Absolutely any person can be infected with skin fungus on the feet, and those who often go to the sauna, gym, swimming pool and similar places where this disease develops quickly are especially at risk.Not everyone knows how to get rid of foot fungus, even in the initial stages, when it is easier to eliminate the disease.
Fungal infection: how it can happen
It is simple and difficult to get infected with the fungus at the same time, since its transmission occurs from an infected person to a healthy person, however, if the immune system works normally, this reduces the chance of infection many times.The following factors increase the chance of infection:
- Stressful situation;
- Wearing wet shoes that are not completely dry;
- If your feet sweat a lot and often;
- Reduced immunity;
- Use of antibiotics;
- Injuries of different types of foot (for example, corns, wounds).
To protect yourself from toenail and toenail fungus, you need to minimize the chance of getting this infection.It is important not to forget in which places and under what circumstances the risk of infection occurs.Keep in mind that nail fungus is an infectious pathology that can only be acquired by a person who already has it.The most common variants of the infection include the following:
- The people you live with.In most cases, the infection occurs from relatives.Fungi are spread through household items: hygiene products, floor coverings, slippers, socks.To protect yourself from infection, you should use only your personal belongings and avoid moving around the apartment with bare feet.
- There are many situations where fungal infection occurs in places where people rest en masse, without shoes.These places include: beaches, baths, wrestling sections (sometimes training takes place barefoot).Remember, fungal spores are very resistant to temperature fluctuations and can stay on the floor for a long period of time, after which they end up on your feet.
- There are much fewer situations where infection occurs from socks or shoes purchased not long ago.Fungus can take root on them even in the factory where these items are produced, but there is a high probability of catching this infection when you try these items.Think about it - you never know if a healthy person has tried on the shoes or sneakers you liked.
Diagnostic measures for suspected fungal infection
Many people are eager to discover an infection when it will not be so difficult to get rid of it.However, the point is that nail fungus does not develop quickly on the feet, so it is difficult to detect.Only those who pay special attention to the health of the feet and have certain experience can clearly see it in the first stages of its spread.
Initially, the nail gets barely visible spots or lines;they differ a lot in color, but almost no one pays attention to this.There are no other discomforts or symptoms.At this stage, it is better to choose traditional methods of fighting fungal infections, instead of using medications.
With the further spread of the disease, the spots that appeared earlier take on a different color and their size only increases.Discomfort occurs and the skin around the nail plate begins to itch.The nail plate thickens slightly and loosens, sometimes cracking.At this stage, it is still possible to treat the infection at home.However, the brighter the symptoms of the fungus, the greater the likelihood that there will be a need to visit a specialist.Then the skin begins to redden, its color changes, and the nail plate thickens so much that it is simply impossible not to notice it.
At what point should you start treating the fungus?
How to get rid of foot fungus?The treatment of a fungal infection takes a lot of time and the results in case of premature initiation of the appropriate therapy include both the presence of discomfort and an aesthetic problem, and the continuous impact of the infection on the organism as a whole.
It is important to immediately identify an infection that has the following signs:
- The legs itch, sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- Feet start to smell bad;
- The feet become dry and the skin peels off.
If such symptoms are observed, it is necessary to urgently visit a dermatologist, who will prescribe several tests and make the correct diagnosis.After a complete examination, the doctor will advise you on how to eliminate the fungal infection as soon as possible.
Fungal infection: how to recover completely
Treatment of the disease with medications usually involves the use of antifungal drugs, which include the following substances:
- Ketaconazole;
- Griseofulvin;
- Terbinafine;
- Fluconazole.
The course of therapy is quite long, and in very advanced situations it reaches 6 months.Medicines, the effect of which is aimed at fighting fungal infections when taken orally, have a large number of side reactions and contraindications for use, therefore their use should be monitored by a doctor.
Systemic therapy is combined with local treatment of a fungal disease and includes the use of a variety of tools, for example: solutions, gels, creams, ointments, etc.
Only with a low degree of damage to the skin by fungi or if there are contraindications to the use of any medicine, the treatment consists exclusively in the use of products for external use.
When treating a fungal infection of the feet, it is necessary to throw in the trash all those items that were in use before the start of the treatment procedure and may well be carriers of the fungus: foot brushes, bathroom rugs, tights, socks, even your favorite sneakers.There is another option to properly disinfect these items using chlorine-containing compounds.In order not to "share" your problem with your family, use only personal hygiene items.
Therapeutic varnishes as a remedy for fungi
If a fungal infection has just been identified and its stage is no longer critical, then the treatment may consist only of the use of special varnishes.
Initially, this composition causes softening of the nail plate affected by the infection, and then, by affecting the fungal spores, it begins to eliminate them.
The main requirement when treating the nail plate with varnish is that you must strictly adhere to the instructions, because it specifies the nuances of using this product.
In most cases these are as follows:
- Before using the medicated varnish, you must remove all layers of peeling from the nails.For this purpose, you can use a special file - it is included with the spray.
- Next, you need to disinfect the surface - for this, use a solution of alcohol and water.
- Only after all the processes described above, you can apply varnish to the infected nail.
Fungus on the feet: preventive measures
Here are some tips for preventing fungus:
- You should buy only high-quality and comfortable shoes;
- Wash your feet every day;
- Pay proper attention to the condition of the nails and the skin on the feet;
- When you are in public places, do not walk barefoot.
As you may have noticed, it is better to prevent the occurrence of a fungal infection or to start treating it in time than to neglect it, because then the situation will only be complicated and the treatment procedure itself will take much longer.
Do you still think it is difficult to get rid of fungus quickly?
An advanced stage of the disease can cause irreversible consequences, such as gangrene, blood poisoning.Often the life of a person with an advanced stage can be saved only by amputation of a limb.
Under no circumstances should the disease be initiated!