The world's population is constantly faced with such an unpleasant "gift" on the surface of the skin of the legs, trying to get rid of the fungus on the feet. Often, doctors have to listen to the complaints of patients: they tortured the fungus and sweat feet, help get rid of, suffer from cracks in the feet, and so on.
The fungus of the lower limb is called epidermophytosis in medical practice. It is necessary to distinguish the fungus of the skin of the legs from lichen, which has various causes and is often located higher - for example, on the knees.
The disease is accompanied by intense itching, which can become unbearable, peeling of the skin between the toes, the appearance of cracks in the feet, a sharp unpleasant odor emanating from the skin when a person takes off socks and shoes. Deep cracks and bubbles appear.
Mycosis of the skin and nails is not life threatening, clearly does not belong to the category of fatal, but cracks in the skin will significantly ruin the life of the "owner". Fighting a fungus is not an easy task, but it is possible to defeat the disease. You will have to show patience and perseverance, as a result, nasty cracks and bubbles on the skin will heal and stop tormenting. From folk remedies, ammonia solution and monastery tea are effective. The products soften the skin, heal cracks and increase resistance.
It is easier to get infected with a fungus in the pool, sauna, gym, through someone else's shoes or socks, a manicure set. The disease has a figurative name - athlete's foot.
The causative agent of the disease grows rapidly in warm, humid places where human congestions are formed. It is enough to run barefoot on the floor in a public locker room to make friends for a long time with an insidious disease that causes rashes and cracks in the skin. The reason for the danger of the fungus is clear. Unlike this disease, skin lichen on the knees does not always become an infectious process.
What can be done without a doctor and pharmacist
Fortunately, it is quite possible to defeat mycosis of nails and skin. Do not rely on randomness and expect a range of symptoms, including itching and cracking, to resolve on their own. Delay will lead to the addition of a secondary infection and aggravation of the condition. People with diabetes mellitus are at risk.
A number of therapeutic measures can be carried out at home, without waiting for the doctor's opinion, but only at the initial stage of mycosis. Simple ways will help fight the scourge at home, speed up the healing process of the lower extremities.
- You should not go barefoot - neither at home nor on the street. Wearing socks is recommended. Otherwise, the legs will start to sweat, cracks will appear on the feet.
- Socks are supposed to be changed at least twice a day, so as not to contribute to the reproduction of the pathogen, dirty linen is a completely comfortable living environment. It is better to use laundry soap for washing.
- Feet must be thoroughly washed using laundry soap. However, soap can soften the surface layers of the skin too much; one should not be fanatic about cleanliness. After washing, you will need to remove the scales with napkins, lubricate the cracks. After cleansing, it is important to dry the folds of the skin better. It is permissible to use a hair dryer. The fungus does not tolerate dryness at all. Put on socks on dry feet.
- To avoid the development of epidermophytosis in the groin area, follow the sequence: first, wipe the crotch area with a towel, then the legs. Socks should be worn before underpants so that the affected nail does not become a source of infection.
- It is important to take proper care of your shoes. Keep your shoes and boots clean and dry inside. It is possible to treat the inner surface of the shoe with a special antifungal compound. Socks are supposed to be changed regularly.
The indicated home treatment measures for mycosis of feet and nails are recommended to be used in combination with antifungal drugs prescribed by a doctor. At home, it is permissible to use the following agents: tea tree oil, monastery tea or ammonia. It is recommended to approach diabetes mellitus treatment with caution.
Drug treatment
All of these measures are considered necessary to heal mycosis of the feet and nails. Remember, no cure is possible without pharmacological drugs. Consult a doctor to determine the nature of the infectious pathogen and to make a differential diagnosis with lichen disease. Particular attention should be paid to diabetes treatment.
A lot of drugs, advertised and little-known, have been developed. These are all kinds of ointments, creams, tablets, foot spray, tea tree oil, ammonia solution, and more. You should not try to treat the fungus with medication on your own, forgetting the main thing: the appointment is made exclusively by a doctor who is competent in the treatment of mycosis of the foot and nails and depriving of the knees.
The principles of treatment of mycosis of the foot and nails are in the rules:
- To get rid of the uncomplicated form of foot and nail fungus, local treatment with antifungal ointments is enough. Best of all, patients tolerate special creams or sprays that include excess water, which can soften the keratinous surface of the skin and are better perceived subjectively. Tea tree oil, ammonia alcohol helps well.
- The cream contains two active ingredients without fail. The first substance exhibits its own antifungal activity. The second component is aimed at suppressing the inflammatory process in the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
- Treatment with drugs is long-term. Do not hope for a nail recovery in a couple of days. Severe infectious disease takes time and patience.
- In the event of complications or undesirable consequences of treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor on how to get rid of foot and nail fungus safely and without complications.
- Before applying a spray or ointment, you will need to wash your feet using laundry soap. It is permissible to add ammonia to the water. The soap helps to soften the skin and nails a little, the cream is better absorbed. After washing, lubricate the nail plate with tea tree oil.
In addition to the actual antifungal drugs, an ammonia solution or spray is used for local treatment. It helps to soften the skin on the fingers and the lamina of the affected nails.
Systemic treatment
If the patient has a severe stage of mycosis, treatment for the fungus includes tablets containing antifungal agents. Antifungal pills are commonly used. When a secondary infection is attached, additional broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.
Remember the main thing - you will not be able to quickly cure mycosis of nails, the course of therapy should continue for a long time and reach six months. Tea tree oil and laundry soaps can be ineffective. You should not take antifungal pills on your own, medications are toxic, they show a lot of contraindications and side effects. It is required to take only under the supervision of a doctor. In parallel, the doctor will prescribe immunomodulators, vitamins, hepatoprotectors, monastery tea.
In case of diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to remember the main condition - to correct the blood sugar content and take regularly antihyperglycemic tablets. Keep your feet clean, change socks regularly, steam the affected nail regularly by adding soap and soda to the water.
For the systemic treatment of mycosis of feet and nails, it is proposed to use tablets recommended by official medicine, local remedies that are applied to the skin and nails. Ointments containing antibiotics, a spray against fungal infections, tea tree oil, ammonia are used. The funds are applied to the nail according to a certain scheme prescribed by the doctor. Used with caution in diabetes mellitus, like monastery tea.
If there are pronounced side effects or contraindications to the pills, it is possible to try to remove the nail fungus with local remedies suggested by medicine, or to take monastery tea. You can use "harmless" local remedies for diabetes mellitus: tea tree oil, laundry soap.
Folk remedies in the treatment of fungus
It is permissible to treat the disease, especially with diabetes mellitus, using home remedies. Alternative medicine offers a ton of recipes. You can regularly soak your feet in a baking soda solution and add soap to quickly soften your toenail. Then the nail is filed with a nail file or cut. The manicure set needs to be sterilized without lending to other people to use. Soaring feet is recommended for a number of months. After the procedure, be sure to wear socks. Gradually, a healthy nail grows in the place where the fungus was located.
In the pharmacy network, they buy concentrated tea tree oil, which is good for treating mycoses of the feet and nails. The remedy is willingly used by folk and official medicine
Remember, tea tree oil is powerful and can cause irritation.
Tea tree oil is applied to the nail with a pipette, rubbed in with a sterile cotton swab. Similarly, ammonia is applied to the nail, which is used by home medicine.
Monastery tea is considered an effective remedy. For preparation, black tea and a set of medicinal herbs are used. Monastic tea is used for oral administration for 3 weeks. The herbal mixture is brewed with boiling water and insisted in a thermos.
It is easy to buy monastery tea in the pharmacy network, or to collect the herbal mixture yourself.