Foot skin disease is a very common pathology. Pathogenic bacteria provoke the disease, and it is transmitted from person to person. Often people who are sick do not know whether skin fungus on the feet is a way to treat it and whether it can be removed at home with folk remedies. There are many ways to get rid of the signs of mycosis with the help of special medicines and old recipes.
What is skin fungus on feet
Infectious diseases that affect the skin are called fungi. The most common type is foot mycosis. Fungal spores can live in ordinary shoes for a long time and adapt to any living conditions. The most common infection is platinum nail on the feet and legs. Skin lesions do not pose a threat to life, but contribute to the development of cosmetic defects. If foot mycosis is not treated at an early stage, then other microbes in the form of mold bacteria or Candida fungi join it.
Disease symptoms
Treatment of skin fungus on the feet should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear, otherwise the disease will drag on for a long time. Mycosis is characterized by peeling of the skin. This is due to the fact that microbes penetrate deep into the skin layer, destroying it. Spots form on the nails (onychomycosis), small bubbles appear between the toes (intertriginous form), which fill with fluid and break, the base becomes overgrown with calluses (hyperkeratotic appearance). Fungal reproduction in any layer of the epidermis is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and the following symptoms:
- burning, itching, accompanied by dry skin;
- flour peeling;
- nails darken, thicken, peel;
- the erosion process develops in the area of redness.
Foot fungus treatment
Before using an antifungal agent, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because the pathology should be treated, depending on the type of pathogen and the duration of the course of the disease. In the advanced form, foot mycosis is difficult to treat. How to get rid of toenail fungus:
- localization of the disease by local therapy in the early stages: ointments, creams, solutions, compresses, baths, disinfection of shoes;
- systemic therapy at the next stage: the use of drugs.
Systemic drugs are used in several ways:
- Classic. Tablets are taken throughout the course every day.
- Short. You can stop taking the medicine before the healthy nail grows back.
- intermittent. Therapy, which is carried out in several courses at intervals equal to the duration of the course.
- Pulse therapy. Taking pills is combined with a break that exceeds the duration of the course.
In advanced stages of the disease, the use of antifungal drugs is necessary. Systemic antimycotics are selected individually, because these drugs have contraindications. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is necessary to take a scraping of the nail plate for onychomycosis and visit a dermatologist to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe medication for external and / or internal effects on the body. The most effective include:
Antifungal ointment
Many people have a question: skin fungus on the legs - what can be treated if the infection has manifested itself only in the upper layer of the skin. In today's pharmacy it is easy to find a variety of antifungal ointments that differ in their mode of action and composition. The following local preparations quickly treat foot bends in the early stages:
- Zinc ointment. It has a good absorbent and astringent effect. It copes well with skin irritation and mycosis. It is applied 1-2 times/day to the lesion site and the surrounding area. The duration of therapy is 2-3 weeks.
- Sulfuric ointment. Excellent medicine to treat foot mycosis. Within a week of daily use, you can get rid of this disease. Sulfuric ointment has one drawback - it smells unpleasant. When buying this fact must be taken into account.
Treatment of foot fungus at home can also be done with antifungal creams, which differ from ointments only in the ingredients that make up their composition.
To speed up the healing process, in addition to the main therapy, it is necessary to treat the fungus with the help of a special antifungal varnish. They differ from drugs of the same action in a special texture. Antifungal varnish is liquid, and is applied directly to the nail platinum. The agent easily gets into the micro-cracks, affecting the fungus to the maximum. This is practical, because ointments and creams have a thick consistency, so they are easily removed with little impact.
After using the drug, mycosis pathogens die after 8 hours. You can use the drug under the decorative varnish 1-2 times a week - this does not reduce its effectiveness. The treatment period is until the onychomycosis is completely gone. List of the most popular antifungal varnishes:
With foot mycosis, a bath with baking soda should be done every day, preferably before going to bed. The procedure should take at least 15 minutes. Baking soda is a substance that negatively affects the vital activity of fungal infections, so it is part of many medications that help with athlete's foot. To treat fungus, warm water with a comfortable temperature of 40 C-45 C is required. Soda is diluted in the proportion of 2 tablespoons. spoon for 2 liters of water.
Before the procedure, you need to wash your feet thoroughly with laundry soap and remove the keratin layer with a pumice stone or sandpaper. You also need to process the nail plate, cut the free edge of the nail and remove the white plaque under it as much as possible with a nail file. After the procedure, the feet should be thoroughly wiped with a towel, without rinsing, then treated with an antifungal agent prescribed by a dermatologist.
People's recovery
The most effective folk remedy for foot fungus is vinegar. It creates an acidic environment that prevents the spread of yeast bacteria. As a result of exposure to vinegar at home, pathogens quickly lose access to food sources and die. It is best to apply the application immediately after showering. To do this, a cotton pad is moistened in a 9% acetic solution and applied to the area affected by the fungus for 15 minutes.
Another effective folk remedy against Candida fungus is the external application of hydrogen peroxide. First, it is recommended to take a bath with a soda solution, then soak a piece of cotton wool with a 3% peroxide solution and apply it to the affected skin area, put clean socks on top. It is necessary to maintain the application for up to 60 minutes 2 times / day until complete recovery.
Prevention
To recognize the problem in time, you should know what the fungus looks like. To do this, it is better to ask this question first by looking at photos on the Internet. Then you need to follow the dermatologist's advice, what you need to do in order not to get foot fungus:
- after visiting the beach, swimming pool and other public places, you need to wash your feet thoroughly;
- with sweaty feet, the risk of mold fungus develops, so you need to stop wearing socks and closed shoes for a long time;
- in order not to be infected with pathogenic microflora, it is not necessary to give personal hygiene items, clothes or shoes to others;
- you should always take care of your toes: do a pedicure, cut the nails that are too big.
How to treat skin fungus on feet
Learn how to treat skin fungus on the feet, as this is an infectious disease that can go to the nails. Fungi not only look ugly, but are also harmful to health. This situation cannot be initiated, it is urgent to take measures for treatment.
What is recommended to treat skin fungus on the feet
For the treatment of trichophytosis fungus, it is necessary to wipe the skin with iodine. With severe inflammation, it is advisable to make a lotion.
In addition to all this, it is desirable to use vitamins, especially ascorbic acid.
It is better to choose vitamins for the treatment period, because the body needs support.
If the skin is affected by Candida fungus, then corticosteroid cream, hydrocortisone will be needed.
Symptoms of this pathology
Most often, fungus on the skin appears in older people, after 50 years. But we must not forget that this disease is contagious, so the younger generation can also contract this disease if they do not follow certain rules.
Some signs of skin fungus include:
With lesions, the first signs appear in the area between the fingers. From there the fungus grows all over the leg. Often it also covers the nails. Usually, athlete's foot affects both feet. If the form is acute, then bubbles appear, which then fester, wounds appear.
Redness is observed on the skin, it becomes very dense. In addition, there is an unpleasant smell of the feet, not only after wearing shoes. The legs seem to start burning, and when walking, the pain increases. The skin can peel, there is a strong dryness.
The fungus spreads in the following ways. Redness appears on a small area of the skin. Over time, it begins to peel, and the affected area spreads.
At the initial stage, a person is practically not worried about anything, only appearance. Then there was already a painful sensation. The fungus spreads quite quickly.
Complex treatment of this disease
Treatment of skin fungus on the feet should be carried out not only by applying funds directly to the affected area, but also by taking medicine in it.
To choose a drug, first of all, you need to consult a doctor. When treatment begins, it is advisable to exclude other drugs. During the treatment period, the doctor should check the patient's condition and regularly scrape the skin to determine how the treatment is going.
The full course of treatment lasts at least three months. First, the first stage of treatment, lasts for one week. After that, a break is made for two weeks, after which the treatment is resumed.
This is necessary to avoid recurrence. It happens often, especially if the immune system is not strengthened. When it becomes weaker, the first signs of fungus immediately appear on the skin.
It is necessary to combine treatment. In the morning it is advisable to use the ointment, and in the evening to take the medicine inside. You can use both the cream and the solution several times a day.
Apply the product with a rubbing motion. If after two weeks there is no significant improvement, then a stronger drug is prescribed. Any movement should be careful, because it is very easy to damage the skin.
Proven pills for fungus
For all types of fungus, strong drugs are prescribed. Take the tablet once and only after a meal. It quickly penetrates the body and immediately begins the fight against infection.
The main thing when taking pills is not to increase the amount yourself. This will help prevent overdose and side effects. Tablets are best combined with ointment or gel. One pill rarely achieves the desired effect.
Drops and solutions
Drops are very effective in combating fungus. First, they destroy the infected cells, after which they protect the unaffected ones. In addition to eliminating the source of infection, the drops eliminate inflammation and itching.
Drops are best used as an additional element of treatment. Fungus is a serious disease that cannot be cured with a single drug. Drops will work well in the early stages, when the development of the fungus is not too extensive.
Choose the best folk remedies
Sometimes medicine cannot improve the condition.
In such cases, you can use proven folk methods:
- coffee. This drink is useful not only for internal use, but also as a tincture for bathing. Strong insoluble coffee should be poured with hot water and feet should be soaked in this medicine. Coffee will relieve pain and inflammation, remove the overly large layer of skin. It will also help perfectly after recovery to restore the condition of the epidermis.
- Wine vinegar. This tool is an excellent antiseptic and a tool in the fight against bacteria. At night, you can use the following method. Clean woolen socks must be kept for half an hour in vinegar, squeezed well, then put on your feet and covered with a blanket. By doing this procedure at night, in the morning you can see visible results.
- Juice. Skin affected by fungus can be wiped with gauze dipped in lemon or onion juice. These drugs may cause a burning sensation at first, but after a few minutes it will pass. Due to this, the number of bacteria decreases, fungi will not grow. You can try another treatment with ready-made tomato juice. You need to choose only juice without salt, so that it does not pinch the skin.
- Herbal decoction. Boil calendula, verbena and oak bark in water. In this decoction, you can keep your feet or use as a lotion. The components are easily available in pharmacies, the effectiveness of such a collection will be comparable to expensive drugs. It can be used every day, in the morning and in the evening.
- Rye flour. After bathing the feet, it will be useful to rub rye flour on the affected area. It is able to absorb all bacteria and get rid of skin diseases. The main thing is to rub a little.
- Antiseptic. A mixture of baking soda and laundry soap will be a home antiseptic. All this must be dissolved in warm water. Pour the resulting mixture into the basin and leave the feet there to clean for half an hour.
Alternative treatment methods are useful because they have no side effects, and all ingredients are natural.
What to do if the nail is pulled out
Problems with nails with fungus indicate a neglected disease state. The nails darken, begin to peel, become thinner, and then move away from the skin.
The state is divided into several types:
Onychosis can be identified by the fact that the nail peels across, kaylonchinia - the nail peels in the middle.
Onychomodesis is when the nail peels off only at the base. This is the most difficult case, because then inflammation occurs.
It is important to make sure that the nail does not fester, because then it can disappear completely. When a person's nails are pulled out, at first he does not notice it. Only with infection, pain and inflammation appear.
The following symptoms will indicate that nail exfoliation is caused by fungus:
- voids formed under the nails;
- nails acquire a yellow color;
- severe itching appears, but you can not tear the brittle nails;
- Manifestations of pain occur only in advanced cases of the disease.
When such a problem occurs, it is important to always treat the affected nails with an antiseptic, because they are open to different microbes.
You need to follow the following scheme. When peeling off the ends with sterile scissors, cut the edges. The cut site is treated with an antiseptic. After that, prepare a bath with sea salt and hold your feet for ten minutes. Lubricate the cut site with a healing agent.
You should stop painting your nails and cover up the problem, this will only make things worse. It is also very important not to wear tight shoes. You need to make sure that the nails are not too long, because then the shoes will compress them and eventually they can break.
On the feet, the fungus spreads quite quickly, so it will move from one nail to another within a few days.
Prevention of disease onset
Avoiding the problem of fungal infection is not difficult. You need to follow some rules, then health will be in order.
The first rule to remember is that you cannot wear other people's shoes. After all, a person can be infected with fungus. He tends to stay in shoes.
You can also try on shoes in the store with just socks. Every day you need to wash your feet with soap and water, especially in the evening, after wearing shoes for a long time. You should always choose shoes according to the weather.
It is impossible to wear warm shoes in excessively hot weather, because the feet begin to sweat, and in a humid environment, the development of fungi grows significantly. It is important to choose socks only from natural materials, wear them no more than once, because after wearing them they are filled with bacteria.
At any pharmacy, you can find a disinfectant foot spray that you should use if you have to wear shoes all day. When visiting the swimming pool, it is better to change shoes and not walk barefoot on the tiles. This advice is also followed in the sauna.
At the first symptoms of the fungus, treatment should be started. This disease does not go away by itself. Not a secondary action that should be an improvement in the immune system.
The skin of the feet needs to be taken care of. When the corn appears, immediately throw it away. If your feet sweat excessively, you need to use a special foot deodorant. Any cracks and open wounds on the feet should be treated immediately and always disinfected.
When doing a pedicure, it's important to make sure that all tools are disinfected, especially if you're doing it in a salon. If someone in the family has fungus, it is necessary to wash the floor and shower thoroughly. You just need to wear slippers and dry yourself with an individual towel.
Toenail fungus is a disease that is better not to face. It is different because it requires a lot of time for treatment, as well as a long recovery afterwards.
A person who gets sick with a fungus, after getting sick, has a high risk of getting infected again. To protect yourself from this, you not only need to be treated correctly, but also to take preventive measures afterwards.