Skin diseases of the feet are a very common pathology. Pathogenic bacteria provoke the disease, and it is transmitted from person to person. Often the sick person does not know if the skin fungus on the legs is how to treat it and whether it can be removed at home with folk remedies. There are many ways to get rid of the signs of mycosis with the help of special medicines and old recipes.
What is a fungus of the skin on the legs
An infectious disease that affects the skin is called a fungus. The most common type is mycosis of the feet. Fungal spores are able to live in ordinary shoes for a long time and adapt to any living conditions. The most common infections are the nail platinum of the legs and feet. Skin lesions do not pose a threat to life, but contribute to the development of cosmetic defects. If foot mycosis is not treated at the initial stage, then later other microbes in the form of mold bacteria or Candida fungi join it.
Symptoms of the disease
Treatment of skin fungus on the legs should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear, otherwise the disease will drag on for a long time. Mycosis is characterized by peeling of the skin. This is due to the fact that the microbe penetrates deep into the skin layers, destroying them. Spots form on the nails (onychomycosis), small bubbles appear between the toes (intertriginous form), which fill with fluid and burst, the sole becomes overgrown with calluses (hyperkeratotic appearance). The reproduction of fungi in any layers of the epidermis is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and the following symptoms:
- burning, itching, accompanied by dry skin;
- floury exfoliation;
- nails darken, thicken, exfoliate;
- erosive processes develop in areas of redness.
Treatment of foot fungus
![fungus on the skin of the feet](/images/articles/697/fungus%20on%20the%20skin%20of%20the%20feet.jpg)
Before using an antifungal agent, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because the pathology should be treated, depending on the type of pathogen and the duration of the course of the disease. In advanced forms, mycosis of the feet is difficult to treat. How to get rid of foot fungus:
- localization of the disease by local therapy at an early stage: ointments, creams, solutions, compresses, baths, disinfection of shoes;
- systemic therapy at a later stage: the use of medications.
Systemic drugs are used in several ways:
- Classic. Tablets are taken throughout the course every day.
- Short. You can stop taking medications before a healthy nail grows back.
- intermittent. Therapy, which is carried out in several courses at intervals equal in duration to the course.
- Pulse therapy. Taking pills is combined with breaks that exceed the duration of the course.
At the advanced stage of the disease, the use of antifungal drugs is necessary. Systemic antimycotics are selected on an individual basis, since these medicines have contraindications. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is necessary to take a scraping of the nail plate for onychomycosis and visit a dermatologist to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe drugs for external and / or internal effects on the body. The most effective include:
Antifungal ointments
Many people have a question: skin fungus on the legs - what can be treated if the infection has manifested itself only in the upper layers of the skin. In pharmacies today it is easy to find various antifungal ointments that differ in their mode of action and composition. The following local preparations quickly treat bending of the foot at an early stage:
- Zinc ointment. It has a good absorbent and astringent effect. It copes well with skin irritations and mycosis. It is applied 1-2 times / day to the site of the lesion and the area around it. The duration of therapy is 2-3 weeks.
- Sulfuric ointment. An excellent remedy to treat mycosis of the foot. Within a week of daily use, you can get rid of the disease. Sulfuric ointment has one drawback - it smells unpleasant. When buying this fact must be taken into account.
Treatment of fungus on the legs at home can also be carried out with antifungal creams, which differ from ointments only in the substances that make up their composition.
![fungus treatment with antifungal varnish](/images/articles/697/fungus%20treatment%20with%20antifungal%20varnish.jpg)
To speed up the healing process, in addition to the main therapy, it is necessary to treat the fungus with the help of special antifungal varnishes. They differ from drugs of similar action in a special texture. Antifungal varnishes are liquid, and are applied directly to the nail platinum. The agent easily gets into microcracks, maximally affecting the fungus. This is practical, since ointments and creams have a thick consistency, so they are easily removed at the slightest impact.
After applying the drug, the pathogens of mycosis die after 8 hours. You can use the remedy under decorative varnishes 1-2 times a week - this does not reduce their effectiveness. The duration of treatment is until the complete disappearance of onychomycosis. List of the most popular antifungal varnishes:
With mycosis of the legs, baths with baking soda should be done daily, preferably at bedtime. The procedure should take at least 15 minutes. Baking soda is a substance that negatively affects the vital activity of a fungal infection, so it is part of many remedies that help with athlete's foot. To treat the fungus, warm water with a comfortable temperature of 40 C-45 C is needed. Soda is diluted in a proportion of 2 tbsp. spoons for 2 liters of water.
Before the procedure, you should thoroughly wash your feet with laundry soap and remove the keratinized layer with pumice stone or sandpaper. You also need to process the nail plates, cutting off the free edge of the nail and removing the white plaque under it as much as possible with a nail file. After the procedure, the legs should be carefully wiped with a towel, without rinsing, then treated with an antifungal agent prescribed by a dermatologist.
Folk remedies
The most effective folk remedy for foot fungus is vinegar. It creates an acidic environment that prevents the spread of yeast bacteria. As a result of exposure to vinegar at home, the pathogen quickly loses access to sources of nourishment and dies. It is better to apply applications immediately after baths. To do this, a cotton pad is moistened in a 9% acetic solution and applied to the area affected by the fungus for 15 minutes.
Another effective folk remedy against Candida fungus is the external use of hydrogen peroxide. First, it is recommended to take a bath with a solution of soda, then soak a piece of cotton wool with a 3% peroxide solution and apply it to the affected area of the skin, putting clean socks on top. It is necessary to keep the application up to 60 minutes 2 times / day until complete recovery.
Prevention
To recognize the problem in time, you should know what the fungus looks like. To do this, it is better to ask this question in advance by looking at photos on the Internet. Then you need to heed the advice of dermatologists, what you need to do in order not to get infected with foot fungus:
- after visiting the beach, swimming pool and other public places, you should thoroughly wash your feet;
- with sweating feet, a risk of contracting mold fungi develops, so you need to stop wearing socks and closed shoes for a long time;
- in order not to become infected with pathogenic microflora, it is not necessary to give others personal hygiene items, clothes or shoes;
- you should regularly care for your toes: do a pedicure, trim overgrown nails.
How to treat skin fungus on the legs
Find out how to treat the fungus of the skin on the legs, because this is a contagious disease that can go to the nails. The fungus not only looks ugly, but also harms health. This condition cannot be started, it is urgent to take measures for treatment.
What is recommended to treat the fungus of the skin on the legs
For the treatment of trichophytosis fungus, it is necessary to wipe the skin with iodine. With severe inflammation, it is advisable to make lotions.
In addition to all this, it is desirable to use vitamins, especially ascorbic acid.
It is better to choose vitamins for the period of treatment, as the body needs support.
If the skin is affected by Candida fungus, then corticosteroid creams, hydrocortisone will be needed.
Symptoms of this pathology
Most often, the fungus on the skin appears in older people, after 50. But we must not forget that the disease is contagious, so the younger generation can also have this disease if they do not adhere to certain rules.
Some signs of skin fungus include:
With a lesion, the first signs are visible in the area between the fingers. It is from there that the fungus grows throughout the leg. Often it also covers the nails. Usually, foot fungus affects both feet. If the form is acute, then bubbles appear, which then fester, wounds appear.
Redness is observed on the skin, it becomes very dense. In addition, there is an unpleasant smell of feet, not only after wearing shoes. The legs seem to start to burn, and when walking, the pain increases. The skin can be flaky, there is a strong dryness.
The fungus spreads in the following way. Redness appears on a small area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. Over time, it begins to peel off, and the affected area spreads.
At the initial stage, a person is practically not worried about anything, only appearance. Then there are already painful sensations. The fungus spreads quite quickly.
Complex treatment of the disease
Treatment of skin fungus on the legs should be carried out not only by applying funds directly to the affected areas, but also by taking drugs inside.
To choose a drug, first of all, you need to consult a doctor. When treatment begins, it is desirable to exclude other drugs. During the treatment period, the doctor should check the patient's condition and regularly do skin scrapings to determine how the treatment is going.
The full course of treatment lasts at least three months. First, the first stage of treatment, lasting one week. After that, a break is made for two weeks, after which the treatment is resumed.
This is necessary in order to avoid relapses. They happen often, especially if the immune system is not strengthened. When it becomes weaker, the first signs of fungus immediately appear on the skin.
It is necessary to combine treatment. In the morning it is advisable to use the ointment, and in the evening take the drug inside. You can use both creams and solutions several times a day.
Apply the product with rubbing movements. If after two weeks there is no noticeable improvement, then stronger drugs are prescribed. Any movement should be careful, because it is very easy to damage such skin.
Proven pills for fungus
For all types of fungus, a strong drug is prescribed. Take the tablet once and only after meals. It quickly penetrates the body and immediately begins the fight against infection.
The main thing when taking pills is not to increase the amount on your own. This will help to avoid overdose and side effects. Tablets are best combined with ointments or gels. One pill rarely achieves the desired effect.
Drops and solutions
Drops are very effective in the fight against fungus. First, they destroy infected cells, after which they protect unaffected ones. In addition to removing the cause of infection, drops remove inflammation and itching.
Drops are best used as an additional element of treatment. Fungus is a serious disease that cannot be cured with one remedy. Drops will work best at the initial stage, when the development of the fungus is not too extensive.
Choosing the best folk remedy
Sometimes drugs cannot improve the condition.
In such cases, you can resort to proven folk methods:
- Coffee. This drink is useful not only for internal use, but also as a tincture for baths. Strong insoluble coffee should be poured with hot water and feet should be immersed in this remedy. Coffee will relieve pain and inflammation, remove the overgrown layers of the skin. It will also help perfectly after recovery to restore the condition of the epidermis.
- Wine vinegar. This tool is an excellent antiseptic and a tool in the fight against bacteria. At night, you can use the following method. Clean woolen socks must be held for half an hour in vinegar, squeezed well, then put on your feet and covered with a blanket. By doing this procedure at night, in the morning you can notice a visible effect.
- Juices. The skin affected by the fungus can be wiped with gauze dipped in lemon or onion juice. These remedies may cause a burning sensation at first, but after a couple of minutes it will pass. Due to this, the number of bacteria is reduced, the fungus will not progress. You can try another treatment with ready-made tomato juice. You need to choose juice only without salt, so that it does not pinch the skin.
- Herbal decoction. Boil calendula, verbena and oak bark in water. In this decoction, you can keep your feet or use as lotions. The components are easy to find in a pharmacy, the effectiveness of such a collection will be on a par with expensive medicines. It can be used every day, both in the morning and in the evening.
- Rye flour. After foot baths, it will be useful to rub rye flour into the affected areas. It is able to absorb all the bacteria and rid the skin of the disease. The main thing is to rub a small amount.
- Antiseptics. A mixture of baking soda and laundry soap will become a home antiseptic. All this must be dissolved in warm water. Pour the resulting mixture into a basin and leave the legs there to cleanse for half an hour.
Alternative methods of treatment are useful because they do not have side effects, and all the ingredients are natural ingredients.
What to do if the nail came off
Problems with a nail with a fungus indicate a neglected state of the disease. The nail darkens, begins to exfoliate, becomes thinner, and then moves away from the skin.
This state is divided into several types:
Onychoshisis can be identified by the fact that the nail exfoliates across, kaylonchinia - the nail exfoliates in the middle.
Onychomodesis is when the nail peels off only at the base. This is the most difficult case, because then inflammation occurs.
It is important to ensure that the nail does not fester, because then it can be completely lost. When a person's nail comes off, at first he does not notice it. Only with an infection does pain and inflammation appear.
The following symptoms will indicate that the exfoliation of the nail came from the fungus:
- a void is formed under the nail;
- the nail acquires a yellow tint;
- severe itching appears, but you should not tear the fragile nail;
- the manifestation of pain occurs only in advanced cases of the disease.
When such a problem occurs, it is important to constantly treat the affected nail with an antiseptic, as it is open to different microbes.
You need to follow the following scheme. When peeling off the tip with sterile scissors, cut off the edge. The cut site is treated with an antiseptic. After that, prepare a bath with sea salt and hold your feet for ten minutes. Lubricate the cut site with a healing agent.
You should stop painting nails and masking the problem, this will only aggravate the condition. It is also very important not to wear tight shoes. You need to make sure that the nails are not too long, because then the shoes will compress them and may eventually break.
On the feet, the spread of the fungus is quite fast, so it will move from one nail to another in a matter of days.
Prevention of the onset of the disease
Avoiding the problem of infection with a fungus is not difficult. You need to follow some rules, then health will be in order.
The first rule to remember is that you cannot wear someone else's shoes. After all, someone can be infected with a fungus. He tends to stay in shoes.
You can even try on shoes in the store only with socks. Every day you need to wash your feet with soap and water, especially in the evening, after wearing shoes for a long time. You should always choose shoes according to the weather.
It is impossible to wear warm shoes in too hot weather, because the foot begins to sweat, and in a humid environment, the development of the fungus grows significantly. It is important to choose socks only from natural materials, wear them no more than once, because after wearing they are filled with bacteria.
In any pharmacy, you can find disinfectant foot sprays that you need to use if you need to wear shoes all day. When visiting the pool, it is better to take a change of shoes and not to walk barefoot on the tiles. This advice is also followed in the sauna.
At the first symptoms of the fungus, treatment should be started. This disease does not go away on its own. Not a secondary action should be an increase in the immune system.
The skin on your feet needs to be taken care of. When corns appear, get rid of them immediately. If your feet suffer from excessive sweating, you need to use special foot deodorants. Any cracks and open sores on the legs should be treated immediately and constantly disinfected.
When doing a pedicure, it is important to make sure that all tools are disinfected, especially if you do it in the salon. If someone in the family has a fungus, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the floors and shower. You only need to wear slippers and dry yourself with an individual towel.
The fungus of the skin of the feet is a disease that is better not to face. It differs in that it requires a lot of time for treatment, as well as a long recovery after.
A person who becomes ill with a fungus, after an illness, has a huge risk of becoming infected with it again. To protect yourself from this, you need not only to be treated correctly, but also to take preventive measures after.