Mycoses rank second among infectious skin diseases, after coccal pyoderma, while podiatry ranks first not only among all mycoses but among all pathologies of the foot.They are caused by a variety of pathogenic fungi.Cases of mycoses have increased in recent years, primarily due to endogenous factors—increased incidence of diabetes mellitus and distal circulatory lesions of the upper and lower extremities.
Some patients with dermatomycosis believe that it is a cosmetic or temporary problem and do not even ask themselves how to treat dermatophytes on their body, simply trying to hide the external manifestations of the infection under clothing, shoes, or foundation.But you should not expect the fungus to go away on its own: without proper treatment, fungal diseases can spread quickly and affect all new tissues and areas of the body. Additionally, people with this disease pose a serious risk to others, especially their family members.The fungus is also insidious in that it can easily relapse if treatment is unsuccessful.
In this article we will tell you how and how to treat dermatophytes and which symptoms indicate the presence of dermatophytes.
Causes of fungal diseases
Fungal infections vary, but the main causative agents of this 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, which distinguishes between:
- Corneal mycosis affects only the superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and the cuticle of the hair.
- Dermatomycoses - profoundly affect the skin and its appendages - nails and hair, but not the subcutaneous tissue (the largest group, including onychomycosis and podiatry).
- Candidiasis - in addition to the above, can affect mucous membranes and internal organs (caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida).
- Deep mycoses are systemic mycoses that can infect the entire subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, ear, nose, and throat organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain, and central nervous system (caused by yeasts and yeast-like fungi).
- Pseudomycosis - affects only the cuticle, not the nails and hair (caused by Corynebacterium parvum, formerly confused with fungi).
The most common type of dermatophytosis is dermatophytosis - dermatophytosis caused by fungi from three genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum.The vast majority of lesions of the skin and its epidermal appendages are caused by trichophyton, epidermophyton, and microsporum, and most commonly the disease affects the skin of the feet and nails.How do you get a fungal infection?Many factors may cause this:
- Visit public baths and saunas, swimming pools and water parks, public beaches, gyms, solariums and manicure/pedicure rooms, massage parlours, as the risk of feet or hands coming into contact with contaminated surfaces is particularly high in these places;
- Try on other people's shoes or use shared shoes;
- Inadequate foot hygiene, especially excessive sweating;
- Wearing closed shoes for a long time does not allow the feet to "breathe";
- Living with someone who already has skin fungus;
- Shoes that are too tight can damage the skin or nails - fungus can more easily penetrate the body through the damaged area.
An important factor is the increased humidity and temperature to which the feet are constantly exposed.It is under these conditions that fungi grow most actively, so fungal infections often occur in areas with subtropical climates, or where people are forced to wear warm shoes for long periods of time - areas with cold climates.The primary site of fungal localization in dermatomycosis of the foot is usually the interdigital folds, but as the disease progresses, lesions may extend beyond the interdigital folds.
For reference only
According to 2010 data from the Ministry of Health, more than 220,000 people have been registered for fungal diseases of the feet (including onychomycosis) and hands.
However, fungal diseases do not only affect the skin of the feet;The disease can occur almost anywhere, including the face.Large folds are often affected, especially the inguinofemoral fold, legs, and buttocks.
Dermatophytosis has specific symptoms that are easily noticed, these symptoms are:
- Flaking and dryness are one of the first signs of infection.Individual scales first appear on the affected areas, resulting from the rejection of the upper layers of the epidermis.As the fungus penetrates deeper, active peeling occurs, which only intensifies over time.
- The white or red spots are round with clear edges.It is important not to miss this symptom in the initial stages of the disease, when the spots may be single and small in size.Later, new spots appear and gradually merge with each other.
- Thickening of the skin.The affected area becomes dense, rough, and rough, and often changes color: the skin changes from pink or white to yellow or gray.
- A small rash of fluid-filled blisters appears.
- Some hair falls out.
- Itching and burning are among the most common symptoms of skin fungus.It may be ongoing or may occur only periodically.It's important to understand that itching and burning can be signs of other skin conditions, such as allergies.
Don’t ignore cracks and calluses that appear on your feet.Although they are not symptoms of a fungal disease in themselves, fungal infections enter the body much faster through them.
How to Treat Skin Fungus
Traditionally, two methods of combating skin fungi can be distinguished.One is non-medicinal, in which various traditional medicines are used, and the other is pharmacological.
So-called home methods include treating dermatophytes with herbal baths, iodine, soda or vinegar solutions... The effectiveness of this treatment for dermatophytes has not been clinically proven.Even if it helps, it is only in the early stages of disease development, since most folk remedies cannot penetrate deep into the epidermis, where fungal colonies are usually located.Therefore, with any fungal disease, one should not waste time and aggravate the condition, but should consult a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Systemic treatment of skin fungi on the body using medications in capsule or tablet form can yield significant results.Modern products contain substances that prevent the growth of new spores, prevent cell division at the DNA/RNA level and disrupt fungal cell membranes.But systemic antifungals (also called systemically acting fungicidal, fungistatic drugs) have many side effects and contraindications; they cannot be taken with certain medications - diabetes drugs, antihistamines, birth control pills.Restrictions on use of the tablet form include blood disorders, kidney or liver disease, etc.Additionally, it is recommended to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet during treatment.All of this narrows the possibilities for systemic treatment.
Creams, sprays, and solutions are effective (clinically proven) methods of topical treatment of dermatophytes and onychomycosis without many contraindications.It has a high cure rate and is suitable for any stage of fungal infection. It can be used in conjunction with systemic treatment to reduce the dosage of oral drugs.
Antifungal ingredients in gels, ointments and solutions are mainly allylamines, azoles or pyrimidines, which inhibit the life activities of fungi, deprive them of nutrients, prevent their development and spread to other parts of the skin.Topical treatment with these drugs produces high concentrations of the active substances in the skin, nail surfaces and their cavities, which remain for several weeks after treatment is completed.It is important that during the use of topical preparations, the active substance hardly enters the systemic blood stream and therefore does not have a negative impact on the entire body.
Many topical antifungals have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that soften the skin and eliminate itching and redness. They are easily applied to the affected surface, and sprays and solutions make it easy to treat even the furry parts of the body that are affected.The duration of topical drug therapy and the frequency of its use are determined by the attending physician.
Ringworm is easier to prevent than to treat, but if you notice signs of skin fungus on your body, you should start treatment immediately.It is important not to start the process and take appropriate measures in time, but you need to contact a specialist first.Your doctor will tell you how to cure skin fungus quickly.Attempting manual treatment in this situation will only make the situation worse.
Antifungal cream
As a drug for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin, you can choose a cream based on naftifine (1%), which belongs to the allylamine group.The mechanism of action of the drug is based on the ability of the active substance to slow down the synthesis of ergosterol, a building material that constitutes the cell walls and membranes of fungi.As a result, the mycelium loses its ability to grow, gradually causing the entire colony to die.
The drug is active against all major pathogens of fungal diseases and is used in the treatment of trichophyton, epidermophytosis, microsporomycosis, candidiasis and cutaneous aspergillosis, tinea versicolor, sporotrichosis.The cream has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces the possibility of secondary bacterial infections and helps eliminate symptoms of inflammation, especially itching.
The cream penetrates deep into the skin and creates a stable concentration of antifungal agents in the different layers.After application to the skin, less than 6% of naftifine enters the systemic circulation.
Indications for the use of this drug are:
- Fungal infections of skin folds and smooth skin;
- Interdigital mycosis;
- Onychomycosis (nail fungus);
- Cutaneous candidiasis;
- tinea versicolor;
- Ringworm (with or without itching).
This cream has almost no contraindications.These include individual intolerance to the ingredients, as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding, as the drug's safety and effectiveness have not been studied in such patients.Children should use this cream with caution.
Instructions for use: If skin is affected, apply the cream to the affected surface and adjacent areas once a day after cleansing and drying it.The duration of treatment is two to eight weeks (four weeks for candidiasis).
To prevent recurrence, it is recommended to continue treatment for an additional two weeks after clinical symptoms have disappeared.
The cream is available in aluminum tubes (30 g) without a prescription.You can also order products via the Internet.