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? The fungus or mycosis is a disease caused by pathogenic or opportunistic fungi. Often the disease is caused by dermatomycete fungi, which, as noted by the doctor and his colleagues, include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton. However, the pathology can also be caused by microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Fungal lesions on the skin of the legs are called dermatomycosis, the nail plate is called onychomycosis. Often the pathological conditions are combined.
How to recognize a fungus on the feet?
Symptoms differ depending on the type of fungus that affects the foot. However, there are general symptoms.
In the initial stage, there is dryness of the skin, itching and burning on the sole, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, there is a slight change in its color, 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;
- bubbles and diaper rash;
- pain when walking;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, impaired growth, destruction of the nail).
Why do foot fungus appear?
The infection occurs by contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects on which there are fungal spores. Pools, saunas, and baths pose the highest risk of infection.
However, you can get infected with the fungus in the pedicure office, when using the personal belongings of an infected person: shoes, clothes, towels, washcloths. Even at home, you need to be careful not to use the things of other family members, as the doctor points out.
There are factors that contribute to the development of foot fungus:
- wounds and cracks;
- excessive sweating and dry skin;
- Poor hygiene;
- flatfoot;
- circulatory disorders of the legs due to vascular diseases;
- diabetes mellitus and pathologies of the immune system.
Folk remedies for the treatment of foot fungus.
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is much easier to deal with it, so therapy should be started when the first symptoms appear. Various home remedies will help to cope with the fungus.
How to treat foot fungus with home remedies? Vinegar, animal fat, essential oils, and garlic will help.
Vinegar
Apple and table cider vinegar will help stop the development of a fungal disease:
- Heat two liters of water to a comfortable temperature. Add 200 ml of vinegar. Dip your feet in the resulting composition and hold it there 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 ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to nails and skin affected by the fungus. Put on clean socks and let it sit 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 add a tablespoon of tar soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Steam your legs for 15 minutes.
- Dry your feet with a cloth and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
Various essential oils will help to cope 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 fungus.
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 pad with the product and stick it to problem areas, wrap it with a bandage on top. After an hour, clean the softened skin or nail plates with a sterile file.
Animal fat
How to cure toenail fungus? For these purposes, use pork or goose fat:
- Take equal amounts of grease, copper sulfate, and yellow sulfur.
- Mix well and bring to a boil.
- Send to a dark place and wait for it to cool completely.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To deal with foot fungus, it is important to receive regular treatments. Use home remedies and don't forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon enjoy a healthy appearance of your legs.
Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to the treatments described in it without first consulting your doctor.