Methods for treating foot fungus

Toenail fungus is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms localized on the skin, in the spaces between the toes and the nail plates.This causes significant discomfort and causes serious complications.Let's take a closer look at how to treat foot fungus in order to prevent the disease from becoming chronic and eliminate relapses.

Causes and symptoms of foot fungus

The disease is caused by the spores of Trichophyton rubrum and other yeasts and molds..Under favorable conditions, they multiply rapidly, quickly worsening the condition of the legs.

Doctors identify several factors that contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora:

• weakened immune system;
• excessive sweating of the feet;
• shoes that are not the right size;
• corns, calluses, scratches on the feet;
• chronic infectious and endocrine diseases;
• long-term use of antibiotics;
• lack of hygiene;
• wear shoes made of artificial materials that do not allow air to pass through;
• flat feet.

Children are more susceptible to fungal infections.Their immunity is not yet fully developed, the skin on their feet is too thin, so fungi easily enter the body and begin to multiply.

When the skin on the feet becomes infected, unpleasant symptoms quickly appear.Most often, the primary infection occurs in the spaces between the toes and gradually spreads to the foot.Many pathogens also affect the nail plates, provoking the development of onychomycosis - nail fungus.

The pathology has several stages, characterized by certain signs.

1. The initial phase is hidden, making itself felt by slight peeling between the fingers, to which a person rarely attaches importance.
2. Then small cracks form, the coat intensifies and gently covers the side of the foot.The skin becomes covered with small scaly patches and a scaly mycosis develops.
3. Little by little, the symptoms get worse.Itching, burning appear, the affected area thickens and becomes rough.When the fungus becomes hyperkeratotic, the epidermis loses its elasticity and a skin pattern clearly appears on it.The burning between the fingers intensifies.
4. If the intertriginous stage begins, the disease often affects the nails.Yellow-brown spots appear on them, they deform and crumble.The patient is constantly bothered by an unpleasant odor emanating from his feet.The skin peels off, small ulcers and deep cracks form, causing pain when walking.

The advanced form of the disease causes a rash to appear between the fingers and on the feet.The small, dense bubbles often merge with each other.When they burst, oozing wounds remain in their place and cause severe itching.

Routes of infection

Fungal spores remain viable for a long time in the environment, so it is easy to become infected with the disease in the most unexpected places.But the most favorable conditions for their development are heat and high humidity. 

For this reason, people visiting the following places are at risk:

• swimming pools;
• thermal baths;
• saunas;
• fitness centers;
• beaches.

Fungus can appear on anything that is there, even if regular disinfection is carried out.Therefore, in such places, you should avoid common objects and make sure to carry replacement shoes with you.

Military personnel are in danger.Most often, army soldiers wear uncomfortable shoes that do not allow air to pass through.As a result, the feet sweat, microtrauma appears into which the fungus penetrates.

There are two types of infection.The first is the direct path through direct contact with the infectious agent when communicating with a sick person, caring for an animal or walking barefoot on the ground and sand.The second - the indirect route leads to infection through objects belonging to infected people or animals.

Diagnosis

For fungal treatment to be successful, a consultation with a dermatologist is necessary.The specialist will carry out a visual inspection, carefully examining the lesions.

To make a correct diagnosis, it is important to inform the doctor of all alarming symptoms and report previously suffered mycoses and other diseases.

To accurately determine the presence of an infection and the type of pathogen, the doctor must take blood, a nail or skin scraping for analysis.Laboratory tests must be carried out without fail.There are more than 500 species of fungi that have different drug resistance thresholds and require different treatment tactics.

1. Microscopic examination reveals the presence of fungi.The sample is treated with special preparations and examined under a microscope, trying to find spores.This test makes it possible to determine the presence of fungus and its concentration.
2. More accurate results are provided by bacterial culture.The biological material is placed in a nutrient medium.If pathogenic cells are present in the scraping, fungal colonies begin to develop, which are subject to careful examination.The analysis takes 2 days to 4 weeks.The time depends on the type of infection.
3. PCR - polymerase chain reaction - is necessary to identify the specific type of fungus by identifying the DNA of the pathogen.This requires scratching the affected area.Test performance is approximately 100%.
4. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA) is carried out in a vein and allows you to identify the titer of antibodies to a specific pathogen and find out the exact cause of the disease.

You should go to the hospital if there are any changes in your skin condition.Even minor flaking and itching between the fingers cannot be ignored.Otherwise, the disease will affect the foot and nails and it will be more difficult to cure.

Treatment

Fungus on the feet requires an integrated approach.The intensity of treatment depends on the type of infection and the extent of damage to the skin and nails.

Therapy includes medications for internal and external use and careful hygiene.The use of traditional medicine recipes is suitable as an auxiliary method.

Drugs

The treatment regimen should be prescribed by a doctor based on the patient's clinical picture.For the treatment of adults, drugs in capsules or tablets, antifungal creams and ointments are used.Control methods are aimed at eliminating pathological microorganisms and healing the skin.Medications should not be stopped until complete recovery..

Creams

Productive treatment of mushrooms is provided by creams.They have a light texture and penetrate quickly.When choosing a product, you should take into account contraindications for use and follow the recommendations of a specialist.

The cream should be applied regularly, after thoroughly washing the skin with laundry soap and drying it.

Ointments

The choice of antifungal ointments is very wide.Before starting treatment, allergic reactions and other side effects should be excluded. 

If the fungal infection of the feet is complicated by a secondary infection and other remedies do not bring the expected result, the dermatologist prescribes ointments based on glucocorticoids.

The drugs quickly relieve inflammation and stop the disease at any stage, but have many contraindications.They should be taken strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dosage. 

An effective remedy to eliminate all signs of fungus is salicylic acid ointment.This is a simple, inexpensive medication that can be used in two ways:

• treat the affected area 3 times a day;
• Before going to bed, apply the product under the dressing and let it sit overnight.

After compresses, the skin may peel and peel a lot.You can easily get rid of such manifestations with soda baths (1 tablespoon of soda per 1 liter of hot water).The procedure should be carried out every other day for the duration of treatment.

Pills

To improve the effectiveness of therapy, the use of external agents is often combined with internal medications.Tablets can have a strong effect on the body as a whole, so they should not be taken uncontrollably.

It is recommended to treat nail fungus with fungistatic and fungicidal drugs that suppress the growth of the fungal colony and destroy the pathogenic flora.

The list of antifungal drugs is varied.A dermatologist may recommend various medications based on your medical history and symptoms.The doctor sets the rules for admission.You must strictly follow its instructions.

Folk remedies

You can recover faster by using traditional methods as additional therapy.To get rid of foot fungus, use:

• hot baths;
• homemade ointments;
• compresses;
• lotions made from medicinal herbs.

Before treatment, it is important to make sure that there is no individual intolerance to the components of traditional recipes.

Ointments against fungus

Homemade ointments help fight pathogenic flora.

1. Copper sulfate, yellow sulfur and goose fat are combined in equal proportions in an enamel container and mixed thoroughly.Place over low heat, bring to a boil and turn off.The mixture should be cooled and transferred to a glass jar.Store in a cool, dark place.Apply to the affected areas morning and evening until all symptoms disappear.
2. You can prepare a simpler recipe.You will need to take goose fat and wood ash in equal proportions.Knead the ingredients together until smooth.Use twice daily, applying generously to affected areas.

Compresses and masks

1. A good remedy for fungus is an onion and garlic mask.You need to peel 2-3 cloves of garlic and a small onion.Grind and spread the pulp in a thick layer on the affected skin.Cover with cellophane, bandage and put on socks.It is advisable to carry out the procedure in the evening and leave the mask on until the morning.After waking up, the bandage should be removed and the body washed with water.Treatment should be carried out daily until healing.
2. A mixture of celandine and tea tree oil is useful for a compress.Oil is added to a tablespoon of dry crushed vegetable raw materials.You should get a thick paste.It should be applied to the places where the fungus is located, wrap the leg in polyethylene and insulate it.Apply the compress in the evening regularly for at least 2 weeks.
3. An effective basis for a compress is obtained from medicinal herbs.You need to pour 400 ml of sunflower or olive oil into the pan.Add 1 tablespoon each of calendula flowers, peppermint, comfrey and radiola rose.Put on fire and heat up to 60 degrees.Turn off and place in a dark place for a day.Then filter.Use the oil blend as a compress for 1 hour, 2 times a day.The method has a mild effect, so it can be used to treat a child, provided that there is no allergy to herbs..

Thermal baths

1. The simplest bath for foot fungus is salt and baking soda.You need to dissolve the ingredients in warm water at the rate of 1 spoon of soda and 1 spoon of salt per 1 liter of water.Immerse your feet in the liquid and hold for 15 minutes.Finally, rinse the limbs under the tap and dry them.
2. Herbal milkweed is suitable for preparing a bath.You need to measure 3 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 3 liters of boiling water over it.Wrap in a towel and leave for 4 hours.Strain, warm slightly and pour into a bowl.Keep your feet in the liquid for about half an hour.The frequency of the procedure is 1 time every 2 days.Duration 1 month.
3. Strong coffee inhibits the development of pathogenic spores.You need to prepare a drink (1 tablespoon of ground coffee for 250 ml of water).Once cooled to a comfortable temperature, pour it into a basin and place your feet there for 20 minutes.It is important that areas affected by the fungus are covered with water.Treatment can be carried out daily for a long time.

Herbal Washes and Lotions

Many medicinal herbs have a pronounced antifungal effect.To treat foot fungus, it is useful to use a medicinal plant.

You will need:

• calendula flowers;
• oak bark;
• dried blackberries;
• verbena herb.

The components must be mixed in equal proportions.Take 3 spoons of the mixture, add 500 ml of water and put in a bain-marie.Simmer for 20 minutes, let cool and filter.You need to wash your feet and toes with the herbal decoction 2-3 times a day and apply lotions to the affected areas for half an hour.

Alcohol tincture of propolis helps fight diseases.It can be purchased in pharmacies.Gauze is soaked in the liquid and applied to the feet for 30 minutes or the affected areas are wiped with a cotton swab 3 times a day.

Prevention

Foot fungus is an insidious disease that requires serious treatment.To reduce the risk of infection, adequate prevention is necessary.It is recommended to follow simple rules:

• avoid high humidity;
• do not try on someone else's shoes;
• maintain foot hygiene.

It is important to control sweating.For this you can use regular talcum powder.To keep your skin healthy and not cracked, you should regularly lubricate it with moisturizer and take baking soda baths once a week.

During treatment, bedding should be boiled, socks should be changed daily and washed thoroughly in hot water.Manicure accessories must be systematically disinfected.To prevent reinfection, it is necessary to treat the inside of shoes with table vinegar or medical alcohol.