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 pathologies of the foot.They are caused by a large group of pathogenic fungi.In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of mycosis, largely due to endogenous factors - an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and circulatory disorders in the distal parts of the upper and lower extremities.
Some patients suffering from skin mycoses consider it an aesthetic or temporary problem and do not even ask themselves how to treat the skin fungus on the body, but only try to hide the external manifestations of the infection under clothing, shoes or foundation.However, you should not expect that the fungus will disappear on its own: without appropriate therapy, mycoses can quickly spread and affect all new tissues and areas of the body, and, moreover, a person suffering from the disease poses a serious threat to others, especially to his household. The insidiousness of the fungus is also evident in the fact that it easily recurs if therapy is not completed successfully.
In this article we will tell you how and how to treat skin fungus and what symptoms indicate it.
Causes of the development of fungal diseases
Fungal infections are different, but the main causes of the disease are dermatophytes, yeast-like fungi and molds.There is a system that takes into account the depth of penetration and localization of the infection and distinguishes:
- Keratomycosis affects only the superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and the cuticle of the hair.
- Dermatomycosis - strongly affects the skin and its appendages - nails and hair, but does not affect the subcutaneous tissue (the largest group, which includes onychomycosis and mycosis of the feet).
- Candidiasis – can also affect the mucous membranes and internal organs (caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida).
- Deep mycoses are systemic mycoses that can affect the subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, ENT organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain and the central nervous system as a whole (caused by yeasts and yeast-like fungi).
- Pseudomycosis – affects only the stratum corneum, without affecting the nails and hair (caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum, which was previously confused with fungi).
The most common types of skin mycoses are dermatophytosis – dermatomycosis caused by fungi from 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 most often the disease 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, as in these places the risk of contact of feet or hands with contaminated surfaces is particularly high;
- trying on another person's shoes or using shared shoes;
- inadequate foot hygiene, especially with excessive sweating;
- wearing closed shoes for a long time, which prevents the foot from “breathing”;
- Living with a person who already suffers from skin fungus;
- Injuries to the skin or nails caused by shoes that are too tight - the fungus penetrates the body more easily through damaged areas.
A significant factor is the increased humidity and temperature to which the feet are constantly exposed.In such conditions, the fungus develops most actively, so fungal infections often occur 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 site of primary localization of the fungus in mycoses of the skin of the feet is usually the interdigital folds, but as the disease progresses, the lesion expands beyond them.
For your information
According to the Ministry of Health, in 2010 mycoses of the feet (including onychomycosis) and hands were recorded in more than 220,000 people.
However, mycoses do not only affect the skin of the feet;The disease can occur in almost any area, including the face.Large folds are often affected, especially the groin-thigh folds, the legs and the buttocks.
Mycoses of the skin have specific symptoms that are easy to recognize:
- Peeling and dryness are one of the first signs of infection.Individual scales initially appear on the affected area, which are caused by the rejection of the upper epidermal layer.As the fungus penetrates deeper, active peeling occurs, which only increases over time.
- White or red spots have a round shape with clearly defined edges.It is very important not to miss this symptom in the initial stages of the disease, as the spot at this time may be single and small.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 color from pink or white to yellowish or grayish.
- The appearance of small rashes and fluid-filled blisters.
- Partial hair loss.
- Itching and burning are among the most common symptoms of skin fungus.It can be present all the time or only occur periodically.It is important to understand that itching and burning can be a sign of other skin diseases, such as allergies.
Do not ignore the appearance of cracks and calluses on your feet.Although they are not symptoms of a fungal disease themselves, they cause the fungal infection to enter the body much more quickly.
How to cure skin fungus
Conventionally, two approaches to combating skin fungi can be distinguished.One of them is non-medical in nature and uses various traditional medicines, the second is pharmacological in nature.
The so-called home methods include the use of baths with medicinal herbal infusions, treatment of skin fungus with iodine, a solution of soda or vinegar... The effectiveness of such treatment of skin fungus has not been clinically proven.If it can help, then only in 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 consult a doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate therapy.
A significant effect is achieved by systemic treatment of skin fungi on the body with 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 fungus's cell membranes.However, systemic antifungals (also known as fungicidal and fungistatic drugs with systemic action) have many side effects and contraindications;They cannot be taken together with certain medications – diabetics, antihistamines, contraceptives.Restrictions on the use of tablet forms include blood diseases, kidney or liver diseases.In addition, it is recommended to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet during the treatment period.All of this limits the options for systemic therapy.
Creams, sprays and solutions are an effective (clinically proven) method of local treatment of skin fungus and onychomycosis, for which there are not many contraindications.It has a high cure rate, is used at any stage of a fungal infection, and can be used in conjunction with systemic therapy to reduce the dosage of oral medications.
The antifungal components in gels, ointments and solutions are mainly allylamines, azoles or pyrimidines, which inhibit the vital activity of the fungus, depriving it of nutrition and stopping its development and spread to other areas of the skin.Through local therapy with these drugs, it is possible to create high concentrations of the active ingredient in the skin, on the surface of the nail and in its cavities, which persist for weeks after the completion of treatment.It is important that when using external agents, the active ingredient almost does not enter the systemic bloodstream and therefore does not have a negative effect on the entire body.
Many topical antifungal agents have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, soften the skin, eliminate itching and redness, are easily applied to the affected surface, and sprays and solutions are also suitable for treating hairy areas of the body in case of damage.The duration of treatment with external agents and the frequency of their use are determined by the attending physician.
Ringworm is easier to prevent than to treat, but if signs of a skin fungus are detected on the body, treatment should be started immediately.It is important not to start the process and take appropriate measures in a timely manner, but you must first contact a specialist.The doctor will tell you how to quickly cure skin fungus.Attempts at manual treatment in this case can only worsen 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 belongs to the class of allylamines.The mechanism of action of the drug is based on the ability of the active ingredient 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 mycosis pathogens and can be prescribed for trichophytosis, epidermophytosis, microsporia, candidiasis and aspergillosis of the skin, pityriasis versicolor and sporotrichosis.The cream has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, reduces the risk of secondary bacterial infections and helps eliminate symptoms of inflammation, especially itching.
The cream penetrates deep into the skin and ensures a stable concentration of the antifungal agent in the various 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;
- Pityriasis versicolor;
- Ringworm (with or without itching).
The cream has few contraindications.These include individual intolerance to the components, as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding, since the safety and effectiveness of the drug in this category of patients has not yet been studied.The cream should be used with caution in children.
Application: For affected skin, it is sufficient to apply the cream once a day to the affected surface and adjacent areas after cleaning and drying.The duration of treatment is two to eight weeks (four weeks for candidiasis).
To prevent relapses, it is recommended to continue therapy for 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.