Beautiful and healthy feet not only attract attention, but are also considered the key to good health.If any disorders appear on the skin or nail plate, it is worth thinking about the reasons for this condition.Sometimes this occurs due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, poor-quality care, or injuries.In these situations, the problem is resolved quickly and does not require serious intervention.But sometimes, foot damage can be caused by fungal infections.
How it develops
Foot fungus (ringworm) is an infectious lesion of the skin.It occurs predominantly in those parts of the foot that are closed for a long time or, on the contrary, open: the interdigital areas, the soles of the feet and the toes.The causative agents of the disease are pathogenic fungi that parasitize the stratum corneum of the skin and contribute to the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the skin.Person-to-person transmission occurs mainly in public places, through sharing shoes or household items.To transmit the infection, the surface of objects with which contact occurs must be infected with scales of fungal parasites, which attach to healthy skin and begin their active reproduction and settlement over the entire surface of the foot.During their development, foot mycosis pathogens release waste products that reduce the protective functions of the immune system, against the background of which secondary infectious diseases can develop.
How does foot fungus manifest itself?
Fungal spores, parasitizing the skin, cause characteristic signs of the fungus on the feet - peeling and thickening of the skin.If treatment is not started on time, the disease will develop into a more severe form, and then erythema and erosion will be added to the above reasons.The sooner you suspect you have foot fungus, the greater your chance of eliminating the disease quickly and effectively.
The characteristic signs of foot fungus are peeling and thickening of the skin.
Symptoms that should not be ignored:
- cracks on the soles of the feet;
- itching, dryness and peeling;
- unpleasant odor;
- change in the color of the skin and/or nail plate;
- thickening, redness or other changes to the surface of the skin of the feet or nail plate.
In addition to the main cause of the disease, there are predisposing factors:
- microtraumas;
- increased sweating of the skin of the feet;
- uncomfortable shoes;
- diabetes mellitus;
- genetic predisposition.
How to treat foot fungus
Treatment of foot fungus depends on the degree of damage and the type of agent causing the disease.The most commonly used topical antifungals (ointments): clotrimazole, mycoseptin, loteryl, etc.
The average course of treatment is selected individually.If you start treatment on time, after a week of therapy you can completely get rid of foot fungus or minimize its manifestations.Most often, an integrated approach is required, therefore, in addition to antifungal drugs, medications are used to eliminate itching and oral tablets: fluconazole, griseofulvin, lamisil, etc.
To treat foot fungus, it is not necessary to resort to expensive means;you can pay attention to the products of domestic pharmacological companies.The cost of these drugs is lower, and the effectiveness does not differ from expensive analogues.We must not forget that it is necessary to thoroughly treat the affected surface.Antiseptic solutions are suitable for this: fucorcin and creolin.
It is necessary to treat mainly to prevent the new development of the disease.It must be remembered that even after eliminating all symptoms, it is necessary to carefully monitor both general health and the cleanliness and health of the feet.This means that it is necessary to periodically treat the skin of the feet, shoes and observe preventive measures.
Even after eliminating all symptoms, you should carefully monitor both your general health and the cleanliness and health of your feet.
Folk remedies for treating foot fungus
The market for pharmacological agents for the treatment of foot fungus offers a wide range of products.But at the same time, traditional medicine comes to the aid of traditional therapy.Typically, the arsenal of this approach includes various herbs and decoctions, tinctures and oils prepared on their basis.However, before using any medicine for foot fungus, you need to make sure you are not allergic.In the early stages of the development of the disease, in addition to drug treatment or prevention, folk remedies have a good effect.Consider one of the most effective options:
Soda bath.It has an antimicrobial effect.A liter of water needs to be heated to 40-45 degrees, add a tablespoon of soda and stir.Keep in this bath for 20-30 minutes.The frequency of this method varies from 1 to 3 times a day.If the foot fungus is accompanied by severe itching, to prepare a soda bath, you can use medicinal herbs that have an antipruritic and soothing effect (for example, mint, oak bark, calendula).To do this, you first need to prepare an infusion of medicinal herbs, and then add soda to it.Everything else remains unchanged.
Preventing foot fungus
To completely get rid of foot fungus and not get the disease again, you must, first of all, carefully monitor your shoes.Old shoes may contain fungal scales, which can cause reinfection.Therefore, throughout the treatment and for greater prevention, it is necessary to treat shoes with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, miramistin, micostop.It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the feet and nails.Additionally, proper nutrition and keeping feet and nails clean play an equally important role.
To completely get rid of foot fungus and not get infected again, you must, first of all, carefully monitor your shoes.
The most important thing in the treatment of foot fungus is timely diagnosis and immediate initiation of therapy.Only in this case will it be possible to cope in a week and, with proper prevention, completely reduce the risk of developing the disease.But, as practice shows, people often postpone going to the doctor or even refuse to see a specialist.And this is fraught with the wrong choice of therapy, progression and transition of the disease to a serious stage.Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question “can foot fungus be cured in a week”.In the early stages, with correct diagnosis, this is more possible than in the advanced form.
Be healthy!