How to treat foot fungus at home with folk remedies: recipes

One of the most common diseases of the feet and toenails is fungus. The treatment of this disease takes a long time, because getting rid of a fungal infection is not easy. In addition to drug treatment, folk remedies are used, even in severe cases, giving excellent results. In the early stages of the disease, you can cure the disease on your own with natural home remedies.

What is foot fungus and how is it contagious?

Tinea versicolor or tinea versicolor is an infectious lesion of the skin of the feet, between the fingers, fingers, and fingernails. Fungal infections mainly of the feet occur in cultures where it is customary to wear closed shoes most of the time. More often, the disease affects the elderly and those with weakened immunity due to any serious medical conditions (immunodeficiency, pemphigus, diabetes, circulatory disorders of the extremities andother diseases).

The causative agent of fungal infection is parasitic in the stratum corneum of the skin. They produce enzymes that break down keratin. Their cell walls (membranes) contain mannan substances that suppress local immunity and contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory processes in the skin. Among the many causative agents of ringworm, the main ones are Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum.

You can get a fungal infection in two ways: directly or indirectly. The first variant of the infection offers several versions:

• close contact with sick people;
• contact with infected animals;
• through the plant with which the sole comes into contact;
• through the soil in which the pathogen lives.

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

• when sharing household items, personal hygiene items of sick people;
• 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, hereditary ringworm that does not manifest itself for a long time can penetrate deep into the skin layers or under the nails. If the causative agent of the fungal disease is trichophytosis, then signs of infection are immediately visible - a yeast-like microorganism that causes inflammation in the nails and skin, destroying tissues in a short time. Even for an experienced dermatologist, it can be difficult to tell what type of infection a patient has without laboratory tests.

In the early stages of the disease, there are common symptoms of foot fungus:

• cracks in the sole;
• itching, burning, dryness, peeling of the skin;
• unpleasant foot odor;
• discoloration and brittle nails;
• glossy leather surface;
• thickening and reddening of the epidermis;
• increased sensitivity of the sole;
• the appearance at the site of inflammation of a fluid-filled bubble.

Types of fungal infections

The external manifestation of the fungus depends not only on the type of pathogen, but also on the degree of participation in the inflammatory process in the skin, nails, and leg hairs. Dermatologists distinguish the following forms of mycosis of the feet:

1. Scaly (scaly). Red and flaky skin is observed in the early stages. The affected areas have different regions.
2. Horny phase. Severely rough sole with deep cracks at or near the heel. Both legs are affected at the same time.
3. Intertriginous form. It is considered the most popular. Affects the area between 4 and 5 toes, less often 3 to 4. The fissures are replaced by erosion, wet onset, itching, burning appear. Cocci penetrate the loose structures of tissues, causing purulent inflammation.
4. Dyshidrotic form. The blisters appear on the fused epidermis. After they hide, large sores develop. Fungal infections of the hands spread to the hands.

Treat foot fungus with folk remedies

All folk remedies against foot fungus have several tasks: destroy the mycelium, eliminate the symptoms of inflammation, restore the integrity of the skin, increase local immunity, prevent recurrence of the disease. For these purposes, decoctions and infusions for oral administration are used, as well as solutions, ointments and compresses for external use.

Many plants, minerals, chemical compounds (copper sulfate) and even gunpowder have antifungal properties - this is proven by scientific research. More than 1000 names of botanical representatives have been identified that have a pronounced fungicidal and antispasmodic effect. The composition of these plants includes benzoic and salicylic acids, furocoumarin, novoimanin and other substances that have a therapeutic effect on fungal infections.

Rules and principles of treatment

Before starting to self-treat foot fungus with folk remedies, you need to consult a doctor to prevent further development of the disease. It is very difficult to cure mycosis in an advanced form, therefore, if a few days after starting to use one or another aggressive method, you should consult a doctor.

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

• implement a diet low in sugar in the diet, that is, remove sweet and starchy foods from the daily menu;
• exclude the use of cosmetic varnishes that create a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria;
• carry out regular iodine treatment for nail plates affected by fungal infections (with onychomycosis);
• Disinfect floor coverings and footwear to prevent recurrence.

Foot bath for foot fungus

In the early stages of the disease, therapeutic foot baths are helpful in relieving symptoms. Traditional medicine offers many ingredients to perform these treatments. This is a decoction and infusion of herbs (celandine, wormwood, yarrow, oak bark and others), vinegar, soda and other ingredients. Fight infection with a daily tray, soak 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 carried out longer. Soaking your feet not only helps prevent the growth of fungus, but also removes unpleasant odors and eliminates sweaty feet. With proper hygiene of the lower extremities, the positive effect will become apparent within a few days of starting treatment. Examples of easy-to-make at-home trays to get rid of foot fungus:

• Take 3 liters of warm water, add 200 g of sea salt and stir well. To increase the effect, you can add ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon), decoction of chamomile or pine needles (250 ml).
• Fill a basin with warm water, add 50 ml of table water or apple cider vinegar and a few seeds of potassium permanganate. After the procedure, lubricate the affected skin with tea tree oil.

Compresses and lotions

In the complex home treatment of toenail fungus, you should use a compression bandage or a topical medication. For these procedures, celandine oil, garlic, onion, tincture, iodized salt and mint are used. Kombucha, pumpkin pulp, fresh burdock leaves are applied to the painful area. The selected substances are crushed, applied to the area between the toes and feet for 40 - 50 minutes, then covered with a plastic bag (film). The course of treatment is 1-2 times a day until complete recovery.

Essential oils and natural pastes

Treat foot fungus effectively at home using natural plants and essential oils. Proven Tea Tree Extract (soothes skin, eliminates itching), lemon (strengthens nails, boosts local immunity), cinnamon (prevents fungal growth), rosemary (tissue regeneration)excellently. Lavender oil has effective natural antiseptic properties, has an analgesic and wound-healing effect, thereby eliminating the symptoms of fungus much faster than with other folk remedies.

You can apply essential oils in their pure form (after allergy testing) or make a natural paste by mixing a few drops with any vegetable oil (coconut, cocoa, olive, jojoba). The manipulations need to be done 3 times a day for several weeks. If the nail is affected by foot fungus, such treatment will last until the nail plate is completely replaced (several months).

Herbal decoction and tincture

The popularity of medicinal herbs in the treatment of fungal infections is due to their effectiveness and availability. Herbal medicines are used not only to get rid of the fungus, but also to prevent infection. The methods of treating scalp fungus at home are mainly using decoction (soaking medicinal herbs with ethyl alcohol), decoction (medications that are heat-treated by steaming in a water bath so as not to boil) and infusion (thethe medicine is brewed with boiling water and infused).

The method and duration of treatment depend on the age of the patient, comorbidities and severity of symptoms. Average duration of use: 2-3 times a day for 14-30 days. The most effective antifungal herbs for treating fungal infections are:

• birch buds;
• cold mint;
• Vera;
• Eucalyptus;
• walnut leaves;
• chrysanthemum medicinal herbs;
• Sophora Japan;
• puppeteer;
• celandine;
• runnik;
• Kalanchoe;
• common juniper.

How to cure foot fungus at home

Traditional methods of getting rid of the fungus have proven to be effective. In order to forget about athlete's foot forever, it is essential during the treatment and then to properly care for the skin of the feet. For a quick recovery you will need:

• dry the skin after bathing;
• wear only clean and dry shoes;
• do not let your feet get too hot, avoid sweating a lot;
• in warm weather, wear open-toe sandals;
• wear socks made of natural fabrics with high breathability and moisture absorption;
• Always wear personal slippers when bathing in public.

Handy tools and products in the kitchen

It is very easy to find folk remedies at home to get rid of the fungus. Every housewife, among the tools available in the kitchen or in the refrigerator, has some kind of remedy for fungal diseases. Most affordable price:

• The coffee. In this case, the aromatic drink is intended for external use. Regularly soaking your feet in freshly brewed coffee will help repel diseases.
• Garlic. There are many options for using the plant, but the simplest is garlic juice, which is rubbed into the affected tissues. The process is carried out with a cotton swab 3 to 5 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
• Onion. Pureed fresh onions must be put in a plastic bag worn on the foot. The edges of the bag must be fastened so that the bow does not touch the base, the feet stay in the improvised air chamber all night. As a rule, 5 sessions are enough to get rid of foot fungus.

Traditional medicine

If you do not have time to search for a home remedy for athlete's foot, you can buy effective natural remedies at the pharmacy. Among them:

• Potassium permanganate. The remedy, commonly known as potassium permanganate, is effective for treating fungal diseases. To deal with the problem, it is necessary to apply a compress soaked in potassium permanganate solution to the foot every night until the problem disappears.
• Iodine. Fungal skin areas are treated with a 5% alcohol solution x 2 times / day. Contraindications to such treatment are highly sensitive skin and individual intolerance to the components.
• Iodinol. With onychomycosis, the popular blue solution is used to soften nails that have become very rough. Iodinol is used to wipe the tissues affected by fungal infections 2-4 times / day.
• Propolis. To treat tinea capitis, tinctures are often used. You can make a homemade solution by soaking propolis with vodka or alcohol, but this will not affect the effectiveness. To treat and prevent fungal infections, you need to use cotton wool soaked in alcohol to apply on the infected area, wait for it to dry completely 1-2 times / day.
• Ammonia. One tablespoon of the product should be diluted in a glass of distilled water, then apply the resulting solution to the fabric, wrap the legs, fix with adhesive plaster and withstand overnight compression.
• Boric acid. For antifungal therapy, you will need a powder, sprinkle the feet with the right amount after steaming and put on socks. The procedure is carried out every evening. Boric acid is left overnight.

Herbal medicine for foot fungus

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

• black night;
• cheremitsa;
• male ferns;
• darkening of the waist area.

Effective folk remedies for foot fungus

In order for the folk remedies to treat scalp fungus to be effective, the treatment process needs to be properly organized. Before starting any procedure, you need to steam your feet, cut off overgrown nails, grind loose tissues, remove rough dead skin. Only then can folk recipes be successfully applied. The natural ingredients not only completely destroy the fungal infection, but also restore a healthy look to the nails and skin. The most effective folk remedies should be discussed in more detail.

Compress garlic

An age-old home remedy for foot fungus is a garlic paste. The effectiveness of this simple and affordable method is due to the composition of the plant. In addition to vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins, garlic also contains ascorbic acid, which is harmful to harmful microorganisms. You should be aware that if you don't use garlic carefully, you can burn your skin. For this reason, during treatment, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage and duration of treatment. Garlic compress recipe:

• Melt 50 g butter, add 1 head of minced garlic, 2 tbsp. l. coarse rock salt and mix well;
• apply the resulting mass on sterile gauze in an even layer and apply to the affected areas for 1 hour;
• treatment by applying several times a day, do not let the limbs remain motionless during the procedure;
• The recommended course of treatment is 1 month.

Vinegar

You can combat fungal diseases with any vinegar essence: wine, apple, rice, malt or sugarcane. The principle of action of vinegar is the penetration of its substances into infected tissues and destruction of 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, it is recommended to use vinegar with a low concentration (from 3%), then gradually increase it.

Before treating with this method, it is necessary to check the infected skin for scratches, cracks so as not to cause inflammation, epithelial chemical burns. If they are not there, then you can start using vinegar compresses:

• stir until smooth 2 tbsp. l. nine percent vinegar, 1 tbsp. l. glycerin and 2 tbsp. l. vodka;
• dip the bandages into the finished mixture and apply to the places of localization;
• after the bandage dries, re-wet the bandage in the drug mixture;
• application time is not more than 1 hour / day;
• course duration - 2 weeks.

Baking soda

Treat foot fungus with baking soda at home for good effect. When a fungal infection is first suspected, sodium bicarbonate (sodium bicarbonate) should be used, which reduces the acidity of the epidermis. In addition to the antiseptic effect, baking soda also softens the skin and nails, making it easier for the medicine to penetrate after use. Under the influence of alkali, the affected tissues become more sensitive to the effects of any other treatment.

For fungal diseases, dry soda can be used, diluted with water and combined with other natural or unnatural ingredients. With onychomycosis, baking soda will be more effective. To prepare it you will need:

• 3 tbsp. l. soda mix with 1 tbsp. l. heat in a water bath until a solid and homogeneous mass is obtained;
• then apply soda mixture to the damaged nail, avoiding contact with the skin;
• then the mass must be acidified with freshly prepared lemon juice, which will immediately react with soda;
• the solution must be removed 5-7 minutes after application and wash the feet with soap;
• This procedure is carried out daily before going to bed until the condition of the nails improves.

Tea tree oil

In dermatology, tea tree oil has been used for more than a dozen years, because it has been considered a highly effective remedy for skin conditions. The natural composition of the essential fluid determines its cytotoxic activity, i. e. its ability to fight pathogenic microorganisms. Treatment options will vary depending on whether the infection is skin or nail.

You can cure your nails if you put 1 drop of tea tree oil on the affected area every day. It will take about 2 months for the nail to fully recover and be strong. It is best to use the diluted extract for the sole treatment. To do this, you need to take vegetable oil (3 parts), mix it with essential oils (1 part), shake well and apply to the skin 2-3 times a day for 1. 5 months. It is better to adjust the course of treatment with a doctor. Clove essential oil can be used as an analogue.

Hydrogen peroxide

In the fight against fungal infections, 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 to treat ringworm of the scalp. Hydrogen peroxide does not accumulate in the body, so the development of any allergic reactions is excluded. With mycoses, baths are effective, helping to soften the affected epithelium for lubrication, ointments, creams or antifungal sprays prescribed by a doctor.

Making a foot bath with hydrogen peroxide at home is easy:

• pour warm water into the basin and add the 3% composition at the rate of 100 ml per 2 liters of water;
• lower your legs into a container and hold for 20 minutes;
• so that the solution does not cool, it is necessary to add boiling water in small portions;
• after the procedure with a pumice stone, remove soft tissues;
• remove moisture with a sponge and apply the prescribed medication to the surface of the skin;
• Shower daily until condition improves.

Laundry soap or tar

For more than a dozen years, people at home have been cured of fungal infections with the help of tar or laundry soap. By following the rules of treatment of the 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 formula will help improve blood circulation in the tissues:

• steam your feet with warm water before going to bed;
• then rinse them thoroughly with laundry soap;
• treat soapy feet with a washcloth, then with a pumice stone;
• then wipe dry, grease with cream;
• treat the infected areas with birch sap;
• soak it for 1. 5 hours, then remove with cotton pad;
• put on clean socks and do not take them off for 2 days;
• Repeat the process once a week until the problem is eliminated.

Salicylic Ointment

The main advantage of the treatment of mycosis with salicylic ointment is its high antifungal activity. The drug destroys pathogens, prevents their reproduction, removes the keratinized layers of the epidermis and rarely causes side effects. With mycosis of the feet, apply salicylic ointment in the form of a pressure bandage. On soft skin or fingernails, a 5 or 10% concentration of medicine is applied in a thin layer, then put the feet in a plastic bag, and put socks on. The procedure lasts 1 hour 2 times / day for 10 days.

Propolis

As mentioned, propolis is as effective as a tincture. The alcohol component also has a positive effect on pathogenic microorganisms. Ointments with beekeeping products can be prepared, which must be applied overnight to the affected areas for 10-14 days. Its formula is very 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;
• Allow mixture to cool, filter through cheesecloth, and use as directed.

Celandine and chrysanthemum

It is believed that medicinal herbs, especially chamomile and celandine, will quickly get rid of fungal infections. It is better to use them together. To achieve a quick effect, you need to drink chamomile broth or tea (to improve immunity in general) and take a bath with an infusion of celandine. You should be aware that the latter is burning fresh juice, so it should be used in its pure form with extreme caution.

For the infusion, crushed dried stems are required. In a cup of boiling water you need to mix 1 tbsp. l. celandine, leave for 1 hour, then dilute with a little hot water. With mycoses, the solution is used for therapeutic baths, which are taken every day for 15 minutes. As a rule, such treatment relieves the initial stage of the disease for 14 days.

Essential oil infusion

The flowers of this plant contain a large group of biological substances with a strong antibacterial effect. Especially rapid, the infusion of calendula copes with onychomycosis. Before using the medicine, the pig's nails must be steamed and processed. After mechanical cleaning of the nail from fungal plaque and dead tissue, it is necessary to moisten a cotton pad in the infusion and apply it to the affected area. The procedure is carried out daily for 4-8 weeks. It is easy to prepare the product at home:

• pour a glass of boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. fresh or dried calendula flowers;
• insist not in the water bath for 10 minutes;
• cool, stretch, store at a temperature not exceeding 4 ° C.

Attention! The information presented in this article is for informational purposes only. The article's materials do not call for self-disposal. Only a qualified physician can make a diagnosis and make treatment recommendations, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.