Many people, seeing advertisements on TV about remedies against foot fungus, switch the channel and think: "This does not concern me, I will never get fungus! "It would be good if it were so, but catching this infection is easier than you think, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult.
Sometimes they do not consult a dermatologist in a timely manner for a fungal infection of the feet, because they do not believe that it is she. “It's not a fungus, my friend had a fungus, and he didn't look like that, ” some argue. In fact, the symptoms of this infection can be different, and if you have any discomfort in the area of the foot, go to the doctor immediately. He will take tests and only after that he will determine the diagnosis.
Or maybe not to pay attention to itching, peeling of the skin, changes in the condition of toenails? In the end, this is not a disease of internal organs and does not threaten something terrible. And to go to the doctor is ashamed, suddenly thinks that there is some kind of bum in front of him. And this opinion is also widespread among the population. And such an attitude towards one's own health can be called irresponsible. After all, it is easier to cure a fungus by capturing it at an early stage, otherwise the disease will either fade away or worsen again. And most importantly, your family members can also become infected with the fungus. Therefore, there can be no two opinions on this issue. Get treated, period!
How and where do they get infected with the fungus?
The fungus can lie in wait in any place where we go barefoot: on the beach, in the pool, in the bathhouse and even in an ordinary apartment. In general, this infection can affect any area of the skin, but the feet are most commonly affected due to several factors. These include the constant wearing of shoes made of low-quality materials, increased sweating of the feet, more frequent contact with surfaces on which fungus can live. The mycelium spreads very quickly under the skin, causing itching and other discomfort.
Let's take a closer look at the infection paths.
- The fungus can pass from person to person when wearing the same shoes (for example, room slippers), socks, using one towel, as well as from sexual partners who go to bed.
- In public pools, baths, saunas, on the beaches when walking barefoot. For a fungus, a humid environment is ideal conditions for reproduction. Slates or shoe covers can keep you from getting infected.
- In the manicure and pedicure room, if the instruments are not sterilized well enough, or simply when using other people's instruments at home. It is best to visit a well-established manicure specialist who has not had such excesses, and at home to use personal tools and treat them with alcohol each time.
Strengthening the immune system will help reduce risk factors, but no one has canceled the rules of personal hygiene. It is important to trust the treatment of the fungus to doctors, and not to use folk recipes.
How to recognize a foot fungus?
Many infections are suitable for the concept of fungus, their manifestations can be different. But there are a number of symptoms that are common to most of them.
First of all, itching. At first it is weak, but over time it gets stronger, becomes unbearable, especially at night. Foot baths with succession, sage and other herbs provide temporary relief, but the fungus does not go away and continues to cause itching and burning.
Nails take on an unpresentable look. They turn yellow and darken, the color may be heterogeneous, break, exfoliate, their surface is bumpy. Changes in the nail plate begin from the edge and gradually spread to the cuticle itself.
Over time, your feet start to sweat, even in sandals and flip-flops, and an unbearable smell develops.
The skin of the feet may not discolor at all, or may turn slightly red and then flake off.
If you feel at least one of these symptoms, you need to see a doctor. Perhaps he will rule out the diagnosis of a fungus, and itching may turn out to be a commonplace allergy. But you can find out only after passing the tests. The neglect of the disease can lead to complete detachment of the nails, constant scratching of the skin can damage it, and the infection gets inside, causing ulcers.
How to treat a foot fungus?
Treat as the doctor prescribes! Tests will show you which type of fungus you are infected with, and treatment will depend on that. Sometimes the doctor may advise the use of folk remedies in combination with pharmaceutical preparations and medical procedures. Let's take a closer look at all these methods.
- Laser treatment.During laser treatment, the beam penetrates deep into the skin, destroying the filament of the fungus - mycelium. The number of sessions is from three to ten. Wave radiation is created by a special apparatus. The fungus from such an effect is gradually destroyed. Sometimes wave treatment can take up to three months with little breaks.
- Medical procedures.These include treatment with wave radiation, skin cleansing with a medical manicure or pedicure. Medical manicure or pedicure do not provide a deep treatment for the fungus, they are used already at the end of the disease to bring the nails on the hands or feet into a more or less normal look.
- Medicines.Only a doctor can prescribe this or that medicine. It can be tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, varnishes.
- Folk remedies.These are trays, infusions, oils with herbs and other parts of plants. They are used only in combination with medications. Baths can relieve itching, improve the appearance of the skin, but they will not completely get rid of the fungus. The most popular are baths with oak bark or celandine, propolis tincture on alcohol, tea tree oil.
It makes sense to repeat once again: treating a fungus is not an easy task, and you should not start it without a doctor, otherwise you can drive the disease deeper, but it will remind you of itself regularly.