What is Good for Foot Fungus? How to Treat Foot Fungus?

Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection that causes different itchy skin problems on your feet. An itchy, stinging, burning rash develops on infected skin. Foot fungus treatment can stop the spread of the fungus and clear it up. Foot fungus can affect the skin between your toes, the bottoms of your feet, the tops of your feet, the sides of your feet, and your heels. Your skin may appear irritated (red, purple, gray, or white), scaly, or flaky. Foot fungus affects everyone. However, it most commonly affects men and people over the age of 60. You may be more likely to develop athlete’s foot if you have: Diabetes Obesity Weakening of the immune system Tissue damage or sores on your feet Athlete’s foot infection affects the outer layers of the skin and nails. Athlete’s foot and onychomycosis are the two main infections of foot fungus: Athlete’s foot: Also known as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is a skin infection that usually starts between the toes. Athlete’s foot can spread to the sides, heel, or sole of the foot. Onychomycosis: Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is an infection of the toenail and nail bed. While onychomycosis usually affects large or small toenails, it can affect more than one nail at a time.

What Causes Foot Fungus?

Athlete’s foot is caused by several different types of fungi. Athlete’s foot is caused by the same type of fungus (dermatophytes) that causes ringworm and groin athlete’s foot. Warm, moist conditions with moist socks and shoes facilitate the growth of organisms.

It is usually spread through skin contact or contact with skin flakes. It spreads in areas used by large groups of people, such as locker rooms, swimming pools and saunas.

It can also spread through contact with an infected surface. You can get athlete’s foot by sharing towels, socks or shoes with someone who has athlete’s foot. You can also spread it from the foot to other parts of the body, especially if you scratch or pick the infected parts of your foot. Causes of foot fungus You may also encounter it like this:

• Wearing shoes that cover the entire foot, such as boots or sneakers
• Wearing socks and shoes that allow little air flow
• Presence of diabetes
• excessive sweating
• Use of drugs that suppress the immune system, such as corticosteroids
• Being in hot and humid environments
• Exposing feet to water or moisture for long periods of time
• Toenail injury.
• foot deformity
• untreated foot fungus
• Weakening of the immune system
• Fungal skin infections elsewhere on the body.
• Circulatory disorders in the legs due to reasons such as peripheral artery disease
• Psoriasis
• obesity

What are the Symptoms of Foot Fungus?

Foot fungus symptoms depend on the type of athlete’s foot you have. These are as follows;

• Toes infection: Toe infection is the most common type of athlete’s foot. It usually affects the skin between the fourth finger (ring finger) and fifth finger (pinky finger). The skin may change color, crack, peel, or flake.
• Moccasin type infection: Moccasin-type infection affects the soles of the feet, heels, and sides of the feet. Feet may be sore for several days. Then the skin on the soles of the feet thickens and cracks. In rare cases, toenails can become infected. It may thicken, break into small pieces and fall off.
• Vesicular type infection: Vesicular type infection typically affects the soles of the feet, but can occur anywhere on the feet. In vesicular type infection, swellings or fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) appear.
• Ulcerative infection: Ulcerative infection is the rarest type of athlete’s foot. Open sores (ulcers) often appear between the toes. Open sores may also appear on the bottoms of your feet.

foot fungus symptoms Generally speaking, it is as follows;

• Cracked and peeling skin
• itchy skin
• skin rash
• burning sensation

What is Good for Foot Fungus?

What is good for foot fungus? For those who think, the following home treatment options can be applied. These options can help relieve symptoms of infections:

Here are a few options for treating Athlete’s Foot athlete’s foot:

• Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide can kill fungi and bacteria on the surface of the foot. Pour directly onto the infected foot twice a day—it may sting and blisters may form if you have open sores.
• Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil has the ability to fight fungus and bacteria. Mix it with another oil, such as coconut, to get up to a 50% concentration of tea tree oil and apply it to the feet twice a day.
• Talcum powder: Talcum powder helps keep the affected foot dry and smothers moisture-loving fungi. You can sprinkle it on dry affected feet every day before wearing socks.
• Garlic: Garlic’s natural antifungal properties can help fight athlete’s foot. Crush four to five cloves of garlic and apply it on the affected area twice a day.

Onychomycosis treatment:

Some of the home athlete’s foot treatments can also support the treatment of onychomycosis:

• tea tree oil
• Topical cough suppressants
• Garlic

You can apply these products as you see above, focusing on the affected toenail.

Additional home relief suggestions for onychomycosis include:

• Olive leaf extract: Oleuropein is a substance in olive leaf extract that is thought to have antifungal properties. You can apply this in ointment form directly to the affected toenail.
• Essential oils: Many essential oils have antifungal properties. You can apply thyme oil to the affected toenail using a cotton swab twice a day.
• Vinegar: Vinegar has antifungal properties that can help fight fungal infections. You can soak the infected toenail in a mixture of one-third vinegar and two-thirds warm water for 20 minutes a day.
• Mouthwash: Eucalyptus, menthol, and thymol in certain brands of mouthwash have antifungal properties. You can soak the affected foot in water for 30 minutes every day.

Although these treatments help you relax, do not forget to consult a doctor before applying them. The doctor will inform you about the most appropriate treatment options.

What are the Ways to Prevent Foot Fungus?

Ways to prevent foot fungus Several methods can be applied. To learn more about these methods, you can take a look at the methods below to help you protect yourself from foot fungus infections.

• Keeping feet dry and clean: It is necessary to wash the feet twice a day and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
• Pay attention to your shoes: Light and breathable socks and shoes should be worn. Change socks regularly if feet start to sweat. It is necessary to avoid vinyl or rubber shoes and wear sandals when appropriate to ventilate the feet.
• Changing shoes: Shoes worn every day should be changed. The same shoes should not be worn two days in a row. This way the shoes can dry between uses.
• Wearing shoes in wet public places: Waterproof shoes can help protect feet in pools and showers.
• Avoid sharing your shoes with others: If you share your shoes, you can catch or spread athlete’s foot.