We are discussing what is fungal disease, which symptoms of skin and nail lesions are the characteristics of this disease, and how to treat fungi.
What is fungal disease?
Fungal disease or fungal disease is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by parasitic fungi. It can affect humans and animals. Infections can affect the skin, scalp, mucous membranes (including internal organs) and nail plates of the face and body.
The disease recurs easily, so it is difficult to recover from the fungus without consulting a doctor.
Causes of fungi
Fungal infections can occur through direct contact with the infection vector or surfaces and objects with pathogenic fungal spores. Some pathogens of fungi are considered opportunistic, such as Candida. This means that they live in the body and sometimes even bring benefits, but in some cases they can cause disease.
However, harmful fungi do not always cause disease. Normally, the immune system of a healthy person can easily deal with fungal infections and prevent them from spreading throughout the body. What are the prerequisites for the development of mycosis?
decrease in immunity
As with any infection, fungi are more likely to infect people with weakened immune systems. People who have recently suffered from infectious diseases and have been taking antibacterial drugs for a long time are at high risk of developing fungal diseases. In addition, cancer patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are susceptible to fungus infection. This includes people with immunodeficiencies such as HIV and AIDS.
Not paying attention to personal hygiene
The fungus often attacks people who neglect personal hygiene-don't use a separate foot towel, don't wear flip-flops in the gym shower or pool, and try on shoes in a store without socks.
If the manicurist improperly handles the nail pedicure tools, he may get fungal diseases in the beauty salon.
Certain chronic diseases
Especially those wounds, calluses, and cracks related to poor healing of skin injuries. For example, the skin of diabetic patients is more fragile and the regeneration process is slower. The injured area becomes a gateway for fungal infections and the like.
Personal characteristics
These include excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), which can develop on its own or appear as a symptom of the disease. The structural characteristics of the foot play an important role-the combination of narrow interdigital space and hyperhidrosis creates favorable conditions for the growth of fungi.
Wearing tight shoes is also susceptible to fungus because it can cause calluses and damage the nail plate.
Types of fungi
There is currently no unified classification of fungal diseases, but in most cases, fungal diseases are considered based on the prevalence of the process. Superficial fungal diseases include:
- Corneal mycosis-fungus only exists in the uppermost layer (stratum corneum) of the skin of the face and body (variegated mottling);
- Dermatomycosis/dermatophytosis-covering the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and nails (onychomycosis);
- Candidiasis-mucous membrane fungal disease ("thrush"), a fold of skin caused by the Candida fungus.
Systemic mycosis involves not only skin and mucous membrane infections, but also internal organs (histoplasma).
According to the source of fungal pathogens, it is divided into:
- yeast,
- mold,
- Fornix.
Of these, only the first is part of the normal human microbial community. The remaining fungi act as pathogens.
The use of laboratory diagnostic methods (smears or scrapings of affected tissues) can reliably determine the type of fungal pathogen. In systemic fungal diseases, blood tests are an element of diagnosis. The examination will help rule out pathologies with similar symptoms, such as skin fungal T-cell lymphoma.
Signs of dermatophytosis and nail fungus
The course of fungal disease is mainly due to the diversity of pathogenic fungi itself. However, in general, superficial mycoses have similar injury symptoms. Dermatomycosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Discoloration of the skin due to fungal diseases-redness or discoloration of the affected tissue;
- Form flaky or tearful spots and plaques, which can merge into one as the disease progresses;
- Itching at the focal point of inflammation;
- The appearance of scabs.
When the scalp is affected, hair loss and brittleness are observed. Dandruff can also be caused by fungal infections. On the face, the fungus usually appears in the crease of the upper eyelid.
When the feet are affected by fungal disease, painful cracks, burning, itchy blisters, thickening of the skin, and congestion are observed. When lesions occur, there will occasionally be an unpleasant smell. The skin between the fingers is where the fungus is most vulnerable. If a bacterial infection joins the disease, purulent ulcers will appear on the skin.
Symptoms of Onychomycosis: What does it look like when the nail is damaged?
- The color of the affected nails changes to yellow, black, brown or other shades during the illness;
- The nail plate becomes brittle, thicker or conversely thinner;
- The nail is often separated from the bed, forming a "pocket";
- Changing the relief or shape of the nail plate in case of disease;
- Inflammation of adjacent tissues (periungual folds).
Toenails, especially the big toe, are more susceptible to onychomycosis than the hands.
Preparation for the treatment of fungus: how to choose
Medicines used to prevent and treat fungal infections are called antifungal drugs. According to the mechanism of action against fungi, antifungal drugs can be divided into two categories:
- Fungicidal-destroy the spores of fungal infections;
- Bacteriostasis-inhibits the activity of microorganisms (but does not kill) and prevents the spread of infection.
The strength of the drug itself directly depends on the sensitivity of the specific fungus to the drug and the dose of the drug itself. Therefore, a same agent can simultaneously show fungicidal and antifungal properties against different fungal pathogens. But antifungal drugs, like many antibiotics, are generally versatile and have a wide range of effects.
In the case of infection, oral medication for the treatment of fungal diseases is reasonable:
- Does not respond to local treatments,
- Is systemic,
- Affect internal organs. In the most advanced case, the antifungal agent is prescribed in the injection solution.
An example of an effective drug for the treatment of systemic fungal lesions and widespread superficial skin and nail diseases is fluconazole. Release form-tablets, capsules, powder suspensions, injections.
Therefore, for effective treatment of dermatomycosis and onychomycosis, it is best to use topical drugs because they have no systemic effect and hardly cause side effects. Local remedies have the following forms:
- ointment;
- cream;
- Drops (including nails);
- Spray solution
- Anti-fungal nail polish.
You must read the instructions or consult a doctor before using the medicine to treat the fungus.
Ways to treat skin fungus on the body and feet
The review of remedies for the treatment of scalp, body and legs, and nail fungus is for reference only. The data on antifungal drugs comes from official instructions. Before using them, you must research notes or consult your doctor.
Clotrimazole
Topical antifungal drugs. The effect on fungal pathogens depends on the dose.
- In small concentrations, the drug has antibacterial effects, and in large concentrations, it has fungicidal effects.
- It is effective against skin fungi, yeast-like fungi and molds, pink lichen pathogens and some bacteria. Among sensitive fungi, there is little resistance to clotrimazole drugs.
- As a topical drug, the drug is used to treat fungal lesions of smooth skin, fissures between the fingers of the legs, secondary complicated mycosis, and fungi of skin diaper rash.
- The duration of topical drug treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the effectiveness of the treatment, and the specific release form.
In gynecological practice, it is used to treat thrush, as well as a disinfectant before childbirth.
Examples of clotrimazole drugs used to treat skin fungal diseases of the body and legs
creamUse 2-3 times a day and apply a thin layer on clean skin areas. It takes at least 4 weeks to treat dermatophytes, and tinea versicolor-1-2 weeks. For mycosis of the skin of the legs, the treatment is continued for 2 weeks after the symptoms of the lesion have been eliminated.
powderIt should be applied to the skin 3-4 times a day, and improvement is observed after 3-5 days of treatment. To prevent disease recurrence or fungal complications, they are also used within 2 weeks after recovery.
solutionFor external use, apply twice during the day to the affected area.
Compared with the creamy texture, the ointment takes longer to be absorbed by the skin, but it can soften the hard skin.
creamIn addition to clotrimazole, it also includes the glucocorticoid beclomethasone, which relieves itching and inflammation in the affected skin area, has an anti-allergic effect and reduces exudation (release of fluid from the wound).
It is suitable for the treatment of advanced and uncomplicated fungal diseases of various parts of the body and foot skin, including patients with eczema. The product is applied to the prepared skin 2 to 3 times a day.
- A cream containing three active ingredients-clotrimazole, beclomethasone and gentamicin. The latter is an antibiotic.
- The cream is used to treat secondary infections of skin diseases, dermatophytes and epidermophytosis on arms, legs and feet, twice a day.
- The duration of cream treatment does not exceed 4 weeks.
Terbinafine
A drug with significant fungicidal effect on dermatophytes, molds, yeasts and yeast-like fungi. It can be used both internally and externally for systemic diseases.
- Terbinafine tablets are used for scalp mycosis, skin and nail mycosis, common skin lesions caused by fungi, mucosal and epidermal candidiasis.
- On the surface, the drug is used to treat and prevent dermatophytes of smooth skin on the body, including legs and feet, groin area, diaper rash, fungal infections, and tinea versicolor.
Examples of terbinafine products used to treat fungal skin diseases
creamIt can be used from 12 years old. In the treatment of dermatomycosis of the trunk, legs and feet, use it once a day for 1 week. If the foot skin becomes thick, cracked, itching and peeling, the treatment time can be extended to 2 weeks, 1-2 times a day. Similar schemes apply to skin candidiasis and lichen variegata.
For diaper rash, gauze can be covered, especially at night, to reduce discomfort.
aerosolThe treatment time for skin fungus is reduced to 1 week (1 time a day), but it is only suitable for adults. The skin must be thoroughly moisturized, so the product should be applied in sufficient quantities.
Dermal GelIt is used for fungi in the same way as spray. Choosing it will increase the level of foot sweating because of its high alcohol content, so it has a drying effect. In addition, the gel consistency of the drug has a cooling effect and can relieve itching.
Naftifine
An antifungal agent with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. Promote the rapid disappearance of itching and inflammation. The fungicidal and antifungal effects depend on the strain of the disease pathogen.
It is used to treat nail fungus, tinea versicolor, large folds and foot mycosis, and bacterial complex fungi.
Examples of naftifine treatment of skin fungal diseases of the body
Creams and solutions for external use.
The application method of the two forms is the same: apply the preparation to the dry and clean skin of the affected area and capture 1 cm of healthy tissue. For dermatomycosis and cutaneous candidiasis, treatment lasts up to 4 weeks, and can be extended to 8 weeks if necessary.
Ketoconazole
An antifungal agent with fungicidal and antifungal activity. It has an antibacterial effect on streptococci and staphylococci. It is used for dermatomycosis, groin folds and candidiasis of smooth skin and scalp.
Ways to treat nail fungus
In the treatment of nail fungus, special medicinal varnishes are often used. Many of these ingredients as active substances include amorolfine, an effective topical agent with a wide range of effects.
The drug exhibits fungicidal and antifungal activity by destroying the cell membrane of fungi. After use, the product soaks the nails and penetrates the bed during the day. The therapeutic concentration in the nail is reached 7 to 10 days after the first application.
Degree of fungal infection:
- Should not affect more than 2/3 of the nail surface;
- If the prevalence of nail fungus is high, consult your doctor for effective antifungal tablets.
Before using the product, you need to remove the top layer from the affected area using the files normally included in the kit. Files should not be used on healthy nails.
After preparing the board, thoroughly treat the surface with an alcohol swab to further disinfect, degrease and remove the sawn particles from the nails. Using the applicator, completely cover the nails with an even coat of varnish. The drying time of the nail is about 3 minutes. Avoid applying the composition on the adjacent soft skin to avoid dry skin.
The treatment of nail fungus continues until the nail plate is fully restored and getting rid of it is so easy. Therefore, you need to be patient, because the process of fingernails takes about 6 months, and the process of toenails takes about 9-12 months. The application process is repeated 1-2 times a week.
During treatment, the extension of artificial nails and the use of decorative coatings should be abandoned. Although some products allow cosmetic compounds to cover the affected nail plate, it is best to avoid this. why?
The nail structure affected by fungus becomes loose and more susceptible to external factors. Therefore, the pigments contained in decorative varnishes will erode deeper and affect the final tone of "healed" nails.
These drugs can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of fungal nail infections. They are not suitable for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
In the treatment of onychomycosis, some "skin" agents containing naftifine are also effective. Shows fungicidal properties against the fungus Dermatophytes and has antibacterial effects against Candida fungi
Before using the product, nail files with signs of fungal infection will also be pre-sanded and trimmed with scissors. Then apply it to the entire surface and cover it with a thick bandage twice a day.
The course of treatment is 6 months, complex form-8 months, after which it will continue to be used for 2 weeks to prevent recurrence.
Antifungal drugs have contraindications. When applying them at home, do not use comments as a guide, but only use official instructions as a guide.