Despite the absence of an extreme health hazard when the skin of the feet is affected by a fungal infection, other rather unpleasant pathologies can develop against the background of the problem. Therefore, it is important to identify the problem in a timely manner and resort to appropriate therapy. What are the signs of foot mycosis? How does infection happen? What is the treatment for foot fungus? You can find answers to these questions by reading our article.
Clinical picture
Before considering the fastest ways to treat foot fungus, I would like to say a few words about the characteristic signs of pathology. When the skin is infected with pathogenic spores, a person for a long time may not feel absolutely any discomfort. However, when the protective functions of the body are weakened, the disease will certainly make itself felt.
The first sign of fungal infection of the epidermis of the lower extremities is the appearance of a sensation of overthrow. In parallel, there may be a burning sensation in the interdigital space. Over time, microscopic cracks appear on the skin, which cause the development of inflammatory processes and serve as gates for the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the body.
Ignoring the above symptoms necessarily leads to the spread of infection to large areas of the skin. Infection is affected not only by the feet, but also by the nail plate, which coarsen and becomes brittle. The surface layers of the epidermis begin to peel off strongly. In this case, the sensation of itching becomes simply unbearable. In the future, the formation of blisters is possible, which cause pain during movement.
Causes of fungus development
Foot fungus is formed as a result of contact with the skin of pathogenic spores of the genus Trichophyton. By themselves, such microorganisms are in a state of suspended animation. The infection is activated only under certain conditions. Among the provoking factors, it should be noted:
- The presence of damage to the skin of the feet.
- Wearing inappropriate, tight shoes.
- Tendency to sweat.
- Reluctance to adhere to generally accepted hygiene rules regarding foot and nail skin care.
- The development of diseases in a chronic form, the course of which negatively affects blood circulation in the tissues of the lower extremities.
- Hypothermia of the legs.
- Decrease in the protective functions of the body.
- Using someone else’s shoes, towels, tools to perform cosmetic procedures.
- Refusal to use personal slippers when visiting public places, in particular, baths and saunas, pools, showers in gyms.
Amphotericin
"Amphotericin" - a drug with which you can carry out the most inexpensive treatment of foot fungus. This antibiotic inhibits the vital activity of pathogenic spores, preventing the self-replication of the pathogen. Unfortunately, the tool is not very effective, since the active components of the drug are active only against yeast and mold fungi. As for the dosage of the drug, the norms for taking the medicine are determined by the attending physician depending on the individual nature of the problem and the characteristics of the course of the disease.
Zalain
Inexpensive treatment of foot fungus can also be performed with Zalain ointment. In case of damage to the skin and nails of the lower extremities by pathogenic spores, the agent is applied to infected areas twice a day. Therapy is performed for a month. This time is enough for the final destruction of the protein structures of pathogenic microorganisms.
Candide
The ointment is used in case of infection of the epidermis with fungal spores of the genus Trichophyton. The main active ingredient in the composition of the medication is a substance called clotrimazole. The active element has a destructive effect on the membrane structure of pathogens, which causes their destruction.
What is the treatment of foot fungus with Candide ointment? The tool treats infected areas of the epidermis 2-3 times a day. Treatment is continued for 3 weeks. If during this time it is not possible to completely eliminate the characteristic symptoms of the disease, in this case, take a short break. Then repeat the course of therapy.
Lamisil
"Lamisil" - a tool that allows for an inexpensive but effective treatment of foot fungus. The drug is available in the form of ointments and tablets. If the tool is preferred in the first form, the medicine is applied several times a day to the infected skin of the feet and nail plates. When using tablets, the medication is taken orally at 250 mg once a day. Therapy is performed for a month.
Exoderil
How effective is Exoderil in the treatment of foot fungus? Reviews of doctors show that the medication can destroy the pathogen of infection at the cellular level. The main active ingredient of the drug - naphthynin - slows down the self-replication of pathogenic spores, has an antibacterial effect on tissues. The result is the prevention of the spread of infection to adjacent areas, as well as the elimination of the likelihood of the formation of other infectious pathologies against the background of mycosis.
Treatment of foot and nail fungus with the help of the agent is as follows. Exoderil ointment is applied to previously cleaned, disinfected skin. They resort to the procedure 2-3 times a day. To exclude the likelihood of disease progression, the product covers not only infected areas, but also neighboring, healthy areas.
The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. With minor fungal infections, the course of therapy is at least 2 weeks. Serious mycoses, which lead to the formation of ulcerative manifestations in the skin structures, require the use of ointments for up to six months.
"Itraconazole"
The medication is available in the form of capsules intended for internal use. The medicine is highly effective. The tool inhibits the vital activity of the bulk of fungal infections, which are able to affect tissues in the lower extremities. The effectiveness of the drug is due to the ability to damage the membrane structures of pathogens.
How is treatment of foot fungus "Itraconazole"? The drug is taken one tablet shortly before meals. Use the pharmacological composition 2-3 times a day. If there is a fungus in a neglected form, the dosage may increase. In such situations, the specific standards are determined by the dermatologist.
"Fluconazole"
An effective drug for the treatment of foot fungus is available in the form of tablets, syrup and solution. The active substances of the drug inhibit the nutrition processes of pathogenic microorganisms at the cellular level. The result is a quick death of the pathogen.
Treatment of foot fungus with "Fluconazole" is carried out according to the following scheme. Since the medicine is extremely effective, apply it once a day, regardless of the form of release. In the presence of a minor infection, the drug is used for a week. If a foot fungus is noted in an advanced stage, therapy is continued for a month.
Nizoral
"Nizoral" refers to the category of inexpensive drugs. The treatment of foot fungus with the help of the product, despite its affordable cost, is quite effective. In order to destroy the infection, the cream is applied to the infected areas of the skin and adjacent areas several times a day. Therapy is continued for 1-2 months, depending on the severity of the problem. If the treatment of the fungus starts when the first signs of the disease occur, as a rule, unpleasant symptoms can be eliminated for several weeks.
Salicylic ointment
Quick treatment of foot fungus at home can be achieved through the use of salicylic ointment. The product is applied to infected skin once a day shortly before going to bed. Before performing the procedure, the legs are thoroughly washed, treated with any available disinfectant and wiped dry. Therapy is continued for 20 days.
It is worth noting that the active substances in the composition of the ointment do not have a destructive effect on pathogenic fungal spores. However, the product has the ability to soften tissues. The result of treatment with the use of a medication is the disappearance of scaly and coarsened sections of the epidermis. For this reason, it is reasonable to use salicylic ointment in combination with other pharmacological compounds that prevent the self-replication of pathogens.
Garlic oil
Garlic is considered an effective natural antibiotic. Plant juice contains substances that have a binding effect on infectious agents. In turn, caustic components contribute to the creation of an environment unsuitable for the active life of pathogenic microorganisms.
How to prepare a remedy for the treatment of foot fungus? Several large cloves of garlic are crushed with a crush. The basis of the drug is combined with butter in equal proportions. The composition is thoroughly mixed. The resulting product is applied to the skin infected with the fungus and the nail plate. The procedure is performed several times a day until the infection is completely eliminated.
Celandine
From time immemorial, the plant has been used by traditional healers to treat dermatological diseases. The juice of this herb is distinguished by pronounced caustic properties, due to which a special environment is created where it is extremely difficult to multiply the pathogens of infections.
How to treat foot fungus folk remedy? Take a fresh harvest of the plant. The grass is carefully ground. Raw materials in the amount of 3-4 tablespoons are poured into one and a half liters of boiling water. The composition is allowed to infuse for several minutes and cool to a comfortable temperature. The resulting liquid is poured into the pelvis and placed there infected legs fungus. The feet are kept in a hot bath for half an hour. Treatment is carried out in the morning and in the evening. As a rule, to get rid of the fungus, it is enough to perform 20 procedures.
Onion
One of the simplest and most affordable treatment options for foot fungus is the use of onion-based products. Such raw materials are carefully ground on a grater. The resulting mass is placed in a piece of gauze and squeezed juice. The substance is used to treat infected skin. After drying, onion juice is not washed off. They resort to such actions only if an unbearable burning sensation is felt.
Vinegar
Treatment of foot fungus with a folk remedy is to prepare healing baths. The use of a composition based on vinegar helps to create a pronounced acidic environment in which it is difficult to carry out the vital activity of infectious agents. The use of such a therapeutic solution is especially appropriate when the first signs of infection appear. If the development of the fungus caused the formation of an abundance of wounds and sores on the skin, resorting to the method is not recommended.
A method of treating a foot fungus is as follows. About 150 ml of table vinegar is used per liter of boiling water, the concentration level of which is 9%. The composition is mixed and cooled to a comfortable temperature. Then the legs infected with the fungus are dipped into the product. If, after a few minutes after the start of the procedure, a pronounced tingling of the skin is felt, in this case the concentration of the active substance is reduced by pouring about one glass of water into the pelvis. This solution avoids the occurrence of chemical burns to the skin.
Sea salt
Application of the method allows to eliminate the problem if the infection is not in an advanced stage. To prepare the product, use a teaspoon of sea salt for each glass of water. The resulting composition is poured into a basin where infected feet are dipped. Here the legs are held for half an hour. At the end of the procedure, cotton swabs are soaked in saline. The latter is applied to infected areas of the skin and left to dry completely.
Clay
Healing clay acts as a good helper in the fight against fungus. The substance can be purchased in almost every pharmacy. The tool is prepared as follows. Powdered clay is diluted with boiled water until a consistency similar to thick sour cream is formed. The medicine is applied to the infected feet and covered with a piece of natural tissue.
The compress is removed shortly before the clay has completely dried. The legs are thoroughly washed under running water, after which they treat the skin with a composition based on a tablespoon of lemon juice dissolved in a glass of water. Such therapy is resorted to several times a day until the symptoms disappear completely.
Finally
As can be seen, in order to treat foot fungus, a wide range of pharmacological solutions and traditional medicine can be used. In order for the therapy to be most effective, it is extremely important to carry out good foot hygiene, regularly change socks, and refuse to use old shoes, which can become a source of reinfection. Compliance with such simple rules along with the use of effective methods of therapy will significantly speed up recovery, and also help to avoid relapses.