Fungus on the hands is a very common problem today. And people of all ages face it. Men most often suffer from dermatophytes, and women with lesions of the skin integument by yeast-like candida fungi. The so-called mycoses are more susceptible to those people who during the day often come into contact with fluids that can be designed to perform construction and repair work, cleaning rooms, etc.
In the process of such contacts, the protective cover of the skin is destroyed. On it, crusts and microcracks form, which become a direct pathway of human infection with a variety of skin infections. A photo of the fungus on the hands will be presented below.
Causes of mycosis of the hands
The causative agents of mycoses of various etiologies can be a variety of bacteria and fungi, which can be in a state of latency for a long time and not cause people any inconvenience without manifesting themselves in the form of damage to the skin of the hands. The spread of the fungus occurs in the following ways:
- handshakes;
- the use of other people's hygiene products;
- wearing other people's things:
- visits to swimming pools, baths, saunas, etc .;
- caring for feet affected by fungal infections;
- touching door handles, as well as handrails in public transport.
If a person has strong immunity, the fungus on his hands is destroyed by immune defense cells. However, in cases of excessive sweating of the hands, as well as in the presence of certain hormonal malfunctions in the endocrine system, the likelihood of infection increases significantly. Risk factors are also increased nervousness and vegetative-vascular dystonia, pregnancy, prolonged contact with household chemicals and insufficient compliance with simple hygiene rules.
The risk group is the elderly, who often suffer from concomitant diseases, and also have weak immunity. Children are also prone to mycoses more often than adults, and their disease is much more severe, due to the fact that their immunity is not yet sufficiently developed to suppress the invasion of fungi into the body.
Stages
If the disease is not treated, then it will worsen further. At the initial stage, pathology causes inconvenience with an external unaesthetic appearance. As the disease develops, it leads to general intoxication of the body. A person begins to suffer from:
- headache;
- nausea in the morning;
- diarrhea
- general weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- irritability.
The fungus on the hands is 1, 2 and 3 stages. The simplest stage is the first. Symptoms are usually lubricated. The second and third stages force patients to consult a dermatologist.
The neglected stage of the fungus on the hands is very unpleasant. In addition to itching and spots, an abscess crust appears. This indicates that a bacterial infection has joined.
Local treatment does not completely destroy the fungus. Most often, antimycotic tablets and antibiotics are required.
The clinical picture of dermatophytic mycosis
Symptoms of nail fungus on the hands can be different. This directly depends on what type of pathogen the disease is caused. General signs of mycoses can manifest themselves in a variety of areas of the hands: on the nails, palms, between the fingers. That is, such areas are those where the skin is the least protected.
The fungus provoked by dermatophytes causes a burning sensation and itching in the palms of the hands, peeling of the skin in these areas, cracks in the area between the fingers, and also a change in the appearance of the nails. They can become cloudy, dense. On their surface, as a rule, hollows and bulges begin to appear, and white spots and yellowish foci of infection are visible in the thickness of the nails. If the disease is not treated, a severe stage of the fungus on the hands will occur, in which the nails begin to gradually exfoliate and crumble.
The skin when infected with dermatophytes begins to become covered with cracks. Red spots begin to appear on it. If such lesions are infected with various types of bacteria, ulcers and areas of weeping skin, blisters and erosion can form. Symptoms of diseases that are provoked by dermatophytes are similar to manifestations of eczema and psoriasis.
Clinical picture of candidiasis of the skin of the hands
The fungus appears on the hands with skin soreness and severe itching in its individual areas. Gradually, peeling begins, the formation of dense growths and cracks. The lesion mainly affects the skin between the fingers and palms, due to excessive sweating in these areas. It can penetrate under the nails, destroying their structure and causing purulent inflammation.
Hand fungus treatment
Treatment of mycoses of the skin of the hands is a whole complex of procedures, both therapeutic and prophylactic and hygienic in nature. Therapy is based on the use of local drugs, as well as drugs taken orally. Nevertheless, therapeutic measures are prescribed exclusively by a doctor and are individual in nature, depending on the pathogen and the degree of neglect of the disease.
Initially, the necessary diagnostic measures are carried out to establish the cause of mycosis. In this case, it is necessary to find out what spores or bacteria caused the disease. From here follows the treatment regimen for the fungus of the nails on the hands.
Preventive and preparatory procedures
Therapeutic measures begin with a whole range of preventive and preparatory procedures, which include organizing the cleaning of damaged skin, as well as removing keratinization and peeling areas from its surface. For this, various compresses are applied, which are applied to the areas of the skin of the hands affected by the fungus. For example, a compress with petroleum jelly, as well as with salicylic and lactic acid. Such dressings are applied for two days, after which the dried and dead skin is easily removed.
After hygienic procedures, drug treatment of the fungus on the fingers follows. To do this, as a rule, medications containing corticosteroids, as well as sulfur and tar ointments, are used. These drugs help relieve inflammation in areas of skin lesions.
The drug "Ureaplast" is used in cases where it is necessary to completely exfoliate a nail affected by a fungal infection.
The range of antifungal creams and ointments today is very wide, however, when choosing the right remedy, it is necessary to take into account the type of fungus and the degree of the disease. Among these ointments are used:
- "Nizoral";
- "Lamisil cream";
- "Nitrofungin";
- Exoderyl
- "Clotrimazole";
- “Ketoconazole”;
- zinc ointment, etc.
Additional funds
After the main treatment of fungal lesions of the hands, various additional remedies are used that help protect the skin from the further spread of the infection. For example, it is recommended to cover the nails with a special varnish, and skin treatment is carried out with the help of such medicines as iodine, Lugol's solution, Vokadin. Baths with the addition of ammonia and Chloramine well help in the fight against fungal skin diseases.
Ingested drugs
For the systemic treatment of hand mycoses, oral medications are also used. These drugs are:
- Orungal;
- "Terbinafine";
- "Fluconazole."
The treatment of fungal diseases is a very long process. Therapy can last from a month to a year, and recovery can be considered the complete disappearance from the body of pathogens, which in this case are fungal cells.
Disinfection of objects and prevention
The following are prophylactic methods for controlling fungi and disinfection of items used by a sick person. Such events should be subjected to items such as clothing and shoes, furniture.
If a person once suffered a similar type of disease, he needs to continue to carefully consider measures to prevent the development of infection again. To do this, you must:
- In case of damage to the skin of the hands (cuts, abrasions), the site of damage must be treated with special disinfectant solutions.
- When using household cleaning products, protective gloves must be used.
- You can not use someone else's sets for manicure and carefully monitor your own.
- Compliance with simple hygienic rules for hand skin care, for example, washing after arrival from public places, as well as after going to the toilet.
Undesirable effects of mycosis of the skin of the hands
Such consequences include the attachment of a bacterial infection of the skin due to the lack of timely treatment of the fungus on the hands. In this case, the patient needs more serious treatment, which will include the use of antibiotics and antimicrobials, which will affect the functioning of the immune system and the functions of the digestive system.