Fungal diseases are a fairly widespread phenomenon. But not everyone understands exactly how these problems should be handled. People often buy medicines "recommended by a neighbor" at the pharmacy or try to deal with traditional medicine. Some people with this treatment approach suffer for years with their problem.
But to effectively and quickly defeat the fungus, a specialist consultation and properly selected drug therapy are required. After carrying out the necessary tests, the specialist will be able to prescribe a medication that will help overcome the hated problem. Often, the destruction of the fungus requires procedural local treatment, 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 find out exactly how to choose the right treatment.
This article is not an instruction to choose a medication on your own, it simply allows you to better understand the basis on which the responsible dermatologist makes decisions. All situations are individual and it is easy to ignore contraindications and important nuances of the course of the disease, which the doctor will certainly notice and take into account when choosing antifungal therapy and the duration of treatment.
What is a fungus or ringworm?
Ringworm, popularly called fungus, is a series of highly contagious infectious diseases.
- Pathogen: parasitic fungi of various types (pathogenic and opportunistic).
- Affected area: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
- Relapses: very likely.
Where you can get it: public places like bathrooms, showers, gyms, swimming pools, beaches and more.
How the infection occurs: through contact with the mucosa, microcracks in the skin.
The disease is highly contagious. It is almost impossible to recover completely on your own. Mycoses are more dangerous for people with reduced immunity, when their general condition is worse than normal. A doctor's help and the right choice of antifungal medications can solve the problem.
You can become infected from someone else's cat or from contact with objects on which fungal infections have left spores. But not all types of fungal infections are pathogenic. There are also species that are normally constantly present in the body and in some cases are even useful (for example, Candida). But if fungal growth has intensified, treatment may be necessary.
Causes of ringworm
A healthy person with good immunity usually does not suffer from pathogenic fungi. If everything is fine with the immune system, it can easily cope with this load and the development of fungi will not occur.
Drop in immunity
If your immune system is weakened, your risk of contracting the disease increases. If you have recently undergone antibiotic therapy, your immunity is always reduced and caution should be exercised.
People with immunodeficiency conditions, cancer patients and patients undergoing cytostatic therapy are constantly at risk.
Insufficiently hygienic use of public places
- If a person visits a public swimming pool or bathhouse, it is always necessary to carry a personal towel and slippers with them.
- The same should be done when visiting the gym.
- It is recommended to try on shoes in a store wearing only socks.
- It is necessary to ensure that salon professionals do not forget to sterilize instruments.
- You cannot use other people's personal hygiene products.
- It is not recommended to wear tight shoes or synthetic underwear.
- If the skin is damaged, you should not forget about antiseptics, as infection occurs in the damaged areas.
Chronic diseases
They themselves can reduce immunity and negatively affect the body's resistance. Skin diseases are especially prone to problems such as fungal diseases: cracks, calluses. In 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 suitable conditions for fungal diseases. For example, hyperhidrosis or sweating of the palms and soles. There are other individual characteristics that create a good environment for various types of pathogenic fungi.
Types of fungi
There is no classification that describes pathogenic fungi. Diseases are generally classified according to symptoms and extent of spread. Diseases such as nail fungus, skin fungus and foot fungus are classified as superficial mycoses. The prevalence of ringworm can vary:
- karatomicosis – when the microorganism is present only in the stratum corneum of the skin;
- dermatomycosis - if the fungal infection has managed to penetrate the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
- candidiasis – damage to mucous membranes.
There are also systemic mycoses, which are characterized by damage not only to the external integument, but also to internal organs.
Types of pathogens:
- Yeasts are normally part of the microflora.
- Fungi are pathogenic.
- Dodmiphorae are pathogenic.
To accurately determine the cause of the infection and then prescribe effective treatment based on special means, it is necessary to carry out 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 a blood test. Some types of lesions caused by infections have the same clinical signs and the exact cause can only be determined by analysis.
How to identify a fungal disease - symptoms
Although each type of infection has its own characteristics, which manifest themselves in different phases of the disease, superficial mycoses also present common signs of the disease:
- change in skin color – redness or loss of color;
- the appearance of areas of constant peeling or tearing;
- itch;
- scabs.
For scalp damage:
- a sign of fungus is usually dandruff;
- fragility and hair loss.
In the face:
- the appearance of damage in the fold of the upper eyelid.
On the feet:
- cracks;
- burn;
- bubbles;
- an unpleasant odor is more common;
- roughness 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 stripes;
- color change 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 unnoticed and many people notice nail fungus only at an advanced stage of disease progression, and not when the condition of the skin and nails can be corrected relatively easily and quickly. If there are the first signs of pathological changes, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist.
Medicines for the treatment of fungus
Medications for treating fungus are called antimycotics, from the words "anti" and ringworm", but more often they are simply called antifungals. These medications are divided into two types based on their effects:
- medicines for the treatment of fungi that destroy spores - fungicides;
- those that do not suppress the development and prevent the growth of a fungal infection, but do not destroy it, are fungistatics.
The type of treatment the doctor decides to prescribe is influenced by several factors, including the characteristics of the patient's body.
The potency of a given medication varies depending on the following factors:
- dosage of the active substance;
- spectrum of action of the active substance.
Most often, the fungus is treated with local medications, such as antifungal ointments. Oral medications (antifungal tablets) are used if the fungus cannot be cured by external use or when the disease is systemic in nature and has a long course. When the situation is very difficult, even injections can be used to cure the fungus.
Release Forms
Topical antifungals are produced in different forms:
- ointments;
- creams;
- sprays;
- solutions;
- antifungal varnish (for nail injuries).
If the injury is only external in nature, local therapy will suffice. A feature of these medicines is that they have almost no side effects, unlike medicines for internal use. Complex therapy using systemic antimycotics is prescribed for a more complex course of the disease, if there are relapses of the disease. Then therapy courses are possible. It is not always possible to correctly determine treatment methods based on clinical manifestations, which is why examinations are necessary. Sometimes fungal diseases intensify the course of allergic diseases that the patient may suffer from. In this case, sorbents may be prescribed.
One of the most common substances for antifungal therapy is fluconazole. It is used for external and internal injuries. The substance is found in several 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 in a timely manner to support the immune system.