerating and anesthetic action, propolis is harmful to the fungus. Moisten a cotton swab with 20% propolis tincture and apply it to the affected area, wrap the legs in polyethylene and fix everything with a bandage, it is better to carry out the procedure at night. After about a month of treatment, the nail affected by the fungus will come off and a new one will grow in its place.
- Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another effective remedy for foot fungus, lubricate the affected areas with it several times a day and the fungus will recede. You can do this, for example, while sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite show. Apply a cotton ball moistened with apple cider vinegar to the problem areas of the legs and then, when it dries, replace it with a new one. Over time, the fungus on the legs will go down.
- Herbal balm. You can make 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: peppermint, comfrey and golden root (Rhodiola rosea). Turn on a small fire and heat, but not more than 65 degrees. Turn off the heat and let it brew for 12 hours, filtered. Add oily solutions of vitamins A, E and D to the conditioner, 1 tablespoon each, mix everything and lubricate the affected areas with the conditioner at least 2 times a day. It is necessary to store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life does not exceed six months.
- Birch tar. Birch tar, sold in pharmacies, is another of the strongest enemies of the foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas of the toes and nails every time after a shower and do not rinse off afterwards. After several of these procedures, you will not even notice how the fungus will disappear without a trace. Personally, this method helped me a lot in coping with foot fungus, which I once picked up while visiting the pool.
If someone in your family has a fungus, you need to take precautions so that infection doesn't occur.
- Until the patient has cured the fungus, she should not walk around the house barefoot and also sit with her feet on the sofa or chairs.
- Before taking a bath, it must be thoroughly washed with any liquid product with chlorine, which kills the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other pedicure and manicure items must be cleaned with alcohol.
- If the fungus was found in one of the spouses, then he must go to bed in clean, ironed cotton socks and change the bedding every week.
- Be sure to treat your shoes by rubbing them inside with apple cider vinegar, 40% acetic acid, or formalin solution.
Foot fungus prevention
- Never wear someone else's shoes and, during the visit, slippers are offered to you. It is best to bring a change of shoes with you or go to the room with socks on.
- In the cold season, always change your shoes for replaceable shoes, do not let your feet overheat, because it is when your feet sweat that the fungi begin their attack.
- Don't forget to bring rubber slippers with you when you visit the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic baths in the sanatorium. In the bath, pour boiling water on a bench and basin, spread 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 blackboards. The last precaution is not superfluous, in wet hot sand is a breeding ground for fungal infections, hides many scales and fragments of fungus-infected nails.
- Replace bath and shower mats from cloth and sponge to rubber. Moisture persists in the folds, skin flakes and nail fragments get stuck, and a rubber mat can always be easily wetted with hot water.
- After taking a shower or bath, clean your feet thoroughly until they are dry, and especially carefully between the toes so that no moisture remains and, with it, the chances of fungus settling.
- Change your socks, stockings or tights every day. Do not allow anyone to use files, manicure tools, sponges, wipes, even temporarily.
- Do not wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Let it dry well during the day.
- When shopping for shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take care of your feet - take measurements in time for sweating, dryness, calluses and prevent chapped legs.
- If, however, you suspect that you may catch a fungus while visiting the pool or beach, when you come home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton ball dipped in a 6% table vinegar solution or wash your feet with tar soap.
Observe these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to cure later.