Fungus on the legs (feet) is one of the most common mycoses. According to statistics, every fifth person carries the causative agent of this disease. To combat the fungal microflora of the foot, antimycotic drugs are prescribed, intended for external and internal use. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is worth using other methods of treatment.
Why do mushrooms appear?
A fungus is an infection that enters the skin/nails in a household way: using common personal hygiene products, visiting swimming pools, saunas, beauty salons.
If the virus enters the skin, it is likely that the disease does not enter the cells under the skin, because a healthy body has a powerful resistance to these microbes.
There are a number of factors that stimulate the development of fungus on the skin or nails:
- Intense sweating of the feet caused by uncomfortable shoes of poor quality;
- Mechanical damage to the legs (scratches, sores on the feet, prickles);
- Weakened immunity due to bad habits, serious illnesses: AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis, neuroses, flu.
The feet are perhaps the tastiest place parasitized by the fungus. The main reason is that it is the foot that affects the shoes the most and has hundreds of microcracks.
There are several types of ringworm infections that parasitize the nails, the distance between the toes or the feet.
The method of combating the fungus, whether it is drug intervention or traditional medicine, depends entirely on the site of infection.
According to statistics, more than 60% of the population has experienced 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 shoes/clothing, flex can live there for up to 5 years, being an active infection.
Family members who already have someone infected are particularly susceptible to the disease. In this case, you simply cannot do without daily wet cleaning using intensive detergents and chlorine.
How to recognize a mushroom?
In the early stages of infection, it is almost impossible to recognize the hose. 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 more rough and sloppy;
- Brittleness and delamination of the nails;
- Cracks appear on the feet caused by dry skin;
- In the places of itching / on the nails, a white coating appears;
- 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 adjustments to the immune system, psychological and social state of a person, and can also cause a number of serious diseases.
Thus, 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 feeling of itching causes self-doubt, deformed skin / nails do not allow wearing open shoes, strong odor from the feet does not allow removing shoes outside the house;
- Physiological - general depletion of immunity, causing infection with viral colds and the appearance of allergies.
Fungus treatment: folk remedies or drugs?
Modern medicine has an impressive arsenal of drugs capable of treating fungus on the feet, but do not forget about the current methods of folk medicine, which were dealt with 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 appropriate to pay attention to medical intervention, since its effect will be more noticeablein a short time.
If the disease has recently parasitized the skin, and the virus has not had time to spread through the legs, then folk recipes for the fungus will be very useful.
Fortunately, the treatment of fungus on the feet with folk remedies is an absolutely affordable measure, and the ingredients of the drug can be found in a home first-aid kit or refrigerator.
Fungus between the toes can be cured using the following remedies from the first aid kit:
- Potassium permanganate (it is necessary to spray the legs, then wrap the infected area with a bandage soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. For greater effectiveness, put on a warm sock and walk around with a compress for5-7 hours, or perform the procedure before going to bed).
- 5% iodine solution (treat infected areas 2-3 times daily).
- Boric acid (take a hot shower, dry your feet, sprinkle boric acid on sore spots, wrap yourself in warm socks. Repeating the procedure daily for 10 days, you have a real chance of getting rid of a conditionImportant! The feet must be dry, otherwise acid burns will occur).
- Ammonia (dilute in proportion 1 tablespoon per 1 cup, moisten the bandage, wrap your legs overnight).
- Iodine, glycerin, vinegar (mix the ingredients in equal parts, dilute with 2 parts water. Wash fungal places with this tincture daily before going to bed).
Simple remedies from the first aid kit will eradicate the fungus within 10-20 days, if used consistently.
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 to treat dermatomycosis
It has already been mentioned 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 foods found in your refrigerator every day can have an intense effect on the virus.
Effective neutralization of mycosis is provided by such products:
- Lemon;
- Onion;
- Garlic;
- Apple and wine vinegar;
- Egg;
- Coffee
- Baking soda;
- Mountain ash / nettle leaves.
Let's take a closer look at each option on how to cure a fungus on the feet with folk recipes in the shortest possible time.
- Lemon.Cut the citrus fruits into not very thin slices, tie them to the infected areas, wrap them in cellophane film. Keep the compress for 30 minutes and repeat the procedure for 10 days. A striking 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 onion porridge, squeeze the juice into a separate container. Apply a thick layer of gruel to the affected area, wrap it with a film, leave for 10-15 minutes. If there are mechanical damages on the skin, add vaseline oil in a ratio of 1: 1 to the porridge. After 15 minutes, rinse the compress with warm water, pat dry with a towel, apply onion juice and wait for it to be absorbed into the skin. Rinse your feet after the juice is not necessary.
- 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 porridge, 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 off the compresses with warm water, repeat the procedure at intervals of at least 8 hours.
- Apple vinegar. 4 tbsp. mix 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 popular 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 your feet, and you can repeat these measures 4 times a day.
- Egg.To prepare the ointment, you need: pour a raw egg with vinegar, cover with cling film, a plastic lid and put in a cool, dark place. Wait until the eggshell is completely dissolved, add 1 teaspoon of butter to the jar and gently place it until a homogeneous substance appears. Apply the ointment to dry, clean skin, wrap with a film/bag and keep warm for an hour. After removing the compress, the feet should be washed with warm water.
- Coffee.One of the best fragrant remedies for fungus on the feet. Coffee can be used as a scrub or as the main ingredient for a foot bath. If you are used to brewing natural black coffee, use the leftover sediment as a scrub. Apply the precipitate to the inflamed areas, rub coffee residues into the skin. The second option is to brew coffee and pour it into the bath in a ratio of 2 coffees: 1 water. The second option is more costly financially. The benefits 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.
- Baking soda.A universal remedy suitable for compresses and baths. Prepare a porridge by adding soda and water in equal proportions, apply on the nails / feet / distance between the fingers for 20 minutes, wrapped in cellophane. After the specified time, rinse with warm water and sprinkle with talc. Additionally, you can prepare baths with the addition of sea salt, soda and cedar / eucalyptus / menthol or propolis oil.
- Mountain ash.Rowan, like nettle, has antibacterial properties, so it is recommended to fight athlete's foot. Plant leaves should be collected from ecologically clean areas, and only young shoots should be selected. Rub the leaves in a pasty state and apply to the area of inflammation. The compress should be left overnight.
Phytotherapy - a method of combating fungus
Effective folk remedies for foot fungus are reflected in herbal medicine guides.
Despite the fact that representatives of science do not particularly approve of methods of alternative medicine, herbal medicine deserves some attention and respect, since they clearly indicate their safety and effectiveness.
We will tell you how to get rid of foot fungus with folk herbal remedies.
Folk remedies for fungus between the toes are prepared from 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. Take baths every day before bed for at least 21 days.
- Mugwort.Wormwood 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 one week, you will be able to get rid of the obvious signs of the fungus.
- Calendula.Pour a packet 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 from fresh burdock leaves. It is necessary to act mechanically on the sheet so that it releases the juice (beat with a hammer / make small cuts) and wrap the legs, apply a bandage, put on warm socks. Leave the lotion overnight.
- Mint, nettle, sage.This treatment with folk remedies consists of mixing dry herbs and pouring them into a warm sock. It is necessary to wear a dry mix during the day and repeat the complex as soon as possible, but at least 3 times a week.
The above folk remedies for the fungus are sold in any drugstore in the form of dry herbs and essential oils. It is recommended to purchase several essential oils and take foot baths with the addition of fragrant elixirs.
Folk remedies for foot fungus are effective measures, but they require fairly long 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.
Care of shoes against fungus
The answer to the question: "How to treat a fungus? "is not only to provide a number of effective folk remedy recipes, but also a reminder to treat 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 wipe the shoes from the inside.
Important! You must wipe down absolutely all the shoes you put on: from bath slippers to boots. Pairs of shoes that you wear constantly should be treated at least once a week.