Fungus (ringworm) is a common skin disease caused by parasitic fungi. One of the most common types, especially in adults, is foot fungus. It's very easy to get infected with them - scales constantly leave the skin affected by the fungus, in which there are many pathogens. How to get rid of foot fungus? Traditional medicine does not always deal with this unpleasant disease, which is why a significant proportion of people resort to the piggy bank of folk remedies for foot fungus.
What You Need to Know About Fungi
In wet conditions, foot fungus multiplies well. Therefore, the most common sites of infection are swimming pools, saunas and showers. Excessive sweating from feet and wet shoes are prone to the development of foot fungus. If there is a sick person in the family, the probability of infection in healthy family members is high. Therefore, you cannot use other people's towels, shoes, combs, clothes, etc.
The causative agents of the fungus tolerate a dry environment and low temperatures well - under these conditions they do not die, they just stop their growth and development. In the skin scales affected by the disease, the fungi remain viable for a long time. These scales can be on clothes, shoes, rugs for years. Upon entering the skin of a healthy person, the pathogenic fungi grow and multiply again, causing the disease.
The fungus spreads quickly in a slightly alkaline and neutral environment (6-6, 5 RN). Healthy skin has a slightly acidic environment - pH - 5, 5. This protects us from fungal diseases. But sweaty feet and uncomfortable synthetic shoes break that protection. Therefore, when treating fungus with folk remedies, vinegar is often used.
To disinfect the patient's clothes and sheets, boiling is recommended - fungi die when boiled within 3-4 minutes. A 1% formalin solution is used to treat shoes and a chloramine solution is used to disinfect household items. This must be done, because once the fungus is completely cured, you can get it back through your own shoes and clothing.
infection symptoms
Symptoms of a foot fungus may include the following:
- One or more cracks between the toes
- Skin peeling;
- Itching, burning;
- Skin thickening, appearance of scales;
- Redness of the skin;
- Bubbles with clear liquid.
These symptoms can be present simultaneously or separately.
A treasure trove of folk recipes
If the fungus is severe, with ulcers and erosions, before using folk remedies for the treatment of fungus on the feet, it is necessary to have a footbath with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. During this procedure, try to separate as many scales from the skin as possible. If the skin on the feet, affected by the fungus, is thickened and horny, it is advisable to remove all scales before treatment. This is easily done with salicylic petroleum jelly applied twice a day. To make the process faster, you can make compresses with this tool. Once the scales are removed, fungal treatments will work 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 fungi.
4 tbsp. I. herbs should be placed in 1. 5 liters of hot water and boiled for 3 minutes. Soak your feet in the cooled broth at an acceptable temperature for 30 minutes. At night, make compresses with this broth, adding a little vinegar. The course of treatment is 15-20 consecutive days.
If for some reason celandine is unpleasant for you, you can substitute absinthe.
burdock leaves
Take a burdock leaf, tap the bottom with a hammer, or roll it with a rolling pin so that the broth comes out. Wrap the leg with a burdock, secure with a bandage and put on a sock. Change the compress twice a day. The course is 3 weeks. It is recommended to use this remedy at night.
Rowan leaves
Crush fresh rowan leaves, attach to the affected area of the skin and secure with a bandage, or better yet - first with a burdock leaf and then with a bandage. It is advisable to keep the dressing 24 hours, changing it once a day.
birch tar
Spray the feet in soapy water, remove excess skin with a pumice stone, clean well and spread with birch tar on the skin between fingers, nails, cracks. After an hour and a half, clean the tar but do not wash your feet. Walk like this for two days. Then repeat the procedure. Just apply this folk remedy 3-4 times for the fungus to pass. But don't forget to disinfect your shoes.
Calendula
Pour 1 cup of marigold flowers into 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, then strain. With this infusion, lubricate the feet affected by the fungus at night.
garlic recipes
- Mix the garlic porridge and butter in a ratio of 1: 1. With the resulting mixture, make compresses in the evening. Course - until complete recovery.
- Mix 1 tbsp. I. garlic juice and 90% alcohol, add 2 tbsp. I. Water. Lubricate sore spots every night. The course is 2-3 weeks.
Onion
Put 300 g of onion porridge in two plastic bags. Put your feet in bags so that the skin does not come into contact with the onion. Tie the bags around your ankles. The result is a "vapor-air chamber". Course - 5 sessions.
potato sprouts
Pour half a glass of chopped potato cabbage with alcohol, insist and compress this porridge overnight on the affected skin.
Lemon
- Cut the lemon into thin slices, then chop them in half and secure in the damaged area. Cover with a bandage and plastic wrap over the top. Keep for 20 minutes.
- A simple lemon rub can also help with your problem. But don't forget that you don't need to wash your feet after this procedure.
aloe
Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped aloe leaves with a liter of boiling water. When the infusion reaches room temperature, strain and use as a base for a footbath. The recommended duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.
If desired, sage and marigold can be added to the solution - in the same proportions as aloe.
other meanings
Apple vinegar
- Soak your well-washed feet in water with apple cider vinegar. Choose your concentration at your discretion - the stronger, the faster the treatment will be, but just so you can bear it.
- Vinegar will also be useful in combination with carrot juice. Mix 1 tbsp. I. two liquids and lubricate the affected skin with a cotton swab moistened with this composition.
- Wash the chicken egg, dry, place in the cup and pour 100 g of vinegar essence. Insist in a dark place for 5-7 days until the husk dissolves, discard the remaining film. Add 100 g of softened butter, beat. You will get an emulsion in the form of mayonnaise. Every night, spray your legs and apply the ointment to the affected area of the skin in the form of a compress, wrapping it with plastic wrap on top. When the nail is soft, cut it. Course - until complete recovery.
Soda
Dilute the soda with water and make a porridge. Rub the affected skin with this gruel. After 15 minutes, rinse with water, clean feet and sprinkle with starch.
salicylic ointment
To quickly smooth and remove fungal areas of the skin, you can use a 35% salicylic ointment from the pharmacy. Spread on feet in the morning, put a plastic bag in each one, then socks, wear until night. Repeat the procedure in the evening. And do this for a week. After three days of treatment, the skin on the legs will start to lighten and peel in patches, the young skin underneath will be healthy and fresh, without any signs of fungus.
Ammonia
Add 1 tablespoon to a glass of water. I. ammonia. Dip a piece of cloth in this solution and wrap the foot, place it in a plastic bag and place a sock on top. Do it before bed. Course - 5-10 procedures.
Hydrogen peroxide
Mix equal parts of warm water and hydrogen peroxide and soak a previously trimmed, clean nail in the solution for 20 minutes.
Lowering the entire foot is not recommended as this causes skin irritation.
After enough time, dry the nail well. After the procedure, avoid wearing closed socks and shoes for as long as possible.
It is recommended to repeat the baths every day until the desired result is achieved.
Propolis
Dip a 20% propolis tincture (purchased from the pharmacy) in cotton, apply to the infected area and fix well with a bandage. It is recommended to wear a dressing within 24 hours and then change for a new one.
Clay BF
Wash feet and grease affected areas with BF-88 glue. Do this once a day for a week. The fungus will completely disappear.
copper sulfate
Dissolve a teaspoon of copper sulphate in a liter of boiled water, mix well and place your feet there for 10 minutes.
Never use a metal container as copper sulphate is very corrosive.
tar soap
Pour two tablespoons of grated soap with 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, wipe your feet with a towel until dry.
Alternative hot water treatment
Turn on a hot water tap in the bathroom - the kind your hands can barely tolerate. Standing in the bathroom, for a moment place your foot under the jet of water. We repeat this 5-7 times. After that, spread your toes and let it dry. Immediately spray 6% vinegar between fingers and let dry again.
Among all the recipes we've listed, you're sure to find something suitable for you and say goodbye to a disease as nasty as foot fungus.