Fungal diseases are a fairly widespread phenomenon. But not everyone understands how exactly these issues should be treated. Often people buy remedies "recommended by a neighbor" in the pharmacy or try to cope with traditional medicine. Some people with this approach to treatment suffer from their problem for years.
But to effectively and quickly defeat the fungus, specialist consultation and properly selected drug therapy is required. After completing the necessary tests, the specialist will be able to prescribe a drug that will help overcome the hated problem. Often, the destruction of the fungus requires procedural local treatment, in which the affected tissue is cleaned and the source of the infection is neutralized. The most important thing to know is that independent treatment methods are not effective. Let's find out exactly how to choose the right treatment.
This article is not an instruction on choosing a medicine yourself, it only allows you to better understand the basis on which the participating dermatologist makes decisions. All situations are individual and it is easy to ignore contraindications and important nuances of the course of the disease, which the doctor will certainly notice and take into account when choosing antifungal therapy and the duration of treatment.
What is a fungus or mycosis?
Mycosis, popularly called fungus, is a series of highly contagious infectious diseases.
- Pathogen: parasitic fungi of various types (pathogenic and opportunistic).
- Affected area: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
- Recurrences: very probable.
Where you can catch it: Public places such as bathrooms, showers, gyms, swimming pools, beaches and more.
How infection occurs: through contact with the mucosa, microcracks in the skin.
The disease is highly contagious. It is almost impossible to fully recover on your own. Mycoses are more dangerous for people with reduced immunity, when their general condition is worse than normal. The help of a doctor and the right choice of antifungal drugs can solve the problem.
You can get the infection from another person's cat or through contact with objects on which fungal infections have left spores. But not all types of fungal infections are pathogenic. There are also species that are normally constantly present in the body and in some cases are even useful (for example Candida). But if the fungal growth has intensified, a course of treatment may be necessary.
Causes of mycosis
A healthy person with good immunity usually does not suffer from pathogenic fungi. If everything is fine with the immune system, it can easily cope with such a load and the development of fungi does not occur.
Fall of immunity
If your immune system is weakened, your risk of contracting the disease increases. If you have recently undergone antibiotic therapy, your immunity is always reduced and you should exercise caution.
People who have immunodeficiency conditions, cancer patients, and patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are constantly at risk.
Insufficiently hygienic use of public places
- If a person visits a public swimming pool or bathhouse, it is always necessary to have a personal towel and flip-flops with him.
- The same should be done when visiting the gym.
- We recommend trying on the shoes in store wearing only socks.
- It is necessary to ensure that professionals in salons do not forget to sterilize tools.
- You cannot use other people's toiletries.
- It is not recommended to wear tight shoes or synthetic underwear.
- If the skin is damaged, do not forget about antiseptics, as infection occurs through the damaged areas.
Chronic diseases
They themselves can reduce immunity and negatively affect the body's resistance. Skin diseases are especially prone to problems such as fungal diseases: cracks, calluses. With some diseases, the skin becomes dry and fragile (for patients with diabetes, varicose veins). All dermatological diseases put the person at risk.
Personal characteristics
There may be personal characteristics that create suitable conditions for fungal diseases. For example, hyperhidrosis or sweating of the palms and soles. There are other individual characteristics that create a good environment for various types of pathogenic fungi.
Types of mushrooms
There is no classification that describes pathogenic fungi. Diseases are usually classified based on symptoms and the extent of spread. Diseases such as nail, skin and foot fungus are classified as superficial mycoses. The prevalence of mycosis can vary:
- karatomycosis - when the microorganism is present only in the stratum corneum of the skin;
- dermatomycosis - if the fungal infection has managed to penetrate the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
- candidiasis – damage to the mucous membranes.
There are also systemic mycoses, characterized by damage not only to the external integument, but also to internal organs.
Types of pathogens:
- Yeasts are normally part of the microflora.
- Molds are pathogenic.
- Dodmiphores are pathogenic.
To accurately determine the cause of the infection and then prescribe effective treatment based on special means, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis. If the integumentary tissue is affected, a smear or curettage is performed. When the problem affects internal organs, the type of pathogen can be determined by microscopic examination based on a blood test. Some types of infection lesions have the same clinical signs, and the exact cause can only be determined by testing.
How to identify a fungal disease - symptoms
Although each type of infection has its own characteristics, which manifest themselves in different stages of the disease, superficial mycoses also have common signs of the disease:
- change in skin color - redness or loss of color;
- the appearance of constantly peeling or exuding areas;
- itching;
- crusts.
For scalp damage:
- a sign of fungus is often dandruff;
- fragility and hair loss.
On the face:
- the appearance of damage in the crease of the upper eyelid.
On the feet:
- cracks;
- burn;
- bubbles;
- an unpleasant odor is more common;
- roughening of the skin;
- thickening of the skin;
- ulcers (if bacterial infectious diseases are also present).
On the nails:
- small white spots on the plate;
- the affected nail has white streaks;
- color change to black, yellow, brown;
- change in structure (becomes layered);
- nails become thicker or thinner;
- nails move away from bed;
- inflamed nail folds;
- changes in the shape or relief of the nail.
Initially, the infection develops unnoticed, and many people notice nail fungus only at an advanced stage of the progression of the disease, and not when the condition of the skin and nails can be corrected relatively easily and quickly. If there are the first signs of pathological changes, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist.
Drugs for the treatment of fungi
Medicines for the treatment of fungi are called antifungals, from the words "anti" and mycosis", but more often they are simply called antifungals. Such drugs are divided into two types according to their effects:
- drugs for the treatment of fungi that destroy spores - fungicides;
- those that do not suppress the development and prevent the growth of a fungal infection, but do not destroy it, are fungistatic.
The type of treatment that the doctor decides to prescribe is influenced by several factors, including the characteristics of the patient's body.
The potency of a particular drug varies based on the following factors:
- dosage of the active ingredient;
- spectrum of action of the active ingredient.
Most often, the fungus is treated using local drugs such as antifungal ointments. Oral medications (antifungal tablets) are used if the fungus cannot be cured with external use or when the disease is systemic in nature and has a prolonged course. When the situation is very difficult, injections can also be used to cure the fungus.
Release forms
Topical antifungals are produced in several forms:
- ointments;
- creams;
- spray;
- solutions;
- antifungal varnish (for nail lesions).
If the lesion is only external in nature, local therapy is sufficient. A feature of such drugs is that they have almost no side effects, unlike drugs for internal use. Complex therapy with the use of systemic antifungals is prescribed for a more complex course of the disease, if relapses of the disease occur. Then therapy courses are possible. It is not always possible to correctly determine treatment methods based on clinical manifestations, so tests are necessary. Sometimes fungal diseases intensify the course of allergic diseases from which the patient may suffer. In this case, absorbents may be prescribed.
One of the most common substances for antifungal therapy is fluconazole. It is used for both external and internal injuries. The substance is found in various drugs. Available in tablets, capsules, injections and other forms. To prevent fungus, antiseptic agents are used for the skin of the feet, palms and nails. Prevention also means taking vitamins promptly to support the immune system.