We talked about what mycosis is, what symptoms of lesions on the skin and nails are characteristic of this disease and how the fungus can be treated.
What is mycosis?
Mycosis, or fungus, is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by parasitic fungi. It can affect both humans and animals. The infection affects the skin of the face and body, the scalp, the mucous membranes (including internal organs), and the nail plates.
The disease is prone to relapse, so it can be difficult to recover from the fungus without consulting a doctor.
The causes of the fungus
Infection with a fungus can occur through direct contact with the carrier of the infection or surfaces and objects on which there are spores of pathogenic fungi. Some pathogens of the fungus are considered opportunistic, for example, the genus Candida. This means that they live in the body and sometimes even provide benefits, but in certain situations they cause diseases.
However, harmful fungi do not always cause disease. Normally, the immune system of a healthy person easily copes with a fungal infection, preventing it from spreading throughout the body. What are the prerequisites for the development of mycosis?
Decreased immunity
Like any infection, the fungus is more likely to infect people with weakened immune systems. People who have recently had an infectious disease and have been taking antibacterial agents for a long time are at great risk for mycosis. Also, cancer patients who are being treated with cytostatics are prone to fungal infection. This includes people with immune deficiencies such as HIV and AIDS.
Disregard for personal hygiene
The fungus often attacks people who neglect personal hygiene: do not use an individual foot towel, do not wear flip flops in the shower at the gym or in the pool, try on shoes in a store without socks.
Mycosis can be caught in beauty salons if manicure and pedicure tools are not properly processed by masters.
Certain chronic diseases
Especially those that are associated with poor healing of skin lesions: wounds, calluses, cracks. For example, the skin of people with diabetes is more fragile and the regeneration processes are slower. Injured areas become the gateway to yeast infection and more.
Individual characteristics
These include excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), which develops on its own or as a symptom of illness. The structural characteristics of the foot play an important role: the narrow interdigital space in combination with hyperhidrosis creates favorable conditions for the development of the fungus.
The use of tight shoes also predisposes to the appearance of fungus, since it causes the formation of calluses and damages the nail plate.
Types of mushrooms
There is no unified classification of mycosis at this time, but most often fungal diseases are considered in terms of the prevalence of the process. Superficial mycoses include:
- keratomycosis - the fungus is found only in the upper layer (stratum corneum) of the skin of the face and body (versicolor versicolor);
- dermatomycosis / dermatophytosis: covers the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and nails (onychomycosis);
- candidiasis - mycosis of the mucous membranes ("thrush"), skin folds caused by Candida fungi.
Systemic fungal infections involve not only the skin and mucous membranes, but also the internal organs (histoplasms).
According to the origin of the causative agents of fungal infections, they are divided into:
- yeast,
- moldy,
- domiform.
Of these, only the former are part of the normal human microflora. The rest of the fungi act as pathogens.
It is possible to reliably determine the type of pathogenic fungus using laboratory diagnostics - smears or scrapings from affected tissues. In systemic fungal diseases, a blood test is a diagnostic element. The tests will help exclude conditions with similar symptoms, such as fungal T-cell lymphoma of the skin.
Signs of skin mycosis and nail fungus.
The course of the fungal disease is due in large part to the variety of the causative fungus itself. But, in general, superficial mycoses have similar symptoms of damage. Cutaneous mycoses are characterized by symptoms such as:
- skin discoloration due to fungal disease - redness or discoloration of affected tissues;
- the formation of scaly or festering spots and plaques that, with the progression of the disease, can merge into one;
- itching in the focus of inflammation;
- the appearance of scabs.
When the scalp is affected, hair loss and fragility are observed. Dandruff can also be caused by fungal infections. On the face, the fungus is often noticeable in the crease of the upper eyelid.
When the feet are affected by mycosis, painful cracks, burning, itchy blisters, thickening and engorgement of the skin are observed. Occasionally, there may be an unpleasant smell when an injury occurs. The skin in the spaces between the fingers is the most vulnerable place to fungus. If a bacterial infection joins the disease, purulent sores appear on the skin.
Onychomycosis symptoms: what does the nail look like when it is damaged?
- the affected nail during the disease changes color to yellow, black, brown or another shade;
- the nail plate becomes brittle, thickens, or, conversely, becomes thinner;
- the nail often separates from the bed, forming a "pocket";
- change in the relief or shape of the nail plate in case of disease;
- inflammation of the adjacent tissues (periungual fold).
The toenails, especially the big toes, are more likely to be affected by onychomycosis than the hands.
Preparations for the treatment of fungi: how to choose
Medicines for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections are called antifungals. According to the mechanism of action directed against fungi, antifungals can be divided into two types:
- fungicide - destroys the spores of fungal infection;
- fungistatic: inhibits the activity of microorganisms (but does not kill them) and prevents the spread of infection.
The potency of the drug itself is directly dependent on the sensitivity of a particular fungus to the drug, as well as the dose of the drug itself. Therefore, the same agent can show fungicidal and fungistatic properties against different pathogenic fungi. But antifungal medications, like many antibiotics, are often versatile and have a broad spectrum of action.
Oral administration of drugs for the treatment of fungal diseases is justified in cases where the infection:
- does not respond to local therapy,
- it is systemic,
- affects internal organs. In more advanced cases, antifungal agents are prescribed in injectable solutions.
An example of an effective drug that treats systemic fungal lesions and extensive superficial diseases of the skin and nails is fluconazole. Release forms: tablets, capsules, powders for suspensions, liquids for injections.
Therefore, for the effective treatment of skin mycoses and nail fungus, it is better to use drugs for external use, since they do not have a systemic effect and almost do not cause side reactions. Local remedies come in the form of:
- ointments
- creams
- drip solutions (including for nails);
- spray solutions;
- antifungal nail polishes.
Before using drugs for the fungus, you should read the instructions or consult a doctor.
Means for the treatment of fungus on the skin of the body and feet.
The review of remedies for treating fungus on the scalp, body and legs, as well as nails, is for informational purposes only. Data on antifungal drugs are obtained from official instructions. Before using them, you should study the annotation or consult your doctor.
Clotrimazole
Antifungal drug for external use. The action on the pathogens of the fungus depends on the dose.
- In small concentrations, the drug has a fungistatic effect, in large concentrations it has a fungicidal effect.
- Effective against dermatomycetes, yeast and mold fungi, pink lichen pathogens and some bacteria. In sensitive fungi, resistance to clotrimazole drugs is formed relatively rarely.
- As a local remedy, the drug is used in the treatment of smooth skin fungal lesions, interdigital cracks on the legs, secondarily complicated mycoses, diaper rash fungi on the skin.
- The duration of local drug treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the effectiveness of the treatment and the specific form of release.
In gynecological practice, it is used in the treatment of candidiasis, as well as as a disinfectant before delivery.
Examples of drugs with clotrimazole for the treatment of fungal diseases of the skin of the body and legs.
Creamapply 2-3 times a day with a thin layer on clean skin areas. Treatment of dermatomycosis takes at least 4 weeks, pityriasis versicolor - 1 to 2 weeks. With fungal diseases of the skin of the legs, the course continues 2 weeks after the elimination of the symptoms of the lesion.
Dustit should be applied to the skin 3 to 4 times a day, while improvements are observed after 3 to 5 days of treatment. To prevent recurrence of the disease or complications of the fungus, they are also used within 2 weeks after recovery.
Solutionfor external use requires a double application in the affected areas during the day.
Compared to a creamy texture, ointments take longer to absorb into the skin, but they soften scabs.
Creamwhich, in addition to clotrimazole, includes the glucocorticoid beclomethasone, which relieves itching and inflammation in affected skin areas, has an antiallergic effect and reduces exudation (release of fluid from wounds).
It is indicated for the treatment of advanced and uncomplicated mycoses of various parts of the body, skin of the feet, including those with eczema. The product is applied to the prepared skin 2 to 3 times a day.
- A cream that contains three active ingredients: clotrimazole, beclomethasone, and gentamicin. The latter is an antibiotic.
- The cream is used for secondarily infected dermatoses, dermatomycosis and epidermophytosis of the arms, legs and feet twice a day.
- The duration of treatment with cream is no more than 4 weeks.
Terbinafine
Drug with a predominantly fungicidal effect against dermatophytes, mold, yeast and yeast-like fungi. It can be used both internally for systemic diseases and externally.
- Terbinafine tablets are used for fungal infections of the scalp, fungal skin and nails, common skin lesions with fungi, candidiasis of the mucous membranes and epidermis.
- Externally, the drug is used for the treatment and prevention of dermatomycosis of the smooth skin of the body, including the legs and feet, the groin area, diaper rash, infected with fungi, pityriasis versicolor.
Examples of terbinafine products for the treatment of fungal skin diseases.
CreamIt can be used from the age of 12. In the treatment of mycoses of the skin of the trunk, legs and feet, it is applied once a day for 1 week. If the feet have thickening of the skin, cracks, itching and scaling, the treatment lasts up to 2 weeks, 1 - 2 times a day. A similar scheme is for cutaneous candidiasis and lichen versicolor.
For diaper rash, gauze can be applied over the top, especially at night, to reduce discomfort.
Aerosolthe duration of treatment for skin fungus is reduced to 1 week (once a day), but it is only suitable for adults. The skin must be well hydrated, so the product is applied in sufficient quantity.
Dermgelit is used for mushrooms in the same way as the spray. It is chosen with more sweating of the feet, since it has a drying effect due to its high alcohol content. In addition, the gel consistency of the medicine has a cooling effect that relieves itching.
Naftifin
Antifungal with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. Promotes the rapid disappearance of itching and inflammation. The fungicidal and fungistatic action depends on the strain of the agent causing the disease.
It is used in the treatment of nail fungus, pityriasis versicolor, mycosis of large folds and feet, complicated bacterial fungi.
Examples of naftifine remedies for the treatment of fungal diseases of the skin of the body.
Creams and solutions for external use.
The method of application of both forms is the same: the preparations are applied on the dry and clean skin of the affected area, capturing 1 cm of healthy tissues. With dermatomycosis and candidiasis of the skin, the treatment lasts up to 4 weeks, if necessary, it can be extended to 8 weeks.
Ketoconazole
Antifungal with fungicidal and fungistatic activity. It has an antibacterial effect against streptococci and staphylococci. It is used for dermatomycosis of smooth skin and scalp, groin folds, candidiasis.
Means for the treatment of nail fungus.
In the treatment of nail fungus, special medicinal varnishes are often used. The composition of many of them as an active principle includes amorolfine, an effective agent for external use with a wide spectrum of action.
This drug exhibits fungicidal and fungistatic activity by destroying the cell membrane of fungi. After application, the product soaks into the nail and penetrates the bed during the day. The therapeutic concentration on the nail is reached 7 to 10 days after the first application.
The degree of fungal infection:
- it should not affect more than 2/3 of the nail surface;
- If the prevalence of nail fungus is higher, see your doctor for an effective antifungal tablet.
Before applying the products, you must remove the top coat from the affected areas using the files usually included in the kit. Files should not be used on healthy nails.
After preparing the plate, treat the surface well with an alcohol swab to disinfect, degrease and further remove the serrated particles from the nail. Using the applicator, completely cover the nail with an even layer of varnish. Nail drying time is approximately 3 minutes. Avoid getting the composition in contact with the adjacent soft tegument to avoid dry skin.
Treatment of nail fungus continues until the nail plate is completely restored and getting rid of them is very easy. So you need to be patient, because the process takes about 6 months for fingernails and 9-12 months for toenails. The application procedure is repeated 1 or 2 times a week.
During the treatment period, you should abandon the extension of artificial nails and the use of decorative coatings. Although some products allow the affected nail plate to be covered with cosmetic compounds, it is best avoided. Why?
The structure of the nail affected by the fungus becomes looser and more susceptible to external factors. Therefore, the pigment contained in the decorative varnish eats away more deeply and can affect the final shade of the "cured" nail.
Medications can be used not only for the treatment, but also for the prevention of fungal nail infections. They are not suitable for children, pregnant and lactating mothers.
In the treatment of onychomycosis, some naphthifine "skin" agents are also effective. They show fungicidal properties against fungi-dermatophytes, have a fungistatic effect on fungi of the genus Candida.
Before using the products, nails showing signs of fungal infection are also pre-polished with a nail file and trimmed with scissors. Then it is applied to the entire surface, covering with a thick bandage, twice a day.
The course of treatment is 6 months, with complicated forms - 8 months, after which it is continued to be used for 2 weeks to prevent relapse.
Antifungals have contraindications. When applying them at home, do not be guided by reviews, but only by official instructions.