Foot fungus is a disease that no one is immune to. 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 is foot fungus? Fungus, or mycosis, is a disease caused by pathogenic or opportunistic fungi. Often the disease is caused by dermatomycetes fungi, which, as the doctor and her colleagues note, include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton. However, the pathology can also be caused by microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Fungal lesions of the skin of the legs are called dermatomycosis, the nail plate is called onychomycosis. Often pathological conditions are combined.
How to recognize a fungus on the feet?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of fungus affecting the foot. However, there are general symptoms.
At the initial stage, there is dryness of the skin, itching and burning of the sole, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, a slight change in its color occurs, the nails become more brittle, as the doctor notes.
If no treatment is given, the situation worsens. The following symptoms appear:
- small cracks between the toes, on the sole;
- peeling;
- unpleasant smell;
- swelling, redness of the interdigital folds, arch of the foot;
- boils and diaper rash;
- pain while walking;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, reduced growth, destruction of the nail).
Why does the fungus appear on the feet?
Infection occurs through contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects on which fungal spores are present. Swimming pools, saunas and baths represent the greatest risk of infection.
However, you can get infected with the fungus in the pedicure office, when you use the personal belongings of an infected person: shoes, clothes, towels, washcloths. At home, too, one must be careful and not use the things of other family members, as the doctor notes.
There are factors that contribute to the development of the fungus on the feet:
- wounds and cracks;
- excessive sweating and dry skin;
- poor hygiene;
- flat feet;
- circulatory disorders of the legs due to vascular diseases;
- diabetes mellitus and diseases of the immune system.
Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is much easier to cope with it, so therapy should be started when the first symptoms appear. Various folk remedies will help to cope 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 a fungal disease:
- Heat two liters of water for a comfortable temperature. Add 200 ml of vinegar. Dip your feet in the resulting composition and hold for 15 minutes. Soak your feet three times a day. After the procedure, dry your feet thoroughly and put on clean socks.
- Dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to your nails and skin affected by the fungus. Wear clean socks and leave on overnight.
Garlic
Garlic has an antifungal effect, so it works well for the problem. The recipe for the remedy is as follows:
- Squeeze the juice from a head of garlic, add the same amount of water and alcohol.
- Heat the water, in which you add a tablespoon of tar soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Cook the legs for 15 minutes.
- Dry your feet and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
Various essential oils will help cope with fungal infections of the feet and nails: rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang. The doctor says tea tree and eucalyptus oils will be among the most effective in fighting fungi.
With the help of them, 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 a tablespoon of water and essential oil to 30 ° C. Saturate a cotton swab with the product and attach it to problem areas, wrap it with a bandage on top. After an hour, clean the softened skin or nails with a sterile file.
animal fat
How to cure toenail fungus? For these purposes, use pork or goose fat:
- Get equal amounts of fat, copper sulfate, and yellow sulfur.
- Mix thoroughly and bring to a boil.
- Send to a dark place and wait for complete cooling.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To cope with foot fungus, it is important to undergo regular treatments. Use folk remedies and do not forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon enjoy a healthy look of your legs.
Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You shouldn't resort to the treatments described in it without first consulting your doctor.