Fungal diseases are a fairly widespread phenomenon. But not everyone understands exactly how to treat such problems. Often, people buy drugs "recommended by a neighbor" at a pharmacy or try to cope with traditional medicine. Some people who take this approach to treatment suffer from their problems for years.
However, in order to effectively and quickly defeat the fungus, it is necessary to consult a specialist and properly selected drug treatment. After completing the necessary tests, the specialist will be able to prescribe a drug that will help eliminate the hated problem. Often, the destruction of the fungus requires local treatment, a procedure in which the affected tissue is cleaned and the source of infection is neutralized. The most important thing to know is that independent treatment methods are not effective. Let's understand exactly how to choose the right treatment.
This article is not a guide for choosing a drug on your own, but only allows you to better understand the basis on which the attending dermatologist decides. All situations are individual and it is easy to ignore contraindications and important nuances of the course of the disease, the doctor will definitely note this and take it into account when choosing antifungal therapy and treatment duration.
What is a fungus or mycosis?
Mycosis, popularly called fungus, is a series of highly contagious infectious diseases.
- Pathogenic: various types of parasitic fungi (pathogenic and opportunistic).
- Affected area: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
- Relapses: very likely.
Places where you can catch it: baths, showers, gyms, swimming pools, beaches, etc. public places like
How the infection occurs: in contact with the mucous membrane, microcracks in the skin.
The disease is highly contagious. It is almost impossible to completely get rid of it on your own. Mycoses are most dangerous for immunocompromised people, when their general condition is worse than normal. The help of a doctor and the right choice of antifungal drugs can solve the problem.
You can come into contact with someone else's cat or objects where fungal infections have released spores. However, not all types of fungal infections are pathogenic. There are also species that are normally present in the body all the time and in some cases are even beneficial (eg Candida). However, if the fungal growth has intensified, a course of treatment may be required.
Causes of mycosis
A healthy person with good immunity usually does not 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.
Decreased immunity
If your immune system is weakened, your risk of contracting an illness increases. If you have recently undergone antibiotic therapy, then your immunity is always reduced and you need to be careful.
Immunocompromised people, cancer patients and patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are always at risk.
Lack of hygienic use of public places
- If a person visits a swimming pool or public bath, then he should always have a personal towel and flip-flops with him.
- The same should be done when visiting the gym.
- It is recommended to only try on shoes with socks in the store.
- It is necessary to ensure that the professionals in the salons do not forget to sterilize the instruments.
- You cannot use other people's toiletries.
- Wearing narrow shoes or synthetic underwear is not recommended.
- If the skin is damaged, do not forget about antiseptics, because the infection passes through the damaged areas.
Chronic diseases
They themselves can reduce immunity and have a negative effect on the body's resistance. Skin diseases are especially prone to problems such as fungal diseases: cracks, ringworm. With some diseases, the skin becomes dry and fragile (for patients with diabetes, varicose veins). All dermatological diseases put a person at risk.
Personal characteristics
There may be personal characteristics that create favorable conditions for fungal diseases. For example, hyperhidrosis or sweating of the palms and feet. There are other individual characteristics that create a good environment for different types of pathogenic fungi.
Types of mushrooms
There is no classification describing pathogenic fungi. Diseases are usually classified according to symptoms and extent of spread. Diseases such as nail fungus, skin fungus and athlete's foot are classified as superficial mycoses. The spread of mycosis can be different:
- karatomycosis - when the microorganism is only in the corneum layer of the skin;
- dermatomycosis - if the fungal infection can penetrate the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
- candidiasis - damage to mucous membranes.
There are also systemic mycoses that damage not only the external integument, but also the internal organs.
Types of pathogens:
- Yeasts are normally part of the microflora.
- Molds are pathogenic.
- Dodmiphorae are pathogenic.
It is necessary to carry out the diagnosis in order to accurately determine the cause of the infection and then prescribe effective treatment based on special means. If the integumentary tissue is affected, a smear or scraping is performed. When the problem is related to internal organs, the type of pathogen can be determined by microscopic examination based on a blood test. Some types of lesions from infections 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 that are manifested in different stages of the disease, superficial mycoses also have common symptoms of the disease:
- skin discoloration - redness or loss of color;
- the appearance of permanent peeling or weeping areas;
- itching;
- shells.
For scalp damage:
- a sign of fungus is often dandruff;
- fragility and hair loss.
On the face:
- the appearance of damage to the layer of the upper eyelid.
On the legs:
- cracks;
- burning;
- Foam;
- an unpleasant smell is more frequent;
- roughening of the skin;
- thickening of the skin;
- ulcers (if there are also bacterial infectious diseases).
On nails:
- small white dots on the plate;
- the affected nail has white streaks;
- change of color to black, yellow, brown;
- change in structure (becomes layered);
- 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 develops imperceptibly, and many people notice nail fungus only at an advanced stage of the disease's progression, not when the condition of the skin and nails can be relatively easily and quickly corrected. If the first signs of pathological changes appear, it is recommended to consult a specialist immediately.
Medicines for the treatment of fungus
Medicines for the treatment of fungi are called antifungals, from the words "anti" and mycosis, but more often they are simply called antifungals. Such drugs are divided into two types according to their effect:
- drugs for the treatment of fungi that destroy spores - fungicides;
- those that prevent the development and growth of a fungal infection, but do not destroy it, are fungistatics.
The type of treatment that the doctor decides to prescribe is influenced by various factors, including the characteristics of the patient's body.
The potency of a particular drug varies depending on the following factors:
- dose of active substance;
- spectrum of action of the active substance.
Fungus is often treated with topical medications such as antifungal ointments. If the fungus cannot be treated with external use or if the disease is systemic and has a long course, oral drugs (antifungal tablets) are used. If the situation is very difficult, even injections can be used to treat the fungus.
Release forms
Local antifungals are produced in different forms:
- ointments;
- creams;
- sprays;
- solutions;
- antifungal varnish (for nail lesions).
If the lesion is only external, local therapy is sufficient. A characteristic feature of such drugs is that, unlike drugs for internal use, they have almost no side effects. Complex therapy with the use of systemic antimycotics is prescribed for a more complicated course of the disease, when the disease relapses. Then therapy courses are possible. It is not always possible to correctly determine treatment methods based on clinical manifestations, so tests are required. Sometimes fungal diseases aggravate the course of allergic diseases that the patient may suffer from. In this case, sorbents can be prescribed.
One of the most common agents for antifungal therapy is fluconazole. It is used for both external and internal wounds. The substance is included in various medicines. It is available in tablet, capsule, injection and other forms. To prevent fungi, antiseptic substances are used for the skin of the feet, palms and nails. Prevention also means taking vitamins on time to support the immune system.