Unfortunately, the number of people suffering from fungal infections is increasing very quickly.And the reasons for this are the people themselves, who ignore the basic rules of personal hygiene.Athlete's foot develops very quickly and causes a lot of discomfort to a person.In order to find out how to treat this disease, first of all, you need to know exactly how the infection occurs, and secondly, how the disease manifests itself, so that we can correctly diagnose it in the initial stages of development.
Routes of infection
Infection with fungal diseases can occur in several ways:
- direct route;
- indirectly.
In the first case, the fungus "settles" on the human body through direct contact with soil, wet tiles, sick people and animals, as well as certain types of plants.
In the second case, the infection occurs through household items used by a sick person.For example, if you visited and wiped your feet or hands with someone else's towel, the probability of a fungal infection is 60%.
At the same time, certain factors that increase the body's susceptibility to fungi play an important role in this.Namely:
- age (fungal infection is most often observed in children due to deficiencies in the body's defense mechanisms and thin skin);
- weakened immune system;
- disruption of the functioning of the nervous system and the endocrine system (they greatly affect the body's protective functions);
- increased work of sweat glands;
- the composition of sweat (in some cases, the composition of the secretion of the sweat glands changes, which, as a result, creates a favorable environment for the development of the fungus).
Types of fungal infection
Before talking about the treatment of athlete's foot, it is necessary to talk about the types of fungal infection.After all, it can be different, and therefore the disease is treated differently.
The most common type of fungal infection is athlete's foot.This disease affects not only the skin of the feet, but also the nails.Infection with this type of fungal infection most often occurs in rooms with high humidity and a temperature of at least 10 degrees.Such rooms are, for example, swimming pools, saunas, gyms, spas and so on.
In this case, epidermophytosis can be found on all objects in the room.These are:
- dishcloths;
- towels;
- oily cloths;
- thermometers;
- carpets and so on.
This type of fungus predominantly affects the male part of the planet's population.Because the main cause of the infection is the increased activity of the sweat glands on the skin of the feet.
Another common type of fungal infection is trichophytosis.It is one of the most contagious diseases spread through:
- Bath accessories;
- Sports equipment;
- shoes and socks;
- other common items.
Men are also most susceptible to this disease.In addition, the older they are, the greater the probability of trichophytosis infection.This disease is particularly common among athletes and workers in spas, saunas and swimming pools.
Candidiasis is another common form of fungal infection of the feet.The causative agent of the disease is the candida fungus, which is present on the skin of all people and is not essentially a disease.This fungus only begins to parasitize when favorable conditions exist.And they arise when a person's immunity decreases.
The fungus enters the body through direct contact with contaminated objects and food.They are absolutely everywhere.This fungus is especially abundant in fermented milk products and meat.
The following factors influence the "activation" of the life activity of the Candida fungus:
- damage to the skin;
- reduced immunity;
- increased sweating;
- increased fungal content in the surrounding air (mainly in workshops producing meat products).
Symptoms of a fungal infection
Symptoms of athlete's foot include:
- itching and burning;
- exhaustion of the unpleasant smell;
- peeling of the skin;
- white coating on the skin (rather powder);
- change in the color and shape of the nail plates;
- destruction of nails;
- increased sweating of the feet.
In some cases, fluid-filled pustules and blisters may form near the affected skin surfaces.
How to treat athlete's foot?
Fungal diseases can only be treated by a doctor.The fact is that at home you can eliminate only the external manifestations of the disease.Because a fungal infection affects the whole body, not just the upper layers of the epidermis.Penetrating the skin, the fungus comes into contact with the capillaries and enters the arteries through them, then spreads throughout the body.For this reason, the treatment of fungal diseases should include not only antifungal agents intended for external use, but also agents intended for oral administration.
However, such medicines should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.After all, there are more than 500 types of mushrooms in the world, each of which has its own characteristics and threshold of resistance to various aggressive substances.That's why the same antifungal drug can help some people cope with the symptoms of the disease, but not others.
When you see a doctor, they will take a scraping of the affected area to determine what type of fungus has colonized your leg.A series of tests are then performed to rule out the development of complications.After that, after receiving all the necessary information about the patient's health, the doctor prescribes an appropriate treatment that can quickly get rid of the unpleasant external manifestations of the disease.
However, it is worth noting that the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease is not yet a sign of complete recovery.The treatment of fungal infections can take several months, in some cases it can be extended up to 6 months.If the infection is not completely treated, symptoms will appear within a few weeks of stopping the medication.
For the treatment of fungi, a fungistatic agent is often prescribed, which inhibits the development of pathogenic microorganisms.This product is available as ointments for external use and tablets for oral administration.
Most often, doctors combine several remedies at the same time in order to achieve the maximum effect of the treatment.After taking the medicine for a week, the patient is examined again to make sure that the treatment is producing positive results.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies
How to cure athlete's foot at home?No way.Why?We have already given the answer to the above question - the fungus colonizes the entire body, not just the upper epidermal layer of the skin.Therefore, at home, you can only eliminate the symptoms of the disease and alleviate your condition, but nothing more.Therefore, you should not expect "miracles" from traditional medicine.
So you can relieve itching at home with a wine vinegar bath.To make it, you will need a strong solution of wine vinegar in which you should soak your feet for a few minutes.But before doing this, your feet should be thoroughly washed under running water with soap and dried.
After the procedure, socks should be put on the feet, which should also be pre-moistened in a solution of wine vinegar.A few days after applying the procedure, the itching should disappear and the manifestations of the fungus should decrease.
Baths based on salt and soda are also good for fighting fungal infections.The fungus is afraid of these substances, so it is quickly killed by them.To prepare the spa bath, you will need one liter of water, in which you must dissolve one tablespoon of table salt and baking soda.
Soak your feet in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry.2-3 procedures help to get rid of the external manifestations of the fungus.
A variety of herbs help fight the symptoms of yeast infections.You can use the following ingredients to make a decoction for washing the affected feet:
- marigold inflorescence;
- oak bark;
- dried blackberries;
- verbena officinalis.
To prepare the decoction, take equal amounts of each herb and mix well.Then take 3 tbsp.l.herbal mixture, pour a glass of water over it and simmer for 15 minutes.
After that, the soup should be cooled a little and filtered, and then the limbs should be washed with it daily.You can also soak a bandage in this decoction and apply it to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.
If you don't have the opportunity to use all these herbs, regular coffee can help fight the symptoms of the fungus.Brew strong coffee and mix it in a liter of warm water.Then lower your foot and keep it in the solution for 15 minutes.Then rinse your feet in warm water and dry them.
A bath based on milkweed helps to overcome the manifestations of athlete's foot.To make it, you need to take fresh grass and pour several liters of boiling water over it.Then let it boil and filter.The infusion does not need to be diluted with water.Just pour it into a bowl and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes.This bath should be used daily for two weeks.
Antifungal cream at home
You can also make a cream at home to treat the affected surfaces.
To make the cream you will need:
- sifted wood;
- pork fat.
These ingredients should be mixed until smooth.Of course, it is better to use a mixer for this.The cream should be used every 12 hours, applied to the clean and dry skin of the feet.
You can also make a cream for fungal infections from the following ingredients:
- yellow sulphur;
- goose fat;
- copper sulfate.
All ingredients should be taken in equal amounts and mixed thoroughly.Then transfer it to a small pan, put it on the fire and bring it to a boil.After that, the cream should stand in a dark, cool place and cool down.This cream should only be used once a day.However, you should wash your feet in warm water before using it.
Compressions and masks against fungus on the feet
Treatment of athlete's foot can also be done using masks and poultices.You can use, for example, a poultice made with onions and garlic.To do this, take a small onion and a head of garlic, peel them and grind them through a meat grinder.
Then apply the resulting mixture to the affected area, wrap it with plastic on top and put warm socks on your feet.Leave the poultice overnight.Some symptoms of the disease disappear in the morning.The procedure should be done daily until the fungus on your feet no longer bothers you.
If the fungal infection has spread to your toenails, you can use a mixture of vinegar, glycerin, and rubbing alcohol.Each ingredient should be taken in 1 tablespoon.and mix well.Then the resulting liquid should be applied to the nails (literally a few drops).This should be done every day until the affected nail heals.
Remember that a fungal infection requires an integrated approach to treatment.Therefore, traditional medicine alone will not be enough.Requires oral antifungal medications.But you should not buy them yourself on the advice of a pharmacist in a pharmacy.You should see a doctor.Only he can really help you overcome this disease and forget about it for many years.