Fungal diseases can significantly worsen a person’s quality of life, causing complexes and dissatisfaction with their own appearance. Fungi can affect the skin in various parts of the body, nails, have the ability to penetrate the bloodstream, affecting the internal organs and disrupting their coordinated activity.
That is why it is very important to know about preventive measures for fungal skin diseases and use them regularly.
Symptoms of a fungal infection
How to understand that a person is infected with a fungal disease? According to the main symptoms, which include:
- discoloration of the nail plate;
- the appearance of small stripes or dots of white on the surface of the nail;
- persistent itching of the foot, as well as discomfort in the area between the fingers of the upper and lower extremities;
- a change in the shape of the nail plate, its deformation and thickening;
- thinning of the inner layer of the plate;
- the appearance of minor injuries in the affected areas;
- excessive dryness of the skin.
The appearance of one or several symptoms at once signals the active development of a fungal disease in the human body. In such cases, it is too late to take preventative measures. An effective treatment is needed. It is very important to immediately begin treatment. After all, in the advanced stage, it will be much more difficult to cure the fungus.
General recommendations
Prevention of fungal diseases and dermatomycosis can be primary and secondary. The first type of protective manipulation is aimed at reducing the risk of infection with a fungus. The second is aimed at preventing the recurrence of a disease caused by pathogens.
The risk of infection with a fungus is high in public places: swimming pools, beauty salons, clinics, etc. In addition, fungal diseases can be transmitted through the family type through household items, shoes, clothes.
Daily fungal prophylaxis
Daily observance of simple rules will prevent infection with fungal diseases:
- After washing the feet, it is imperative to wipe the feet. Only after the skin has completely dried up can shoes be worn. As a detergent, it is best to use ordinary household soap. The inner surface of the shoe is a favorable environment for the development of fungi.
- In hot weather, shoes need to be treated daily with a disinfectant solution.
- Shoes should be sized. It is not recommended to wear shoes larger or, conversely, smaller.
- When choosing shoes, it is necessary to give preference to those products in which the legs feel comfortable. An important condition is the ability to let air through.
With increased sweat in the feet, it is necessary to regularly use special powders and deodorants that have a cooling effect and destroy pathogens.
It is not recommended to wear wet shoes for a long time. Wet shoes must be thoroughly washed and dried.
In addition, one of the best defenses of the body against the occurrence of fungal diseases is the human immune system. That is why it is important to take all necessary measures to strengthen immunity. To do this, you need to breathe fresh air more often, abandon bad habits, including alcohol and smoking.
Measures for the prevention of fungal diseases in children should also be followed. Since the child’s body is prone to infection, especially if the immune system is weakened.
Emergency prevention of fungal infection
In some cases, a person pays attention to the presence of symptoms of fungal diseases, when the disease develops quite rapidly. In this case, urgent measures must be taken to prevent the further development of the disease.
Prevention and treatment of fungal diseases involves the use of special medicines, which contain substances that instantly destroy spores and prevent the development of the disease. Some time after the start of taking the drugs, a noticeable result appears. Itching, peeling of the skin disappears. The nail plate takes on its original appearance.
Medicines can be produced in the form of gels, ointments and creams. They are intended for external use. Among the huge variety of drugs it is worth noting a few, the most effective. These include Candide, Lamella, Tebicour, as well as Exoderil and Mikospor. You can buy them at almost any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
There are drugs for oral administration.
Effective preventive drugs
The use of medicines must be started in case of the slightest suspicion of infection with a fungus.
If a person suffers from excessive sweating of the legs, the course of taking medications must be repeated monthly.
Special preparations can be applied not only to the skin, but also household items with which a person comes into contact with every day. When processing the legs, it is necessary that the entire surface of the foot, including the area of ​​the heel and nose, is exposed.
The most effective means for the prevention of fungal diseases are Lamisil, Mikostop, Bifosin, Lotseril, Demikten, Batrafen, Mikozan, etc. Drugs are sold in almost every pharmacy. Without a doctor’s prescription.
To prevent fungal diseases of the nails, it is recommended to periodically use special varnishes. Preliminarily, it is necessary to briefly cut the horn plates, rinse thoroughly and dry them.
Recipes of traditional medicine for the prevention of fungal diseases
Fighting fungi is not limited to medicines and personal hygiene. For the prevention of diseases, traditional medicine is excellent.
To rub your feet, in particular your feet, you can use tea tree oil, as well as apple cider vinegar and propolis tincture. Regular treatment of the affected skin with iodine allows you to quickly eliminate pathogens and relieve the person of discomfort.
It is useful as a prophylaxis of fungal diseases to place your feet in baths with sea salt, ordinary baking soda or celandine and chamomile. Compresses based on oak bark, as well as baths with the specified component, will save you from excessive sweating.
These methods are not only excellent means of prevention, but also help strengthen the body's immune system.
How to protect yourself in public places
It is very important to follow simple rules while in a public place or in transport. Indeed, often infection with a fungus occurs there, since a favorable environment is maintained for the propagation of pathogens.
That is why safety precautions must be followed. One of the main measures for the prevention of fungal diseases of the legs is removable shoes. You need to go to the pool with your rubber slaps. No need to stand barefoot on the floor in public areas, such as a bathhouse, sauna or pool. Even being at home, it is not recommended to walk on the floor immediately after a shower. Dry your feet thoroughly. To help protect against the penetration of the fungus, kapron socks will help. They can be used when trying on shoes in a store when renting skates or rollers.
It is worth seriously approaching the choice of a beauty salon. Preference should be given to those establishments in which the tool goes through all stages of processing.
By following such simple recommendations, an unpleasant and uncomfortable disease can be avoided.
Shoe disinfection
For foot diseases caused by fungi, disinfection of shoes should be carried out regularly . For these purposes, a formaldehyde solution, acetic acid and a one percent solution of chlorhexidine are ideal. It is very important to observe precautionary measures as some of the listed substances are toxic.
When processing shoes, you must follow a certain algorithm. First you need to wipe with a cotton swab or a rag insoles. Then a pair of shoes is placed in a bag together with a swab dipped in the solution, tied and left for several days. Then, after the specified period, the shoes or shoes are removed from the bag and placed in a place inaccessible to children, they are allowed to dry thoroughly and ventilated. After two weeks, you can safely wear shoes.
The processing procedure must be carried out at least once a month. Absolutely all shoes worn by a person infected with a fungal infection should be subject to manipulation. With a fungal disease of the upper limbs, gloves and that part of the outer clothing that is in contact with the body should be treated.
Instead of a conclusion
Fungal diseases are difficult to cure. It is much easier to prevent infection. Compliance with the simplest safety measures can reliably protect the human body from the effects of pathogens. Strengthening immunity is an integral part of the prevention of fungal diseases.