Toenail fungus is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms located on the skin, in the spaces between the fingers and nail plates.It brings significant discomfort and causes serious complications.Let's take a closer look at how to treat foot fungus to prevent the disease from becoming chronic and eliminate relapses.

Causes and symptoms of foot fungus.
The disease is caused by spores of Trichophyton rubrum and other yeasts and molds..Under favorable conditions, they multiply rapidly and quickly worsen the condition of the legs.
Doctors identify several factors that contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora:
- weakened immune system;
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- shoes that are not the correct size;
- corns, calluses, scratches on the feet;
- chronic infectious and endocrine diseases;
- prolonged use of antibiotics;
- lack of hygiene;
- wear shoes made of artificial materials that do not allow air to pass through;
- flat feet.
Children are more susceptible to fungal infections.Their immunity is not yet fully developed, the skin on their feet is too thin, so fungi easily penetrate the body and begin to multiply.
When the skin on the feet becomes infected, unpleasant symptoms quickly appear.Most often, the primary infection occurs in the spaces between the toes and gradually spreads to the foot.Many pathogens also affect the nail plates, provoking the development of onychomycosis, nail fungus.

Pathology has several stages, which are characterized by certain signs.
- The initial stage is hidden and makes itself felt by a slight peeling between the fingers, which a person rarely attaches importance to.
- Then small cracks form, the peeling intensifies and gently covers the side of the foot.The skin becomes covered with small scaly plaques and a scaly mycosis develops.
- Little by little the symptoms worsen.Itching, burning appears, the affected area thickens and becomes rough.When the fungus becomes hyperkeratotic, the epidermis loses its elasticity and a skin pattern clearly appears.The burning between the fingers intensifies.
- If the intertriginous stage begins, the disease usually affects the nails.Yellowish-brown spots appear, deform and crumble.The patient is constantly bothered by an unpleasant odor emanating from his feet.The skin peels off, small ulcers and deep cracks form, causing pain when walking.
The advanced form of the disease causes a rash to appear between the fingers and feet.Small, dense bubbles often merge with each other.When they burst, the festering wounds remain in place and are very itchy.
Infection routes
Fungal spores remain viable in the environment for a long time, so it is easy to become infected with the disease in the most unexpected places.But the most favorable conditions for its development are heat and high humidity.

Because of this, people who visit the following are at risk:
- swimming pools;
- spa;
- saunas;
- gyms;
- beaches.
Fungus can appear on any object found there, even if regular disinfection is carried out.Therefore, in such places you should avoid common objects and be sure to carry spare shoes.
Military personnel are at risk.Most of the time, army soldiers wear uncomfortable shoes that do not allow air to pass through.Because of this, the feet sweat, microtraumas appear into which the fungus penetrates.
There are two types of infection.The first is the direct path through direct contact with the infectious agent when communicating with a sick person, caring for an animal or walking barefoot on soil and sand.The second, the indirect route, leads to infection through objects belonging to infected people or pets.
Diagnosis
For fungal treatment to be successful, consultation with a dermatologist is necessary.The specialist will perform a visual inspection, carefully examining the injuries.
To make a correct diagnosis, it is important to inform the doctor about all alarming symptoms and inform about mycoses and other diseases suffered previously.
To accurately determine the presence of infection and the type of pathogen, the doctor must take blood, a fingernail, or a skin scraping for analysis.Laboratory tests must be carried out without fail.There are more than 500 fungal species that have different drug resistance thresholds and require different treatment tactics.

- Microscopic examination reveals the presence of fungi.The sample is treated with special preparations and examined under a microscope, trying to find spores.This test allows you to determine the presence of fungi and their concentration.
- Bacterial culture provides more accurate results.The biological material is placed in a nutrient medium.If there are pathogenic cells in the scraping, fungal colonies begin to grow from them, which are subject to careful examination.The analysis takes from 2 days to 4 weeks.The time depends on the type of infection.
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is necessary to identify the specific type of fungus by identifying the pathogen's DNA.This requires scraping the affected area.The test performance is approximately 100%.
- An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is drawn from a vein and makes it possible to identify the titer of antibodies against a specific pathogen and discover the exact cause of the disease.
You should go to the hospital if you notice any change in the condition of your skin.Even a small peeling and itching between the fingers cannot be ignored.Otherwise, the disease will affect the foot and nails and will be more difficult to cure.
Treatment
Foot fungus requires an integrated approach.The intensity of treatment depends on the type of infection and the extent of damage to the skin and nails.
Therapy includes medications for internal and external use and careful hygiene.As an auxiliary method, the use of traditional medicine recipes is appropriate.
Medications
The treatment regimen should be prescribed by a doctor based on the patient's clinical picture.Medications in capsules or tablets, antifungal creams and ointments are used for the treatment of adults.Control methods are aimed at eliminating pathological microorganisms and healing the skin.Medications should not be stopped until complete recovery..
Creams
The productive treatment of fungi is carried out using creams.They have a light texture and are absorbed quickly.When choosing a product, it is necessary to take into account contraindications for use and follow the recommendations of a specialist.
The cream should be applied regularly, after thoroughly washing the skin with laundry soap and drying it.
Ointments
The choice of antifungal ointments is very wide.Before starting treatment, allergic reactions and other side effects must be excluded.
If the foot fungal infection is complicated by a secondary infection and other remedies do not give the expected result, the dermatologist prescribes ointments based on glucocorticosteroids.
The drugs quickly relieve inflammation and stop the disease at any stage, but have many contraindications.They must be taken strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dosage.
An effective remedy to eliminate all signs of fungus is an ointment with salicylic acid.It is a simple and inexpensive drug that can be used in two ways:
- treat the affected area 3 times a day;
- Before going to bed, apply the product under the bandage and leave it overnight.
After compresses, the skin may peel and peel a lot.You can easily get rid of such manifestations with soda baths (1 tablespoon of soda per 1 liter of hot water).The procedure must be performed every two days throughout the treatment.
Tablets
To improve the effectiveness of therapy, the use of external agents is often combined with internal medication.The tablets can have a strong effect on the body as a whole, so they should not be taken without control.
It is recommended to treat nail fungus with fungistatic and fungicidal drugs that inhibit the growth of the fungal colony and destroy the pathogenic flora.
The list of antifungal medications is varied.A dermatologist may recommend various medications based on your medical history and symptoms.The doctor sets the rules for admission.You must strictly follow their instructions.
Folk remedies
You can achieve a faster recovery using traditional methods as additional therapy.To get rid of mycosis of the feet, use:
- warm baths;
- homemade ointments;
- compresses;
- medicinal herbal lotions.
Before treatment, it is important to ensure that there is no individual intolerance to the components of traditional recipes.
Ointments for fungus

Homemade ointments help fight pathogenic flora.
- Copper sulfate, yellow sulfur and goose fat are combined in equal proportions in an enameled container and mixed well.Place over low heat, bring to a boil and turn off.The mixture must be cooled and transferred to a glass jar.Store in a cool, dark place.Apply to affected areas morning and night until all symptoms disappear.
- You can prepare a simpler recipe.It will be necessary to take goose fat and wood ash in equal proportions.Knead the ingredients until smooth.Use twice daily, applying generously to affected areas.
Compresses and masks
- A good remedy for fungus is an onion and garlic mask.You need to peel 2-3 cloves of garlic and one small onion.Crush and spread the pulp in a thick layer on the affected skin.Cover with cellophane, bandage and put on socks.It is advisable to carry out the procedure at night and leave the mask on until the morning.After waking up, the bandage should be removed and the body washed with water.Treatment should be carried out daily until recovery.
- For a compress, a mixture of celandine and tea tree oil is useful.Oil is added to a tablespoon of crushed dry vegetable raw materials.You should get a thick paste.It should be applied to the places where the fungus is located, wrap the leg in polyethylene and insulate it.Apply the compress at night regularly for at least 2 weeks.
- An effective base for a compress is obtained from medicinal herbs.It is necessary to pour 400 ml of sunflower or olive oil into the pan.Add 1 tablespoon each of calendula flowers, mint, comfrey, and rose radiola.Put on fire and heat up to 60 degrees.Turn off and place in a dark place for a day.Then filter.Use the oil mixture as a compress for 1 hour, 2 times a day.The method has a mild effect, so it can be used to treat a child, as long as he is not allergic to herbs..
Spa

- The simplest bath for foot fungus is made with salt and baking soda.It is necessary to dissolve the ingredients in warm water at the rate of 1 tablespoon of soda and 1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water.Immerse your feet in the liquid and hold for 15 minutes.Finally, rinse the limbs under the tap and dry them.
- Milkweed herb is suitable for preparing a bath.It is necessary to measure 3 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 3 liters of boiling water over them.Wrap in a towel and leave for 4 hours.Strain, heat a little and pour into a bowl.Keep your feet in the liquid for about half an hour.The frequency of the procedure is 1 time every 2 days.Duration 1 month.
- Strong coffee inhibits the development of pathogenic spores..It is necessary to prepare a drink (1 tablespoon of ground coffee per 250 ml of water).When it has cooled to a comfortable temperature, pour it into a container and place your feet there for 20 minutes.It is important that the areas affected by the fungus are covered with water.The treatment can be done daily for a long time.
Herbal washes and lotions.
Many medicinal herbs have a pronounced antifungal effect.To treat mycosis of the feet, it is useful to use a healing herb.
You will need:
- calendula flowers;
- oak bark;
- dried blackberries;
- verbena herb.
The components must be mixed in equal proportions.Take 3 tablespoons of the mixture, add 500 ml of water and place in a water bath.Simmer for 20 minutes, cool and pass through a filter.You should wash your feet and toes with the herbal decoction 2-3 times a day and apply lotions on the affected areas for half an hour.

Alcoholic tincture of propolis helps fight diseases..It can be purchased at a pharmacy.A gauze pad is soaked in the liquid and applied to the feet for 30 minutes or the affected areas are wiped with a cotton swab 3 times a day.
Prevention
Foot fungus is an insidious disease that requires serious treatment.To reduce the likelihood of infection, proper prevention is necessary.It is recommended to follow simple rules:
- avoid high humidity;
- don't try on someone else's shoes;
- maintain foot hygiene.
It is important to control sweating.For this you can use normal talcum powder.To keep your skin healthy and not cracked, you should regularly lubricate it with moisturizing cream and take baking soda baths once a week.
During treatment, bedding should be boiled, socks changed daily, and washed thoroughly with hot water.Manicure accessories must be systematically disinfected.To prevent reinfection, it is necessary to treat the inside of the shoes with table vinegar or medicinal alcohol.