Most often this fungal disease occurs in men, however, women periodically come to doctors with such a problem. It should be noted that the disease manifests itself in certain people, and the risk zone primarily includes women living in hot countries. In addition, a fungus appears in the groin of those ladies who do not even carefully perform basic hygiene procedures, as well as those who are overweight.
Patients who caught a fungal infection while visiting the sauna and pool come to the doctors for help.
Causes
The most common cause of the appearance of fungal infections in the groin area in women is the increased humidity of the delicate zone. The causative agents of fungal infections adore moisture and moisture. Therefore, women who live in hot countries or in the summer period often face fungal infection. High humidity may also be present in overweight women.
Wearing narrow underwear - close contact with the skin leads to microdamage, which increases the risk of infection with short-term contact with the source.
Long-term use of antibacterial drugs. When taking antibiotics, not only the pathogenic flora collapses, but also the beneficial microorganisms responsible for humoral immunity.
Increased sebaceous function and sweating. At certain periods, a woman has hormonal changes that disrupt the sebaceous glands (menopause, menstrual cycle).
The use of someone else's personal underwear also becomes a cause. The fungus lasts a long time on any surface, which increases the chance of infection.
Violation of the rules of hygiene procedures
Microorganisms located on the surface, reduce local immunity, which enhances the growth of fungal flora. This problem should be taken seriously, because it is it that most often causes the fungus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a fungus in the groin in women, a photo of which can be found in specialized literature, are as follows:
- the appearance of a long-term itching in the groin and inner thighs;
- redness of the skin in the itching area and its gradual darkening;
- the spread of red spots on the affected area of the skin;
- exfoliation of skin particles in the reddened area, exceeding the norm;
- rashes of pimples or vesicles with fluid in the groin, thighs or lower abdomen, most often bright red, but sometimes they can be brown, brown or yellow, it may feel like a burn;
- gradually increasing burning in the genital area;
- the appearance in the affected area of an unpleasant sour smell, reminiscent of evaporation from damp, musty or something rotten;
- the combination of redness, pimples and vesicles into one large spot, usually with a fungus such a spot takes the form of a ring.
Characteristics of various species
Depending on the type of fungus, the following symptoms may appear:
- swelling in the genital area;
- exceeding the norm of vaginal discharge of white or yellowish color;
- red spots are covered with a crust;
- pain of varying severity in the groin area;
- fever.
Diagnostics
First, the doctor performs a thorough external examination of the patient, reveals the foci of lesion with the fungus, then scrapes from the sites affected by the fungus, after which the biomaterial is examined under a microscope. At this time, the doctor diagnoses exactly the type of fungal infection, determines the degree of development of this disease, if necessary, the doctor can make a more thorough diagnosis with a Wood lamp. In this case, the rays of the lamp are directed to the problem area of the skin, and if the skin is affected by the fungus, they become red.
Additional analyzes
If all these methods are not enough for an accurate diagnosis, the physician can refer the patient for additional blood and urine, as well as to involve other specialists in the diagnosis. When the first signs of a fungal infection appear, a woman should go first to a gynecologist, if necessary, this doctor can send an additional patient to a mycologist or dermatologist. You can also consult a therapist who will refer you to appropriate specialists.
Only after obtaining accurate results confirming the presence of a fungal infection in the groin, the doctor begins to draw up an individual treatment regimen with the appointment of completely safe and highly effective drugs.
How to treat fungus in the groin in women?
Fungal infection in women is a frequent condition. It requires an early diagnosis and timely treatment. One of the directions in the treatment of a fungal infection in the groin in women, which can be caused by both yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida and dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum, is local therapy using antifungicidal ointments.
Rules for the use of ointments
There are ointments from the fungus to the groin in women, reviews of which are positive, having fungicidal (kill the fungus) and fungistatic (slow down reproduction) effect. The duration of treatment with such agents is approximately 14 days. Rules for the use of antifungal ointments:
- The application of funds should be not only on the affected areas, but also on the areas that are around the focus of the fungal infection (the active substance of the ointments not only destroys the fungus, but also protects healthy areas from the spread of infection).
- Thorough hygienic care of the affected area before applying the ointment.
- Daily change of linen to clean (underwear and bed). Continuity in the use of ointments (in no case should you miss their application).
- Apply the ointment after washing your hands, and it is better to do this with sterile gloves (to avoid the attachment of a bacterial infection).
- Apply the ointment in a thin layer, evenly distributing over the entire affected surface.
Ointments
The list of funds for external use in case of fungal infection in the groin in women (ointments):
- "Terbinafine - MFF" 1% ointment (or ointment "Thermicon", the active substance of which is terbinafine). The advantage of this tool is that it directly acts on the fungus, is practically not absorbed into the blood and lymph, does not accumulate in biological fluids and human tissues. It is applied once a day.
- "Clotrimazole" ointment 1%. The advantage of the ointment is its cheapness, a wide spectrum of action, as well as the presence of antibacterial activity against the most common infections - staphylococcus and streptococcus. It is applied several times a day with a thin layer.
- "Mycoseptin" ointment for external use from a fungus in the groin. The tool can have both fungicidal and fungistatic effects. Apply it twice a day, and after the subsidence of the inflammatory process, they switch to a single application per day.
- "Mykozolon" ointment (a drug with a combined effect, eliminates itching, kills bacterial and fungal infections). Apply ointment 1-2 times a day to areas that are affected by the fungus.
Tablets
The most common sources of transmission are a violation of personal hygiene and a hereditary predisposition to the development of the disease. Modern medicine provides the following drugs for the treatment of skin fungus in the groin in women:
- "Thermicon". The composition of the tablets includes a substance - terbinafine. Used to affect fungal cells. This substance has a wide spectrum of action, so its use is very effective in combating fungal diseases. Tablets must be consumed in a course of twelve days. The dosage of the drug is prescribed by the doctor, depending on the degree of spread of mycosis.
- "Amphotericin B". It is used to treat fungal diseases of various etiologies. The dosage and number of tablets needed is prescribed by a specialist. This drug is used in cases where all other medicines have been ineffective.
- Levorin. Especially effective in the fight against fungus that affects the skin and mucous membranes of organs. Before using the tablets, you should consult your doctor, as side effects may occur after taking the drug.
- Pimafucin. Modern anti-fungal agent with a wide range of effects. The active substance is a polyene-type antibiotic, natamycin. The drug must be taken four times a day after the main meal, the duration of treatment is seven days.
It should also be noted that the treatment of genital fungus should be comprehensive in order to prevent the development of a relapse of the disease.
Folk remedies
Fungus in the groin in women can be treated at home with the help of folk remedies.
- Tea tree oil. It has natural antifungal properties. It may burn during use. Therefore, it is recommended to use a solution or cosmetics containing it, for example, soap. To achieve the best effect, the composition of the product should be birch tar.
- Birch tar. You can use any means with its contents, starting with ointments and ending with soap.
- Birch infusion of birch leaves and vodka helps to cope with a rash in the groin.
- Apple vinegar. With antifungal and antibacterial effect, a solution of apple cider vinegar is an excellent assistant in the fight against fungus. If, after treatment, let it dry without getting wet with a towel, then the symptoms will soon subside.
- Celandine is good and boiled in boiling water as an infusion, and in sliced form as a compress. It is considered one of the most effective means in the treatment of fungus.
- Calendula is rich in useful substances, and its infusion has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.
- St. John's wort is one of the most effective medicinal plants. Therefore, the analgesic and antiseptic properties of his infusion will be most welcome.
- Wormwood, which has antifungal and soothing properties, will be useful in combating itching during illness.
- Mountain ash with antiseptic properties. The mashed berries are used as a compress for the night.
- Grated radish compress will significantly improve the condition of damaged skin.
- Rinsing with soda solution can be used to consolidate the effect of other agents before bedtime or in the morning.
- To the above, you can add decoctions of sage, chamomile, oak bark.