Fungus on the legs (feet) is one of the most common mycoses. According to statistics, one in five people are carriers of the causative agent of this disease. To combat the fungal microflora on the foot, antifungal drugs are prescribed, intended for external and internal use. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is desirable to use alternative methods of treatment.
Why does the fungus appear?
A fungus is an infection that penetrates the skin / nails in a domestic way: the use of common personal hygiene products, the visit of swimming pools, saunas, beauty centers.
If the virus comes into contact with the skin, the disease is likely not to penetrate the subcutaneous cells, since a healthy body has powerful resistance to such microbes.
There are a number of factors that stimulate the development of fungus on the skin or nails:
- Heavy sweating of the feet caused by low-quality uncomfortable shoes;
- Mechanical damage to the legs (scratches, foot injuries, toes);
- Weakened immunity due to bad habits, serious diseases: AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis, neurosis, flu.
Perhaps the feet are the tastiest place parasitized by the fungus. The main reason is that it is the foot that hits the shoes the most and has hundreds of micro cracks.
There are several types of ringworm infections that parasitize the toenails, the distance between the toes or the feet.
The method to combat the fungus, regardless of whether we are talking about pharmacological intervention or traditional medicine, depends entirely on the site of the infection.
According to statistics, over 60% of the population has had the problem of ringworm and the main reason is that this virus is incredibly resistant to external influences and quickly "jumps" from one infected body to another.
Without proper dry cleaning of footwear / clothing, flex can live there for up to 5 years, being an active infection.
Family members who already have an infected person are particularly susceptible to the disease. In this case, you simply cannot do without daily wet cleaning with intensive detergents and chlorine.
How to recognize a mushroom?
In the early stages of the infection, it is almost impossible to recognize the flexible. Small, barely noticeable white spots appear on the skin / nails, which do not cause any discomfort.
During evolution, the virus grows, causing the following symptoms:
- Unbearable itching and burning;
- The nail plate becomes rougher and sloppier;
- Fragility and delamination of the nails;
- Cracks appear on the feet caused by dry skin;
- A white patina appears in the itchy spots / nails;
- An unpleasant pungent odor emanates from the feet.
Why is mycosis dangerous?
It would seem that mycosis is a fairly harmless infection that does not pose a threat to human life.
Undoubtedly, the fungus between the toes cannot be fatal, but it brings negative changes to a person's immune system, psychological and social state, and can also cause a number of serious diseases.
So, the following factors can be attributed to the negative consequences of mycosis:
- Social: ban on visiting swimming pools, baths, saunas and other places where a health examination is required;
- Psychological: the itching sensation causes insecurity, distorted skin / nails do not allow you to wear open shoes, a strong odor from the feet does not allow you to take off your shoes outside the home;
- Physiological - general depletion of immunity, provoking viral cold infections and the appearance of allergies.
Treatment of the fungus: folk remedies or drugs?
Modern medicine has an impressive arsenal of medicines capable of treating foot fungus, but don't forget the current methods of traditional medicine, which have been treated by several generations of ancestors.
The choice of treatment for this disease depends entirely on the stage of its neglect: if we are talking about the manifestation of all the symptoms described above, then it is more expedient to pay attention to medical intervention, since its effect will be more noticeable in a short time.
If the disease has recently parasitized the skin, and the virus has not had time to spread through the legs, folk recipes for the fungus will be very useful.
Fortunately, the treatment of fungus on the feet with folk remedies is absolutely convenient measures, and the ingredients for the medicine can be found in a home first aid kit or in a refrigerator.
Fungus between the toes can be cured using the following first aid kit remedies:
- Potassium permanganate (it is necessary to steam the legs, then wrap the infected area with a bandage soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. For greater efficiency, wear a warm sock and walk with a compress for 5-7 hours, or perform the procedure before going to bed).
- 5% iodine solution (treat infected areas 2-3 times a day).
- Boric acid (take a hot shower, dry your feet, sprinkle sore spots with boric acid, wrap yourself in warm socks. By repeating the procedure every day for 10 days, you have a real chance to get rid of an annoying ailment. Important! Feet must be dry, because otherwise acid burns will occur).
- Ammonia (dilute in proportion from 1 tablespoon to 1 cup, moisten the bandage, wrap the legs overnight).
- Iodine, glycerin, vinegar (mix the ingredients in equal parts, dilute with 2 parts of water. Wash the fungal places with this tincture every day before going to bed).
Simple first aid kit remedies will help eradicate the fungus within 10-20 days, subject to systematic use.
The pleasant moment is also that the above funds are quite cheap, you can buy them at any pharmacy, and they will not reach your budget.
Folk ways of dealing with dermatomycosis
It has already been said that the fungus is one of the most common diseases, but there are also many measures to influence it, in the knowledge base of traditional medicine. For example, even those foods that can be found in the refrigerator every day can have an intense effect on the virus.
Effective fight against mycoses is provided by such products:
- Lemon;
- Onion;
- Garlic;
- apple and wine vinegar;
- Egg;
- Coffee
- Sodium bicarbonate;
- Rowan / nettle leaves.
Let's take a closer look at each option on how to cure a foot fungus with folk recipes in the shortest possible time.
- Lemon.Cut citrus fruits into not very thin slices, attach them to infected areas, wrap with cellophane film. Keep the compress for 30 minutes and repeat the procedure for 10 days. A notable advantage of this method is that lemon not only destroys mitosis, but also saturates the nail plate with vitamins, removes white streaks and blocks unpleasant odor from the feet.
- Onion.Prepare the onion gruel, squeeze the juice into a separate container. Apply a thick layer of gruel on the affected area, wrap it with a film, leave for 10-15 minutes. If there is mechanical damage to the skin, add vaseline oil in a ratio of 1: 1 to the gruel. After 15 minutes, wash off the compress with warm water, wipe with a towel, apply onion juice and wait for it to be absorbed into the skin. Rinse your feet after the juice is not needed.
- Garlic.There are 2 options for the compress: cut the clove into 2 parts, roll it in food salt, rub the fungal foci; prepare a gruel, add butter in equal proportions, apply to the skin. In any case, it is not recommended to keep garlic on the feet for more than a quarter of an hour, as its juice can cause burns. Wash the compresses with warm water, repeat the procedure at intervals of at least 8 hours.
- apple cider vinegar. 4 tbspmix tablespoons of vinegar with 150 grams of sea salt (possibly with additives) and pour 5 liters of hot water. Wait for the water to cool down a bit and take a foot bath.
- Wine vinegar.Perhaps the simplest folk treatment for a fungus - lubricate diseased skin with undiluted wine vinegar. It is necessary to wait until the vinegar is completely absorbed, it is not necessary to rinse the feet, and you can repeat such measures 4 times a day.
- Egg.To prepare the ointment, you need to: pour a raw egg with vinegar, cover with cling film, a plastic lid and put it in a cool dark place. Wait for the moment when the egg shell is completely dissolved, add 1 teaspoon of butter to the jar and carefully place until a homogeneous substance appears. Apply the ointment to clean dry skin, wrap with a plastic wrap / bag and keep warm for one hour. After removing the compress, the feet should be washed with warm water.
- Coffee.One of the best and most fragrant remedies for foot fungus. Coffee can be used as a scrub or as the main ingredient for a foot bath. If you are used to making natural black coffee, use the leftover sediment as a scrub. Apply the precipitate to the inflamed areas, rub the coffee residues on the skin. The second option is to prepare the coffee and pour it into the bathtub in a ratio of 2 coffees: 1 water. The second option is financially more expensive. The advantages of coffee are that after such procedures, the rough skin will peel off, and the new one will acquire a healthy color, softness and tenderness.
- Sodium bicarbonate.A universal remedy suitable for compresses and baths. Prepare a gruel with the addition of soda and water in equal proportions, apply on the nails / feet / distance between the fingers for 20 minutes, wrapped in cellophane. After the indicated time, rinse with warm water and sprinkle with talcum powder. In addition, baths can be prepared with the addition of sea salt, soda and cedar / eucalyptus / menthol oil or propolis.
- Rowan.Rowan, like nettle, has antibacterial properties, so it is recommended for fighting athlete's foot. Plant leaves should be harvested in ecologically clean areas and only young growth should be selected. Rub the leaves in a mushy state and apply to the area of inflammation. The compress must be left overnight.
Phytotherapy: a method of fighting fungi
Effective folk remedies for foot fungus are reflected in herbal medicine guides.
Despite the fact that representatives of science do not particularly approve of the methods of alternative medicine, herbal medicine deserves attention and respect, because they clearly indicate their safety and effectiveness.
We will tell you how to get rid of foot fungus with folk remedies using herbs.
Folk remedies for fungus between the toes are prepared with decoctions of plants such as celandine, calendula, mint, burdock, sage, wormwood, St. John's wort and dozens of other herbs.
- celandine.Decoction with 4 tbsp. spoons of dry celandine and 1 liter of water boil for 5 minutes, leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Use the bathrooms every day before going to bed for at least 21 days.
- Sagebrush.Absinthe is also used for baths, but there is a more effective remedy - a decoction of wormwood, plantain, burdock and yarrow is infused for 9 hours and drunk 3 times a day before meals. In just a week, you will be able to get rid of the obvious signs of the fungus.
- Calendula.Pour a package of calendula flowers (usually 250 grams) with boiling water and leave for 1 hour. Lubricate the inflamed skin with herbal extract 3-4 times a day for a month.
- Burdock.The compress is prepared with fresh burdock leaves. It is necessary to mechanically act on the sheet so that it releases the juice (beat with a hammer / make small cuts) and wrap the legs, apply a bandage, wear warm socks. Leave the lotion overnight.
- Mint, nettle, sage.This folk remedy treatment involves mixing dry herbs, pouring them into a warm sock. It is necessary to wear a dry mixture during the day and repeat the complex as soon as possible, but at least 3 times a week.
The above folk remedies for fungus are sold in every pharmacy both in the form of dry herbs and essential oils. It is recommended to buy different essential oils and make foot baths with the addition of scented elixirs.
Folk remedies for foot fungus are effective measures, but they require long enough use, so their variety should be combined and alternated.
Treatment with folk remedies is the safest, albeit long-term method, which does not cause allergic and inflammatory reactions.
Shoe care for mushrooms
The answer to the question: "How to treat a fungus? " Is not only to provide a set of recipes for effective folk remedies, but also a reminder to process all your shoes.
To disinfect shoes from a fungal infection, a 25% vinegar / 30% formalin solution is used. It is necessary to moisten a cotton swab with a solution and clean the shoes from the inside.
Important! You must absolutely clean all the shoes you wear: from bath slippers to boots. Those pairs of shoes you wear constantly need to be treated at least once a week.