Fungal infections (in medicine they are called mycoses) are considered the most common dermatological pathology. Pharmacology offers a fairly large amount of funds for getting rid of fungus and odor. Foot ointment is the easiest to use. It is simple enough to regularly apply the composition to problem areas, and over time, itching and horny growths will disappear. The article presents a list of the best ointments for fungus on the legs.
The causes and symptoms of fungal infections in the feet
The fungus on the legs appears due to the penetration of pathogens into the layers of the epidermis. The defeat of the sole skin of the feet is called dermatomycosis, the destruction of the nail plates is called in the dermatology of onychomycosis. If the disease has reached the last stage and led to the defeat of a vast area of the skin, then the patient will have to take anti-inflammatory and antifungal tablets. If dermatomycosis has recently begun to develop, then the use of ointments for the legs will help. From the fungus and the smell of funds for external use should be applied at least once a day.
Symptoms of dermatomycosis:
- itching of the feet and toes;
- the appearance of cracks and sores with a sacrum;
- horny growths, itchy corns;
- dry skin on the feet, accompanied by itching.
The causes of the appearance of dermatomycosis and onychomycosis:
- reduced immunity, the presence of autoimmune diseases;
- non-observance of personal hygiene;
- excessive activity of the sebaceous glands, excessive sweating;
- chronic diseases of the endocrine system;
- diabetes mellitus (in patients with this disease, the cracks heal for a very long time and several ointments for the feet from the fungus and smell have to be used in parallel);
- vascular pathology, foot deformities;
- wearing uncomfortable tight shoes made of low-quality materials;
- advanced age (dermatomycosis often develops in people over 45 years old);
- excessive dryness of the skin, dehydration of the body.
Spores of the fungus easily penetrate the skin in case the body's defenses are weakened. Therefore, in parallel with the use of ointments against the smell of feet and fungus, you should work on increasing the body's immune forces. For example, drink a course of a high-quality vitamin-mineral complex, give up bad habits, normalize nutrition, undergo medical examination and treat chronic diseases if any.
In order to permanently get rid of the manifestations of dermatomycosis, you should visit a dermatologist and undergo the necessary studies. If the results of the studies show the presence of a specific infection, then you will have to take a course of an antibiotic drug to get rid of the pathogen.
How to get rid of fungus and foot odor with external funds?
Modern pharmacology offers a whole arsenal of various drugs for dermatomycosis:
- Fungicide solutions act due to the presence of antifungal substances. Almost any antiseptic can serve as a solvent, but more often it is alcohol solutions. It is very inconvenient to use.
- Varnishes for dermatomycosis is a highly specialized pharmacological agent. It is used mainly only for onychomycosis, that is, with damage to the nail plate, and not the skin.
- Moisture-absorbing powders during sweating between the toes. In summer, when the feet sweat in the heat, the risk of developing onychomycosis and dermatomycosis increases. Powder is best used as a prophylactic.
- Aerosols with antimycotic components are easy to apply, but most of them are also good only for use in the prevention of fungus.
- Creams are best used for dry feet. Moisturizing the skin containing a fungicide (or complex of substances) the cream penetrates as deep as possible into the layers of the epidermis, neutralizing microbes.
- Ointment from the smell of feet and fungus (many drugs can be inexpensively purchased) does not moisturize the skin as intensely as a cream. However, the ointment usually has a higher concentration of the active active ingredient, as a result of which the symptoms of dermatomycosis recede faster (if you compare the use of ointments and creams).
List of the most effective and inexpensive ointments for foot fungus
All drugs from this list can be purchased at the pharmacy. There is no need for prior consultation with a doctor - drugs are dispensed without a prescription and their cost is low.
Ointments for foot odor and fungus (inexpensive in pharmacies) should be used as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms of dermatomycosis. If the patient reaches the last stages, when a large area of the skin is affected by the fungus, then using external preparations is almost useless. It takes medication to destroy the overgrown mycosis from the inside. In this case, it is better to seek the help of a dermatologist - he will prescribe the necessary studies and prescribe the optimal drug for each patient.
List of inexpensive and effective ointments against foot odor and fungus:
- Lamisil.
- "Clotrimazole".
- "Exoderyl."
- Ketoconazole.
- "Terbinafine".
- "Mikospor".
"Lamisil": instructions for use, especially
The active substance of the ointment is terbinafine. The substance is quite aggressive, is absorbed through the skin, partially enters the bloodstream. Before starting use, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications and possible side effects. The cost of packaging is about three hundred rubles (may vary depending on the margin of the seller).
Contraindications to the use of ointment "Lamisil":
- impaired functioning and pathology of the liver, kidneys;
- lupus erythematosus;
- diabetes;
- development of malignant neoplasms;
- chronic alcoholism;
- children's age (the advisability of using a particular age should be consulted with a dermatologist).
Reviews of ointments from nail fungus on the legs are positive. "Lamisil" is enough to apply to the affected tissue only twice a day. Itching disappears after the first application. In most cases, on the fifth to sixth day of using this ointment from the fungus on the toes there is no trace. "Lamisil" acts quickly, but if allergic reactions occur, it is better to abandon the use of this tool.
"Clotrimazole" in the fight against foot fungus
The main active ingredient in the ointment is clotrimazole. Its exposure spectrum is wide. The drug destroys bacterial microflora, relieves itching and pain, has a mild decongestant effect. The result of the reaction with clotrimazole is toxic to the pathogen, it does not survive. Ointment should be applied twice a day to the affected area with a plentiful layer. Do not immediately put on socks or shoes, the composition should be absorbed.
Clotrimazole ointment from a fungus on the legs should not be used during pregnancy. A relative contraindication to use is children's age (you should consult a dermatologist before using the drug to treat children).
"Exoderil": instructions for use, patient reviews
Ointment "Exoderil" acts due to the presence of hydrochloride in the composition of naphthyne. The analogue is Mikoderil (it is cheaper, but not always available in pharmacies). "Exoderyl" is characterized by rapid absorption and high penetration rate of the active substance into the deep layers of the epidermis. It is used both for the treatment of dermatomycosis and for the treatment of onychomycosis. Apply the ointment in a thin layer on the affected area three to four times a day. A contraindication to the use of the drug is the state of pregnancy, as well as the presence of allergic reactions to naftifine hydrochloride.
Patient reviews on the use of Exoderil and Mycoderil are positive. The healing effect is felt after the first application. Itching and pain are reduced, swelling subsides. If you stop treatment immediately after the first improvement (which occurs already on the second day), then it is likely that the symptoms of the disease will return. Even if the patient does not experience more itching and burning, then treatment should continue for about ten days.
"Ketoconazole": instructions for use
How to get rid of fungus and foot odor as quickly as possible? Buy ointment "Ketoconazole" - a course of treatment with this tool only five days, and unpleasant symptoms go away after the first application. True, the ointment will help get rid of dermatomycosis of the first stage. If the disease has already passed to the second stage, then other drugs will need to be connected.
With local topical use, ketoconazole practically does not undergo systemic absorption into the bloodstream. Therefore, in comparison with other drugs for dermatomycosis and onychomycosis, Ketoconazole has a relatively smaller number of side effects and contraindications.
Ketoconazole is also available in the form of tablets and suppositories. For the fastest possible cure, you can use both tablets and ointment in parallel. However, judging by the reviews of patients, a noticeable relief of the condition occurs even when using only ointment. It is recommended to apply the product with a thin layer two to three times a day on the affected area of the feet and leave until completely absorbed.
"Terbinafine": instructions for use and patient reviews
To treat the fungus between the toes, the ointment "Terbinafine" is used quite often. The main active ingredient is terbinafine. It is quickly absorbed through the skin and enters the bloodstream. In the body, it is biotransformed into metabolites that do not exhibit antifungal activity. Most of them are excreted in the urine. In addition to ointment, there are other forms of release of the drug - spray, cream, tablets.
Before starting use, you should familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications. These are liver and kidney diseases, psoriasis, endocrine pathologies, chronic alcoholism, etc. When using the ointment, an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria (rash) can appear. In this case, it is better to refuse treatment with "Terbinafine" and opt for a drug with another active substance.
Reviews about the drug are positive - both about the ointment and about the tablets. But the reviews about the use of the spray are not very good - patients complain that the effect is noticeable only after using the spray, itching and burning are reduced. But there is no lasting effect. When using an ointment, itching disappears for a long time, unlike a spray.
The use of "Mycospore" in the fungus of the feet and nails
The main active components of the ointment are bifonazole and urea. A special disposable patch (10 pcs.) Is also included with the ointment, which should cover the affected area from friction with socks and shoes. The drug has a pronounced antimicrobial activity. "Mikospor" is often used to treat onychomycosis, that is, when the nail plates are affected by the fungus. For the treatment of dermatomycosis, it is better to use drugs with terbinafine in the composition.
Reviews about "Mikospor" are positive - the therapeutic effect of the drug is noticeable already on the second or third day from the start of use. Side effects are expressed mainly by manifestations of allergies, desquamation, contact dermatitis. But most often, “Mikospor” is well tolerated. The average duration of treatment is 10-14 days. Patient reviews also report that when using an ointment on the skin of the feet, cracks disappear and decrease in the size of corns. This effect is achieved due to the presence of beeswax white wax in the composition, it is a powerful nourishing and moisturizing component.
The use of ointment with sulfur in the foot fungus in the composition
Sulfur ointment from a fungus on the legs is perhaps the cheapest way - its cost is only about 40 rubles per jar. However, is it effective in the fight against mycoses? The fact is that in the composition of the ointment there are no antimicrobial components. Sulfur muffles symptoms - itching and burning in the affected area are relieved, but the disease does not directly cure. The main advantage of this drug is that it is the most inexpensive ointment from a fungus on the legs.
When applying ointments with sulfur in the composition, many patients note an unpleasant burning sensation. Sulfur has an unpleasant odor, which is difficult to kill even with a powerful flavor. In addition, the concentration of ointments with sulfur in the composition is usually thick, oily. As a result, it is inconvenient to use the ointment two to three times a day, the residues are absorbed into the fabric of socks and shoes, leaving greasy spots and an unpleasant odor.
Many pharmacists recommend "Sulfur Ointment" for patients with dermatomycosis, as it is cheap and always available. However, experienced dermatologists almost never prescribe this remedy to their patients, considering it useless in the fight against foot and nail fungus. After all, the goal of therapy is not to get rid of the symptoms, but to neutralize the microbes that provoked the appearance of the disease. After the microbes leave the tissue, unpleasant symptoms disappear by themselves.