Fungal diseases are a fairly widespread phenomenon. But not everyone understands how exactly such a problem should be treated. Often people buy medicine at a pharmacy that is "recommended by a neighbor" or try to cope with traditional medicine. Some people with this treatment approach suffer for years with their problem.
But to effectively and quickly defeat the fungus, you need expert consultation and correctly selected drug therapy. After completing the necessary tests, the specialist will be able to prescribe medication that will help overcome the hated problem. Often, the destruction of the fungus requires a local treatment procedure, where 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 ineffective. Let's figure out exactly how to choose the right treatment.
This article is not an instruction to choose the drug yourself, it only allows you to better understand the basis on which the attending dermatologist makes a decision. All situations are individual, and it is easy to ignore contraindications and important nuances in the course of the disease, which will definitely be noticed and taken into account by the doctor when choosing antifungal therapy and the duration of treatment.
What is fungus or mycosis?
Mycosis, popularly called fungus, is a variety of highly contagious infectious diseases.
- Pathogens: parasitic fungi of various types (pathogenic and opportunistic).
- Areas affected: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
- Relapse: very possible.
Where you can catch it: public places like baths, showers, gyms, swimming pools, beaches and more.
How the infection occurs: through contact with mucous membranes, micro cracks in the skin.
This disease is highly contagious. It is almost impossible to fully recover from it on your own. Mycoses are most dangerous for people with reduced immunity, when their general condition is worse than usual. A doctor's help and the right choice of antifungal medication can solve the problem.
You can get infected from other people's cats, or through contact with objects where the fungal infection has left spores. But not all types of fungal infections are pathogenic. There are also species that are usually always present in the body, and in some cases they are also useful (for example, Candida). But if the growth of the fungus has increased, it may require a course of treatment.
Causes of mycosis
Healthy people with good immunity usually do not suffer from pathogenic fungi. If everything is fine with the immune system, then it can easily cope with such a load, and the development of fungi does not occur.
Fall of immunity
If your immune system is weak, your risk of contracting the disease increases. If you have recently undergone antibiotic therapy, then your immunity is always reduced and caution should be exercised.
People with immunodeficiency conditions, cancer patients and patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are always at risk.
Use of unclean public places
- If a person visits a swimming pool or public bathhouse, then it is always necessary to bring a personal towel and slippers with him.
- The same should be done when visiting the gym.
- It is recommended to try on shoes in a sock-only store.
- It is necessary to ensure that the professional in the salon does not forget to sterilize the instrument.
- You may not 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 the antiseptic, because the infection occurs through the damaged area.
Chronic disease
They themselves can reduce immunity and negatively affect the body's resistance. Skin diseases are very prone to problems such as fungal diseases: cracks, calluses. With some diseases, the skin becomes dry and brittle (for diabetics, varicose veins). All dermatological diseases put a person at risk.
Personal characteristics
There may be personal characteristics that create the right conditions for fungal diseases. For example, hyperhidrosis, or sweating on the palms and soles. There are other individual characteristics that create a good environment for various types of pathogenic fungi.
A type of fungus
There is no classification that describes pathogenic fungi. Diseases are usually classified according to symptoms and degree of spread. Diseases such as nail fungus, skin fungus and athlete's foot are classified as superficial mycosis. The prevalence of mycosis may vary:
- karatomycosis - when microorganisms are present only in the stratum corneum of the skin;
- dermatomycosis - if the fungal infection successfully penetrates the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
- candidiasis - damage to the mucous membrane.
There are also systemic mycoses, which are characterized by damage not only to the external integument, but also to internal organs.
Types of pathogens:
- Yeast is usually part of the microflora.
- Mold is pathogenic.
- 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 perform a diagnosis. If the integumentary tissue is affected, a smear or scraping is taken. When the problem is with internal organs, the type of pathogen can be determined by microscopic examination based on blood tests. Some types of lesions from infections have similar clinical signs, and the true cause can only be determined through analysis.
How to identify fungal diseases - 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:
- changes in skin color - redness or loss of color;
- the appearance of areas of peeling or constant weeping;
- itching;
- crust
For scalp damage:
- signs of fungus are often dandruff;
- fragility and hair loss.
On the face:
- the appearance of damage to the folds of the upper eyelid.
On the legs:
- cracks;
- combustion;
- foam;
- unpleasant odors are more common;
- skin roughness;
- skin thickening;
- ulcer (if there is also a bacterial infection).
On nails:
- small white dots on the plate;
- affected nails have white stripes;
- change color to black, yellow, brown;
- changes in structure (it becomes layered);
- nails become thicker or thinner;
- the nail plate moves from the bed;
- inflamed nail folds;
- changes in the shape or clearance of the nail.
At first, the infection develops unnoticed, and many people see nail fungus only at an advanced stage of the disease, and not when the condition of the skin and nails can be easily and quickly corrected. If there are the first signs of pathological changes, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist.
Medicines for the treatment of fungus
Medicines for the treatment of fungi are called antimycotics, from the words "anti" and mycosis, " but more often they are simply called antifungals. Such drugs are divided into two types based on their effect:
- drugs for the treatment of fungi that destroy spores - fungicides;
- those that do not block the development and prevent the growth of fungal infections, but do not destroy them, are fungistatic.
The type of treatment that the doctor decides to prescribe is influenced by various factors, including the characteristics of the patient's body.
The effectiveness of certain drugs varies depending on the following factors:
- dose of active ingredient;
- spectrum of action of active ingredients.
Often, fungus is treated using topical medications such as antifungal ointments. Oral drugs (antifungal tablets) are used if the fungus cannot be cured by external use, or when the disease is systemic and has a long course. When the situation is very difficult, even injections can be used to cure the fungus.
Release form
Topical antifungals are produced in different forms:
- ointment;
- cream;
- spray;
- solution;
- antifungal varnish (for nail lesions).
If the lesion is only external, then local therapy is sufficient. A characteristic feature of the drug is that it has almost no side effects, unlike drugs for internal use. Complex therapy with the use of systemic antimycotics is prescribed for a more complex course of the disease, if there is a recurrence of the disease. Then a course of therapy is possible. It is not always possible to correctly determine the method of treatment based on clinical manifestations, so tests are required. Sometimes fungal diseases intensify the course of allergic diseases that the patient may have. In this case, a sorbent can be prescribed.
One of the most common ingredients for antifungal therapy is fluconazole. It is used for both external and internal lesions. The substance is found in various medicines. Available in tablets, capsules, injections and other forms. To prevent fungus, antiseptic agents are used on the skin of the feet, palms, and nails. Prevention also means taking vitamins at the right time to support the immune system.