Mycoses occupy the second most common place among infectious skin diseases after coccal pyoderma, and foot mycoses take first place not only among all mycoses, but also among any foot pathology.They are caused by a wide group of pathogenic fungi.In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of mycoses, which is largely due to endogenous factors - an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and circulatory pathologies in the distal part of the upper and lower extremities.
Some patients who suffer from skin mycoses consider them an aesthetic or temporary problem and do not ask themselves how to treat body skin fungus, trying only to disguise the external manifestations of the infection under clothes, shoes or foundations.But you should not expect that the fungus will disappear by itself: in the absence of proper therapy, mycoses can quickly spread and affect all new tissues and areas of the body, and in addition, a person suffering from the disease poses a serious threat to others, especially to their household.The evil of the fungus is also shown in the fact that it easily recurs if the therapy does not end in victory.
We will tell you in this article how and how to treat skin fungus and what symptoms indicate its presence.
The cause of the development of fungal diseases
Fungal infections are different, but the main causative agents of this disease are dermatophytes, fungi such as yeasts and molds.There are systems that take into account the depth of penetration and localization of infection, which distinguish:
- Keratomycosis affects only the superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and hair cuticle.
- Dermatomycosis - strongly affects the skin and its appendages - nails and hair, but does not affect the subcutaneous tissue (the largest group, which includes onychomycosis and foot mycosis).
- Candidiasis - in addition to the above, can affect mucous membranes and internal organs (caused by fungi such as Candida genus yeast).
- Deep mycoses are systemic mycoses that can infect the subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, ENT organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain and central nervous system as a whole (caused by yeast and yeast-like fungi).
- Pseudomycosis - affects only the stratum corneum, without affecting the nails and hair (caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum, which was previously confused with a fungus).
The most common type of skin mycoses is dermatophytosis - dermatomycosis caused by fungi from three genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum.The majority of all skin lesions and their appendages in the epidermis are caused by trichophytosis, epidermophytosis and microsporia, and often these diseases affect the skin of the feet and nails.How can you get a yeast infection?Several factors can contribute to this:
- visiting public baths and saunas, swimming pools and water parks, public beaches, gymnasiums, solariums and manicure/pedicure rooms, massage parlors, because in these places the risk of foot or hand contact with contaminated surfaces is very high;
- trying on other people's shoes or using shared shoes;
- insufficient hygiene of the feet, especially with excessive sweating;
- wearing closed shoes for a long time, which do not allow the feet to "breathe";
- living with someone who already has skin fungus;
- Injuring the skin or nails with shoes that are too tight - fungi can more easily penetrate the body through damaged areas.
An important factor is the increase in humidity and temperature where the feet are constantly exposed.In such conditions, fungi develop most actively, so fungal infections are often found either in areas with a subtropical climate, or where people have to wear warm shoes for a long time - in areas with a cold climate.The main site of localization of fungi in mycosis of the skin of the feet is usually the interdigital folds, but as the disease progresses, the lesions pass through them.
FYI
According to the Ministry of Health for 2010, foot mycoses (including onychomycosis) and hands were registered in more than 220 thousand people.
However, mycoses affect not only the skin of the feet;This disease can occur in almost any location, including the face.Large folds are often affected, especially the inguinal-femoral folds, legs and buttocks.
Skin mycoses have specific symptoms that are relatively easy to notice, these are:
- Flaking and dryness is one of the first manifestations of infection.Individual scales first appear in the affected area, due to the rejection of the upper layer of the epidermis.With deeper penetration of the fungus, active exfoliation occurs, which only increases over time.
- Round white or red spots with clear edges.It is very important not to miss this symptom in the early stages of the disease, because at this time the spot can be single and small in size.Then, new spots appear, which gradually merge with each other.
- Skin thickening.The affected area becomes dense, rough and rough, and often changes color: the skin turns from pink or white to yellowish or gray.
- The appearance of small rashes, blisters filled with liquid.
- Partial hair loss.
- Itching and burning is one of the most common symptoms of skin fungus.It may be present continuously, or it may only appear periodically.It is important to understand here that itching and burning can be a sign of other skin diseases, such as allergies.
Don't ignore the appearance of cracks and calluses on your feet.Although they themselves are not symptoms of fungal diseases, through them fungal infections enter the body more quickly.
How to cure skin fungus
Conventionally, two approaches to combat skin fungus can be distinguished.One of them is non-drug, where various traditional medicines are used, the second is pharmacological.
The so-called home methods include the use of baths with infusions of medicinal herbs, skin fungus treatment with iodine, soda solution or vinegar... The effectiveness of such skin fungus treatment has not been clinically proven.If it can help, it is only in the early stages of the disease's development, because most folk remedies cannot penetrate the deep layers of the epidermis, where the fungal colonies are usually located.Therefore, with any mycosis, you should not waste time and make the situation worse, but instead you should consult a doctor for a diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.
A significant effect is achieved with systemic treatment of skin fungus on the body using drugs in the form of capsules or tablets.Modern products contain substances that can stop the growth of new spores, block cell division at the DNA/RNA level, and destroy fungal cell membranes.However, systemic antimycotics (also known as systemic antifungal and fungistatic drugs) have many side effects and contraindications;they should not be taken together with certain drugs - diabetes, antihistamines, contraceptives.Restrictions on the use of tablet form are, for example, blood diseases, kidney or liver pathology.In addition, it is recommended to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet during the treatment period.All this narrows the possibilities for systemic therapy.
Creams, sprays and solutions are effective (clinically proven) methods for the local treatment of skin fungus and onychomycosis, which do not have many contraindications.It has a high cure rate, is used at any stage of fungal infection, and can be used in conjunction with systemic therapy to reduce the dose of oral medication.
Antimycotic components in gels, ointments and solutions are mainly allylamines, azoles or pyrimidines, which inhibit the vital activity of the fungus, deprive it of nutrition, and stop its development and spread to other areas of the skin.Local therapy with these drugs makes it possible to create a high concentration of active substances in the skin, on the surface of the nail and in its cavity, which remains for several weeks after the end of the treatment.It is important that during the use of external agents, the active substance almost does not enter the systemic bloodstream, and therefore does not have a negative effect on the body as a whole.
Many topical antifungal drugs have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, soften the skin, relieve itching and redness, they are easy to apply to the affected surface, and sprays and solutions are easy to treat even hairy parts of the body in case of damage.The duration of treatment with external agents and the frequency of their use is determined by the attending physician.
Ringworm is easier to prevent than to treat, but if signs of skin fungus are observed on the body, treatment should be started immediately.It is important not to start the process and take the appropriate steps in time, but you need to start by contacting a specialist.It is the doctor who will tell you how to quickly cure skin fungus.Attempting artisanal treatment in this case can only worsen the situation.
Cream against skin fungus
As a medicine for the treatment of fungal skin infections, you can choose a cream based on naftifine (1%), which is part of the class of allylamines.The mechanism of action of the drug is based on the ability of the active ingredient to slow down the synthesis of ergosterol, the building material that forms the cell wall and membrane of fungi.As a result, the mycelium loses its ability to grow, which gradually leads to the death of the entire colony.
This drug is active against all major pathogens of mycosis and can be prescribed for trichophytosis, epidermophytosis, microsporia, candidiasis and skin aspergillosis, pityriasis versicolor, sporotrichosis.The cream has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the possibility of secondary bacterial infection and helping to eliminate the symptoms of inflammation, especially itching.
The cream penetrates deep into the skin and creates a stable concentration of antifungal agents in different layers.After application to the skin, less than 6% of naftifine enters the systemic circulation.
Indications for the use of the drug are:
- fungal infections of skin folds and smooth skin;
- interdigital mycoses;
- onychomycosis (nail fungus);
- skin candidiasis;
- pityriasis versicolor;
- ringworm (with or without itching).
The cream has several contraindications.This includes individual intolerance to the components, as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding, because the safety and effectiveness of the drug in this category of patients has not yet been studied.Use the cream with caution in children.
Instructions for use: if the skin is affected, it is enough to use the cream once a day on the affected surface and the adjacent area after cleaning and drying it.The duration of treatment is from two to eight weeks (for candidiasis - four weeks).
To prevent relapse, it is recommended to continue therapy for another two weeks after the disappearance of clinical symptoms.
The cream in an aluminum tube (30 g) is available without a prescription.You can also order products over the Internet.