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 exacerbated by the fact that most people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the fungus because it settles and develops invisibly.
Fungi cause not only aesthetic and physical discomfort, but also synthesize toxic substances that can accumulate in the body and poison it. This is why it is so important to know about the ways to prevent and fight this disease in order to maintain your health. How does the fungus affect the feet and what contributes to this?
Causes of foot mold
Easy ways for parasitic fungi to penetrate the skin can be cracks and scratches between the toes that occur with excessive sweating or, conversely, drying of the feet, all kinds of scratches from wearing very tight shoes, poor wiping of the feetafter receiving water procedures. . In addition, various endocrine and vascular diseases, varicose veins, diabetes, flat feet, as well as decreased immunity or stress can cause a fungal infection.
The fungus is transmitted through close contact with the patient, through the objects he used - a towel, a washing cloth, shoes, clothes, manicure accessories and even a comb. Especially in this regard, common areas, such as baths and swimming pools, become dangerous. , because heat and humidity are ideal. conditions for mold development. Once on the nail plate, almost entirely composed of keratin, the fungus begins to grow slowly 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 skin are initially created between the toes and later the skin begins to redden and itch.
Signs of mold on the feet
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are:
- darkening of the nail
- the platinum of the nails becomes brittle and exfoliates
- the shape of the nail itself is deformed
- pain in the fingertips
- Bad smell
Therefore, at the first manifestations of a fungal infection, it is urgent to take measures to fight the fungus in order to prevent its further spread along the skin. If the fungus is not treated at all, then it will move from one nail to another and further to the adjacent areas of the skin, in very advanced cases the internal organs are also damaged.
If in doubt if you have a fungus, then you can do such a screening test at home: dilute the potassium permanganate crystals in warm water to make a purple solution. Dip your feet into it and hold for a while. The affected areas of the nail will remain light, and the untouched areas will become brown.
You can contact a specialist in skin diseases - a dermatologist, who, in all likelihood, will send you for an analysis - itching to determine the type of fungus, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Treatment of foot fungus with folk remedies
You can effectively treat foot fungus using folk methods, especially this treatment can be successful at the onset of the disease. Previously, when there were no such powerful antifungal drugs sold in a pharmacy, people achieved and withstood a fungal infection without using folk recipes:
- Treatment of foot mold with onions. The easiest way to treat it is with onions. Grind the onion head and squeeze its juice and grease the areas affected by the mold on the feet. When the fluid dries, the feet do not need to be washed, the procedure is best done at bedtime.
- Sea salt. A solution of sea salt will help cure the fungus in 10 days. Twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, wash your feet in the bath with sea salt (1 teaspoon per 1 cup of water). Then soak the cotton wool in saline solution, apply the cotton wool to the area affected by the fungus and hold until it dries. Then wash your feet with a soda solution (the proportion is the same as sea salt) and dry your feet.
- With garlic. A good effect is the treatment of foot fungus with infusion of garlic salt. Prepare a solution of table salt (for 1 liter of water take 1 teaspoon of salt). Take 1 tablespoon of this solution and add 1 large clove of crushed garlic to it. Drain and squeeze with cheesecloth, add another 4 tablespoons of salt to the resulting mixture. Lubricate the areas affected by the mold with the prepared solution 2 times a day. Each time it is necessary to prepare a fresh solution for treatment.
- Clay treatment. Clay is another aid for foot mycosis. Dilute the clay powder (sold at the pharmacy) with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream and apply a thick layer on the affected areas, bandaging 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 lemon juice in 1 glass of water). Clay creams should be made at least 2 times a day, and preferably 3 times, each time preparing a new piece of clay.
- Celandine juice. In summer, if celandine grows in your country house, then you can use the juice of this plant, as it has a strong antifungal effect. It is necessary to pluck the plant, the orange juice will appear immediately 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 with the absorption of the fluid will pass. After a few minutes, repaint the area with liquid and do this 3-4 times. You need to repeat the procedure twice a day for a month. In addition, you can prepare for yourself celandine oil, which can also be used against foot mold all year round and not just in summer when this plant blooms.
- Treatment with celandine compresses. If you have dry celandine herb, grind it into a powder and mix it with tea tree oil to make a thick emulsion. Apply as a compress to the affected areas of the feet daily. Keep doing this until the old mold nail comes off and a new one grows in its place.
- Propolis. Alcohol tincture of propolis is an effective and affordable remedy against fungi, you can always buy it in a pharmacy. With antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerative and anesthetic action, propolis is harmful to the fungus. Wet a cotton swab with 20% propolis solution and apply on the affected area, wrap the feet with polyethylene and secure everything with a bandage, the procedure is best done at night. After about a month of treatment, the nail affected by the fungus will detach and a young one will grow in its place.
- Uthull molle. 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 swab moistened with apple cider vinegar to the problem areas of the feet and then, when it dries, change to a new one. Over time, the fungus on the feet will come down.
- Balsam bimor. You can prepare yourself an antifungal healing herbal balm: pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil in an enamel bowl and add 1 tablespoon chopped dried herbs: mint, comfrey and golden root (Rhodiola rosea). Put on a low heat and preheat, but not more than 65 degrees. Turn off the stove and let it bake for 12 hours, drain. Add to the balm oily solutions of vitamins A, E and D, from 1 tablespoon, mix everything and lubricate the affected areas with balm at least 2 times a day. You should store the balm in the refrigerator, the shelf life is not more than six months.
- Birch tar. Birch tar, which is sold in a pharmacy, is another of the strongest enemies of foot fungus. Lubricate the affected areas on the toes and nail plates every time after showering and do not wash after that. After a few such procedures, you will not even notice how the fungus will disappear without leaving a trace. Personally, this method helped me a lot to cope with the foot fungus, which I once caught while visiting the pool.
If someone in your family has a fungus, then you need to take precautions to prevent infection.
- Until the patient has cured the fungus, he should not walk around the house barefoot and also sit with his feet on the sofa or chair.
- Before taking a bath, it should be thoroughly washed with any liquid chlorine product, which kills the fungus.
- Scissors, nail files and other pedicure and manicure items should be wiped with alcohol.
- If the fungus was found on one of the spouses, then he should go to bed with clean, ironed cotton socks and change the bed every week.
- Be sure to treat the shoes by wiping them inside with apple cider vinegar, 40% acetic acid or formalin solution.
Prevention of foot mold
- Never wear someone else's shoes, and when you visit - you are offered slippers. It is better to take a shoe change with you or go to the room with socks.
- In the cold season, always change your shoes into replaceable shoes, do not let your feet overheat, because just when your feet sweat, the fungus starts their attack.
- Do not forget to take rubber slippers with you when visiting the solarium, swimming pool, sauna, bath or therapeutic bath in the sanatorium. In the bathroom, pour boiling water over a bench and a tub, place 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 tiled beach. The last precaution is not superfluous, in the hot wet sand is a fertile ground for fungal infections, hides a lot of scales infected by the fungus and nail fragments.
- Replace bath and shower mats from cloth and sponge to rubber. Moisture remains in their folds, pieces of skin and nail pieces get stuck and a rubber mat can always be easily wetted with hot water.
- After taking a shower or bath, wipe your feet thoroughly until they are dry, and especially carefully between your toes, so that no moisture remains and with it the chances of soothing the fungus.
- Change your socks, stockings or tights every day. Do not allow anyone to even temporarily use files, manicure tools, sponges, towels.
- Do not wear the same shoes for more than two days in a row. Allow to dry properly during the day.
- When buying shoes, never try them on barefoot.
- Monitor the condition of your feet, take proper care of your feet - take timely measures for sweating, dryness, calluses and prevent cracks in the feet.
- If, however, you suspect that you may catch a fungus while visiting the pool or beach, then when you return home, treat your feet by wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in a 6% solution of table vinegar or wash your feet. with tar soap.
Observe these precautions, remember that the disease is always easier to prevent than to treat later.