Fungi on the feet is a disease from which no one is immune. The disease does not go away on its own, so it is important to treat it in time. Experts will tell you how to get rid of the problem.
Fungus on the feet: symptoms and causes
What is yeast infection of the feet? The fungus, or yeast infection, is a disease caused by pathogenic or opportunistic fungi. Often the disease is caused by dermatomycete fungi, which, as noted by the doctor and colleagues, include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton. However, the pathology can also be caused by microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Fungal lesions of the skin of the legs are called dermatomycosis, the nail plaque is called onychomycosis. Often pathological conditions are combined.
How to recognize a fungus on the feet?
Symptoms differ depending on the type of fungus affecting the foot. However, there are general symptoms.
At the initial stage, there is dryness of the skin, itching and burning of the soles of the feet, interdigital folds. If the nail plate is affected, a slight change in its color occurs, the nails become more brittle, as the doctor notes.
If no treatment is given, the situation worsens. The following symptoms appear:
- small cracks between the toes, on the sole;
- peeling;
- Unpleasant odor;
- swelling, redness of the interdigital folds, arch of the foot;
- bubbles and diaper rash;
- pain when walking;
- deformation of the nail plate (thickening or thinning, growth retardation, destruction of the nail).
Why do fungi appear on the feet?
Infection occurs through contact with a sick person, skin contact with surfaces and objects that have fungal spores on them. Swimming pools, saunas and baths pose the greatest risk of infection.
However, you can get infected with the fungus in the pedicure office when using the personal effects of an infected person - shoes, clothes, towels, washcloths. Even at home, you should be careful not to use the belongings of other family members, as the doctor notes.
There are factors that contribute to the development of fungus on the feet:
- wounds and cracks;
- excessive sweating and dry skin;
- poor hygiene;
- flat foot;
- circulatory disorders of the legs due to vascular diseases;
- diabetes mellitus and pathologies of the immune system.
Folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is much easier to cope with it. Treatment should therefore be started as soon as the first symptoms appear. Various folk remedies will help to cope with the fungus.
How to treat fungus on the feet with folk remedies? Vinegar, animal fats, essential oils, and garlic will help.
The vinegar
Table cider and apple vinegar will help stop the development of fungal disease:
- Heat two liters of water for a comfortable temperature. Add 200 ml of vinegar. Soak your feet in the resulting composition and hold for 15 minutes. Soak your feet three times a day. After the procedure, dry your feet thoroughly and put on clean socks.
- Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to your nails and skin affected by the fungus. Put on clean socks and leave on overnight.
Garlic
Garlic has an antifungal effect, so it works well for the problem. The recipe for the remedy is as follows:
- Squeeze the juice from a head of garlic, add the same amount of water and alcohol to it.
- Heat the water, in which add a tablespoon of tar soap, grated on a coarse grater, and two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Steam your legs for 15 minutes.
- Wipe your feet clean and treat them with a mixture of garlic juice and alcohol.
Essential oils
Different essential oils will help deal with fungal infections of the feet and nails: rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang. The doctor says tea tree and eucalyptus oils will be some of the most effective in fighting fungus.
With the help of them, you can do baths and compresses:
- Wash your feet first. Add ten drops of essential oil to three liters of lukewarm water. Soak your feet in the bath for 20 minutes, then put on warm socks or wrap your feet in a warm towel for 15 minutes.
- Heat a tablespoon of water and essential oil to 30 ° C. Soak a cotton ball in the product and fix it on the problem areas, wrap it with a bandage on top. After an hour, clean the softened skin or nail plates with a sterile file.
Animal fat
How to treat toenail fungus? For these purposes, use pork or goose fat:
- Take equal amounts of fat, copper sulfate, and yellow sulfur.
- Mix well and bring to a boil.
- Send to a dark place and wait for complete cooling.
- Lubricate the skin and nails affected by the fungus daily.
To deal with yeast infection of the feet, it is important to have regular treatments. Use folk remedies and do not forget about personal hygiene. Then you will soon enjoy a healthy appearance of your legs.
Warning! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to the treatments described therein without first consulting your doctor.