Fungus (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 always fall from the skin affected by the fungus, where there are many pathogens.How to get rid of foot fungus?Traditional medicine does not always cope with this unpleasant disease, so most people turn to folk remedies for foot fungus.
What you need to know about fungi
In moist conditions, toenail fungus thrives.Therefore, the most common places of infection are swimming pools, baths and showers.Excessive sweat on the feet and wet shoes contribute to the development of foot fungus.If there are sick people in the family, then there is a high probability of infection of healthy family members.Therefore, you should not use towels, shoes, combs, clothes, etc.
Fungal pathogens tolerate dry environments and low temperatures well - under these conditions they do not die, but simply stop their growth and development.In pieces of skin affected by this disease, the fungus remains viable for a very long time.These scales can stay in clothes, shoes, and carpets for years.When pathogenic fungi then come into contact with the skin of a healthy person, they begin to grow and reproduce, causing disease.
The fungus spreads rapidly 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 fungus with folk remedies, vinegar is often used.
To disinfect the patient's clothes and underwear, boiling is recommended - the fungus dies 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 is completely cured, you can get infected again through your own shoes and clothes.
Symptoms of infection
Symptoms of athlete's foot may include the following:
- One or more cracks between the toes;
- Peeling skin;
- Skin itching, burning;
- Thickening of the skin, the appearance of scales;
- Redness of the skin;
- Foam with a clear liquid.
These symptoms may be present simultaneously or separately.
A treasure trove of folk recipes
If the fungus is severe, with ulcers and erosion, then before using folk remedies to treat foot fungus, you need to make a foot bath with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.During this procedure, try to separate as many scales as possible from the skin.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 be easily done with salicylic petroleum jelly applied twice a day.To make the process go faster, you can make a compress with this medicine.After the scale is removed, the fungus treatment will act directly on the affected skin area.
Herbal medicine
Celandine
Celandine has long been considered one of the most effective herbal remedies in the fight against fungus.
4 tablespoons.l.herbs should be poured into 1.5 liters of hot water and boiled for 3 minutes.Steam your feet in the broth that has been cooled to an acceptable temperature for 30 minutes.At night, make a compress from this decoction, adding a little vinegar to it.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, hit the bottom with a hammer or roll it with a rolling pin so that the juice comes out.Wrap your feet with burdock, secure with a bandage and wear socks.Change the compress 2 times a day.Course - 3 weeks.It is recommended to use this medicine at night.
Rowan left
Crush fresh rowan leaves, apply to the skin affected by the fungus and secure with a bandage, or better, first with burdock leaves and then with a bandage.It is advisable to keep the bandage on all the time, changing it once a day.
Birch tar
Steam your feet in soapy water, remove excess skin with a pumice stone, wipe well and apply birch tar to the skin between your toes, nails and cracks.After an hour and a half, wipe the tar, but do not wash your feet.Walk like this for two days.Then repeat the procedure.It is enough to apply this folk remedy 3-4 times for the fungus to disappear.But don't forget about disinfecting your shoes.
Calendula
Pour 1 cup of calendula flowers into 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, then strain.Lubricate the feet affected by the fungus with this infusion at night.
Recipe with garlic
- Mix the pulp of garlic and butter in a ratio of 1: 1. Make a compress from the resulting mixture at night.This course is until complete recovery.
- Mix 1 tbsp.l.garlic juice and 90% alcohol, add 2 tbsp.l.water.Lubricate the sore area every evening at night.2-3 week course.
Bow down
Place 300 g of onion pulp in two plastic bags.Place the legs in the bag so that the skin does not come into contact with the onions.Tie the bag around your ankles.The result is a "vapor space".Course - 5 sessions.
Potato sprouts
Pour half a glass of chopped potato sprouts with alcohol, leave and apply a compress from this paste to the affected skin at night.
Lemon
- Thinly slice a lemon into several slices, then cut another in half and apply it to the damaged area.Cover the top with a bandage and cling film.Keep for 20 minutes.
- A simple application of lemon can help your problem.But do not forget that you do not need to wash your feet after such a procedure.
Aloe
Pour 2 tablespoons of crushed agarwood leaves into a liter of boiling water.When the infusion reaches room temperature, strain and use as a base for a foot bath.The recommended duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.
If desired, you can add sage and calendula to the solution - in the same proportions as aloe vera.
Another way
Apple cider vinegar
- Soak your well-washed feet in water with apple cider vinegar.Choose the concentration at your discretion - the stronger, the faster the treatment will be carried out, but only so that you can survive.
- Vinegar is also useful in combination with carrot juice.Mix 1 tbsp.l.two liquids and lubricate the affected skin area with a smear moistened with this composition.
- Wash the chicken eggs, dry them, put them 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 of soft 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, wrap it with plastic on top.When the nail has softened, cut it.This course is until complete recovery.
Soda
Dilute baking soda with water and make a paste.Rub this paste on the affected skin area.After 15 minutes, rinse with water, wipe your feet and powder with starch.
Salicylic ointment
To quickly soften and remove areas of the skin affected by the fungus, you can use 35% salicylic ointment from the pharmacy.Apply it to your feet in the morning, and put a plastic bag on each one, then socks, and wear them all until the evening.In the evening, repeat the procedure.And do this for a week.After three days of treatment, the skin on the feet will start to turn white and peel in patches, the young skin below will be healthy and fresh, without any signs of fungus.
Ammonia
Add 1 tablespoon to a glass of water.l.ammonia.Soak a piece of cloth in this solution and wrap the feet, placing a plastic bag and socks on top.Do it before bed.Course – 5-10 procedures.
Hydrogen peroxide
Mix warm water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts and soak a trimmed, 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 required time has passed, dry the nails thoroughly.After the procedure, avoid wearing socks and closed shoes for as long as possible.
It is recommended to repeat the bath every day until the desired result is achieved.
Propolis
Dip 20% propolis dye into a cotton pad (can be purchased at a pharmacy), apply to the infected area and cover tightly with a bandage.It is recommended to wear a bandage for 24 hours, then change it to a new one.
BF glue
Wash your feet and lubricate the affected area with BF-88 glue.Do this once a day for a week.The fungus will disappear completely.
Copper sulfate
Dissolve a teaspoon of copper sulfate in a liter of boiled water, stir thoroughly and place your feet there for 10 minutes.
Never use metal containers, because copper sulfate is very aggressive.
Tar soap
Pour two tablespoons of grated soap into two liters of boiling water and cook until completely dissolved.When the solution has cooled, place your feet in it for 10-15 minutes.When finished, dry your feet with a towel until they are completely dry.
Traditional treatment with hot water
Turn on the faucet in the bathroom with hot water - so hot that your hands can barely stand it.Standing in the shower, put your feet under the running water for a while.We repeat this 5-7 times.After this, with the toes open, let them dry.Immediately spray between your 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.