Fungus (mycosis) is a common skin disease caused by parasitic fungi.One of the most common types, especially in adults, is foot fungus.It is very easy to become infected with them - scales constantly fall off from the skin affected by the fungus, in which there are a lot of 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 foot fungus.
What you need to know about fungus
In humid conditions, foot fungus multiplies well.Therefore, the most common places of infection are swimming pools, baths 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 other people’s towels, shoes, combs, clothes, etc.
Fungal pathogens tolerate dry environments and low temperatures well - under these conditions they do not die, but only stop their growth and development.In skin flakes affected by the disease, fungi remain viable for a very long time.These scales can remain in clothes, shoes, and carpets for years.When the pathogenic fungi then come into contact with the skin of a healthy person, they begin to grow and multiply again, causing disease.
The fungus spreads quickly in a slightly alkaline and neutral environment (6-6.5 pH).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 fungi 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 is completely cured, you can become infected with it again through your own shoes and clothes.
Symptoms of infection
Symptoms of foot fungus may include the following:
- One or more cracks between the toes;
- Peeling of the skin;
- Skin itching, burning;
- Thickening of the skin, appearance of scales;
- Redness of the skin;
- Bubbles with clear liquid.
These symptoms may be present simultaneously or separately.
A treasure trove of folk recipes
If the fungus is severe, with ulcers and erosions, then before using folk remedies for treating 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 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 be easily done with salicylic petroleum jelly applied twice a day.To make the process go faster, you can make compresses with this remedy.After the scales are removed, the fungal treatment will act directly on the affected area of the skin.
Herbal remedies
Celandine
Celandine has long been considered one of the most effective herbal remedies in the fight against fungus.
4 tbsp.l.herbs need to be poured into 1.5 liters of hot water and boiled for 3 minutes.Steam your feet in the broth that has cooled to an acceptable temperature for 30 minutes.At night, make compresses from this decoction, adding a little vinegar to it.The course of treatment is 15-20 days in a row.
If for some reason you do not like celandine, you can replace it with wormwood.
Burdock leaves
Take a burdock leaf, beat it on the underside with a hammer or roll it with a rolling pin so that the juice comes out.Wrap your foot in burdock, secure with a bandage and put on a sock.Change the compress 2 times a day.Course – 3 weeks.It is recommended to use this remedy at night.
Rowan leaves
Mash fresh rowan leaves, apply to the area of skin affected by the fungus and secure with a bandage, or even better, first with a burdock leaf and then with a bandage.It is advisable 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, wipe well and spread birch tar on the skin between your toes, nails, and cracks.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 folk remedy 3-4 times for the fungus to go away.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 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 is until complete recovery.
- Mix 1 tbsp.l.garlic juice and 90% alcohol, add 2 tbsp.l.water.Lubricate the sore areas every evening at night.Course 2-3 weeks.
Onion
Place 300 g of onion pulp in two plastic bags.Place the feet in 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 sprouts
Pour half a glass of chopped potato sprouts with alcohol, leave and apply compresses from this paste to the affected skin at night.
Lemon
- Thinly slice the lemon into several slices, then cut them in half again and apply to the damaged area.Cover the top with a bandage and cling film.Keep for 20 minutes.
- A simple rub of lemon can help with 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 aloe 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.
Other means
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 endure 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 in 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 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 area of skin in the form of a compress, wrapping it in plastic on top.When the nail has softened, trim it.The course is until complete recovery.
Soda
Dilute the baking soda with water and make a paste.Rub this paste onto the affected areas of the skin.After 15 minutes, rinse with water, wipe your feet and powder with starch.
Salicylic ointment
To quickly soften and remove fungal-affected skin areas, 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 it 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 legs will begin to turn white and peel off in patches, the young skin underneath will be healthy and fresh, without any signs of fungus.
Ammonia
Add 1 tbsp to a glass of water.l.ammonia.Soak a piece of cloth in this solution and wrap the foot, put a plastic bag and sock on top.Do it before bed.Course – 5-10 procedures.
Hydrogen peroxide
Mix warm water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts and soak the previously trimmed and dirt-free nail in the solution for 20 minutes.
It is not recommended to lower the entire foot, as this can cause skin irritation.
After the required time has passed, dry the nail thoroughly.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
Dip 20% propolis tincture into a cotton pad (can be purchased at a pharmacy), apply to the infected area and secure tightly with a bandage.It is recommended to wear the bandage for 24 hours, then change it to a new one.
Glue BF
Wash your feet and lubricate the affected areas with BF-88 glue.Do this once a day for a week.The fungus will completely disappear.
Copper sulfate
Dilute a teaspoon of copper sulfate in a liter of boiled water, stir thoroughly and place 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 bring 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 completely dry.
Traditional treatment with hot water
Open the tap in the bathroom with hot water - so hot that your hands can barely stand it.Standing in the bathroom, place your foot under the running water for a moment.We repeat this 5-7 times.After this, with your toes spread out, let it 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 foot fungus.