Mycoses occupy the second most common place among infectious skin diseases after coccal pyoderma, and mycoses of the feet occupy the first place not only among all mycoses, but also among all foot pathologies.They are caused by a large group of pathogenic fungi.In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of mycoses, which is largely due to endogenous factors - an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and circulatory pathologies in the distal parts of the upper and lower extremities.
Some patients suffering from skin fungus consider them a cosmetic or temporary problem and do not even think about how to treat skin fungus on the body, trying only to hide the external manifestations of infection under clothes, shoes or foundation.But you should not expect that the fungus will disappear on its own: in the absence of proper treatment, mycoses can quickly spread and affect all new tissues and areas of the body, and in addition, a person suffering from the disease poses a serious threat to others, especially to his household.The insidious nature of the fungus is also manifested in the fact that it easily reappears if therapy has not been successful.
We will tell you in this article how and how to treat skin fungus and what symptoms indicate its presence.
Causes of the development of fungal diseases
Fungal infections are different, but the main causative agents of the disease are dermatophytes, yeast-like fungi and mold.There is a system that takes into account the depth of penetration and the location of the infection, which distinguishes:
- Keratomycosis only affects the superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and the hair cuticle.
- Dermatomycosis - deeply affects the skin and its appendages - nails and hair, but does not affect the subcutaneous tissue (the largest group, which includes onychomycosis and foot mycosis).
- Candidiasis - in addition to the above, it can affect the mucous membranes and internal organs (caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida).
- Deep mycoses are systemic mycoses that can infect the subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, ENT organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain and the central nervous system as a whole (caused by yeast and yeast-related fungi).
- Pseudomycosis - affects only the stratum corneum, without affecting the nails and hair (caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium minutissimum, previously confused with fungi).
The most common types of skin fungus are dermatophytosis - dermatomycosis caused by fungi of three genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum.The vast majority of all lesions of the skin and its appendages within the epidermis are due to trichophytosis, epidermophytosis and microsporia, and the disease most often affects the skin of the feet and nails.How can you become infected with a fungus?Several factors can contribute to this:
- visiting public baths and saunas, swimming pools and water parks, public beaches, gyms, solariums and manicure/pedicure rooms, massage parlors, because in these places the risk of contact of feet or hands with contaminated surfaces is particularly high;
- trying on someone else's shoes or using shared shoes;
- insufficient foot hygiene, particularly in cases of excessive sweating;
- wear closed shoes for a long time, which do not allow the foot to “breathe”;
- living with someone who already has skin fungus;
- Injuring the skin or nails with too tight shoes - the fungus enters the body more easily through damaged areas.
An important factor is the increased humidity and temperature to which the feet are constantly exposed.It is in such conditions that the fungus develops most actively, therefore fungal infections are often found either in regions with a subtropical climate, or where people are forced to wear warm shoes for a long time - in regions with a cold climate.The primary site of localization of the fungus in mycosis of the skin of the feet is usually the interdigital folds, but as the disease progresses, the lesion extends beyond them.
For information
According to the Ministry of Health, for 2010, mycoses of the feet (including onychomycosis) and hands were recorded in more than 220 thousand people.
However, fungal infections do not only affect the skin of the feet;The condition can occur almost anywhere, including the face.Large folds are often affected, including the inguinofemoral folds, legs and buttocks.
Skin fungus has specific symptoms that are quite easy to notice, namely:
- Peeling and dryness are one of the first manifestations of infection.Individual scales first appear on the affected area, caused by the rejection of the upper layer of the epidermis.With deeper penetration of the fungus, active peeling occurs, which only intensifies over time.
- White or red colored spots are round in shape with clearly defined edges.It is very important not to miss this symptom at the initial stage of the disease, because at this stage the spot can be single and small in size.Later, new spots appear, which gradually merge with each other.
- Thickening of the skin.The affected areas become dense, rough and rough, and often change color: the skin changes from pinkish or white to yellowish or grayish.
- The appearance of small rashes, blisters filled with fluid.
- Partial hair loss.
- Itching and burning is one of the most common symptoms of skin fungus.It may be present constantly or only appear periodically.It is important to understand here that itching and burning can be a sign of other skin diseases, such as allergies.
Don't ignore the appearance of cracks and calluses on your feet.Although they are not symptoms of a fungal disease themselves, the fungal infection enters the body much more quickly.
How to Cure Skin Fungus
Classically, two approaches to combating skin fungi can be distinguished.One of them is non-medicinal, in which various traditional medicines are used, the second is pharmacological.
The so-called home methods include the use of baths with infusions of medicinal herbs, treatment of skin fungus with iodine, soda or vinegar solution... The effectiveness of such treatment of skin fungus has not been clinically proven.If it helps, it is only at the very early stages of the development of the disease, since most folk remedies cannot penetrate into the deep layers of the epidermis, where the fungal colony is usually located.Therefore, with any mycosis, you should not waste time and aggravate the situation, but rather consult a doctor for diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
A significant effect is achieved by systemic treatment of skin fungus on the body using drugs in the form of capsules or tablets.Modern products contain substances that can stop the growth of new spores, block cell division at the DNA/RNA level and destroy the cell membranes of the fungus.However, systemic antimycotics (also called systemically acting fungicidal and fungistatic drugs) have many side effects and contraindications;they cannot be taken with certain medications - diabetics, antihistamines, contraceptives.Restrictions on the use of tablet forms concern, for example, blood diseases, kidney or liver pathologies.Additionally, it is recommended to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet for the duration of treatment.All this reduces the possibilities for systemic therapy.
Creams, sprays and solutions are an effective (clinically proven) method of local treatment of skin fungus and onychomycosis, which does not have many contraindications.It has a high cure rate, is used at any stage of fungal infection, and can be used in conjunction with systemic therapy to reduce the dose of oral medications.
The antimycotic components of gels, ointments and solutions are mainly allylamines, azoles or pyrimidines, which inhibit the vital activity of the fungus, deprive it of nutrition, stop its development and spread to other areas of the skin.Local therapy with these drugs makes it possible to create high concentrations of active substance in the skin, on the surface of the nail and in its cavities, which remain for weeks after the end of treatment.It is important that when using external agents, the active substance practically does not enter the systemic blood circulation and therefore does not have a negative effect on the body as a whole.
Many topical antifungal drugs have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, soften the skin, eliminate itching and redness, they are easy to apply to the affected surface, and sprays and solutions are convenient for treating even hairy parts of the body in case of damage.The duration of treatment with external agents and the frequency of their application are determined by the attending physician.
Ringworm is easier to prevent than to treat, but if signs of skin fungus are noticed on the body, treatment should be started immediately.It is important not to start the process and take appropriate measures in time, but you should start by contacting a specialist.It is the doctor who will tell you how to quickly cure skin fungus.Attempts at homemade treatment in this case can only aggravate the situation.
Cream against skin fungus
As a medicine for the treatment of fungal skin infections, you can choose a cream based on naftifine (1%), which is part of the allylamine class.The mechanism of action of the drug is based on the ability of the active substance to slow down the synthesis of ergosterol, the building material that makes up the cell wall and membrane of the fungus.As a result, the mycelium loses its ability to grow, which gradually leads to the death of the entire colony.
The drug is active against all major pathogens of mycosis and can be prescribed for trichophytosis, epidermophytosis, microsporia, candidiasis and cutaneous aspergillosis, tinea versicolor, sporotrichosis.The cream has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, reduces the risk of secondary bacterial infections and helps eliminate the symptoms of inflammation, especially itching.
The cream penetrates deep into the skin and creates a stable concentration of the antifungal agent in its different layers.After application to the skin, less than 6% of naftifine enters the systemic circulation.
Indications for use of the drug are:
- fungal infections of skin folds and smooth skin;
- interdigital mycoses;
- onychomycosis (nail fungus);
- cutaneous candidiasis;
- tinea versicolor;
- ringworm (with or without itching).
The cream has few contraindications.These include individual intolerance to the components, as well as pregnancy and lactation, since the safety and effectiveness of the drug in this category of patients have not yet been studied.Use the cream with caution in children.
Directions for use: If the skin is affected, simply apply the cream once a day to the affected surface and adjacent areas after cleaning and drying them.The duration of treatment is two to eight weeks (for candidiasis - four weeks).
In order to prevent relapses, it is recommended to continue treatment for another two weeks after the disappearance of clinical symptoms.
The cream in aluminum tubes (30 g) is available without a prescription.You can also order the product via the Internet.