Fungal diseases are a fairly widespread phenomenon. But not everyone understands exactly how these problems should be treated. Often people buy remedies "recommended by a neighbor" at the pharmacy or try to make do with traditional medicine. Some people with this treatment approach suffer for years from their problem.
But to defeat the fungus effectively and quickly, specialist consultation and appropriate drug therapy are necessary. After carrying out the necessary tests, the specialist will be able to prescribe a medication that will help overcome the hated problem. Often, the destruction of the fungus requires local procedural treatment, in which the affected tissue is cleaned and the source of infection is neutralized. The most important thing to know is that stand-alone treatment methods are not effective. Let's find out exactly how to choose the right treatment.
This article is not an instruction for choosing a medication on your own, it only allows you to better understand the basis on which the treating 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 definitely notice and take into account when choosing antifungal therapy and the duration of treatment.
What is a fungus or mycosis?
Mycosis, which is popularly called fungus, is a group of highly contagious infectious diseases.
- Pathogen: parasitic fungi of various types (pathogenic and opportunistic).
- Affected area: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
- Relapses: very likely.
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, microfissures in the skin.
The disease is very 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. Help from a doctor and the right choice of antifungal medications can solve the problem.
You can become infected through someone else'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, even useful (for example, Candida). But if the fungal growth has intensified, it may require treatment.
Causes of mycosis
A healthy person with good immunity does not usually suffer from pathogenic fungi. If everything is fine with the immune system, then it can easily cope with such a load and fungal development 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 caution should be taken.
People suffering from immunodeficiency diseases, cancer patients and patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are at constant risk.
Insufficiently hygienic use of public places.
- If a person visits a swimming pool or a public bath, it is always necessary to carry a personal towel and flip-flops with him.
- The same should be done when visiting the gym.
- It is recommended to try on shoes in a store with socks only.
- It is necessary to ensure that salon professionals do not forget to sterilize instruments.
- You cannot use other people's toiletries.
- It is not recommended to wear tight shoes or synthetic underwear.
- If the skin is damaged, you should not forget about antiseptics, since infection occurs through 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. In some diseases, the skin becomes dry and fragile (in patients with diabetes, varicose veins). All dermatological diseases put the person at risk.
Personal characteristics
There may be personal characteristics that create conditions suitable 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 often classified based on symptoms and degree of spread. Diseases such as nail fungus, skin fungus and foot fungus are classified as superficial mycoses. The prevalence of mycoses can vary:
- karatomicosis: when the microorganism is present only in the stratum corneum of the skin;
- dermatomycosis - if the fungal infection managed to penetrate the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
- candidiasis – damage to the mucous membranes.
There are also systemic mycoses, which are 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 pathogens.
- Dodmiphorae are pathogenic.
In order 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 scraping is taken. When the problem is in the 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 analysis.
How to identify a fungal disease - symptoms
Despite the fact that each type of infection has its own characteristics, which manifest themselves at 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 constant areas of peeling or oozing;
- itching;
- scabs.
For scalp damage:
- a sign of fungus is usually dandruff;
- fragility and hair loss.
In the face:
- the appearance of damage in the fold of the upper eyelid.
In the feet:
- cracks;
- fire;
- bubbles;
- an unpleasant odor is more common;
- skin roughness;
- skin thickening;
- ulcers (if there are also bacterial infectious diseases).
In the nails:
- small white dots on the plate;
- the affected nail has white stripes;
- color change to black, yellow, brown;
- change in structure (becomes stratified);
- nails become thicker or thinner;
- nail plates move away from the bed;
- inflamed nail folds;
- changes in the shape or relief of the nail.
At first, the infection goes unnoticed and many people notice nail fungus only at an advanced stage in the progression of the disease, and not when the condition of the skin and nails can be corrected relatively easily and quickly. If the first signs of pathological changes appear, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist.
Medicines for the treatment of fungus.
Medicines for the treatment of fungus are called antifungals, from the words "anti" and mycosis", but more often they are simply called antifungals. These medicines are divided into two types depending on their effects:
- medicines for the treatment of fungus that destroy spores: fungicides;
- those that do not inhibit 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 depending on the following factors:
- dose of the active ingredient;
- spectrum of action of the active ingredient.
Most often, fungus is treated with local medications, such as antifungal ointments. Oral medications (antifungal tablets) are used if the fungus cannot be cured by external use or when the disease is systemic in nature and has a long course. When the situation is very difficult, injections can even be used to cure the fungus.
Release forms
Topical antifungals are produced in different forms:
- ointments;
- creams;
- aerosol sprays;
- solutions;
- antifungal varnish (for nail lesions).
If the injury is only external in nature, then local therapy is sufficient. A characteristic feature of these 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 there are relapses of the disease. Then therapy courses are possible. It is not always possible to correctly determine treatment methods based on clinical manifestations, therefore tests are required. Sometimes, fungal diseases intensify the course of allergic diseases that the patient may suffer from. In this case, sorbents 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 several 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 in a timely manner to support the immune system.