Fungus is a fairly common disease that negatively affects the human body as a whole. It is easy to pick up this infection, but to get rid of it is not so easy. The method of treatment depends on the correct determination of the cause of the appearance and the type of infection. Let's consider how to quickly cure the fungus, how to do it and prevent the disease.
All necessary information about the fungus:
What is "fungus"
A group of various infections that constantly develop if proper therapy is not carried out in time. Every fifth person on Earth faces this disease, but not everyone pays due attention to it. Of course, it does not lead to a decrease in the standard of living, but it does cause some discomfort.
Why does fungus develop on the feet
There are several reasons why an infection develops:
- Child's body: it has imperfect defense mechanisms, plus the child has a thin layer of skin, which makes children more susceptible to bacteria;
- weakened immunity;
- disorders of the nervous or endocrine systems;
- chronic infectious diseases. This disease reduces immunity, weakens the body, thereby increasing the risk of fungal infection;
- increased sweating of the skin of the foot: this can be a congenital feature, the result of illness or wearing uncomfortable shoes;
These are the main factors. In fact, fungal bacteria are on the surface of the skin of almost all people, but they develop only under conditions that are comfortable for them.
Stages of nail fungus
Initial phase
At an early stage, the disease is asymptomatic, therefore, it is very difficult to notice it. The initial stage is characterized by slight itching and redness in the area of the fingers. Then the nail is affected and begins to break, fade and change color. The color of the change depends on the type of attacking fungus:
- color will be blue-greenish or black;
- with yeast dermatophytosis becomes white or yellow.
If you recognize these symptoms, you can overcome the disease in the first stage and cure nail fungus at home quickly. You also need to drink special means so that the infection cannot spread.
Medium
At this stage, the fungus spreads deep into the nail, which continues to deform. The nail plate can crumble, slow down its growth, delaminate and have porosity. There is skin near the nail plate, on which itching gradually begins, it can peel off and crack profusely. Deep red or white spots also appear.
Dystrophic
This stage indicates that the process is running. The fungus is totally embedded in the nail plate and its structure is completely destroyed, blackens and becomes inflamed. Along with severe itching, pain, burning and an unpleasant odor appear. An allergic reaction intensifies (or appears if it did not exist). The causative agent of the infection leads to inflammation of the lymph nodes, dermatitis and chronic disease.
Fungus symptoms
In case of untimely treatment of the initial stages, nearby tissues become infected with fungal spores. So, the characteristic symptoms of a mushroom infection:
- itching between toes or hands (depending on which fungus);
- bubbling of fluid on the skin. After the bubbles burst, ulcers begin to appear, followed by inflammation;
- diaper rash, blisters and cracks in the feet with severe itching;
- in most cases, finger fungus begins to appear on the thumb, so you need to monitor it very carefully;
- peeling skin;
- modified structure and color of the nail;
It is important to realize that these symptoms may not always indicate that the fungus is progressing. It can be a different type of skin condition, such as eczema. Therefore, it is recommended not to self-medicate, but to make an appointment for a specialized appointment.
Is the disease contagious
Fungal disease enters the skin and becomes fixed on it until the conditions for their reproduction are favorable. After the desired environment is formed, the fungus begins to develop and introduce its spores into the nail plate. After the entire nail is infected, the infection begins to spread to another area. You can catch the disease anywhere, but most of all they get infected in the bath, during massage procedures, on sun loungers, in showers and in places where a large number of people gather.
Danger of fungus
Nail fungus never goes away on its own. Having penetrated into the nail plate, the disease slowly destroys the hard shell of the nail, and then the tissue. In a more complex stage, nail fungi cause allergic reactions, intoxication of the body and even damage to internal organs. The treatment of onychomycosis requires complex therapeutic measures.
Diagnostics and treatment
In most cases, fungal nail diseases are caused by dermatophytes, less often mold and yeast fungi. For the diagnosis of "onychomycosis" and the selection of optimal drugs, the mycologist or dermatologist refer the patient for laboratory diagnostics. Scraping of the affected nail will help determine the presence and type of fungal infections.
Since most antifungal drugs contain active terbinafine, sertaconazole, ketoconazole, in order to exclude adverse reactions, the choice and use of drugs should be agreed with the attending physician.
Important!
When treating fungus, it is necessary to disinfect shoes, gloves, floors and bathroom, towels, and bed linen. Relapse and re-infection can be avoided by careful hygiene.
If you often visit saunas, swimming pools or use the showers of sports centers, to prevent fungal infections, you can make baths with apple cider vinegar, treat the surfaces of your feet and hands with propolis, tea tree oil, and also use antifungal pharmacological agents: powders, sprays, aerosols.
How to treat fungus
There are many ways to quickly cure toenail fungus. Here, massage procedures and a medication method will help, and folk medicine will also come in handy. We will describe each method in more detail below.
Medication
Sprays
Sprays are excellent, mostly painless, and will heal fungus on your hands quickly.
These options are universal and readily available across all pharmacy systems. They help in the question of how to quickly cure the fungus on the nails.
How to cure fungus quickly and effectively: medicines and ointments
If the fungus is already much stronger, you should start using medications and creams.
Will there be complications if the disease is not treated
With the question of how to quickly cure nail and skin fungus both on the legs and on the hands, we figured it out. Now it is important to understand what complications may appear. So, if the fungus is not treated, then there is:
- physical discomfort. Changes in the structure, delamination and loss of the nail plate, as well as painful sensations, itching and burning can be the result of onychomycosis.
- psychological problems. Due to the appearance of the nails and skin, a person can become withdrawn, which can develop into a depressive syndrome.
- impairment of immunity. Human immunity devotes all its strength to the fight against the pathogen.
- spread of infection. A person who suffers from a fungal disease unwittingly infects others.
Here are a few of the many reasons why you need to start early treatment for an infectious disease.
Folk remedies
Effective recipes have been passed down from generation to generation and have survived to this day. Traditional medicine uses only environmentally friendly products that grow far from settlements and highways. Most of the techniques do give results. In any case, before you quickly cure the fungus on your feet or nails using traditional methods, you need to consult a doctor. Several recipes on how to cure a fungus with folk remedies quickly:
- Take a couple of peppermint leaves, grind them and add a pinch of salt. Next, the mixture must be mixed and grated again. The resulting ointment is applied to the feet where the fungus is common.
- A vinegar bath is also an excellent remedy, a substance that effectively acts on the spread of the fungus and prevents its reproduction. Recipe: mix 9% vinegar from water in a ratio of 1 to 8. Keep your feet in the solution for about 15 minutes, the dead layer is cleaned off with a pumice stone.
- another recipe: 10 g of lilac flowers are added to 130 ml of alcohol. Shuffled. The resulting mixture should be placed in a dark, dry area. After 14 days, the infusion is filtered. The product is ready. Apply gruel to the affected areas twice a day for a week. Then look at the results.
- deformed areas of skin can be rubbed with cocklebur leaf juice, an annual herb that is a great help in how to quickly cure fungus.
- To get rid of a fungal disease, you can take a fresh Kalanchoe leaf, soften it slightly and attach it to the affected area with a plaster.
These are the basic methods for treating foot fungus quickly and without negative consequences.
What to do if the fungus persists
Fungus is a rather difficult disease that needs to be treated in a timely manner. If you cannot get rid of the symptoms, you need to contact a dermatologist - a specialist who diagnoses and treats skin diseases. Also, the competence of a dermatologist includes the treatment of nail diseases.
Prevention
Prevention is a complex of various kinds of measures aimed at preventing a phenomenon and / or eliminating risk factors. So, a few rules on how to protect yourself from a fungal infection and prevent it from multiplying on the body:
- Wash hands thoroughly several times a day with an antibacterial agent.
- Strictly observe personal hygiene rules.
- Always use a personal towel, washcloth, toothbrush and pumice stone - all personal hygiene products.
- Bring slippers with you (preferably with closed toes) when planning an event in public places - saunas, showers, beaches.
- Do not wear someone else's slippers (especially on bare feet) when visiting, it is better to always carry your own with you.
- Always monitor the condition of the dermis and nail plate. You cannot start treatment if cracks, wounds, abrasions are noticed.
- Trust manicure and pedicure only to trusted specialists who have a guarantee that all instruments are disinfected before use;
- Clean socks should be put on before trying on shoes in the store;
- Choose shoes made from natural materials;
- Keep shoes dry, treat them with antifungal antiseptic;
- Thoroughly dry hands and feet after water treatment: moisture is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria;
- Disinfect bathrooms, floors and carpets.
By following these simple rules, you can prevent the spread of fungal infections. And remember: catching an infection is easy, getting rid of it is many times more difficult.