Mycoses are diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms (fungi). The disease does not pose a fatal danger to a person, but it causes discomfort and is difficult to treat. Often, people with weakened immunity, hormonal imbalances and non -compliance with personal hygiene rules are the most vulnerable to infection. Fungal treatment sometimes lasts for 3-4 months using various types of medications. To enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs, doctors prescribe traditional medicine recipes. The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis of the disease. In the early stages, mycoses are more receptive to the action of antifungal drugs.
Diversity and symptoms of dermatomycosis
Science knows of thousands of types of fungi, but only a few hundred of them are pathogenic to humans.
Types of microorganisms that cause athlete's foot:
- trichophytons;
- dermatophyte;
- candida.
The first signs of mycosis are quite difficult to recognize. What the fungus looks like on the feet depends on the type of microorganism that affects the soft tissues.
Intertriginous forms
The most common type of fungal infection. It occurs in the summer, when foot sweat increases. The folds in the interdigital space are the first to suffer, then the infection captures the nearby area and the nail plate.
The first signs:
- dry skin between fingers;
- cracks and wounds;
- severe itching and burning;
- exfoliation and discoloration of the epidermis.
squamous form
This type of fungal infection affects the lower part of the foot. The skin looks rough, corns, keratin areas, deep cracks appear. When walking, a person experiences pain.
The disease progresses rapidly, capturing the surrounding area and nail plate. In further cases, the nails change color, shape and begin to crumble.
Important!
At the first suspicion of a fungal infection, you should immediately see a doctor for examination and treatment.
Dyshidrotic form
This type of fungus is rare. The first symptom is a watery multi -chamber vesicles with turbid content on the skin. At the site of the ruptured formation, ulcers appear, which merge into continuous erosion.
The main danger of this form of mycosis is the addition of concomitant infections. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the wound, giving rise to other dermatological diseases. If there is no timely therapy, large areas of the foot are affected. It becomes very difficult to cure mycosis.
cause
The main route of transmission of infection is contact. If you do not follow the basic rules of personal hygiene, you can be infected through household items used by patients. Epidermal exfoliating particles, along with disease -causing agents, remain on shoes, towels, at infected locations. Once on the surface of the skin of a healthy person, the fungus begins to actively multiply.
Spores of pathogenic microorganisms can survive in the environment for months until they get favorable conditions. Public places - swimming pools, showers, baths, saunas, dressing rooms in the gym - pose a great danger of infection.
To prevent infection, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene: change socks every day, wear comfortable shoes where the feet do not sweat, after washing, dry the interdigital space well with a towel.
Treatment of fungus with drugs
An important factor in getting rid of skin mycosis is timely examination and treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Getting rid of the fungus is quite difficult. You need a whole range of drugs for external and systemic action. First you need to determine the type of pathogen. This can only be done in a specialized laboratory.
Ointment, cream
This type of drug has a high ability to penetrate deep into the affected tissue, reaching the mycelium.
Antimycotic ointments are divided into 2 types:
- Azole. Inhibits cell growth, destroys mycelium. The course of treatment with azole ointment usually lasts about a month;
- Allylamine. It has a detrimental effect on yeast and mold fungi. This type of ointment has antimycotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Refers to a cheap and effective way. The course of therapy is usually 3 months.
Ointment benefits:
- no harmful effects on the gastrointestinal tract and liver;
- local use allows you to maximize the effect on pathogens;
- versatile for the treatment of skin and nail fungus.
Characteristics of using antifungal ointment:
- before using the medicine, the feet should be thoroughly washed and dried with a towel;
- the drug is applied to the affected surface with a thin layer, rubbing movements;
- avoid getting drugs on the mucous membranes - nose, eyes, mouth;
- follow the instructions for use and the recommendations of a dermatologist.
Tablet
For more effective treatment of advanced mycoses, systemic therapy is prescribed along with external topical preparations.
Tablets for the treatment of severe forms differ in the active ingredient:
- based on ketoconazole. It is prescribed for the treatment of superficial mycosis, which is incompatible with treatment with topical agents. Destroys yeast, dimorphic fungi and dermatophytes;
- Based on terbinafine. Acts on dermatophytes;
- Based on griseofulvin. Acts on dermatophytes. It prevents fungi from multiplying and destroying cell walls. This drug has increased toxicity, so modern medicine is gradually replacing it from the pharmacological market;
- based on fluconazole. Tablets belong to the group of azoles. Helps to get rid of the disease quickly.
Along with the treatment of fungal infections on the feet, drugs that stimulate the immune system and vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to fight the disease better.
Treatment at home with folk remedies
It is possible to remove the fungus with the help of alternative medicine recipes only in the early stages or in combination with pharmaceutical products.
Important!
Before starting self -treatment at home, you should undergo an examination and consult with your doctor.
Iodine
Universal antiseptics not only have a bactericidal effect, but also antimycotic. It is recommended to lubricate the affected area at night. Before the procedure, it is necessary to conduct a sensitivity test. To do this, a small amount of iodine is applied to the elbow bend. If after a few hours there is no redness of the skin, burning or itching, you can use this method. Before bed, a foot bath is made, after which the skin is wiped well with a terry towel. In order not to cause chemical burns, iodine must be diluted with medical alcohol 1: 1. With a cotton swab, a thin layer of the solution is applied evenly to the area affected by the fungus. Cotton socks are worn at the top. Also, for prevention, nail plates are processed.
You can make an effective "speaker" based on iodine:
- Blend to a powder of 14 antifungal tablets;
- Mix with 100 ml of 1% Dimexide and leave in a dark place for a day;
- Add 10 ml of iodine and vinegar essence.
Store the resulting mixture in the refrigerator and stir thoroughly before use. It should be applied on the affected skin area with a cotton swab 1-2 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Hydrogen peroxide
Another well -known antiseptic that helps fight fungal manifestations on the feet. Solutions are applied in the form of applications applied to problem areas. Ten minutes twice a day is enough to overcome mycoses in the early stages in 5-10 days.
Baths to steam the feet with the addition of peroxide are considered useful. It is diluted 1: 1 with water. The solution is not enough, but it is only necessary to put in it the affected part of the foot. The procedure takes 30-40 minutes. The liquid should not come into contact with healthy skin, as it greatly dries out the soft tissues.
Celandine
The medicinal plant successfully treats many skin diseases, including mycoses. Decoction is used for compresses and baths. If it is possible to get freshly harvested plants, then you can try to cure the fungus with fresh juice.
To do this, tear off the bush, wash in running water. Prepare the legs - steam comes out, scales are removed. Yellow juice appears on the stem pieces. They lubricate the affected surface. With self-treatment with celandine at home, you have to be careful. This plant is poisonous. Its juice can cause severe skin burns.
For steaming, a decoction of 5 tbsp is prepared. l. herbs per 1 liter. boiling water. The solution was infused in a container with a tightly closed lid for 20 minutes. After that, a foot bath is done.
Apple cider vinegar
An acidic environment will help get rid of the fungus, where it cannot reproduce and exist. Apple cider vinegar is used in the form of foot baths and rubs.
If the affected area is small, then it is enough to soak a cotton pad or a piece of cotton cloth with an aggressive material. If it spreads widely, healthy areas of skin are rubbed with an oily baby cream for protection, and vinegar -soaked socks are worn.
With that, acidify the water for foot baths. After such steaming, the skin is thoroughly dried and other medicines of natural origin or pharmaceutical preparations are used.
Other home treatments
Traditional medicine offers a variety of tips to get rid of the fungus and its manifestations. Such funds are easily available independently of the components found in any home.
Homemade ointment:
- Mix equal proportions of yellow sulfur, copper sulfate and goose fat in an enamel container. Bring to a boil over low heat and transfer to a glass jar. The ointment is stored in the refrigerator. Apply daily in the morning and at night to the affected skin area;
- Add wood ash to the goose fat. Stir until smooth. Lubricate the problem area with the mixture twice a day;
- Mix the butter with the chopped garlic. The resulting mass is applied to the affected skin at night.
Ointments prepared according to traditional medicine recipes have a positive effect only in cases of early stages of the disease. With advanced mycoses, it is used in combination with the preparation of tablets.
Compressing:
- Onion-garlic. A medium shallow onion and 2 cloves of garlic are crushed into a pulp. The mixture is laid out in a thick layer on the skin, covered with a plastic bag, fixed with a bandage. Cotton socks are placed on top. This procedure is performed before bedtime. In the morning, the compress is removed, and the feet are washed with warm water and soap. This method will help to overcome the disease in 7-10 days;
- Celandine with tea tree oil. 1 hb. l. the chopped herbs are mixed with oil until a concentrated substance is obtained. It is widely used on fungal localization and sheltered areas, as in previous recipes;
- Compressed herbs. In a saucepan, mix 400 ml of sunflower oil, 1 tbsp. l. herbs comfrey, mint, calendula and radiola. Heat the dough over low heat to 50-60 degrees. Insist in a dark, cool place during the day. Remove the dry material through a sieve or gauze. With a mixture of oil, compression is made in the evening for 1-2 hours. The safe action of the recipe allows you to use it in childhood.
Important!
Before any medical procedure, you should steam your feet for 15-20 minutes.
Tray:
- The most common and easy solution to steam consists of 1 tbsp. l. table salt or sea salt, 1 tbsp. l. baking soda and 1 liter. air. The procedure takes 15 minutes. Then the feet are washed with warm running water and dried;
- Brew strong coffee, cool and soak your feet in it for 5 minutes. After that, rinse with water;
- Pour two liters of boiling water over the herb mixture: 2 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers, horsetail, flax seeds. After cooling to an acceptable temperature, you should toss the legs in the resulting broth for 15 minutes.
prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, in order not to get sick, you should take some precautions.
Tips to help prevent infection:
- wear natural, high -quality shoes where the feet do not sweat;
- at public places of interest (baths, saunas, showers, swimming pools, dressing rooms) it is mandatory to wear replaceable rubber slippers;
- use only personal shoes;
- maintain immunity.
Foot fungus is a dangerous disease. It is easy enough to get infected, but difficult to get rid of. Usually people start the disease due to the fact that mycosis does not appear immediately. You should pay attention to your body and seek medical help at the first suspicious symptom.