One of the infectious skin lesions is mycosis. What is mycosis, any dermatologist can correctly explain. Its causative agent is opportunistic organisms and anthropophilic fungi.
Description of the problem
One of the main reasons for the development of mycosis is the activity of fungi. Their spores fall into the layers of subcutaneous tissue and skin, can settle on the mucous membranes, in the respiratory tract, lungs.
The severity of the course of the disease will depend on the type of fungi and their localization. It is worth noting that any infection in which the body's defenses are reduced can contribute to the development of a disease called mycosis. What is a fungal infection and what happens at this moment with the body, everyone should know. After all, not only the skin can be affected, but also the hair, nails, mucous membrane of the eyes, esophagus, genitals.
In most cases, mycoses are characterized by a chronic course. In 95% of cases, they are secondary forms that developed against the background of other diseases.
Types of lesions
Specialists distinguish several forms of mycoses. They depend on the site of the lesion. So, separate mycosis:
- scalp;
- torso skin;
- skin of hands;
- facial skin;
- stop;
- nails;
- internal organs.
Currently, experts isolate more than 500 mushrooms that provoke the onset of the disease. Moreover, over the past decade, the number of patients who themselves have learned what mycosis is has doubled. According to research, the number of people suffering from various types of fungal infections in Russia is about 30-40%. Most often, mycoses of nails, feet and hands are found. People with lesions of the scalp and smooth skin are less likely to seek help.
Causes of the disease
In most cases, infection with mycoses occurs through contact with sick people. But other ways of transmitting the disease are possible. For example, mycosis of the hair can begin with infection from animals. In some cases, fungi are part of the normal microflora, but with a decrease in immunity, they begin to multiply excessively. So, for example, urogenital candidiasis (known as thrush) begins.
Experts say that the main reason for such a wide spread of the disease is the poor awareness of people about the ways of infection, the first symptoms of the disease and preventive measures. Because of this, people turn to specialists already at a time when mycosis becomes chronic. What is mycosis, every dermatologist knows.
Most often, infection occurs:
- in close contact with a sick person;
- communication with sick animals;
- frequent visits to public baths, saunas, pools;
- the use of personal hygiene products of other people.
Provocative factors
Often it is not enough to know about the main routes of infection. It is also necessary to understand who is at risk and in which cases the probability of infection is highest.
So, for example, those who suffer from excessive sweating of the legs and arms most often suffer from fungal infections. Do not forget that spores of fungi can penetrate into the deep layers of the subcutaneous tissue and through wounds.
Using personal hygiene products from other people can also trigger mycosis. What happens in this case and why infection is possible, it is easy to figure out if you know that particles of skin remain on personal items. When used, they are transferred to a healthy person. The source of infection can be someone else's comb, toothbrush, shoes, clothes.
In addition, the provoking factors include the long-term use of certain medications, a polluted environment, an increased level of radiation and other factors leading to a weakening of the body's defenses.
Fungal engraftment
Of course, far from always the contact of healthy human skin or mucous membranes with spores of fungi ends in infection. In most cases, normal immunity prevents the engraftment of these microorganisms.
But there are a number of factors because of which a person still has to find out what mycosis is. These include:
- features of the feet (for example, flat feet, a narrow distance between the fingers, their deformation);
- excessive dryness of the skin;
- increased sweating;
- violation of the integrity of the skin (wounds, cuts, diaper rash, abrasion);
- wearing clothes made of synthetic materials, tight shoes;
- elderly age;
- dry skin.
Fungal healing is faster if a person has weakened immunity and there are a number of related problems. These include diseases of the cardiovascular system, endocrine pathologies, hematologic problems, immunodeficiency states.
Symptoms of the disease
Unfortunately, people are not always able to independently suspect the development of a fungal disease. After all, the manifestation of infection may vary depending on the location of its location. But the main symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- the appearance of diaper rash;
- peeling of the skin, redness;
- constant itching of the affected areas of smooth skin ;
- itching of the skin of the feet, accompanied by the appearance of vesicles and peeling of the skin;
- irritation between the fingers;
- the appearance of various spots on the skin;
- change in structure, peeling, peeling of nails.
Separate lesions of smooth skin - superficial mycosis. Treatment, causes, symptoms will depend on its type. Specialists can distinguish keratomycosis and dermatomycosis (dermatophytosis). The first type of disease is characterized by the fact that not only skin areas are affected, but also hair and nails. For example, pityriasis versicolor is keratomycosis. Dermatophytosis is caused by molds, such as foot mycosis. Candida affects the mucous membranes, respiratory tract and internal organs.
Treatment tactics
Often, patients with mycoses go to the doctors even in cases when the disease becomes chronic. In this case, an integrated approach is needed. It is important that the diagnosis and treatment of mycoses of the skin and nails is correctly carried out. It is necessary to remove the pathogenic organism from the damaged areas and eliminate the factors contributing to its reproduction.
In chronic forms, doctors usually choose a systematic approach. It is necessary not only to use local funds, but preparations intended for oral administration. Such systemic therapy allows you to organize the optimal penetration of drugs into the locations of the mushrooms. They accumulate in tissues in an amount significantly exceeding the necessary concentrations to inhibit microorganisms. They are also there for some time after completion of therapy.
Before prescribing drugs, the doctor should tell the patient what the disease is mycosis. He can also explain that it is advisable to first determine which fungus has affected the body. This will allow you to choose the most effective drugs. If this is not possible, then a wide spectrum of action is prescribed.
Essential Medicines
Modern advances allow you to quickly and effectively cope with fungal diseases. For these purposes, local agents such as Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Econazole, and Terbinafine can be used. For the treatment of nails, Batrafen, Irunin, and Lotseril are recommended. Funds are available in the form of sprays or creams.
At night, doctors recommend treating problem areas with sulfur-salicylic ointment. In the morning they need to apply a 2% iodine solution. But these are not all ways to treat mycosis.
In most cases, it is necessary to use systemic drugs. One of the safest is considered "Griseofulvin." It is used even in the treatment of children. Also popular are drugs such as Terbinafine, Itraconazole, and Ketoconazole.
Alternative methods of therapy
Before you become interested in alternative methods of treatment, you need to understand that it is impossible to get rid of mushrooms without special drugs. Nevertheless, there are quite a few recipes with which to treat mycoses.
Treatment of foot mycoses, for example, is recommended using bathtubs prepared from infusion of yarrow, burdock, wormwood, plantain. Water should not be hot, but warm. After the bath, it is necessary to clean all the steamed areas and, if possible, cut off the affected skin.
Traditional healers also recommend the use of garlic. It is necessary for those people whose nails are affected. A crushed clove is applied to the problem area and covered with polyethylene on top. It must be fixed with a bandage or fingertip.
To get rid of skin problems, it is advised to make an ointment from 1 egg, 100 g of 70% vinegar essence, 200 g of natural crushed butter. All ingredients are stacked in a half-liter container, covered with a lid and placed in the refrigerator. In a week, the eggshell will have to dissolve. After this happens, the product is mixed, and an ointment is obtained. It is applied to problem areas.