Treating fungal infections with salicylic alcohol

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Skin fungus is the most common viral disease worldwide. It can affect not only the limbs, which is most common, but also the skin of the trunk and face. However, the most common are:

• Toenail fungus;
• Fungus on the feet.

Often, people do not recognize the fungus in the early stages, and either do not go to the doctor at all, or go when the disease has already started.

Very often, patients confuse the fungus with eczema or psoriasis, respectively, they begin the wrong treatment, aggravating the situation. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor and treat the problem after the diagnosis is made in accordance with the doctor's instructions.

The first symptoms of a fungus:

• redness;
• peeling;
• itching;
• excessive dryness;
• darkening of the nails;
• fragility and tightness of nails.

A visit to a doctor with this problem is completely painless and not scary, since most likely he will make a diagnosis simply by conducting an examination. In some cases, a scraping is taken and a diagnosis is made with the help of tests.

Skin fungus treatment

The modern pharmaceutical industry offers many remedies to fight fungus. There are hundreds of ointments, gels, and nail polishes that can cure the disease, but they can scare the consumer at the cost. What should a person who has a lot of money do and who needs treatment? The answer is salicylic alcohol. An old and proven method of treatment. Its cost is quite low, and its effectiveness has been tested over the years.

Salicylic alcohol consists of:

• salicylic acid;
• ethyl alcohol.

The combination of these components provides a strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and disinfectant effect.

Salicylic alcohol is actively used in the cosmetic industry. It is used to fight acne and rashes, to disinfect wounds, to remove age spots. Among the many ways it is used is the fight against fungus.

Salicylic acid, getting on the affected area, has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves itching, promotes exfoliation of dead skin and relieves pain. It activates blood flow, thereby accelerating the regeneration of the dermis.

However, despite its many advantages, salicylic alcohol can lead to unwanted reactions:

• allergies;
• severe drying out;
• itching and burning;
• thinning of the skin.

The fact is that salicylic acid is a fairly strong allergen, so it can lead not to recovery, but to a worsening of the situation. The dermis can dry out, which is too often treated with the drug, since the acid itself dries out, and in combination with alcohol can greatly harm the dermis. Therefore, the medicine is not used for a long time or in combination with emollient creams.

In general, it is not recommended to start self-medication. Most patients, based on their own knowledge, begin to get rid of the problem, but this is wrong, since the infection is different and the degree of damage is also different. Depending on these factors, treatment is prescribed. In case of serious problems (a large lesion area, for example), systemic internal treatment (tablets and capsules) is prescribed.

However, this method usually has more contraindications and side effects, since it affects the entire body. Unlike internal drugs, salicylic acid does not accumulate in the body when applied topically.

The use of salicylic alcohol

If the doctor recommends the use of salicylic alcohol, you need to know the rules that must be followed during treatment.

Before applying the medicine to the affected skin, you must steam it well. For this, a bath is made with soda or saline solution, in which the aching part of the body is kept. Then, after blotting the site of the disease, salicylic alcohol is applied. It should be applied with a cotton pad, avoiding contact with healthy skin. The problem is that a burn may remain on the healthy dermis from the medicine (it acts quite aggressively).

It is preferable to use a 5% solution to treat the fungus.

This procedure is performed twice a day. The results are visible after a month of use, however, it may take six months or more until a complete cure. Since you cannot use only salicylic alcohol for so long, you need to apply an emollient ointment to the skin as well. It is possible, in order not to use several drugs, to buy an ointment based on salicylic acid. It has the same properties and the method of application is the same, but the likelihood of making the skin too dry is much lower.

You can alternate the use of salicylic alcohol with any antifungal ointment. In this case, a solution is used in the morning, and an ointment in the evening. This is especially effective for lesions of the feet. The fact is that not only the skin of the leg is often affected, but also the nail plate, and this requires complex treatment.

For the treatment of nail fungus, it is recommended to use an ointment based on salicylic acid and zinc. This mixture not only eliminates the problem, but also promotes tissue repair.

There is also a special plaster impregnated with acid, which is fixed on the skin for several days, after which, removing it, the damaged skin exfoliates, but this is more correct to do with calluses and corns. The fungus can also be removed mechanically by peeling off the dermis and cutting off the affected nail areas. For this, salicylic-zinc ointment can also be used. It is applied to the body or nails and covered with a sterile dressing overnight. After that, the brow is removed along with exfoliating dermis and nail areas.

However, these funds are effective with a simple form of the fungus. If the form of the disease is neglected, you will need more serious treatment with the use of complex drugs.

Contraindications

This drug is available. It is sold in almost every pharmacy, it is very inexpensive, it is dispensed without a prescription. However, it has a number of contraindications.

Of course, you cannot use the drug in case of personal intolerance to its components. If the skin is excessively dry, you will have to choose another treatment, since salicylic alcohol is very dry. Do not treat a healthy dermis with medicine, as a severe burn will occur.

If the drug accidentally gets on the skin, it is necessary to rinse it with plenty of water and, if necessary, treat it with a healing ointment.

Also, the drug can lead to undesirable reactions:

• redness;
• burning sensation;
• dryness;
• tightness.

In addition to the fact that you need to see a doctor and treat the fungus in accordance with his recommendations, you must remember to follow simple rules of hygiene. It is necessary to disinfect personal items (towels, manicure accessories, shoes, things, socks, depending on which area of the skin was affected), disinfect the room (floors, bathroom), in general, get rid of the fungus, wherever it is.

In the future, in order to avoid relapses, it is necessary to carefully monitor the hygiene of the skin, do not walk barefoot in pools, saunas and gyms, do not wear tight or wet shoes, do not wear someone else's socks, etc. so that the body does not sweat, since the fungal infection multiplies much faster in a humid environment.