Fungi on the feet is a disease that nobody is immune to. The disease does not go away on its own, so it is important to treat it in a timely manner. Experts will tell you how to get rid of the problem.
Fungus on the feet: symptoms and causes
What is athlete's foot? Fungus, or mycosis, is a disease caused by pathogenic or opportunistic fungi. The disease is often caused by dermatomycete fungi, which, as the doctor and her colleagues note, include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton. However, the pathology can also be caused by microorganisms belonging to the genus Candida.
Fungal lesions of the skin of the legs are called dermatomycosis, the nail plate is called onychomycosis. Often pathological conditions are combined.
How do you recognize a fungus on your feet?
Symptoms differ depending on the type of fungus that affects the foot. There are general symptoms, however.
In the initial stage there is dryness of the skin, itching and burning of the sole, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, there is a slight change in color and the nails become more brittle, as the doctor determines.
If no treatment is given, the situation worsens. The following symptoms occur:
- small cracks between the toes, on the sole;
- Peeling;
- unpleasant smell;
- Swelling, redness of the interdigital folds, arch of the foot;
- Blisters and diaper rash;
- Pain when walking;
- Deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, stunted growth, destruction of the nail).
Why does fungus appear on the feet?
Infection occurs through contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects on which there are fungal spores. Pools, saunas and baths pose the greatest risk of infection.
However, you can contract the fungus at the pedicure office by using an infected person's personal items - shoes, clothes, towels, washcloths. At home, too, you have to be careful and not use other family members' belongings, as the doctor notes.
There are factors that contribute to the development of fungus on the feet:
- Wounds and tears;
- excessive sweating and dry skin;
- bad hygiene;
- Flat feet;
- Circulatory disorders of the legs due to vascular diseases;
- Diabetes mellitus and immune system disorders.
Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet
In the initial stages of the development of the disease, it is much easier to deal with, so therapy should be started when the first symptoms appear. Various folk remedies will help fight the fungus.
How to treat mushrooms on the feet with folk remediesVinegar, animal fats, essential oils, and garlic help.
vinegar
Table and apple cider vinegar help stop a fungal disease from developing:
- Heat two liters of water to a comfortable temperature. Add 200 ml of vinegar. Dip your feet in the resulting composition and hold for 15 minutes. Bath your feet three times a day. After the procedure, dry your feet thoroughly and put on clean socks.
- Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to your nails and skin affected by the fungus. Put on clean socks and leave them on overnight.
garlic
Garlic has antifungal effects, so it works well for the problem. The recipe for the remedy is as follows:
- Squeeze the juice from a clove of garlic, add the same amount of water and alcohol.
- Heat the water by adding a tablespoon of tar soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Steam your legs for 15 minutes.
- Wipe your feet dry and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
Various essential oils help with fungal infections of the feet and nails: rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang. The doctor says that tea tree and eucalyptus oils are some of the most effective in fighting fungus.
With their help, you can do baths and compresses:
- First wash your feet. Add ten drops of essential oil to three liters of warm water. Soak your feet in the bathtub 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. Soak a cotton ball with the product and attach it to the problem areas, wrap it with a bandage. After an hour, clean the softened skin or nail plates with a sterile file.
Animal fat
How can you cure toenail fungus? Use pork or goose fat for these purposes:
- Take equal amounts of fat, copper sulfate and yellow sulfur.
- Mix thoroughly and bring to a boil.
- Send to a dark place and wait for complete cooling.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To deal with athlete's foot, regular treatment is important. Use folk remedies and do not forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon be happy about the healthy appearance of your legs.
Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to any of the treatments described in it without first consulting your doctor.