Beautiful and healthy feet not only attract attention, but are also considered the key to good health.If any disorders of the skin or nail plate appear, then it is worth thinking about the reasons for this condition.Sometimes this happens due to lack of vitamins and minerals, poor quality care or injury.In such situations, the problem is quickly resolved and does not require serious intervention.But sometimes foot damage can be caused by fungal infections.
As it develops
Foot fungus (mycosis) is an infectious skin lesion.It occurs mainly in those parts of the feet that are either closed for a long time or, conversely, are open: interdigital areas, soles and toes.The causative agents of the disease are pathogenic fungi that parasitize in the stratum corneum of the skin and contribute to the development of a chronic inflammatory process on the skin.Transmission from person to person generally occurs in public places, through shared footwear or household items.To transmit the infection, the surface of objects with which it comes into contact must be infected with scales of fungal parasites, which attach to healthy skin and begin their active reproduction and settlement on the entire surface of the foot.During their development, foot mycosis pathogens release waste substances 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 signs characteristic of foot fungus - 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 that you have foot fungus, the greater the chances of quickly and effectively eliminating the disease.
Characteristic signs of foot fungus are peeling and thickening of the skin.
Symptoms that should not be ignored:
- cracks on the soles;
- itching, dryness and flaking;
- unpleasant smell;
- change in skin color and/or nail plate;
- thickening, redness or other changes on the surface of the skin of the foot 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
The treatment of foot fungus depends on the degree of damage and the type of causative agent.The most commonly used local antifungal drugs (ointments): clotrimazole, mycoseptin, loteril, etc.
The average course of treatment is chosen individually.If you start treatment on time, after a week of therapy you can completely get rid of foot fungus or reduce their manifestations.Most often, an integrated approach is needed, therefore, in addition to antifungal drugs, they use drugs to remove itching and oral tablets: fluconazole, griseofulvin, lamisil, etc.
For the treatment of foot fungus, it is not necessary to resort to expensive means;you can pay attention to the products of domestic pharmaceutical companies.The cost of such drugs is lower, and the effectiveness does not differ from expensive analogues.We must not forget that it is necessary to thoroughly process the affected surface.Antiseptic solutions are suitable for this: fucorcin and creolin.
It is necessary to treat primarily in order to prevent the recurrence of the disease.You must keep in mind that even after removing all symptoms, you must carefully monitor your health in general, as well as the cleanliness and health of your feet.This means that it is necessary to periodically treat the skin of the feet, shoes and adhere to preventive measures.
Even after the removal of all symptoms, you must carefully monitor both your health in general and the cleanliness and health of your feet.
Folk remedies for the treatment of foot fungus
The market of 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 remedy for toenail fungus, you must make sure that you are not allergic.In the initial stages of the development of the disease, in addition to treatment with drugs or for prevention, folk remedies also have a good effect.Let's consider one of the most effective options:
Soda bath.It has an antimicrobial effect.One liter of water should be heated to 40-45 degrees, add one tablespoon of soda and mix.Keep in this bath for 20-30 minutes.The frequency of this method ranges from 1 to 3 times a day.If foot fungus is accompanied by severe itching, then you can use medicinal herbs that have an antipruritic and soothing effect (for example, mint, oak bark, calendula) to prepare the soda bath.To do this, you must first prepare an infusion of medicinal herbs, and then add soda.Everything else remains unchanged.
Prevention of foot fungus
In order to completely get rid of foot fungus and not to re-infect the disease, first of all, you need to carefully monitor your shoes.Old shoes may contain fungal scales, which can cause re-infection.Therefore, during the entire treatment and for further prevention, it is necessary to treat the footwear with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, miramistin, mycostop.It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the feet and nails.Also, proper nutrition and maintenance of clean feet and nails play an equally important role.
In order to completely get rid of foot fungus and not get infected again, first of all, you need to carefully monitor your shoes.
The most important thing in the treatment of foot fungus is a timely diagnosis and a quick start of therapy.Only in that case, it will be possible to deal with it within a week, and with proper prevention, the risk of developing the disease will be completely reduced.But, as practice shows, people usually 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 into a severe phase.Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question "can foot fungus be cured in a week".In the initial stages, with the correct diagnosis, it is more possible than in the advanced form.
Be healthy!