Therapy of mycotic infections of the feet with the use of local preparations is carried out on an outpatient basis. For a quick recovery, it is important to follow medical recommendations, to know how to treat fungus on the feet at home and how to carry out the necessary procedures properly.
General rules
Therapeutic and hygienic measures should be carried out periodically, treatment should not be interrupted until the fungus is completely eliminated. The duration of the recovery process depends on the degree of neglect of the disease and the area of the lesion.
For successful treatment results and prevention of infection of others, it is recommended to follow the basic rules:
- For the entire period of treatment, you should refuse to visit the swimming pool, sauna, beach, pedicure room.
- Patients must have individual means for foot hygiene treatment: files, pumice stones, soap, towels, etc.
- Shoes must be disinfected and dried thoroughly. Insoles and the inner surface of shoes can be treated with a special solution or spray.
- The feet must always be dry. The causative agents of fungal diseases actively reproduce in warm and humid environments. After the water procedure, the feet should be wiped with a clean towel, and with excessive sweat on the feet, use talc, powder and powder.
- Special attention is paid to socks. It is better to choose socks made of natural cotton. Such materials absorb moisture well and provide normal ventilation of the skin of the feet. Stockings should be changed as often as possible, and used products should be boiled.
- Drug treatment is carried out strictly according to the instructions of the attending physician after confirming the diagnosis with the results of laboratory tests of the infected substance.
The skin of the fingers and soles of the feet that are keratin must always be removed with a special foot brush or pumice stone. Otherwise, cracks may form, where the fungus will penetrate into the inner layers of the epidermis and into the bloodstream.
Comfortable shoes made of natural materials should be preferred to avoid excessive moisture accumulation.
Foot bath
Therapeutic baths are an indispensable thing in the treatment of fungal diseases of the feet at any stage of development of the infectious process. The procedure for steaming the feet in hot water with the addition of various active ingredients is a preparatory stage before using the main antifungal drug.
Foot baths can be used twice a day or daily before bed. The duration of the procedure depends on the composition of the bath, but does not exceed the threshold of half an hour.
Healing herbs
For antifungal foot baths, decoctions of medicinal herbs are used:
- king banana;
- wormwood;
- burdock;
- milk weed;
- yarrow;
- calendula flowers.
Herbs can be combined or steamed separately. For best effect, the boiling water must be strong enough. The required amount of vegetable raw material must be poured with boiling water. Once the decoction temperature becomes acceptable for the skin, you can put your feet in the bathtub and steam your feet for 15-20 minutes.
Celandine
Celandine preparations are often used in the fight against fungus on the feet. For the preparation of foot baths, it is recommended to use dried celandine grass. You can buy it at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself.
The decoction is prepared at the rate of 8 tablespoons of grass per 2 liters of boiling water, then cooled to a temperature of 50 ° C and placed in a convenient container. Feet should be kept in the bathtub until cool. The course of treatment is 20 days.
Vinegar
The acidic environment has an adverse effect on the pathogenic microflora that causes mycoses. As an effective treatment for foot fungus at home, folk remedies use a bath with vinegar essence.
Vinegar is taken at the rate of 100 ml of essence per 2 liters of warm water. The estimated duration of the procedure is one -third of an hour. Home remedies for such fungi can speed up the treatment carried out by modern pharmaceuticals.
soda and salt
A solution of salt and soda for soaking the feet allows you to fight fungus on the feet in the early stages. There are many options for preparing a foot bath with salt and soda at home. The simplest and most effective recipe:
- In two liters of warm water, dissolve 2 tablespoons of salt and baking soda, soak your feet for up to 20 minutes.
- To two liters of boiling water, add the same amount of decoction of oak bark, a few drops of peppermint oil and essential oil of tea tree, 2 tablespoons of soda, 2 tablespoons of sea salt. The steaming period is half an hour. The treatment period took 14 days.
- In warm water, stir 1 tablespoon with soda slide and coarse salt, add a few tablespoons of liquid soap with antibacterial effect (tar can be used). Steam the feet in the prepared solution for up to half an hour, at the end of the procedure, let the feet dry without wiping or rinsing with clean water.
Salt helps strengthen nails and regenerate epidermal tissue, and soda softens the skin, cleanses and disinfects the surface of the feet. Salt solution with a mixture of iodine has a significant fungicidal effect.
Steaming the feet with vodka, ammonia, propolis, strong coffee, birch tar, hydrogen peroxide and garlic juice is very helpful.
Compresses, rubs, lotions
You can remove the fungus on the feet with the help of compresses and various swabs according to alternative medicine recipes. This procedure is carried out after careful treatment and steaming of the feet.
The healing mass is applied to the affected area, repaired with a gauze bandage and covered from above with clean socks. Provided there are no aggressive substances in the composition of the compress, the bandage is left overnight.
The most popular recipes for homemade antifungal compresses for the treatment of foot fungus:
- Finely chopped fresh rowan leaves are applied to the infected skin, covered with burdock leaves on top and wrapped with cellophane.
- Apply 35% salicylic ointment evenly on the fungal wound, wrap with cling film. Change bandages once a day.
- Pass a few cloves of garlic through a press, mix with an equal amount of butter until smooth. Apply the resulting mass to the sore spot, wrap with film, leave overnight. Garlic will sting, but it is a great way to cure foot fungus quickly.
- Onion porridge is used to compress in pure form, you just need to change the bandage as often as possible. If the itching becomes unbearable, you can dilute the onion with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1: 1.
- Night acetic compresses show good results. It is easier to use a cotton pad dipped in a weak solution of vinegar essence.
- Alcohol bandages help with foot fungus. A small piece of linen cloth soaked in an aqueous ammonia solution is wrapped around the sore foot and insulated with polyethylene. This course is designed for 7-10 days.
- Pure potato shoots insist vodka for a day. Porridge is ready to be used to compress the legs before bed.
- If the fungus is localized in the interdigital folds, you can apply a slurry of mint grass and salt on the affected skin. This drug perfectly fights the manifestations of itching, eliminates unpleasant odors and other symptoms.
The method of rubbing the affected skin with birch tar, alcoholic solution of iodine, garlic juice, tea tree oil and celandine helps to quickly get rid of fungus on the feet at home.
Many pharmaceutical local antifungal drugs are recommended for use in the form of compresses if the mycosis has reached advanced stages.
Medical antimycotic agents
The fastest way to cure mycotic infections is with the right combination of folk remedies and antifungal medications. Medicines for fungal diseases are divided into two main groups: for local and systemic use.
Oral antimycotics are prescribed for fungal drug therapy in advanced form if there are no contraindications. Taking tablets is associated with a risk to the liver, it should be taken only in the dose indicated by the doctor.
The choice of local remedies depends on the species of the causative agent of the disease and the financial capabilities of the patient. It may take several months to remove the fungus, and not everyone can afford an expensive remedy.
Preparations for external use are available in the form of creams, gels, ointments, sprays, varnishes and solutions. Well -known pharmaceutical companies produce a whole series of products for the complex treatment of fungi.
Regardless of the form, brand and price category, the main difference is the type of active ingredient in the drug. It is these criteria that determine the effectiveness of a drug in relation to a particular type of infectious agent.
Antifungal drugs contain fungistatic substances: sertocanazole, bifonazole, ketoconazole, oxiconazole, terbinafine, ciclopiroxalamine, amorolfine.
It is easier to defeat the fungus on the feet with the help of local preparations in the early stages of disease development, when the first signs of infection appear, if treatment is carried out continuously according to the attached instructions.
Rules of personal hygiene as a prevention of fungus on the feet
Foot fungus prevention is, first of all, personal hygiene measures aimed at preventing infection, creating an environment hostile to microorganisms.
It is important to remember that mycotic lesions of the feet can persist for a long time, almost without manifesting themselves, they are characterized by a chronic recurrent course.
Pathogenic microorganisms that affect the feet are unusually persistent, they love moisture, wet unventilated interdigital folds of the feet, the bottom surface and sides of the soles of the feet.
Below is a short list of personal hygiene practices (known, but not always followed) to prevent this compulsive infection:
- Keep your feet dry and cool;
- Perform timely pedicures on a regular basis using tools that have undergone proper disinfection treatment, using modern and caring additional products;
- Wash your feet with warm soapy water daily, use antibacterial soap if necessary, wash your feet several times a day;
- Wipe dry your toes from the base to the very tip, the skin between the toes, the whole foot;
- Fight sweaty feet
- Use antifungal foot powder, if necessary - cosmetic creams and antifungal drugs, gels, nail polishes;
- Walking barefoot, barefoot at least at home, in the country;
- Keep your toes slightly apart;
- In dressing rooms, showers, gyms, fitness clubs and other public places, do not go barefoot - wear slippers (rubber slippers, waterproof slippers);
- Don’t use other people’s sponges, wipes, towels, slippers (even in the family);
- In case of infection, set aside a separate towel for the affected area or use disposable paper towels;
- Wear comfortable and appropriate shoes made of leather and other natural materials;
- Avoid rubber and plastic shoes - a good environment for the growth of dermatomycetes;
- Keep shoes clean and dry, ventilate them, treat the inside of shoes with antifungal powder or aerosol;
- In summer, wear light and well -ventilated shoes;
- Change your shoes on time; if washable, wash at least once a month;
- Change socks (knee socks, stockings, tights) more often, especially in case of hyperhidrosis, if necessary - more often;
- Wear socks made of hygroscopic materials (natural or special synthetic fibers);
- Wash socks to kill fungal spores in very hot water twice; rinse socks thoroughly after washing from washing powder so as not to aggravate the skin condition;
- For sanitary and hygienic conditions of sinks, showers, baths, proper basins, wash regularly, use special products;
- Do not self -medicate, consult a doctor in the early stages of fungal diseases; do not expose others to the risk of infection;
- Be especially careful with the presence of fungal diseases in the household;
- Help elderly family members to comply with dermatologist prescriptions and the sanitary and hygiene requirements needed to treat the disease.
Leaving bad habits is an important contribution to foot fungus prevention
Bad habits (excessive alcohol intake, smoking, drug addiction), improper wakefulness - sleep, work - rest, inadequate behavior in stressful situations usually lead to a serious decrease in immunity, circulatory disorders.
Unreasonable unbalanced diet, excessive consumption of light carbohydrates, physical inactivity - to obesity. Against a background of weakened immunity, circulatory disorders and obesity, a favorable climate is formed for infection and the development of infection becomes a common dangerous disease.
This indicates an urgent need to abandon bad habits.
Folk medicine and pharmacy for the prevention of foot fungus
When choosing folk remedies for the prevention of foot fungus, it should be borne in mind that the fungus does not like acidic environments, to stop the growth of fungi, a slightly acidic environment (pH 5. 5) is sufficient. For preventive purposes, it is advisable to periodically:
- Treat the feet with diluted lemon juice or fermented dairy products (kefir, condensed milk, etc. )
- Take a bath with salt water (2 tablespoons of salt in 0. 5 liters of water) or mild vinegar water (1 cup of table vinegar in 3 to 4 liters of water) or soda water (1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate in 1 liter of water).
Almost everyone has had a fungal infection, and knows that it is very difficult to get rid of it. To cure a disease, you have to spend a lot of time, effort and money, especially in the advanced stages of disease development. Consider how to treat fungus on the feet at home to forget about the disease as soon as possible.
What you need to know about fungi
Fungus on the feet is a contagious infectious disease that affects a person’s skin and nails. Often, the disease affects both adults and the elderly. The infection takes root perfectly in warm and humid places: in the bathroom, sauna, shower. You can be infected when visiting public places barefoot, when trying on shoes and during pedicures, with inadequate sterilization of instruments.
On a note!
Mycosis develops with a weakened immune system and when an infection enters a wound or wounds.
The fastest way to get rid of the fungus is to start treatment when the first signs of the disease appear. It is quite difficult to diagnose mycosis on your own, especially in the early stages. Usually, the infection does not manifest itself in any way, then itching, unpleasant odor from the feet, peeling and discoloration of the nails appear. As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, contact a dermatologist immediately. He or she, after visual examination and testing, will be able to confirm an accurate diagnosis, and then write a detailed treatment plan.
If you do not start fighting the disease, you can be completely without nails. In the early stages, doctors will prescribe medications and alternative methods that can be used at home to treat mycoses.
Remedies for the treatment of fungus
There are various medications to eliminate mycosis. You can cure feet from fungus quickly using modern pharmaceutical products. They kill the disease -causing agent and prevent further reproduction of the infection. Medications come in different forms of release, depending on the location of the fungus and the size of the affected area, the type of medication is chosen.
Before using the drug for the treatment of fungus, consult a doctor, he will tell you how to quickly get rid of fungus on your feet at home, taking into account your condition and possible contraindications.
Important!
It is undesirable to self -medicate, if the means used are not suitable, then complications may arise and the condition may worsen.
To remove fungus from the soles of the feet, it is better to use ointments, it is easier to apply a suspension on the skin between the fingers, and creams and varnishes for nails.
Important!
The scheme of drug application depends on the type of pathogen and the depth of the lesion. It may take 9-12 months to beat mycosis at an advanced stage.
Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet
Traditional recipes help eliminate mycosis in the early stages of disease development. Many home remedies for the treatment of toe fungus allow the use of common products that are readily available in every home.
The main thing is to follow the recommendations for use and not to interrupt therapy until stable results are obtained.
Important!
Before applying ointments and compresses, the feet must be steamed in a bath of salt or soda. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to 1 liter of hot water. l. salt and soda. Heat the feet for 10-15 minutes, treat the feet and fingers with pumice stone, and nails with a soft file. After that, proceed with further care.
Iodine
The alcoholic solution of iodine is a strong antiseptic, with a significant antifungal effect. It destroys the protein structures that make up the causative agent of mycosis.
Before using a recipe with iodine, be sure to test for allergic reactions. Many people have intolerance to this drug. The drug should not be used by people with thyroid disease.
Before bedtime, you can use a bath with iodine. To do this, dissolve 3 tbsp. l. iodine in 5 liters of hot water, support your feet for 20 minutes and dry your feet thoroughly with a towel. Treatment is carried out daily.
Mix alcohol and iodine in equal proportions, apply the resulting liquid only to the affected area, contact of the solution with healthy tissue can cause epidermal burns. Treat your feet for 5-10 days before bed.
Hydrogen peroxide
This tool is known for its antiseptic properties and ability to soften tissues. It is used in a variety of recipes, including to fight fungal infections.
Bathe with hydrogen peroxide against nail fungus. Pour 100 ml of peroxide into 2 liters of warm water, steam your feet for 15-20 minutes, then wipe dry and treat the skin with pumice stone or a brush, cut your nails.
Apply a 3% peroxide solution on a gauze bandage and apply for 30-40 minutes to the injured area. The procedure must be repeated twice a day.
Vinegar
Mycosis has a protein structure, so it is afraid of deviations from normal acidity levels. Acetic acid destroys the cells of the disease-causing agent, which in turn eliminates the fungus on the feet.
For treatment, 9% apple cider vinegar diluted with water in equal proportions was used. Wet socks or cotton pads (depending on the size of the affected area) and place or place on your feet. Compressed was kept for 20 minutes, the procedure was repeated twice a day for 10 days.
Mix 70% vinegar and vegetable oil in equal proportions. Rub the resulting mass daily for a month or until complete recovery.
Pour 1 egg 30 g of water and vinegar, stir thoroughly. Lubricate the affected foot area with this medication daily until the manifestations of the fungus are completely eliminated.
This tool must be used with caution: before use, it is recommended to apply an oily cream to healthy skin areas to protect the integument from burns.
Celandine
Medicinal herbs help get rid of many diseases, including skin. Home remedies for fungus with celandine will effectively eliminate the disease in the early stages of development and will be an effective type of therapy to get rid of old forms of mycosis. This poisonous plant inhibits the activity of the causative agent of the disease, which causes mycotic cells to die. In folk recipes, both flowers and leaves of celandine are used.
Apply fresh celandine juice on cracks, damage and rashes. It eliminates infection and helps speed up the recovery process. Treat the foot every three days until the symptoms of the disease are completely eliminated.
Pour dried celandine with a glass of boiling water and boil over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour the resulting liquid into a container and lower your feet there to steam for 20 minutes. This bath softens the skin and relieves swelling.
Mix dried celandine and tea oil thoroughly until a slurry is obtained. Apply the resulting mass to the affected foot area and attach with a bandage. Compression is done before bedtime. Rinse your feet in the morning with warm water.
Fungal infections are the most common type of disease, it affects about 20% of the world’s population. Getting rid of the disease is not so easy, but with the right therapy it is possible. Treatment of fungus on the feet at home is most effective in the early stages of disease development. There are many ways to get rid of mycosis at home: pharmaceutical preparations or folk recipes. It is better to start therapy only after consulting a doctor, he will help you choose the most effective treatment.