Many people, seeing commercials on foot antifungal drugs on television, switch channels and think, “This is none of my business, I will never have the fungus! ” It would be good if that were the case, but getting infected with this infection is easier thanyou think, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult.
Sometimes they don’t see a dermatologist in time because of a fungal foot infection because they don’t believe it’s her. "It's not a mushroom, my friend had a fungus and it didn't look like that, " some claim. In fact, the symptoms of this infection can be different and if you have discomfort in the foot area, consult a doctor immediately. He will pass the tests and only after that will he establish the diagnosis.
Or maybe not paying attention to the itching, peeling skin, changes in the condition of the toenails? After all, this is not a disease of the internal organs and does not threaten anything terrible. And it's a shame to go to the doctor, he suddenly thinks he's some kind of bum. And this opinion is also widespread among the population. And such an attitude towards one's own health can be called irresponsible. Finally, the fungus is easier to cure by catching it at an early stage, otherwise the disease will either disappear 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. Heal yourself, period!
How and where do they become infected with the fungus?
The mushroom can wait anywhere we go barefoot: on the beach, in the pool, in the bathroom, 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 constant wearing of shoes made of poor quality materials, increased sweating of the feet, more frequent contact with surfaces where fungi can live. The mycelium spreads very quickly under the skin, causing itching and other discomfort.
Let's take a closer look at the ways of infection.
- The fungus can spread from person to person when wearing the same shoes (for example, room slippers), socks, using a single towel, as well as from sexual partners who go to bed.
- In public pools, baths, saunas, on the beaches when walking barefoot. For the fungus, a humid environment is an ideal breeding ground. Slate or shoe covers can prevent you from getting infected.
- In the manicure and pedicure room, if the instruments are not sterilized enough, or simply when you use someone else's instruments at home. It is best to visit a well-known manicure specialist who has not had such excesses, and at home to use personal tools and treat them with alcohol every time.
Strengthening the immune system will help reduce risk factors, but no one has canceled the rules of personal hygiene. It is important to entrust the treatment of the fungus to doctors, and not to use folk recipes.
How to recognize a fungus on the foot?
Many infections are suitable for the term fungus, their manifestations can be different. But there are a number of symptoms that are common to most of them.
First of all, itching. It is weak at first, but over time it gets stronger, it becomes unbearable, especially at night. Foot baths with succession, sage and other herbs provide temporary relief, but the fungus does not disappear and still causes itching and burning.
Nails take on an irreplaceable look. They turn yellow and darken, the color can be heterogeneous, they break, peel, their surface is bumpy. The changes on the nail plate start from the edge and gradually spread to the cuticle itself.
Over time, your feet begin to sweat, even in sandals and flip-flops, and an unbearable odor develops.
The skin of the feet may not discolor at all or may turn a little red and then peel off.
If you experience at least one of these symptoms, you must see a doctor. It may rule out a diagnosis of the fungus, and itching may be a common allergy. But you can find out only after taking the tests. Neglecting the disease can lead to complete separation of the nail, constant scratching of the skin can damage it, and the infection enters inside, causing ulcers.
How to treat foot fungus?
Treat yourself as prescribed by your doctor! Tests will show you what type of fungus you are infected with, and treatment will depend on it. Sometimes a 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 the 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 device. Fungi from such action are gradually destroyed. Sometimes wave treatment can take up to three months with small breaks.
- Medical procedures.They include wavy radiation treatment, cleansing the skin with a medical manicure or pedicure. Medical manicures or pedicures do not provide a deep treatment of the fungus, but are used at the end of the disease to bring the nails on the hands or feet to a more or less normal appearance.
- Medications.Only a doctor can prescribe this or that medicine. These can be tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, varnishes.
- Folk remedies.These are trays, infusions, herbs 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 will not completely get rid of the fungus. The most popular are baths with oak bark or celandine, tincture of propolis on alcohol, tea tree oil.
It makes sense to repeat once again: treating fungus is not an easy task and you should not start it without a doctor, otherwise you can dig the disease deeper, but it will regularly remind you of yourself.