Beautiful and healthy feet not only attract attention, but are also considered the key to health.If any disorder occurs on the skin or nail plate, it is worth thinking about the causes of this condition.Sometimes this happens due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, poor care or injury.In these situations, the problem is quickly solved and does not require serious intervention.But sometimes foot damage can be caused by a fungal infection.
How does it develop?
Athlete's foot (mycosis) is an infectious skin lesion.It mainly occurs in the parts of the foot that are closed for a long time or, on the contrary, open: interdigital areas, soles of the feet and fingers.The causative agent of the disease is pathogenic fungi that parasitize the stratum corneum of the skin and contribute to the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the skin.Human-to-human transmission mainly occurs in public places, through shared footwear or household items.In order to transmit the infection, the surface of the objects in contact must be infected with the scales of the fungal parasites, which adhere to the healthy skin and begin to actively multiply and settle on the entire surface of the foot.During their development, pathogens of mycosis of the feet release waste products that reduce the protective functions of the immune system, against the background of which secondary infectious diseases can develop.
How does athlete's foot manifest itself?
Fungal spores that parasitize the skin cause characteristic symptoms of athlete's foot - peeling and thickening of the skin.If the treatment is not started in time, the disease will turn into a more severe form, and then erythema and erosion will be added to the above reasons.The sooner you suspect foot fungus, the higher the chance to quickly and effectively eliminate the disease.
Characteristic symptoms of athlete's foot are peeling and thickening of the skin.
Symptoms that should not be ignored:
- cracks under the feet;
- itching, dryness and peeling;
- unpleasant smell;
- discoloration of the skin and/or nail plate;
- thickening, redness or other changes on the skin surface 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 athlete's foot
Treatment of foot fungus depends on the degree of damage and the type of the causative agent of the disease.The most commonly used local antifungal drugs (ointments): clotrimazole, mycoceptin, loteril, etc.
The average course of treatment is selected individually.If you start the treatment on time, after a week of therapy, you can get rid of foot fungus completely, or reduce its manifestations to a minimum.Often, an integrated approach is required, so in addition to antifungal drugs, they use drugs to eliminate itching and oral tablets: fluconazole, griseofulvin, lamisil, etc.
You don't need to resort to expensive remedies to treat athlete's foot;you can pay attention to the products of local pharmaceutical companies.The price of such drugs is lower and their effectiveness does not differ from 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.
First of all, it is necessary to treat in order to prevent the redevelopment of the disease.It should be remembered that even after eliminating all symptoms, you should 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 and shoes and observe preventive measures.
Even after eliminating all symptoms, you should carefully monitor both your general health and the cleanliness and health of your feet.
Folk remedies for the treatment of foot fungus
The market of pharmacological agents for the treatment of athlete's foot offers a wide range of products.But at the same time, traditional medicine comes to the aid of traditional therapy.Typically, the arsenal of this approach includes various herbs and decoctions, tinctures and oils prepared on their basis.However, before using any remedy for athlete's foot, you should make sure that you are not allergic.In the initial stages of disease development, 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.One liter of water should be heated to 40-45 degrees, add a spoonful of soda and mix.Keep in this bath for 20-30 minutes.The frequency of this method varies from 1 to 3 times a day.If the athlete's foot is accompanied by severe itching, you can use medicinal plants with antipruritic and soothing effects (for example, mint, oak bark, calendula) to prepare a soda bath.To do this, you must first prepare an infusion of medicinal plants and then add soda.Everything else remains unchanged.
Prevention of athlete's foot
In order to completely get rid of foot fungus and not get sick again, you should first of all carefully monitor your shoes.Old shoes may contain fungal scales, which can lead to re-infection.Therefore, during the entire course of treatment and for subsequent prevention, it is necessary to treat shoes with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, miramistin, mycostop.You need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of your feet and nails.Also, proper nutrition and keeping your feet and nails clean play an equally important role.
In order to completely get rid of foot fungus and not get infected again, you should first of all carefully monitor your shoes.
The most important thing in the treatment of foot fungus is timely diagnosis and early initiation of therapy.Only in this case, it will be possible to cope within a week, and with proper prevention, the risk of developing the disease will be completely reduced.But as experience shows, people usually delay going to the doctor or even refuse to see a specialist.And this is fraught with the wrong choice of therapy, development and transition of the disease to a severe stage.Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question "can foot fungus be treated in a week".In the early stages, with the correct diagnosis, this is more possible than with an advanced form.
Be healthy!