Mycoses are diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms (fungi). The disease does not pose a mortal danger to the person, but it causes discomfort and is difficult to treat. Most often, infections are most susceptible to people with weak immunity, hormonal imbalance and non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. Treatment of fungus sometimes takes 3-4 months using a range of medications. To improve the therapeutic effect of drugs, doctors prescribe prescriptions of traditional medicine. The key to successful treatment is early detection of the disease. In the early stages, mycoses are more susceptible to antifungal drugs.
Variety and symptoms of dermatomycosis
Science knows thousands of species of fungi, but only a few hundred of them are pathogenic to humans.
Types of microorganisms that cause athletic foot:
- trichophytons;
- dermatophytes;
- candida.
The first signs of mycosis are quite difficult to recognize. How fungi look on the feet depends on the type of microorganism that affects the soft tissues.
Intertriginous form
The most common type of fungal infection. It occurs in summer, when sweating of the feet is increased. Wrinkles in the interdigital space are the first to be affected, later the infection affects the nearby areas and the nail plate.
First signs:
- dry skin between fingers;
- cracks and wounds;
- severe itching and tingling;
- peeling and discoloration of the epidermis.
squamous form
This type of fungal infection affects the underside of the feet. The skin looks rough, corns appear, keratinized areas, deep cracks. When walking a person feels pain.
The disease progresses rapidly, affecting the surrounding area and the nail plate. In advanced cases, the nail changes color, shape and begins to collapse.
Bitan!
At the first suspicion of a fungal infection, consult a doctor immediately for examination and treatment.
Dyshydrotic form
This type of fungus is rare. The first symptoms are watery multi-chamber vesicles with turbid contents on the skin. Ulcers form at the site of the rupture and merge into continuous erosion.
The main danger of this form of mycosis is the addition of concomitant infections. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the wounds, causing other dermatological diseases. In the absence of timely therapy, large areas of the legs are affected. It becomes very difficult to cure mycosis.
Causes
The main route of transmission is infection. If you do not follow the basic rules of personal hygiene, you can become infected through the household necessities that the patient uses. Peeling particles of the epidermis, together with the causative agent of the disease, remain on shoes, towels, in places of infection. Once on the surface of a healthy person's skin, the fungus begins to actively multiply.
Spores of the pathogenic microorganism can survive in the environment for many months until they reach favorable conditions. Public places - swimming pools, showers, baths, saunas, locker rooms in gyms - pose a high risk of infection.
To avoid infection, it is necessary to adhere to hygiene rules: change socks every day, wear comfortable shoes in which your feet do not sweat, and dry the interdigital space with a towel after washing.
Treatment of fungi with drugs
An important factor in resolving skin mycosis is the examination and timely treatment prescribed by the doctor.
Getting rid of the fungus is quite difficult. You will need a whole range of drugs for external and systemic action. You must first determine the type of pathogen. This can only be done in a specialized laboratory.
Ointments, creams
This type of drug has a high ability to penetrate deep into the affected tissues, reaching the mycelium.
Antifungal ointments are divided into 2 types:
- Azoles. Suppresses cell growth, destroys mycelium. The course of treatment with azole ointments usually lasts about a month;
- Alilamin. Harmful to yeast and mold fungi. This type of ointment has antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. It refers to cheap, effective means. The course of therapy is usually 3 months.
Advantages of fat:
- no harmful effects on the gastrointestinal tract and liver;
- local use allows you to maximize the impact on the pathogen;
- variety of uses to treat skin and nail fungus.
Features of the use of antifungal ointments:
- before applying the medication, the feet should be washed well and dried with a towel;
- the drug is applied to the affected area in a thin layer, rubbing movements;
- avoid penetration of the drug on the mucous membranes - nose, eyes, mouth;
- follow the instructions for use and the dermatologist's recommendation.
Tablets
For more efficient treatment of advanced mycoses, systemic therapy is prescribed together with external local preparations.
Tablets for the treatment of severe forms differ in the active substance:
- ketoconazole-based. It is prescribed for the treatment of superficial mycoses, which cannot be treated with topical medications. Destroys yeast, dimorphic fungi and dermatophytes;
- Terbinafine-based. It acts on dermatophytes;
- Based on griseofulvin. It acts on dermatophytes. It prevents the growth of fungi and destroys cell walls. This drug has increased toxicity, so modern medicine is gradually replacing it from the pharmacological market;
- based on fluconazole. Tablets belong to the azole group. Help get rid of the disease quickly.
In addition to treating fungal infections of the feet, drugs that stimulate the immune system and vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to better fight the disease.
Treatment at home with folk remedies
The fungus can be removed with the help of alternative medicine recipes only in the early stages or in combination with pharmaceutical products.
Bitan!
Before starting self-medication at home, you should undergo an examination and consult your doctor.
Iodine
Universal antiseptic has not only bactericidal effect, but also antifungal. It is recommended to lubricate the affected areas at night. A sensitivity test should be performed before the procedure. To do this, a small amount of iodine is applied to the bend of the elbow. If after a few hours there is no redness of the skin, tingling or itching, you can use this method. Before going to bed, take a foot bath, after which the skin is well wiped with a terry towel. In order to avoid chemical burns, iodine must be diluted with medical alcohol 1: 1. A thin layer of the solution is applied evenly with a cotton swab to the areas affected by the fungus. Cotton socks are worn on top. Also, for prevention, nail plates are treated.
You can make an effective iodine-based "speaker":
- Grind into powder 14 antifungal tablets;
- Mix with 100 ml of 1% dimexid and leave in a dark place for one day;
- Add 10 ml of iodine and vinegar essence.
Store the resulting mixture in the refrigerator and mix well before use. It should be applied to the affected areas of the skin with a cotton swab 1-2 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Hydrogen peroxide
Another well-known antiseptic that helps fight the manifestations of fungus on the feet. The solution is used in the form of applications that are applied to problem areas. Ten minutes twice a day will be enough to overcome mycoses in the early phase in 5-10 days.
Peroxide foot baths are considered useful. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. The solution is not enough, you just need to put in it the part of the foot that is affected. The procedure takes 30-40 minutes. Fluid should not get on healthy skin, because it strongly dehydrates soft tissues.
Celandine
The medicinal plant successfully treats many skin diseases, including mycoses. Decoctions are used for dressings and baths. If it is possible to get a freshly picked plant, then you can try to cure the fungus with fresh juice.
To do this, pluck the bush, wash it in running water. Prepare your legs - evaporate, peel off the shells. Yellow juice appears on the cut stem. They lubricate the affected areas. With self-medication with celandine at home, you should be extremely careful. This plant is poisonous. Its juice can cause severe skin burns.
A decoction of 5 tablespoons is prepared for steaming. l. herbs per 1 liter. boiling water. The solution is infused in a container with a tightly closed lid for 20 minutes. After that, a foot bath is done.
Apple vinegar
An acidic environment will help remove a fungus in which it cannot reproduce and exist. Apple cider vinegar is used in the form of foot baths and applications.
If the affected area is small, it is sufficient to soak a cotton pad or a piece of cotton cloth with an aggressive substance. In case of greater spread, healthy parts of the skin are smeared with greasy baby cream for protection, and a sock soaked in vinegar is put on.
Use it to acidify foot bath water. After such steaming, the skin is thoroughly dried and other drugs of natural origin or pharmaceuticals are applied.
Other home treatments
Traditional medicine offers various tips for removing fungus and its manifestations. Such funds are easily prepared regardless of the components available in every home.
Homemade fats:
- Mix equal proportions of yellow sulfur, copper sulfate and goose fat in an enamel bowl. Bring to a boil over low heat and transfer to a glass jar. The fat is stored in the refrigerator. Apply daily in the morning and evening on the affected areas of the skin;
- Add wood ash to the goose fat. Stir until smooth. Lubricate problem areas with the mixture twice a day;
- Mix butter with chopped garlic. The resulting mass is applied to the affected skin at night.
Prepared ointments according to the recipe of traditional medicine have a positive effect only in the case of the initial stage of the disease. In advanced mycoses, they are used in combination with tablet preparations.
Compresses:
- Garlic. The middle onion and 2 cloves of garlic are mashed into a porridge. The mixture is applied in a thick layer on the skin, covered with a plastic bag, fixed with a bandage. A cotton sock is put on top. The procedure is performed before bedtime. In the morning, the bandage is removed and the feet are washed with warm water and soap. This method will help you deal with the disease in 7-10 days;
- Celandine with tea tree oil. 1 st. l. the chopped herbs are mixed with the oil until a paste-like substance is obtained. It is abundantly applied to the area of fungal localization and isolated, as in the previous recipe;
- Herbal compress. In a pan, mix 400 ml of sunflower oil, 1 tbsp. l. herbs comfrey, peppermint, calendula and radiola. Heat the mixture over low heat to 50-60 degrees. Insist in a dark and cool place during the day. Remove dry ingredients through a sieve or gauze. Coatings are done with the oil mixture for 1-2 hours in the evening. The safe action of the recipe allows you to use it in childhood.
Bitan!
Before any medical procedures, you should steam your legs for 15-20 minutes.
Trays:
- The most common and simple solution for steaming consists of 1 tbsp. l. table or sea salt, 1 tbsp. l. baking soda and 1 liter. water. The procedure takes 15 minutes. Then the feet are washed with warm running water and dried;
- Make strong coffee, cool and dip your feet in it for 5 minutes. Then rinse with water;
- Pour the mixture of herbs with two liters of boiling water: 2 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers, horsetail, flax seeds. After cooling to a tolerable temperature, the feet should lie in the resulting broth for 15 minutes.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, in order not to get sick, you should take some precautions.
Tips for avoiding infection:
- wear natural, quality shoes in which the foot does not sweat;
- replaceable rubber slippers must be worn at public places (bathrooms, saunas, showers, swimming pools, changing rooms);
- use only personal shoes;
- maintain immunity.
Fungus on the feet is an insidious disease. It’s easy enough to get infected, but hard to get rid of. Usually people start the disease due to the fact that mycosis does not appear immediately. You should be careful with your body and seek medical help at the first suspicious symptoms.