Unfortunately, the number of patients suffering from fungal infections is increasing very rapidly.And the reason for this is the people themselves, who neglect the basic rules of personal hygiene.Foot fungus progresses very quickly and causes a lot of discomfort to the person.And to know how to treat this disease, it is necessary, first of all, to know exactly how the infection occurs and, secondly, how the disease manifests itself in order to make a correct diagnosis in the initial stages of its development.
Infection routes
Infection with fungal diseases can occur in several ways:
- direct way;
- indirectly.
In the first case, the fungus “settles” in the human body through direct contact with the ground, wet tiles, sick people and animals, and some types of plants.
In the second case, the infection occurs through household objects used by a sick person.For example, if you came to visit and dried your feet or hands on someone else's towel, the probability of getting a fungal infection is 60%.
At the same time, some factors that increase the body's susceptibility to the fungus play an important role in this.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 fungi).
Types of fungal infection
Before talking 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 this type of premises are swimming pools, saunas, gyms, bathrooms, etc.
In this case, epidermophytosis can be found on all objects in the room.These are:
- wipes;
- towels;
- oilcloths;
- thermometers;
- mats and so on.
This type of fungus predominantly affects the male part of the planet's population.Since the main cause of infection is the increased activity of the 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:
- bathroom accessories;
- sports equipment;
- shoes and socks;
- other common elements.
Men are also the most susceptible to this disease.Additionally, the older they get, the greater the chance of contracting trichophytosis.This disease is especially common among athletes and workers in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Candidiasis is another common form of fungal foot infection.The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Candida, which is present on the skin of all people 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.This fungus is found especially in large quantities in dairy products and meat.
The "activation" of the vital activity of the Candida fungus is influenced by the following factors:
- skin damage;
- decreased immunity;
- increased sweating;
- increased content of fungi in the ambient air (there are especially many of them in workshops for the production of meat products).
Symptoms of a fungal infection.
The symptoms of foot fungus are as follows:
- itching and burning;
- exhaustion of unpleasant odor;
- peeling of the skin;
- white coating on the skin (more similar to dust);
- change in color and shape of nail plates;
- nail destruction;
- increased sweating of the feet.
In some cases, pustules and fluid-filled blisters may form near the affected skin surfaces.
How to treat foot fungus?
Only a doctor should treat fungal diseases.The fact is that at home only external manifestations of the disease can be eliminated.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 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 antifungal drugs 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 mushrooms in the world, each of which has its own characteristics and thresholds 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 you visit the doctor, a scraping will be taken from the affected surface to determine what type of fungus has settled on your 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 will be able to 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 complete cure.Treatment of fungal infections can last several months, in some cases it can extend up to 6 months.If the infection is not completely treated, symptoms will begin to appear a few weeks after you stop using the medications.
To treat fungus, a fungistatic agent is often prescribed that 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.
Very 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 the treatment is giving positive results.
Fungus treatment with home remedies.
How to cure foot fungus at home?By no means.Because?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, one should not expect a "miracle" from traditional medicine.
Thus, at home you can relieve the itch with a wine vinegar bath.To prepare it you will need a strong wine vinegar solution, in which you will soak your feet for a couple of minutes.But before doing this, you should wash your feet thoroughly with soap and running water and dry them.
After the procedure, it is advisable to put socks on your feet, which must also be pre-moistened in a wine vinegar solution.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 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 will 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 dry them.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 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 tablespoons.l.herb mixture, pour a glass of water on top and simmer for 15 minutes.
After which the broth should be cooled a little and strained, and then the limbs should be washed 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.Brew 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 with warm water and dry them.
A milkweed-based bath helps combat the manifestations of foot fungus.To prepare it, it is necessary to take fresh grass and pour several liters of boiling water over it.Then let it rest and strain.It is not necessary to dilute the infusion with water.Simply pour it into a container and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes.This bath should be used daily for two weeks.
Cream of mushrooms 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 should be mixed until smooth.Of course, it is better to use a mixer for this.The cream should be used every 12 hours, applying it to clean, dry skin of the feet.
You can also prepare a cream for fungal infections using the following ingredients:
- yellow sulfur;
- goose fat;
- copper sulphate.
All ingredients must be taken in equal quantities and mixed well.Then transfer it to a small saucepan, put it on fire and bring it to a boil.Then the cream should sit in a cool, dark place and cool.This cream only needs to be used once a day.But before applying it, you also need to wash your feet with warm water.
Compresses and masks against foot fungus.
Treatment of foot fungus can also be done by using 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 wrap 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 done daily until the fungus on your feet 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 should 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 treatment approach.Therefore, traditional medicine alone will not be enough.Requires oral antifungal medications.But you should not buy them yourself on the advice of a pharmacist in a pharmacy.You should consult a doctor.Only he can really help you overcome this disease and forget about it for many years.