Today, the fungus has become a very common disease, the infection of which often occurs in public places, especially those with high humidity. Parasitic fungi that cause ringworm can infect not only the skin, but also the nails and even the hair. How to treat fungus on the feet at home?
To combat these fungi, medicine offers several antimicrobials, the components of which are able to destroy the cell membrane of parasites. However, not all people in the process of treating the fungus at home resort to pharmacy drugs, there are many popular recipes that help against the fungus, no worse than medicines. For example, boric acid from the foot fungus. It allows you to quickly get rid of an unpleasant illness.
You can be infected by a fungus in several ways. The disease can be transmitted by direct contact with the sick person, through his things or objects with which he came into contact. Sometime after infection, the skin will begin to peel, this is the first symptom of the infection. A little later, sweating in the legs will increase significantly, as a result of which a favorable environment appears in which bacteria multiply more quickly.
The part of the skin affected by the fungus starts to become red and itchy, and scales appear. In addition, the skin will begin to crack and the pain and itching will appear. If the pathology affects the nails, their appearance will change, the color will be whitish. If the fungus is not treated, it is likely that the nail plate will come off.
Treatment methods, antifungal agents
Today, the treatment of foot fungus is not particularly difficult. It is perfectly possible to get rid of the infection, even at home. At the same time, most medicines against ringworm are dispensed in pharmacies without a prescription. You can also use the methods of traditional medicine. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor before starting treatment, especially if you have diabetes or relapse of the fungus. And remember that it will not be possible to cure ringworm quickly, it will only be possible to get rid of the fungus after a sufficiently long and complete treatment.
Medicines sold in drugstore chains can be presented in very different forms, but most of the time they are ointments. All antifungal agents are local and are intended for external use only. It is necessary to treat with these drugs, applying them to the infected areas of the skin of the feet and nails. The duration of the course can be up to a month and a half.
It is often possible to get rid of ringworm much faster than the end of the recommended course, but it is necessary to continue treating ringworm for the defined time, because due to the premature end of the use of the drug, there is a high risk of disease recurrence.
It should be borne in mind that almost all antifungals are not recommended for the treatment of pregnant and lactating mothers, young children and people with individual intolerance to the drug.
Recently, external fungal agents have spread. The medications are designed to prevent the multiplication of bacteria and their growth. They are equally effective in treating nail fungus and skin lesions on the feet. Concentrated products kill the fungus. Treatment necessarily includes regular removal of areas of the skin or part of the nail infected with the fungus. It is also important that the treatment is done at home.
The preparations are available in the form of enamel or cream. The duration of treatment depends directly on the size of the affected skin area and the neglect of the disease. The duration of the therapeutic course can be up to one and a half months. The main advantage of the resources is the non-absorption of your blood, which means that there is no need to fear intoxication of the body.
To get rid of the fungus, you will have to apply the cream to the affected foot, as long as no breaks are allowed. After the fungus has disappeared, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several more times, this will consolidate the effect achieved.
Treatment methods with folk remedies
To cure foot fungus, like many other diseases, you can use folk remedies at home. A large number of different agents are used against the fungus. Thus, ordinary clothes or tar soap, or vinegar baths, help a lot. Treatment with celandine or soda also shows good results. In addition, folk remedies usually contain several herbs.
However, it should be borne in mind that folk recipes usually deal only with the early stages of the disease, and it is very problematic to cure ringworm running at home without using medications.
All methods of traditional medicine are based exclusively on the external use of various natural remedies, these can be baths or compresses with solutions. The treatment process can be started independently after the first signs of ringworm are detected. However, for an effective cure, it is even better to consult a doctor.
Soap in the treatment of diseases
Popular recipes for combating fungi, containing soap, consist exclusively of tar or washing powder. The procedure is easily performed at home. It consists of the removal of scales of dead skin and exfoliated nails. For this, the legs are vaporized, after which the feet and toes affected by the fungus are well lathered and scrubbed with a hard brush for at least five minutes.
Powder soap works best with fungi on the skin and, in case of nail damage, it is recommended to use tar soap. After completing the procedure, the legs are washed with running water, continuing to scrub them with a brush. The procedure is repeated at least 5 consecutive times. After completing the latter, you should dry your feet thoroughly and apply any moisturizer on them. Thin cotton socks can be used for the best effect.
The duration of treatment is about a week, the procedures are performed in the morning and in the evening. You may notice a significant improvement after the third day of treatment with these simple folk remedies. It should be borne in mind that tar or laundry detergent is very effective in the early stages of disease development; neglected ringworm may not be cured in this way.
Sodium bicarbonate
Popular recipes often contain the simplest and most accessible means for everyone. One is the most common baking soda that you will find in any home. Baking soda will help to neutralize the burning and itching sensations that are signs of fungal infection. To do this, drink soda (about a tablespoon) and dilute it with water to obtain a thick paste, which will be applied to the affected areas of the skin.
After that, you should wait for the paste to dry (about 10 minutes) and wash your foot with cold water, the soda should be completely removed, soap is not recommended. After a thorough cleaning, it is recommended to apply a powder or cornstarch to the affected areas of the skin. Foot treatment should be carried out several times a day and continue until the fungus disappears.
The soda allows you to fight the fungus without causing any side effects. Therefore, the soda can even be used to treat children. After finishing the treatment, it is highly recommended to maintain personal hygiene and use washing powder to wash your feet. For the prevention of ringworm, you can also use soda or vinegar baths.
Celandine treatment
Many folk recipes that help to cure ringworm at home are composed of celandine. Like many other herbs, celandine is widely used as an antiseptic and healing agent. The methods of treatment with Celandine can be very different. For example, trays to which celandine is added in the form of a dye.
To prepare this tincture, celandine is poured with water and kept for about two weeks. Celandine can also be used in the form of an alcoholic tincture, which is used to clean the affected areas. If ringworm is present on the hands, celandine baths can be used.
It is necessary to remember that celandine is poisonous, therefore, after all the procedures, it is necessary to avoid that it remains in your hands. Use soap for this. Treatment with Celandine usually lasts for about fifteen days. Celandine can cure ringworm of the feet and nails affected by the fungus.
Using other traditional medicine
Traditional recipes for treating athlete's foot often contain vinegar. Most of the time, traditional healers recommend the use of wine vinegar. At home, the fight against the fungus consists of filling the bathtub with diluted vinegar and putting your feet in it for five to ten minutes. After that, the feet should be thoroughly washed with soap.
In addition, you can neutralize the effect of the vinegar solution with soda, which must be dissolved in water. As mentioned earlier, soda baths alone can be used to clean the skin of fungi and, in combination with vinegar, the result should improve. After the procedure is finished, it is recommended to put on your feet socks moistened with vinegar and sleep with them.
Sufficiently good results are also demonstrated by soap-soda solutions used to clean the affected areas. However, it should be borne in mind that soap and soda solutions are most used not for the treatment of ringworm, but for prevention. Vinegar baths also do an excellent job of prevention.
The fungus on the hands is much less common than on the feet. Usually, the infection occurs after frequent contact of the hand with the affected feet. Ringworm in the hands is treated in much the same way as in the feet. As the presence of fungi in the hands is detected more quickly, the fight against it starts in the early stages. Even not very strong means can help perfectly.
The easiest way to start is to try soda or vinegar baths. In addition, it is recommended to clean the brushes with vinegar several times throughout the day. If these baths do not help, you should resort to stronger medications.