Fungi or mycoses thrive in hot, humid places. Therefore, the human body is more suitable for the life of entire colonies of various fungi. Hygiene, healthy eating, sports and strong immunity protect us from parasites, but does it always happen?
Possible reasons
- Tight and uncomfortable shoes. The constant debate about tight shoes leads to the fact that bacteria multiply quickly from sweat and dust. They remain on your feet, inside your shoes, on your toes and on the floor that you have stepped on. Thus, the "bouquet" spreads throughout the house and reaches the "new" clean feet of your home.
- Poor shoe material, unventilated fabric or leatherette. The same effect of "suffocating" the feet, as in the tight but beautiful shoes.
- Disregard for hygiene in public places. Never walk barefoot in the steam bath, pool, showers and sauna. Disposable slippers do not protect against slipping on the tiles, but mainly against the exchange of foreign bacteria.
- Personal belongings. Do not lend socks, towels, tights, shoes, shin guards, manicure sets to yourself or someone else. In the dressing room, use your clean nylon sock.
- Immunological problems. Weak or temporarily weakened immunity does not handle attacks by viruses and fungi well. This includes people diagnosed with diabetes, AIDS, psoriasis, varicose veins, vascular diseases and obesity.
- Failure to comply with foot hygiene rules. Wash them daily with soap, change your socks, cut your nails once a week. Wash your shoes every few weeks or so.
- Corns, calluses, cracks, excessive sweating. Improper treatment or lack of it, neglect in the care and hygiene of painful outbreaks.
Signs by stages of development
Often, the external manifestations of the fungus are absent, do not attract attention or do not bother the patient. It is important to identify the symptoms as early as possible and to see a doctor.
- First stage: cloudy or light.
- peeling of the skin of the foot, especially between the toes;
- the appearance of blisters on the skin of the fingers, which burst and cause discomfort;
- small wounds or cracks at the blister site;
- unpleasant odor;
- changes in the structure, color and thickness of the nail; yellow spots, whitish streaks, thickening and porosity of the plaque.
- Second stage: scaly-hyperkeratotic.
- Third stage: intertriginous.
- Fourth stage: dyshidrotic.
Most of the time, the fungus chooses the thumb, which infects everyone else. Most men are sick: they increase sweating, so their feet are at high risk of developing the disease.
The feet itch, the skin between the toes is covered with white crusts, the burning sensation intensifies. It becomes impossible to ignore anxiety.
Ringworm penetrates deep into the epidermis: the skin between the fingers inflames, gets wet and peels. Open, moist wounds and cracks remain. They drip and hurt. It is almost impossible to walk. The focus of the inflammation has clearly defined edges.
The skin of the foot is completely affected. Bubbles and blisters cover the feet, overflowing with fluid. It is impossible to move, the wounds hurt and itch a lot.
The treatment of nails is long - from 1 to 2 months, if the symptoms appear in the first phase and a dermatologist to help at the right time. Neglected forms, even the strongest therapy cannot heal quickly.
Therapies
It is only possible to decide on treatment after the diagnosis is confirmed. For example, peeling feet is a typical seasonal dermatitis. Taking it for the fungus on the toe nails and treating it with vinegar at home, the skin will suffer doubly. And the improvement will not come.
Traditional methods are good in the early stages or as an auxiliary therapy. Doctors warn that home remedies only remove external manifestations. A relapse will certainly happen when the immune system is weakened. The medication is suitable for all stages.
Medication
The doctor conducts the treatment with the help of a complex:
- ointments, foams, creams and antifungal pills;
- pharmacy preparation solutions and "announcers";
- immunostimulants and vitamins.
The laser is gaining popularity. The procedure is mainly for the plate and tablets are not required. There are contraindications to treatment (pregnancy, lactation, oncology, skin lesions), so it is not a universal method, and it is also expensive.
With an advanced form, antifungals are changed several times per course due to the addition of mushrooms to the active ingredient. Affected nails are removed in a hospital. Legs rise regularly and clean scales, scaly skin, if this is not a neglected type (no open wounds).
Domestic and leisure shoes are well disinfected or discarded. The socks are washed, boiled and ironed at the maximum temperature allowed. Allocate all bedding, clothes that you touch with your feet, as well as bath accessories just for you during treatment. Wash them well after use to avoid reinfection.
ethnoscience
These home remedies are always on hand to help relieve symptoms before your first visit to the doctor.
- Potatoes.
Boil the washed peels and mash. Pour the hot potato broth into a bowl and heat the legs. After vaporizing your feet thoroughly, rub the puree on your feet. Soak for a while until the compress cools. Rinse with lukewarm water and grease the fireplaces with lard (make sure it is internal).
- Table vinegar.
Mix in equal parts with water and make an elastic dough. Apply well on the nail and secure with a plaster. Protect the delicate skin of the finger with a film or plaster so that the acid does not harm the epidermis. Change the compress daily for 4-5 days until the plate loosens.
Second copy. Collect 200 ml of vinegar and lower the washed chicken egg. Wait until the acid runs through the skin completely and a homogeneous mixture is formed. She has sore spots in the morning and at night for a month.
- Iodine.
The affected areas are scrubbed with an iodine pad daily. There is a high risk of burning the skin and causing an increase in flaking, burning and dryness.
- Lemon juice.
A slice of lemon is applied for 8 to 10 days until the nail is separated.
Compresses with caustic, acidic and burning mixes should not be used if the skin has wounds and cracks. The neglected form is an open wound, in which even water brings sharp pain.
- Garlic.
A popular remedy against all diseases reliably fights bacteria and fungi. Take 50 grams of butter and a crushed garlic clove, mix and let it ferment for 24 hours. Apply to the affected areas at night, after washing your feet, the treatment lasts 30 days.
- Salt baths.
The fungus is destroyed with sea salt. In the evening, add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of water and steam your feet.
- Rowan.
Fresh green leaves are ground into porridge and a polyethylene compress is made overnight. The result of the folk remedy will be noticed after 10 days.
- Ring, chamomile and violet.
The herbs are mixed in equal parts and boiled with boiling water. Hot infused gauze is wrapped around the feet. Change the compress as it dries and apply only at home, at rest.
- Propolis.
Rub the affected areas daily until the symptoms disappear.
- Coffee.
Natural black coffee is prepared and cooled. They put the limbs with the fungus in the drink and fly. Make sure that the coffee residue does not move. Look for good grains that don't overcook. This procedure relieves symptoms and helps to eliminate dead skin without pain.
- Horseradish.
Grate the fresh horseradish. You only need one teaspoon for the compress. Do it at night whenever you trim your nails. Continue until a new healthy dish grows. Be extremely careful - the horseradish stings a lot on the mucous membranes and open wounds.
If you do not have an advanced form, the symptoms have just appeared and the doctor has confirmed the guesses, so alternative methods sometimes help completely in healing. In addition, nail removal methods can become the lifeline when the doctor prescribes surgical removal.