Ringworm (mycosis) is a common skin disease caused by parasitic fungi.One of the most common types, especially in adults, is athlete's foot.It is very easy to get infected with them - the scales constantly fall from the skin affected by the fungus, in which there are many pathogens.How to get rid of foot fungus?Traditional medicine does not always cope with this unpleasant disease, so a significant part of people turn to folk remedies for toenail fungus.
What you need to know about mushrooms
Toenail fungus thrives in moist conditions.Therefore, the most common places of infection are swimming pools, bathrooms and showers.Excessive sweating of the feet and wet shoes contribute to the development of foot fungus.If there is a sick person in the family, then there is a high probability of infection of healthy family members.Therefore, you cannot use towels, shoes, combs, other people's clothes, etc.
Fungal pathogens tolerate dry environments and low temperatures well - in these conditions they do not die, but only stop their growth and development.On skins affected by the disease, the fungus remains stable for a very long time.These scales can stay on clothes, shoes and carpets for years.When pathogenic fungi come into contact with the skin of a healthy person, they begin to grow and multiply again, causing disease.
Fungi spread quickly in a slightly alkaline and neutral environment (pH 6-6.5).Healthy skin has a slightly acidic environment - pH - 5.5.This protects us from fungal diseases.But sweaty feet and uncomfortable synthetic shoes break this protection.Therefore, when treating fungi with folk remedies, vinegar is often used.
To disinfect the patient's clothes and underwear, boiling is recommended - mushrooms die when boiled after 3-4 minutes.A 1% formaldehyde solution is used to treat shoes, and a chloramine solution is used to disinfect household items.This must be done, because after the fungus has completely healed, you can get infected with it again through your shoes and clothes.
Symptoms of infection
Symptoms of athlete's foot may include the following:
- One or more cracks between the toes;
- Skin peeling;
- Itching of the skin, burning;
- Thickening of the skin, the appearance of scales;
- Redness of the skin;
- Bubbles with clear liquid.
These symptoms can be present simultaneously or separately.
A treasure trove of popular recipes
If the fungus is severe, with ulcers and erosions, then before using folk remedies for the treatment of foot fungus, you should take a foot bath with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.During this procedure, try to separate as much scales from the skin as possible.If the skin of the feet affected by the fungus is thickened and keratinized, it is advisable to remove all scales before treatment.This can easily be done with salicylic petroleum jelly applied twice daily.To make the process faster, you can make compresses with this medicine.Once the scales are removed, the fungal treatment will act directly on the affected skin area.
Herbal remedies
Celandine
Celandine has long been considered one of the most effective herbal remedies in the fight against fungus.
4 tablespoons.l.the herbs should be poured into 1.5 liters of hot water and boiled for 3 minutes.Steam your feet in the liquid that has cooled to an acceptable temperature for 30 minutes.At night, make compresses from this decoction, adding a little vinegar.The course of treatment is 15-20 consecutive days.
If for some reason you do not like celandine, you can replace it with wormwood.
Burdock leaves
Take a burdock leaf, beat it with a hammer on the underside or roll it with a rolling pin so that the juice comes out.Wrap the leg in burdock, secure it with a bandage and put on a sock.Change the compress 2 times a day.Course - 3 weeks.It is recommended to use this medicine at night.
Rowan leaves
Mash fresh rowan leaves, apply to the skin area affected by the fungus and fix with a bandage, or even better, first with a burdock leaf and then with a bandage.It is recommended to keep the bandage on around the clock, changing it once a day.
Birch tar
Steam your feet in soapy water, remove excess skin with a pumice stone, rub them well, and spread birch tar on the skin between your toes, nails, and crevices.After an hour and a half, wipe off the tar, but do not wash your feet.Walk like this for two days.Then repeat the procedure.It is enough to apply this popular remedy 3-4 times for the fungus to go away.But don't forget about disinfecting your shoes.
Calendula
Steep 1 cup of Calendula flowers in 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, then strain.Lubricate feet affected by fungus with this infusion at night.
Recipes with garlic
- Mix garlic pulp and butter in a 1:1 ratio.Make compresses from the resulting mixture at night.The course lasts until full recovery.
- Mix 1 tbsp.l.garlic juice and 90% alcohol, add 2 tbsp.l.water.Lubricate the affected areas every evening at night.Course 2-3 weeks.
Bow
Place 300 g of onion pulp in two plastic bags.Place the legs in the bags so that the skin does not come into contact with the onions.Tie the bags around your ankles.The result is a "steam-air chamber".Course - 5 sessions.
Potato cabbage
Pour half a glass of chopped potato cabbage with alcohol, leave it and apply compresses from this paste on the affected skin at night.
Lemon
- Thinly slice the lemon into a few slices, then cut it in half again and apply it to the affected area.Cover the top with a bandage and cling film.Keep it for 20 minutes.
- A simple lemon rub can help with your problem.But remember that you do not need to wash your feet after such a procedure.
Aloe
Pour 2 tablespoons of crushed aloe leaves into a liter of boiling water.When the infusion reaches room temperature, strain it and use it as a foot bath base.The recommended duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.
If you want, you can add sage and calendula to the solution - in the same proportions as aloe.
Other tools
Apple cider vinegar
- Soak your well-washed feet in water with apple cider vinegar.Choose the concentration at your discretion - the stronger it is, the faster the treatment will go, but only so that you can tolerate it.
- Vinegar will also be useful in combination with carrot juice.Mix 1 tbsp.l.two liquids and lubricate the affected areas of the skin with a swab moistened with this composition.
- Wash the chicken egg, dry it, put it in a glass and pour 100 g of vinegar essence.Leave in a dark place for 5-7 days until the shell dissolves, discard the remaining film.Add 100 g softened butter, beat.You will get an emulsion in the form of mayonnaise.Every evening, steam your feet and apply the ointment to the affected skin area in the form of a compress, wrapping it with plastic on top.When it says it has softened, cut it.The course lasts until full recovery.
Soda
Dilute baking soda with water and make a paste.Rub this paste on the affected skin areas.After 15 minutes, rinse with water, wipe your feet and dust with starch.
Salicylic ointment
To soften and quickly remove areas of skin affected by mold, you can use salicylic ointment 35% from the pharmacy.Apply it to your feet in the morning and put a plastic bag on each of them, then socks and wear them all until evening.In the evening, repeat the procedure.And do this for a week.After three days of treatment, the skin of the feet will begin to whiten and peel off in pieces, the new skin underneath will be healthy and fresh, without any sign of mold.
Ammonia
Add 1 tablespoon to a glass of water.l.ammonia.Soak a piece of cloth in this solution and wrap the leg, put a plastic bag and socks on top.Do it before bed.Course – 5-10 procedures.
Hydrogen peroxide
Mix equal parts warm water and hydrogen peroxide and soak the previously cut and clean nail in the solution for 20 minutes.
It is not recommended to lower the entire leg, as this can cause skin irritation.
After the necessary time has passed, dry the nail completely.After the procedure, refrain from wearing socks and closed shoes for as long as possible.
It is recommended to repeat the baths every day until the desired result is achieved.
Propolis
Apply the 20% propolis solution to a cotton pad (can be purchased at a pharmacy), apply it to the infected area and secure it tightly with a bandage.It is recommended to wear the bandage for 24 hours, then change it to a new one.
Adhesive BF
Wash your feet and coat the affected areas with BF-88 glue.Do this once a day for a week.The fungus will disappear completely.
Copper sulfate
Dilute a teaspoon of copper sulfate in a liter of boiled water, mix thoroughly and put your feet there for 10 minutes.
Never use a metal container, as copper sulfate is very aggressive.
Tar soap
Pour two tablespoons of grated soap into two liters of boiling water and leave until completely dissolved.When the solution has cooled, put your feet in it for 10-15 minutes.When you're done, dry your feet with a towel until they're completely dry.
Traditional hot water treatment
Turn on the faucet in the bathroom with hot water - so hot that your hands can barely stand it.Standing in the bathroom, put your foot under the running water for a moment.We repeat this 5-7 times.After that, with the toes open, let it dry.Immediately spray between the fingers with 6% vinegar and let it dry again.
Among all the recipes we have listed, you will surely find something suitable for yourself and say goodbye to such an unpleasant disease as athlete's foot.