Fungal diseases are a fairly common occurrence in modern society. According to statistics, about 40% of all dermatological lesions are caused by mycotic infections. As a result of infection with a fungus, a person begins to feel itching. The sore spot is peeling, stained. If skin mycoses are diagnosed, treatment is extremely necessary for the patient. Otherwise, intoxication of the body may occur.
Risk factors
Due to the widespread spread of fungal spores in the environment, almost everyone can get this disease. People with weak immunity and those who ignore hygiene standards are often diagnosed with skin mycoses. Treatment of this pathology is often required for children. After all, they like to be in close contact with animals.
Mycosis can be infected with:
- close communication with an already sick person;
- contact with animals infected with the disease;
- the use of other people's shoes and personal hygiene items (towels, washcloths);
- the use of manicure tools that are not sterilized;
- visiting public baths, pools.
Most often:
- aged people;
- persons suffering from increased sweating in the palms and feet;
- people who have microtraumas (scratches, small cuts) on their arms and legs.
Varieties of ailment
Classify the disease at the site of the lesion. So, there are mycoses:
- skin of the feet (feet);
- scalp;
- hands;
- torso skin;
- nails;
- facial skin.
In the initial stages, the disease has virtually no symptoms. That is why it is very difficult to timely detect skin mycoses. The treatment undertaken in the early stages is much more successful.
In this regard, it is necessary to inspect the skin often so as not to miss any changes that indicate infection. And if you have suspicious symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor. The importance of these measures is dictated by a fairly well-known rule - any disease is easier to cure in the early days.
Symptoms of the disease
What signs can mycosis of the skin signal about itself? Symptoms, treatment of pathology is best discussed with a doctor. This will allow not only timely identification of the problem, but also the correct solution to it.
So, in the initial stages of skin mycosis, the treatment of which should be undertaken immediately, are manifested by such signs:
- redness of the integument;
- swelling;
- dry skin
- cracking on the feet;
- swelling.
If you start the disease, the following symptoms may appear:
- nails crumble;
- burns the skin while using shoes and tight clothing;
- skin irritations occur;
- there is constant itching in the affected fungus.
If the first symptoms of the disease occur, treatment should be started immediately. In the future, in the absence of therapy, a fungal infection can spread in the body. As a result, new affected areas will appear.
When infected with a fungus of the scalp, the following symptoms are observed:
- The appearance of the hair is deteriorating sharply.
- Dandruff appears.
- Hair becomes brittle and dry, begin to fall out.
- The scalp itches, blushes. Pink pimples with grayish scales may appear on it.
- Sometimes abscesses occur.
It should be borne in mind that changes in the structure and quality of the hair and scalp can occur as a result of stress or after the use of inappropriate hygiene products. If the shampoo did not change and there were no big experiences, then with the sudden appearance of these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
When infected with a fungus, the following additional symptoms may occur:
- Dizziness
- a state of weakness in the morning;
- when wearing shoes there is a feeling of discomfort;
- during washing, burning sensation on the skin.
If any of the above symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. Pay attention to how the photo mycosis demonstrates. The treatment of this ailment should begin immediately. After all, he is able to quickly hit new areas. In advanced stages, this disease is difficult to cure.
Diagnostic Methods
Already in appearance of the affected area and on the basis of patient complaints, the doctor may suspect mycosis of smooth skin. Treatment will be prescribed after the examination. Doctors involved in the treatment of fungal infections are dermatologists and mycologists.
Patient recommended:
- Laboratory tests of particles of skin, nail or hair. Samples of materials are examined using a microscope, connecting them with reagents.
- Also use the cultural method of analysis. It allows you to determine the type of pathogen. In the course of this study, a fungus is grown in a nutrient medium. Thus, mycologists determine which of the varieties affected the patient.
Based on the measures taken, therapy is prescribed.
Therapeutic measures
Therapeutic actions are carried out in each case individually. There is no single scheme that can cure mycosis of smooth skin. Treatment is selected by doctors based on the analysis. In addition, doctors take many points into account when prescribing medications.
The methods of therapy are prescribed taking into account the following factors:
- the duration of the disease;
- type of fungus;
- sizes of lesions of the skin;
- Does the patient suffer from any chronic ailments?
- immunity level;
- allergic reactions to medications;
- age of the patient;
- physiological characteristics of the body.
Complex therapy is usually used. It allows you to effectively deal with extensive lesions. During taking medications, the body accumulates active substances. They enter the bloodstream and are transferred to the skin, nails, hair.
Fungus treatment
Therapy begins with a series of preparatory procedures. They include cleansing the site of exposure, removing swelling and removing keratinized integuments.
For these purposes, apply:
- Compress with petrolatum, salicylic and lactic acid. A bandage is applied to the infected area for 2 days. Then the upper hardened layer is easily removed.
- Salicylic Vaseline. If mycosis of the skin of the legs is diagnosed, the treatment will need a longer one. After all, here the covers are rougher. It is necessary to lubricate cracks and rough skin within 1 week. After such procedures, you should lower your feet into a soda bath. The hardened layer falls off.
- Medicines with corticosteroids, sulfuric and tar ointments can relieve inflammation.
- Means "Ureaplast" is used to completely exfoliate the nail.
After preventive preparation, the main course of treatment is prescribed. During therapy, special antifungal ointments and creams are used. The range of such medicines is extensive. But choosing the most suitable means, one should take into account the type of fungus, the degree of development of the disease and the extent of skin damage. That is why it is not recommended to practice self-medication. Entrust your health to a specialist doctor. In this case, you can be sure that you will be assigned the correct treatment, with a diagnosis of skin mycosis.
Drugs (external agents), which are most often included in fungal therapy:
- "Nizoral";
- "Lamisil cream";
- "Fetimin";
- "Nitrofungin";
- "Clotrimazole";
- “Ketoconazole”;
- "Exoderyl."
As additional measures, a dermatologist can prescribe the use of powders and antifungal varnishes. During treatment, infected areas of the skin should be treated with such means: “Iodine”, “Lugol's solution”, “Vokadin”. Baths with the addition of ammonia, copper sulfate and “Chloramine” help in the fight against mycosis.
Sometimes the patient may require more serious treatment (if the deep layers of mycosis of the skin are affected) treatment. Drugs in such cases are prescribed for internal use.
For systemic therapy, medications are most often used:
- Orungal
- Fluconazole
- "Terbinafine."
Fungal treatment is not a quick process. The course of therapy lasts from one month to six months. Recovery is the complete removal of fungal cells from the body and the restoration of the skin.
It is also necessary to disinfect objects that come in contact with affected tissues. Subject to such a procedure: shoes, clothes, furniture.
Features of the treatment of scalp
Depending on which site is affected by the fungus, therapy may vary slightly. If mycosis of the scalp is diagnosed, the treatment includes the use of special shampoos.
Such detergents for hair are effective in combating fungus:
- "Nizoral";
- Keto Plus;
- "Mycozoral";
- "Sebozol."
For the treatment of mycosis of the scalp, doctors prescribe external and internal agents:
- Preparations for local use: ointments "Thermicon" and "Terbizil". They are applied in a thin layer to the area of infection. It is recommended to resort to the help of this tool from one to two times a day. After application, the ointment is easily rubbed. The course of use of ointments is from two weeks to a month.
- Preparations for internal use: the medicine "Griseofulvin." The medication is taken with meals, 3-4 times a day. For better absorption, this medicine is used with a teaspoon of vegetable oil. The course of admission is up to two months.
Nail mycosis treatment
Onychomycosis is one of the most common types of fungal diseases. It's about nail damage.
At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. The sooner treatment is started, the easier it will go. If you do not fight onychomycosis, then allergies can occur, chronic ailments worsen, and the protective functions of the body decrease.
Dermatologist at the reception examines the affected nail. The doctor determines its thickness and structure, takes nail scrapings for laboratory research. Based on the tests and the examination, the doctor establishes the disease. He identifies the type of fungus and prescribes the most effective treatment.
If the patient revealed at the initial stage mycosis of the skin, nails, treatment consists in the use of topical preparations. Such medicines (antimycotics) are available in the form of a solution, cream or ointment. Apply them twice a day to the affected plate and nail bed.
But before using these medicines, it is necessary to carry out special preventive and cleansing procedures:
- A bath for the feet or hands with soda and soap. 1 tablespoon of soda and 50 g of laundry soap dissolve in hot water poured into a basin. Limbs lower in the solution for 15 minutes. Such baths are also used if mycosis of the skin of the hands is diagnosed. Treatment with a soda-soap solution effectively eliminates the upper stratum corneum.
- After taking the bath, treat the nail layers with manicure tools. It is important not to damage the remaining areas. Doctors recommend that you do not use the same accessories for manicuring healthy and affected nails.
Local drugs used at the initial stage of the disease:
- "Canison";
- "Clotrimazole";
- Exoderyl
- "Nizoral";
- "Lamisil."
Another topical medicine, Mikospor, is sold with a waterproof patch. Using a dispenser, the product is applied to infected nails. Then close the patch for a day. After such an event, a soap-soda bath is made and the affected particles of nails are removed with a manicure file. The final stage is the rubbing of the medicine in the nail bed.
The term of treatment with all drugs continues until new healthy plates grow.
Also for local action special varnishes are produced:
- "Lotseril." They need to cover their nails once or twice a week. The duration of treatment is up to a year.
- "Batrafen." Varnish is used during the first month of treatment every other day. Next month - twice a week. Then 1 time for 7 days. Therapy continues until complete recovery.
Antifungal varnishes can be used under ordinary manicures.
Preparations for internal use
If the initial stage of the development of the disease is missed, then local medicines may be powerless.
In such situations, antimycotic drugs of general action (systemic) are prescribed:
- Lamisil, Fungoterbin, Onykhon, Exifin, Terbizil;
- "Orungal", "Rumikoz", "Irunin";
- Diflucan, Flucostat, Mikomaks, Mikosit, Forkan;
- "Nizoral", "Mycozoral."
When using these medicines, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the available contraindications. Some drugs can not be taken by lactating and pregnant women, people with kidney and liver diseases.
Mycosis of the skin in children deserves special attention. Treatment of pathology should not be undertaken without consulting a doctor. Most drugs are intended for adult therapy. They cannot be used for children.
Disinfection
This is a prerequisite if skin mycosis is detected. Home treatment should begin with disinfection. You can buy a disinfecting solution in a pharmacy, on the recommendation of your doctor.
The first disinfection is carried out before starting therapy. The solution treats shoes, gloves, socks. During therapy, disinfection should be carried out once a month.
The procedure for processing the disinfecting solution:
- Wipe the inside of the shoe with cotton wool and disinfectant.
- Put the swabs with the solution in gloves, stockings, socks.
- Put shoes and clothes in a plastic bag. Leave overnight.
- Dry processed items.
- Ventilate clothes and shoes for 3 days.
Mycosis of the skin: treatment with folk remedies
With fungus, you can fight with alternative medicine. But remember that it is necessary to coordinate treatment with alternative recipes with a doctor.
Effective means:
- Pine tincture. 250 g of needles and cones put in a jar, pour alcohol. Close the container and insist in a dark place for two weeks. Then strain the tincture and store in the refrigerator. Lubricate infected parts of the skin and nails 2 times a day.
- Acetic baths. Dilute a spoonful of vinegar in 1 liter of water. Keep the infected skin in this solution for 20 minutes. Then grease the skin with camphor alcohol.
- Ointment from eggs, vinegar and oil. Raw chicken egg (directly in the shell) put in a saucepan. Pour with vinegar (100 ml). Add 200 g of oil. After a week, the egg dissolves. The ointment obtained is used to lubricate flaky areas of the skin.
- For the treatment of mycosis of the scalp, the following folk recipe is used. Mix garlic, lemon juice and olive oil (components are taken in equal proportions). Apply the resulting solution to infected parts. Keep the mixture on your head for an hour, wearing a cellophane hat. After 60 minutes, wash your hair with shampoo. Rinse with vinegar solution (2 tbsp. L. Vinegar in 1 liter of water).
Mycosis of the skin is a rather unpleasant ailment. However, if proper and timely therapy is undertaken, it is completely treatable.