5 best remedies for foot fungus. Honest review

Dermatomycosis on the feet is the most common form of skin diseases of a fungal nature. According to statistics, 30% of the world's population has foot fungus. Only half of patients seek help from a dermatologist. The rest live with the infection, spreading it among loved ones. Problems with diagnosis and treatment are based on the variety of signs of leg lesions. Some symptoms go unnoticed for years because they do not cause the patient much discomfort. The main medicine for treating foot fungus is antifungal ointments.

What is foot fungus and ways of infection?

Mycosis or dermatomycosis is an infectious lesion of the skin of the feet, interdigital areas, fingers, and nails. Fungal foot infections primarily occur in cultures where it is customary to wear closed shoes most of the time. More often, the disease affects the elderly and people with weakened immune systems due to some serious pathology (immunodeficiency, pemphigus, diabetes mellitus, poor circulation in the extremities, and others).

The causative agents of fungal infections parasitize in the stratum corneum of the skin. They produce enzymes that break down keratin. Their cell walls (shells) contain mannan substances, which suppress local immunity and contribute to the development of a chronic inflammatory process on the skin. Among the numerous pathogens of mycosis, the main ones are Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum.

You can become infected with a fungus in two ways: direct or indirect. The first infection option has several versions:

close contact with a sick person;
contact with an infected animal;
through plants with which the sole comes into contact;
through the soil in which the pathogen lives.

The indirect route of infection with mycosis of the foot occurs:

when using household or personal hygiene items belonging to a sick person;
when using objects that have been touched by an infected animal.

Symptoms of the disease

Depending on the type of fungus, specific symptoms of the disease are distinguished. For example, dermatophytes do not manifest themselves for a long time, penetrating deeply into the layers of the skin or under the nail bed. If the causative agent of mycosis is trichophytosis, then signs of infection are immediately visible - the yeast-like microorganism causes inflammation on the nails and skin, destroying tissue in a short time. It is difficult for even an experienced dermatologist to tell what type of infection a patient has without laboratory tests.

At the early stage of the disease, there are common symptoms of foot fungus:

cracks on the sole;
itching, burning, dryness, peeling of the skin;
unpleasant foot odor;
discoloration and brittleness of nails;
glossy skin surface;
thickening and redness of the epidermis;
increased sensitivity of the sole;
the appearance of fluid-filled blisters at the site of inflammation.

Forms of fungal infection

External manifestations of the fungus depend not only on the type of pathogen, but also on the degree of involvement of the skin, nails, and hair on the legs in the inflammatory process. Dermatologists distinguish the following forms of mycosis of the feet:

Squamous form (scaly). At the initial stage, redness and peeling of the skin are observed. The affected areas have different areas.
Hyperkeratotic stage. Severe coarsening of the sole, deep cracks on or near the heels. Both legs are affected simultaneously.
Intertriginous form. It is considered the most common. It affects the area between the 4th and 5th toes, and less commonly develops between the 3rd and 4th toes. The cracks are replaced by erosions that begin to become wet, causing itching and burning. Streptococci penetrate into the loose tissue structure, causing pustular inflammation.
Dyshidrotic form. Watery blisters that appear on the epidermis merge. After they disappear, extensive ulcers appear. Mycosis spreads to the hands.

Signs of advanced disease

The appearance of a fungal disease can simply not be noticed during the early stages of development. But an advanced disease is immediately visible, because characteristic symptoms begin to appear. A person’s life turns into a nightmare, which sometimes even interferes with normal movement.

A neglected fungus looks like this:

The appearance of a burning sensation, and then itching of the foot and between the toes.
Cracks begin to appear in the same area.
The affected skin peels off and turns red.
Small watery blisters appear, and later ulcers appear in their place.
The appearance of pain when walking.
Deformation of the nail plate appears.
The nail begins to crumble.
A change in the color of the nail plate appears.

Nail damage usually begins with the thumb, and as the disease spreads, it can spread to other nail plates. If this happens, you must definitely seek help from a specialist.

Therapy in this case will be quite long and should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Without treatment, the nail will completely collapse; in its place, large suppuration will appear, which will later spread to the fingers, and then to the entire leg.

Treatment of foot fungus with folk remedies

All folk remedies against foot fungus have several tasks: destroying fungal mycelium, eliminating symptoms of inflammation, restoring the integrity of the skin, increasing local immunity, and preventing relapses of the disease. For these purposes, decoctions and infusions are used for oral administration, as well as solutions, ointments and compresses for external use.

Numerous plants, minerals, chemical compounds (copper sulfate) and even gunpowder have antifungal properties - this has been proven by scientific research. More than 1000 names of flora representatives have been identified that have a pronounced fungicidal and antimycotic effect. The composition of such plants includes benzoic and salicylic acid, furocoumarin, novoimanin and other substances that have a therapeutic effect on fungal infection.

Rules and principles of treatment

Before you start treating foot fungus yourself with folk remedies, you need to consult a doctor to prevent further development of the pathology. Mycosis in an advanced form is very difficult to cure, therefore, if a few days after starting to use one or another method there is no positive dynamics, then you should consult a doctor.

There are many folk recipes based on the use of herbal and natural ingredients. It is recommended to treat foot fungus at home before bed to give the medicine time to work. Regardless of the chosen method of getting rid of mycosis, you need to adhere to the basic rule: carry out therapy not only until the symptoms completely disappear, but also for some time after that. During therapy it is necessary:

follow a diet with low sugar content in the diet, that is, remove sweets and starchy foods from the daily menu;
exclude the use of cosmetic varnish, which creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria;
regularly treat nail plates affected by a fungal infection with iodine (for onychomycosis);
disinfect floor coverings and shoes to prevent relapses.

Foot baths for mycosis of the feet

At the initial stage of the disease, therapeutic foot baths are very helpful in getting rid of symptoms. Traditional medicine offers many components from which these healing procedures are made. These are decoctions and infusions of herbs (celandine, wormwood, yarrow, oak bark and others), vinegar, soda and other components. It is necessary to fight infection with the help of baths daily, immersing your feet in a warm, freshly prepared solution for 15-20 minutes.

The average course of treatment for adults is 2 weeks, but if necessary, the procedure can be done longer. Foot baths help not only stop the proliferation of fungus, but also get rid of unpleasant odors and eliminate excessive sweating of the feet. Provided proper hygiene of the lower extremities, the positive effect will become noticeable within a few days after the start of treatment. Examples of baths that are easy to make at home to get rid of foot fungus:

Take 3 liters of warm water, stir 200 g of sea salt in it. For effectiveness, you can add ground cinnamon (1 tbsp), a decoction of chamomile or pine needles (250 ml).
Pour warm water into a basin, add 50 ml of table or apple cider vinegar and a few granules of potassium permanganate. After the procedure, lubricate the affected areas of the skin with tea tree oil.

Compresses and lotions

In home complex therapy for mycosis of the feet, it is advisable to use compresses or lotions. For these procedures, celandine oil, garlic, onions, alcohol tinctures, iodized salt, and peppermint are used. Kombucha, pumpkin pulp, and fresh burdock leaves are applied to the sore spots. The selected substances are crushed, applied to the area between the toes and on the feet for 40-50 minutes, and wrapped on top with a plastic bag (cling film). Course of treatment 1-2 times a day until complete cure.

Essential oils and natural pastes

Effectively treating foot fungus at home using natural plant and essential oils. An extract from tea tree (soothes the skin, eliminates itching), lemon (strengthens nails, improves local immunity), cinnamon (prevents fungus from multiplying), and rosemary (regenerates tissue) has proven itself to be excellent. An effective natural antiseptic, lavender oil, which has an analgesic and wound-healing effect, therefore removes the symptoms of mycosis much faster than other folk remedies.

You can apply essential oil in its pure form (after an allergy test) or make natural pastes by mixing a few drops with any plant oil (coconut, cocoa, olive, jojoba). Manipulations should be carried out 3 times a day for several weeks. If mycosis of the feet affects the nails, then such treatment lasts until the plate is completely renewed (several months).

Herbal decoctions and tinctures

The popularity of medicinal herbs in the treatment of fungal infections is explained by their high effectiveness and availability. Herbal medicine is used not only to get rid of fungus, but also to prevent infection. The main methods of treating mycosis at home are the use of tinctures (infusion of medicinal herbs in ethyl alcohol), decoctions (herbs are heat-treated by simmering in a steam bath so as not to bring to a boil) and infusions (herbs are poured with boiling water and infused).

The method and duration of therapy depends on the patient’s age, concomitant diseases, and the severity of symptoms. Average duration of use: 2-3 times a day for 14-30 days. The most effective antifungal plants in treating fungal infections are:

birch buds;
cold mint;
aloe;
eucalyptus;
walnut leaves;
chamomile;
Sophora japonica;
puppeteer;
celandine;
rannik;
Kalanchoe;
common juniper.

Main groups of antimycotic drugs

The fungus adapts very quickly and develops resistance to various medications. Self-treatment may lead to the development of a more resistant form of fungal infection due to mutation of the virus.

In pharmacology, there are three types of drugs aimed at combating mycosis :

Polyene antibiotics are fungicidal drugs with a broad spectrum of action that increase the permeability of the plasma membrane of fungal cells, and as a result, their rapid death. Polyenes are very effective in treating various forms of fungal infection, but some strains are not affected by this drug.
Azoles are drugs of synthetic origin with an antimycotic effect for local and systemic treatment of fungal infections. They have a wide spectrum of antifungal action; even some strains of coca are sensitive to drugs in this group.
Allylamines are synthetic drugs that effectively cope with higher, dimorphic and mold fungi. The drug is prescribed for some forms of lichen and dermatomycosis.

How to cure foot fungus at home

Traditional methods of getting rid of fungus have proven their effectiveness. To forget about mycosis of the feet forever, it is necessary to properly care for the foot area during treatment and after. For a quick recovery you will need:

After bathing, dry your skin thoroughly;
wear only dry and clean shoes;
do not overheat your feet, avoid excessive sweating;
in warm weather, wear sandals with open toes;
wear socks made of natural fabrics that have high levels of breathability and hygroscopicity;
When taking a shower in a public place, always wear personal slippers.

Tools and products in the kitchen

It’s easy to find folk remedies at home to get rid of fungus. Every housewife has some medicine for mycosis among the available means in the kitchen or in the refrigerator. The most accessible:

Coffee. In this case, the aromatic drink is for external use. Regular foot baths with freshly brewed strong coffee will help cope with the disease.
Garlic. There are many options for using the plant, but the simplest is garlic juice, which is rubbed into the affected tissue. The process is carried out using a cotton swab 3 to 5 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
Onion. Fresh onion pulp should be placed in a plastic bag that is placed on the foot. The edges of the bag must be tied so that the bow does not touch the sole, and the foot is in an improvised steam-air chamber all night. As a rule, 5 sessions are enough to get rid of foot fungus.

Pharmaceutical traditional medicine

If you don’t have time to look for a remedy for foot fungus at home, then an effective medicine of natural origin can be bought at the pharmacy. Among them:

Potassium permanganate. The remedy, popularly known as potassium permanganate, is effective for the treatment of mycosis. To cope with the problem, you need to apply a compress soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate to your leg every night until the problem disappears.
Iodine. Skin areas affected by the fungus are treated with a 5% alcohol solution 2 times a day. Contraindications for such treatment are high skin sensitivity and individual intolerance to the ingredients.
Iodinol. For onychomycosis, a universal blue solution is used to soften the nail plate, which has become very rough. Iodinol is used to wipe tissues affected by fungal infection 2 to 4 times a day.
Propolis. For the treatment of mycoses, alcohol tincture is often used. You can make a homemade solution by infusing propolis with vodka or alcohol, but this will not affect the effectiveness. To treat and prevent fungus, you need to apply a cotton swab soaked in tincture to the infected area and wait for it to dry completely 1-2 times a day.
Ammonia. One tablespoon of the product should be diluted in a glass of distilled water, then soak the fabric with the resulting solution, wrap the feet, secure with an adhesive plaster and leave the compress on all night.
Boric acid. For antifungal therapy, you will need powder, which in the required dose, after steaming, is sprinkled on the feet and put on socks on top. The procedure is done every evening. Boric acid is left overnight.

Herbal medicine for mycosis of the feet

Some plants are natural antibiotics, while others have a complex effect on the affected area. To treat mycoses, poisonous herbs are often used, the ingestion of which is unacceptable. The destruction of the membrane cells of pathogenic fungi occurs due to the presence of an aggressive plant environment, which leads to the rapid neutralization of the pathology. Potent herbs include:

black nightshade;
cheremitsu;
male fern;
blackening lumbago.

Prevention of mycoses

To avoid foot fungus, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene when visiting public places. These include beaches, swimming pools, saunas. Spores of pathogenic microorganisms multiply in a humid environment, so your feet should be thoroughly washed and dried after such places.

Important!

A mycologist treats fungal diseases. If there is no such specialist in the clinic, you can contact a dermatologist. Self-medication is dangerous and will not lead to recovery.

You cannot wear someone else's shoes, including slippers. Everyone should also have their own personal hygiene items. Feet should not be kept in a damp environment all the time. Cotton socks will help you avoid getting mycosis; they should be changed as often as possible. It is advisable to wear open shoes in summer. People with excessive sweating of their feet should take steps to reduce sweating.

If there is a threat of fungal infection, you can use medications. Medicines such as Mycozoral, Mycostop, Thermikon prevent skin infection. They are applied before or after visiting the pool, beach, or sauna.

Effective folk remedies for foot fungus

In order for folk remedies to help against mycoses, the treatment process must be properly organized. Before starting any procedure, you need to steam your feet, trim overgrown nails, sand loose tissue, and remove rough and dead skin. Only after this can you successfully use folk recipes. Natural components not only completely destroy the fungal infection, but also return the nails and skin to a healthy appearance. We should dwell in more detail on the most effective folk remedies.

Garlic compresses

An ancient home remedy for foot fungus is garlic compresses. The effectiveness of this simple and accessible method is explained by the composition of the plant. In addition to vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins, garlic contains ascorbic acid, which is destructive to harmful microorganisms. You should be aware that if you use garlic compress unwisely, you can get a skin burn. For this reason, during treatment it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage and duration of therapy. Garlic compress recipe:

melt 50 g butter, add 1 head of chopped garlic, 2 tbsp. l. coarse rock salt and mix thoroughly;
Apply the resulting mass on sterile gauze in an even layer and apply to the affected areas for 1 hour;
treat with a compress several times a day, leaving the limbs motionless during the procedure;
The recommended course of treatment is 1 month.

Vinegar

You can fight mycosis with any vinegar essence: wine, apple, rice, malt or cane. The principle of action of vinegar is to penetrate its substances into infected tissues and destroy the cell membranes of the fungus. Mycosis does not develop under the influence of an acidic environment, since colonies of pathogenic microflora die under its influence. At the initial stage of treatment, a low concentration of vinegar (from 3%) should be used, which is gradually increased.

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Before being treated with this method, it is necessary to check the infected area of skin for abrasions and cracks, so as not to cause inflammation or chemical burns of the epithelium. If they are not there, then you can start using a vinegar compress:

stir until smooth 2 tbsp. l. nine percent vinegar, 1 tbsp. l. glycerin and 2 tbsp. l. vodka;
Dip pieces of bandage into the prepared mixture and apply to the localization site;
after the bandage has dried, re-moisten the bandages in the medicinal mixture;
the time of use of compresses should not exceed 1 hour/day;
Course duration – 2 weeks.

Baking soda

Treating foot fungus with baking soda at home gives good results. At the first suspicion of a fungal infection, it is necessary to use sodium bicarbonate (sodium bicarbonate), which reduces the acidity of the epidermis. In addition to the antiseptic effect, soda softens the skin and nail plates, allowing medications to penetrate more easily after use. Under the influence of alkali, the affected tissues become more susceptible to the effects of any other treatment.

For mycosis, soda can be used in dry form, diluted with water and in combination with other natural or non-natural ingredients. For onychomycosis, soda paste will be more effective. To prepare it you will need:

3 tbsp. l. mix soda with 1 tbsp. l. water until a thick and homogeneous mass is obtained;
then the soda paste should be applied to the affected nail, avoiding contact with the skin;
after that the mass needs to be acidified with freshly prepared lemon juice, which will immediately react with soda;
the solution should be removed 5-7 minutes after application and the feet should be washed with soap;
The procedure is carried out daily before bed until the condition of the nail improves.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has been used in dermatology for decades, because it has proven itself to be a highly effective remedy for skin pathologies. The natural composition of the essential liquid determines its cytotoxic activity, that is, the ability to fight pathogenic microorganisms. Methods of treatment will differ depending on what is affected by the infection, skin or nail.

You can cure the nail plate by dripping 1 drop of tea tree oil onto the affected area every day. It will take about 2 months for the nail to fully recover and strengthen. To treat soles, it is better to use a diluted extract. To do this, take vegetable oil (3 parts), mix with essential oil (1 part), shake and apply to the skin 2-3 times a day for 1.5 months. It is better to regulate the course of treatment with your doctor. As an analogue, you can use clove essential oil.

Hydrogen peroxide

When fighting a fungal infection, hydrogen peroxide helps, which is considered the best antiseptic with a pronounced antibacterial effect. The drug is widely used both in medicine and at home for the treatment of mycoses. Hydrogen peroxide does not accumulate in the body, so the development of any allergic reactions is excluded. For mycoses, baths are effective, which help soften the affected epithelium for the further supply of antifungal gels, ointments, creams or sprays prescribed by the doctor.

It’s easy to make a foot bath with hydrogen peroxide at home:

pour warm water into a basin and add a three percent preparation at the rate of 100 ml per 2 liters of water;
put your feet in the container and hold for 20 minutes;
to prevent the solution from cooling, it is necessary to add small portions of boiling water;
After the procedure, remove softened tissue with pumice;
remove moisture with a sponge and apply the prescribed medicine to the surface of the skin;
Take baths daily until your condition improves.

Laundry or tar soap

For decades, people have been curing fungal infections at home using tar or laundry soap. By following the rules for treating affected skin, you can quickly get rid of itching and unpleasant foot odor. To speed up tissue healing, you need to combine soap with salt or iodine. The following recipe will help improve blood circulation in tissues:

before going to bed, steam your feet in warm water;
then wash them thoroughly with laundry soap;
treat soapy feet with a washcloth, then with pumice;
then wipe dry, lubricate with cream;
Treat areas of fungal infection with birch tar;
leave it on for 1.5 hours, then remove with cotton pads;
put clean socks on your feet and do not take them off for 2 days;
Repeat the procedure once a week until the problem gets rid of.

Salicylic ointment

The main advantage of treating mycosis with salicylic ointment is its high antifungal activity. The drug kills pathogens, prevents their reproduction, eliminates keratinized layers of the epidermis and extremely rarely causes adverse reactions. For mycosis of the feet, salicylic ointment should be applied in the form of compresses. A thin layer of the drug in a concentration of 5 or 10% is applied to the softened skin or nail plate, after which the foot is placed in a plastic bag and socks are put on top. The procedure lasts 1 hour 2 times a day for 10 days.

Propolis

As already mentioned, propolis for mycosis is effective as a tincture. The alcohol component also has a positive effect on pathogenic microorganisms. You can prepare an ointment with a beekeeping product, which should be rubbed into the affected areas at night for 10-14 days. Its recipe is simple:

mix 20 g of crushed propolis (without wax) and 100 g of sea buckthorn oil;
heat the ingredients in a water bath for 30 minutes;
Cool the mixture, strain through cheesecloth, and use as directed.

Celandine and chamomile

It is believed that medicinal herbs, especially chamomile and celandine, will most quickly get rid of a fungal infection. It is better to use them in combination. To achieve a quick effect, you need to drink chamomile infusion or tea (to boost general immunity) and take baths with celandine infusion. You should know that the fresh juice of the latter is hot, so it must be used in its pure form with extreme caution.

For the infusion you need crushed stems of the dried plant. In a glass of boiling water you need to brew 1 tbsp. l. celandine, leave for 1 hour, then dilute with a small amount of hot water. For mycoses, the solution is used for medicinal baths, which are done every day for 15 minutes. As a rule, such treatment eliminates the initial stage of the disease within 14 days.

Calendula infusion

The flowers of this plant contain a large group of biological substances that have a strong antimicrobial effect. Calendula infusion copes with onychomycosis especially quickly. Before using the medicine, the nails must be steamed and treated. After mechanically cleaning the nail plate from fungal plaque and dead tissue, you need to moisten a cotton pad in the infusion and apply it to the affected area. The procedure is done daily for 4-8 weeks. It’s easy to prepare the product at home:

pour a glass of boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. dry or fresh calendula flowers;
leave in a water bath for 10 minutes;
cool, strain, store at a temperature not exceeding 4 °C.

Shoe processing

If you become infected with a fungus, do not throw away all your existing shoes. To prevent the disease, as well as to prevent re-infection with foot fungus, shoes must be treated in a special way. Use the following options:

You can use folk remedies - for example, vinegar essence. To do this, cotton wool soaked in acid should be placed in the shoes (closer to the toe). Leave it there overnight. To make the effect of vinegar more intense, shoes can be wrapped in a plastic bag and tied tightly. In the morning, remove the cotton wool and dry the shoes.
An excellent modern product Mycostop. The drug has no odor. Spray into shoes as an aerosol at night. In the morning you can put on your shoes without fear of infection with fungus.

Although folk remedies and home recipes are not the best option, foot fungus can be treated in these ways and combined with the treatment prescribed by doctors.

Attention! It should be remembered that in some cases, self-medication can only worsen the situation, so such prescriptions should be used with caution and after consultation with an experienced doctor.