Fungus on the feet 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 on time. Experts will tell you how to solve the problem.
Fungus on the feet: 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 dermatomycete fungi, which, as noted by the doctor and her colleagues, 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 feet are called dermatomycosis, the nail plate is called onychomycosis. Pathological conditions are often combined.
How to recognize a fungus on the feet?
Symptoms vary 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 of the soles, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, there is a slight change in its color, the nails become more fragile, as noted by the doctor.
If left untreated, the situation worsens. The following symptoms occur:
- small cracks between the toes, on the sole;
- peeling;
- unpleasant odor;
- swelling, redness of interdigital folds, arch of foot;
- blisters and diaper rash;
- pain while walking;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, growth disorder, destruction of the nail).
Why do fungi appear on the feet?
Infection occurs by contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects on which fungal spores are located. Swimming pools, saunas and baths pose the greatest risk of infection.
However, you can get the fungus in a pedicure practice, when you use the personal belongings of the infected person - shoes, clothes, towels, laundry towels. At home, one should be careful and not use the things of other family members, 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 feet;
- circulatory disorders in 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 be started when the first symptoms appear. Various folk remedies will help you deal with the fungus.
How to treat foot fungus folk remedies? Vinegar, animal fat, essential oils and garlic will help.
Vinegar
Table and apple cider vinegar will help stop the development of fungal diseases:
- Heat two liters of water to 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 cotton wool in apple cider vinegar and apply it on nails and fungus-affected skin. Put on clean socks and leave overnight.
Garlic
Garlic has an antifungal effect, so it works well on the problem. The prescription for the drug is as follows:
- Squeeze the juice from one head of garlic, add the same amount of water and alcohol.
- Heat the water to which you add one tablespoon of tar soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Steam your legs for 15 minutes.
- Wipe your feet and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
In the fight against fungal infections of the feet and nails will help a variety of essential oils: rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang. The doctor says that tea tree and eucalyptus oils will be among the most effective in the fight against fungi.
With their help you can make baths and wraps:
- Wash your feet first. Add three 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. Soak a cotton pad in the product and attach it to the problem areas, wrapping it with a bandage on top. After an 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 it to cool completely.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To fight the fungus on your feet, it is important to have regular treatments. Use folk remedies and do not forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon enjoy the healthy look of 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.