Beautiful and healthy feet not only attract attention, but are also considered the key to good health.If any skin or nail plate disorders appear, then 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 injury.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 (mycosis) is an infectious skin lesion.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 sole of the foot 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 primarily in public places, through shared shoes or household items.To transmit the infection, the surface of the objects with which contact occurs must be infected with scales of fungal parasites, which adhere 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 products that reduce the protective functions of the immune system, against the background of which secondary infectious diseases can develop.
How do foot fungus manifest?
Fungal spores, which parasitize the skin, cause characteristic signs of foot fungus: peeling and thickening of the skin.If treatment is not started in time, the disease will worsen and erythema and erosion will be added to the previous causes.The sooner you suspect that you have foot fungus, the better the chances 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 in 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 causative agent of the disease.The most commonly used topical antifungal drugs (ointments): clotrimazole, mycoseptin, loteril, etc.
The average course of treatment is selected individually.If you start treatment on time, then after a week of therapy you will be able to completely get rid of foot fungus or minimize its manifestations.In most cases, an integrated approach is required, therefore, in addition to antifungal drugs, drugs to eliminate itching and oral tablets are used: 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 such drugs is lower, and the effectiveness does not differ from that of their 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.
Treatment is necessary primarily to prevent recurrence of the disease.It must be remembered that even after eliminating all symptoms, you must carefully monitor both your general health and the cleanliness and health of your 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 overall health and the cleanliness and health of your feet.
Folk remedies for the treatment of 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 helps traditional therapy.Usually, the arsenal of this approach includes various herbs and decoctions, tinctures and oils prepared on their basis.However, before using any remedy for foot fungus, you should make sure that you are not allergic.In the initial stages of the development of the disease, in addition to drug treatment or prevention, folk remedies have a good effect.Let's consider one of the most effective options:
Soda bath.It has an antimicrobial effect.It is necessary to heat a liter of water to 40-45 degrees, add a tablespoon of soda and stir.Keep in this bath for 20-30 minutes.The frequency of this method ranges between 1 and 3 times a day.If foot fungus is accompanied by severe itching, medicinal herbs that have an antipruritic and soothing effect (for example, mint, oak bark, calendula) can be used to prepare a 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.
To completely get rid of foot fungus and not get the disease again, you must first carefully monitor your shoes.Old shoes may contain fungal scales, which can lead to reinfection.Therefore, throughout the treatment and for further prevention, it is necessary to treat shoes with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, miramistin, mycostop.It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of feet and nails.In addition, 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 carefully monitor your shoes.
The most important thing in the treatment of foot fungus is timely diagnosis and timely start of therapy.Only in this case it will be possible to cope with it in a week and, with appropriate prevention, completely reduce the risk of developing the disease.But as practice shows, people often delay visiting a doctor or even refuse to consult a specialist.And this is fraught with the wrong choice of therapy, progression and transition of the disease to a severe stage.Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question "Can foot fungus be cured in a week?"In the initial stages, with a correct diagnosis, this is more possible than with the advanced form.
Be healthy!