Contents

– Mycosis of the foot: maceration and humidity

– Treatment of foot fungus

– Treatment of foot fungus in aromatherapy

– Preventing the appearance of fungus on the feet

– Risks of superinfection

Foot fungus is a common foot condition known as athlete’s foot.

The feet can be affected by several types of skin damage:

– foot fungus,

– callus at the foot,

– corns and calluses on the feet,

– blister on the foot,

– wart on the foot.

Mycosis on the foot: maceration and humidity

Foot fungus is caused by the proliferation of a microbial flora (fungi) and promoted by maceration and humidity.

It is frequently found in sportsmen and women and fishermen.

The characteristic symptoms are:

– presence of redness and blisters on the toes,

– cracks: the skin “cracks” in places, especially between the toes,

– more or less severe itching,

– desquamation (loss of scales, fragments of skin cells) more or less important on the sole of the foot.

Treatment of foot fungus

This condition must be treated quickly and effectively to avoid superinfection.

The treatment of foot fungus will be based on:

– foot hygiene (foot baths),

– the application of antiseptics to infected areas,

– the application of antifungal treatments: ointment, cream, powder, etc. (for example, you can use a 200 ppm colloidal silver-based cream).

Caution! It is important to ensure that the feet are thoroughly dry after the treatment, as fungal infections are promoted by maceration and develop in a damp environment.

Aromatherapy treatment of fungal infections of the feet

In aromatherapy, several essential oils (HE), coupled with vegetable oils (HV), help to overcome foot fungus.

Then, in a 20 ml bottle, several preparations are possible:

– An antifungal mixture with:

◦ 30 drops of Palmarosa EO (Cymbopogon marinii (Wats.)/grass),

◦ 30 drops of Tea Tree EO (Melaleuca alternifolia (Cheel.)/leaves),

◦ of jojoba HV (liquid wax).

– An antifungal and anti-inflammatory mixture with:

◦ 45 drops of red myrtle EO (Myrtus communis (L.) ct 1-8 cineole/leaves),

◦ 15 drops of EO of fine lavender (Lavandule angustifolia (Mill.)/flowers),

◦ 5 ml HV of calophyll,

◦ of jojoba HV (liquid wax).

– Another antifungal and anti-inflammatory mixture with :

◦ 45 drops of vetiver EO (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.)/Nash/roots),

◦ 15 drops of EO of bourbon geraniium (Pelagornium x asperum (Ait.)/leaves),

◦ 5 ml HV of calophyll,

◦ of jojoba HV (liquid wax).

Once the preparation of your choice is ready, shake the bottle well and apply a small amount of the mixture to the area to be treated two or three times a day, making sure that it penetrates well. Repeat the application for 2 to 3 weeks.

Good to know: to optimise the action of the essential oils, we recommend spraying a hydrolate (of your choice) of tea tree, fine lavender, red myrtle, rosemary, lemon balm or lemon litsea before each application.

Preventing fungus on the feet

In order to prevent the appearance of fungal infections, it is necessary to avoid :

– wearing shoes that encourage perspiration and maceration;

– walking barefoot in common areas: sports halls, swimming pools, etc.

We will think of:

– clean and dry your feet well after a sports session (jogging, sailing, etc.);

– ensuring good daily foot hygiene;

– treating even minor foot injuries.

Risks of superinfection

Foot fungus can be promoted by poor circulation in the extremities:

– in diabetics, if poorly treated, the condition can cause disabling lesions that are very difficult to treat.

– if foot fungus is left untreated, the lesions can become superinfected and require more severe treatment.

It is therefore imperative to start treatment soon after the first symptoms appear. Hope this post helps you get a picture of what foot fungus is all about. If you need help, Darwin Foot Clinic provides podiatry treatments in Darwin, Humpty Doo, and Casuarina.

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