Foot mycosis: causes and most effective remedies
Fungal infections on the feet are very widespread, affecting the sole of the foot or the nails: this is because our feet are in contact with humid environments, with sweat and with surfaces at risk such as gyms and swimming pools. Fungal inflammation is accompanied by burning, cracking and itching and very often causes considerable discomfort. In general, men are more affected by mycoses than women.
By continuing to read you will discover all the remedies to prevent fungal infections: you will also find natural products that you would never have thought of!
Foot mycosis: characteristics and causes
Mycoses are infections caused by fungi, microbes or bacteria that find fertile ground on the feet and proliferate due to damp conditions due to sweat or risky environments such as swimming pools and gyms. Fungal infections usually arise between the toes and, if not treated in time, extend to the sole of the foot and nails. The most common symptoms of mycosis are itching, dryness, peeling skin, yellowing, rough, thickened heels, and an unpleasant odor. The causes can be numerous because you can contract the infection if the foot comes into contact with the fungus or bacterium, with poor hygiene or excessive sweating, with the use of non-breathable footwear or in particular health conditions.
Incorporating foot care into your beauty routine is essential to prevent mycosis and ensure your feet well-being and beauty.
See also
La Tinea Pedis: how to recognize it
Tinea Pedis is also called Athlete's Foot because it often affects athletes who wear shoes that can make the foot sweat for many hours a day. Athlete's foot can be recognized by the presence of cracks on the sole of the foot and between the toes. It quickly spreads over the entire foot that itches or hurts, almost to the point of bleeding. This is because Tinea Pedis causes very annoying peeling sores. Typical of Athlete's Foot is the bad smell that characterizes infected feet, even after washing. Proper foot hygiene usually keeps this infection away.
Onychomycosis: when mycosis involves the nail
Onychomycosis can affect the toenails or hands, however that of the feet is particularly widespread and frequent, also because the hands are less subject to contact, sweat and humidity. The fungus initially attacks a single nail but the infection then over time it can also extend to the next toenails. The main cause is the lack of circulation in the area at home from non-breathable shoes, heat and sweat on the feet.Nail mycosis has symptoms that can be recognized visibly: the nail changes color and becomes gray or yellowish, its surface is no longer smooth but stained or cracked. In some cases the nail becomes extremely fragile, in others very hard. Sometimes onychomycosis is caused by fungi normally present in the nails that are altered due to immune system disorders, other times the cause is to be found in the presence of yeasts and molds: Candida, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Aspergillus.
Onychomycosis is always accompanied by a widespread bad smell, a typical symptom of this infection. It is important to treat nail fungus immediately, from the first symptoms because if the infection is underestimated it could damage the nail permanently.
How to prevent foot mycosis
A few good habits and a little forethought will help you prevent fungal infections. Always use slippers or beach shoes if you go to the pool or if you use showers in gyms, changing rooms and public places. Always use clean and strictly personal towels. In addition, if you are at risk, dry the space between your toes very well with the hair dryer to avoid the proliferation of bacteria. Always choose cotton socks and use breathable shoes. Always spread a few drops of Tea tree oil on freshly washed socks: the treatment with this essential oil is an excellent natural antifungal and will be a fantastic ally in the prevention of foot mycosis. When you take a foot bath instead of the classic coarse salt, dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda in warm water. The action of the baking soda will help you to perfectly disinfect every area of the foot from the sole to the nails.
Remedies for foot mycosis
If, despite all the attention, you realize you have mycosis, go to the doctor right away and don't neglect the problem as it could get worse quickly. Your doctor will undoubtedly recommend a suitable treatment that you can integrate with very useful and effective natural remedies against mycosis.
One of these may be apple cider vinegar which regulates the pH of the skin and removes fungi. Just take a foot bath by putting 3 glasses of apple cider vinegar in a liter of typical water and keeping your feet immersed for 15 minutes. The itch will disappear quickly! An important natural antifungal, as we have seen, is Tea Tree oil, an antibacterial agent. You can use it mixed with water to treat widespread infection or apply it pure directly on the affected area. But be careful because Tea Tree oil could turn your nails yellow: if the infection affects the toenails, apply this essential oil diluted with olive oil.
Another particularly effective natural remedy can be green clay. You will need it to create a disinfectant pack with which to cover the entire area affected by the mycosis. This green clay treatment should be kept for at least 30 minutes then rinsed thoroughly. Lemon also has a strong disinfectant power: complement your medical care with this natural remedy, passing the juice of a lemon on the areas of the foot characterized by mycosis: leave the lemon juice to act for at least 30 minutes and then rinse.
After the foot baths, packs and any other wellness treatment, remember to dry your feet very well without neglecting the area inside the toes.
