Mycoses occupy the second most common place among infectious skin diseases after coccal pyoderma, and mycoses of the feet occupy the first place not only among all mycoses, but also among all foot pathologies.They are caused by a large group of pathogenic fungi.In recent years there has been an increase in cases of mycosis, largely due to endogenous factors, i.e. an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and circulatory pathologies in the distal parts of the upper and lower limbs.
Some patients suffering from skin mycosis consider them a cosmetic or temporary problem and do not even wonder how to treat the skin fungus on the body, trying only to mask the external manifestations of the infection under clothes, shoes or foundation.But one should not expect that the fungus will disappear on its own: in the absence of adequate therapy, mycosis can spread quickly and affect all new tissues and areas of the body, and, moreover, a person suffering from the disease represents a serious threat to others, especially to his own family.The insidiousness of the fungus is also manifested in the fact that it easily recurs if the therapy has not been completed victoriously.
In this article we will tell you how and how to treat skin fungus and what symptoms indicate its presence.
Causes of the development of fungal diseases
Fungal infections are diverse, but the main causative agents of the disease are dermatophytes, yeast-like fungi and molds.There is a system that takes into account the depth of penetration and the location of the infection, which distinguishes:
- Keratomycosis affects only the superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and the hair cuticle.
- Dermatomycosis - deeply affects the skin and its appendages - nails and hair, but does not affect the subcutaneous tissue (the largest group, which includes onychomycosis and mycosis of the feet).
- Candidiasis - in addition to the above, can affect the mucous membranes and internal organs (caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida).
- Deep mycoses are systemic mycoses that can infect the subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, ENT organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain and central nervous system as a whole (caused by yeasts and yeast-like fungi).
- Pseudomycosis - affects only the stratum corneum, without affecting nails and hair (caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum, previously confused with fungi).
The most common types of skin mycosis are dermatophytosis - dermatomycosis caused by fungi of three genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum.The vast majority of all lesions of the skin and its appendages within the epidermis are due to ringworm, epidermophytosis and microsporia, and most often the disease affects the skin of the feet and nails.How can you get infected with a fungus?A number of factors can contribute to this:
- visit public baths and saunas, swimming pools and water parks, public beaches, gyms, solariums and manicure/pedicure rooms, massage centers, since in these places the risk of contact of the feet or hands with contaminated surfaces is particularly high;
- trying on someone else's shoes or using shared shoes;
- insufficient foot hygiene, especially with excessive sweating;
- wearing closed shoes for a long time, which do not allow the foot to "breathe";
- living with a person who already suffers from skin fungus;
- Injuring the skin or nails with shoes that are too tight - the fungus enters the body more easily through damaged areas.
A significant factor is the increase in humidity and temperature to which the feet are constantly exposed.It is in such conditions that the fungus develops most actively, so fungal infections are often found in regions with a subtropical climate or where people are forced to wear warm shoes for a long time - in regions with a cold climate.The site of primary localization of the fungus in mycosis of the skin of the feet is usually the interdigital folds, but as the disease progresses the lesion extends beyond these.
For your information
According to the Ministry of Health for 2010, mycosis of the feet (including onychomycosis) and hands were registered in more than 220 thousand people.
However, mycoses do not only affect the skin of the feet;the disease can appear in almost any place, including the face.The large folds are often affected, especially the inguinal-femoral folds, legs and buttocks.
Skin mycosis have specific symptoms that are quite easy to notice, these are:
- Flaking and dryness are one of the first manifestations of infection.Individual scales initially appear on the affected area, caused by rejection of the upper layer of the epidermis.With deeper penetration of the fungus, active peeling occurs, which only intensifies over time.
- The white or red spots are round in shape with clearly defined edges.It is very important not to miss this symptom at the initial stage of the disease, since at this time the spot can be single and small in size.Subsequently, new points appear and gradually merge with each other.
- Thickening of the skin.The affected areas become dense, rough and rough, and often change color: the skin goes from pinkish or white to yellowish or grayish.
- The appearance of small rashes, fluid-filled blisters.
- Partial hair loss.
- Itching and burning are one of the most common symptoms of skin fungi.It may be present constantly or appear only periodically.It is important to understand here that itching and burning can be a sign of other skin diseases, such as allergies.
Don't ignore the appearance of cracks and calluses on your feet.Although they themselves are not symptoms of a fungal disease, through them the fungal infection enters the body much faster.
How to cure skin fungus
Conventionally, two approaches can be distinguished to combat skin fungi.One of them is non-medicinal, in which various traditional medicines are used, the second is pharmacological.
The so-called home methods include the use of baths with infusions of medicinal herbs, treatment of skin fungi with iodine, a solution of soda or vinegar... The effectiveness of such treatment of skin fungi has not been clinically proven.If it can help, it is only in the very early stages of the development of the disease, because most folk remedies cannot penetrate into the deep layers of the epidermis, where the fungal colony is usually located.Therefore, with any mycosis, one should not waste time and aggravate the situation, but instead it is necessary to consult a doctor for diagnosis and appointment of adequate therapy.
A significant effect is achieved with systemic treatment of skin fungi on the body using drugs in the form of capsules or tablets.Modern products contain substances that can stop the growth of new spores, block cell division at the DNA/RNA level and destroy the fungal cell membranes.However, systemic antifungals (also known as systemic fungicidal and fungistatic drugs) have numerous side effects and contraindications;they cannot be taken together with some drugs: diabetics, antihistamines, contraceptives.Restrictions on the use of tablets are, for example, blood diseases, kidney or liver diseases.Furthermore, it is recommended to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet during the treatment period.All this restricts the possibilities of systemic therapy.
Creams, sprays and solutions are an effective (clinically proven) method for the local treatment of skin fungi and onychomycosis, which does not have many contraindications.It has a high cure rate, is used at any stage of fungal infection, and can be used in combination with systemic therapy to reduce the dosage of oral medications.
The antifungal components contained in gels, ointments and solutions are mainly allylamines, azoles or pyrimidines, which inhibit the vital activity of the fungus, deprive it of nutrients, stop its development and spread to other areas of the skin.Local therapy with these drugs allows you to create high concentrations of the active ingredient in the skin, on the surface of the nail and in its cavities, which remain for weeks after the completion of the treatment.It is important that during the use of external agents the active substance almost does not enter the systemic bloodstream and therefore does not have a negative effect on the organism as a whole.
Many topical antifungal drugs have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, soften the skin, eliminate itching and redness, are easy to apply to the affected surface, and sprays and solutions are convenient for treating even hairy parts of the body in case of damage.The duration of treatment with external agents and the frequency of their application are determined by the attending physician.
Ringworm is easier to prevent than to treat, but if signs of skin fungus are noticed on the body, treatment should be started immediately.It is important not to start the process and take appropriate measures in time, but you need to start by contacting a specialist.It is the doctor who will tell you how to quickly cure skin fungus.Attempts at artisanal treatment in this case can only worsen the situation.
Cream against skin fungi
As a medicine for the treatment of fungal skin infections, you can choose a cream based on naftifine (1%), which is part of the allylamine class.The mechanism of action of the drug is based on the ability of the active ingredient to slow down the synthesis of ergosterol, the building material that constitutes the cell wall and membrane of the fungus.As a result, the mycelium loses the ability to grow, which gradually leads to the death of the entire colony.
The drug is active against all the main pathogens of mycosis and can be prescribed for ringworm, epidermophytosis, microsporia, candidiasis and aspergillosis of the skin, pityriasis versicolor, sporotrichosis.The cream has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, reduces the likelihood of secondary bacterial infections and helps eliminate the symptoms of inflammation, especially itching.
The cream penetrates deep into the skin and creates a stable concentration of the antifungal agent in its different layers.After application to the skin, less than 6% of naftifine enters the systemic circulation.
Indications for the use of the drug are:
- fungal infections of skin folds and smooth skin;
- interdigital mycosis;
- onychomycosis (nail fungus);
- cutaneous candidiasis;
- pityriasis versicolor;
- ringworm (with or without itching).
The cream has few contraindications.These include individual intolerance to the components, as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding, since the safety and effectiveness of the drug in this category of patients has not yet been studied.Use the cream with caution in children.
Recommendations for use: if the skin is affected, simply apply the cream once a day on the affected surface and adjacent areas after cleansing and drying them.The duration of treatment is from two to eight weeks (for candidiasis - four weeks).
To prevent relapses, it is recommended to continue therapy for another two weeks after the disappearance of clinical symptoms.
The cream in aluminum tubes (30 g) is available without a prescription.You can also order the product via the Internet.