Foot fungus is a disease from which no one is immune. The disease does not go away on its own, so it is important to treat it in time. Experts will tell you how to get rid of the problem.
Foot fungus: symptoms and causes
What are foot fungus? Fungus or mycosis is a disease that is provoked by pathogenic or opportunistic fungi. Often the disease is caused by dermatomycete fungi, which, as noted by the doctor and her colleagues, include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton. However, the pathology can also be provoked by microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Fungal lesions on the skin of the feet are called dermatomycosis, the nail plate is called onychomycosis. Often pathological conditions are combined.
How to recognize fungus on the feet?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of fungus that affects the foot. However, there are common symptoms.
In the initial stage there is dryness of the skin, itching and burning of the sole, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, there is a slight change in its color, the nails become more brittle, as noted by the doctor.
If no treatment is given, the situation worsens. The following symptoms occur:
- small cracks between the toes, on the sole;
- peeling;
- unpleasand smell;
- swelling, redness of the interdigital folds, arch of the foot;
- blisters and diaper rash;
- pain when walking;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, impaired growth, destruction of the nail).
Why do fungus appear on the feet?
Infection occurs through contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects on which there are fungal spores. Swimming pools, saunas and baths pose the greatest risk of infection.
However, you can become infected with the fungus in the pedicure room when you use the personal belongings of an infected person - shoes, clothes, towels, towels. Even at home, you should be careful not to use other family members' belongings, as the doctor notes.
There are factors that contribute to the development of fungus on the feet:
- wounds and cracks;
- excessive sweating and dry skin;
- poor hygiene;
- flat steps;
- circulatory disorders of the legs due to vascular diseases;
- diabetes mellitus and pathologies of the immune system.
Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet
In the initial stage of the disease it is much easier to deal with it, so therapy should begin at the first symptoms. Various folk remedies will help you deal with the fungus.
How to treat fungus on the feet with folk remedies? Vinegar, animal fat, essential oils and garlic will help.
vinegar
Table and apple cider vinegar will help stop the development of fungal disease:
- Heat two liters of water for a comfortable temperature. Add 200 ml of vinegar. Dip your feet into the resulting composition and hold for 15 minutes. Soak your feet three times a day. After the procedure, dry your feet well and put on clean socks.
- Soak a cotton swab in apple cider vinegar and apply it on the nails and skin affected by the fungus. Put on clean socks and leave overnight.
Garlic
Garlic has an antifungal effect, so it handles the problem well. The prescription for the drug is as follows:
- Squeeze the juice from one head of garlic, add to it the same amount of water and alcohol.
- Heat the water, add a tablespoon of grated soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Boil your feet for 15 minutes.
- Wipe your feet and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
Various essential oils will help to deal with fungal infections of the feet and nails: rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang. The doctor says that tea tree and eucalyptus oils will be among the most effective in fighting the fungus.
With their help you can make baths and compresses:
- Wash your feet first. Add ten drops of essential oil to three liters of warm water. Soak your feet in the bath for 20 minutes, then put on warm socks or wrap your feet in a warm towel for 15 minutes.
- Heat one tablespoon of water and essential oil to 30 ° C. Wet a cotton swab with the product and attach it to the problem areas, wrap it with a bandage on top. After one hour, clean the softened skin or nail plates with a sterile file.
Animal fats
How to cure toenail fungus? For these purposes, use lard or goose fat:
- Take equal amounts of fat, copper sulfate and yellow sulfur.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Send in a dark place and wait for complete cooling.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To deal with fungus on the feet, it is important to conduct regular treatments. Use folk remedies and do not forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon enjoy a healthy look on your feet.
Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to the treatments described in it without first consulting your doctor.