Effectively treats skin and nail fungus

Fungal diseases are a fairly common phenomenon. But not everyone understands how to properly deal with such issues. People often buy "neighbor-recommended" medicines at pharmacies or try traditional medicines. Some people who receive this treatment suffer from their problems for years.But to defeat the fungus effectively and quickly requires expert consultation and the correct choice of medical treatment. After completing the necessary tests, a specialist will be able to prescribe a medication to help overcome the annoying problem. Usually, the destruction of the fungus requires procedural topical treatment, in which the affected tissue is cleaned and the source of infection is neutralized. The most important thing to know is that treatment alone is not effective. Let’s figure out how to choose the right treatment.This article is not intended to be a guide to choosing a medication on your own; it is simply to give you a better understanding of the basis on which your treating dermatologist will base your decision. All cases are individual, and it is easy to overlook important nuances of contraindications and course of disease that physicians will certainly notice and take into account when choosing antifungal therapy and duration of treatment.

What is a fungus or fungal disease?

Mycoses, commonly known as fungi, are a series of highly contagious infectious diseases.

• Pathogens: Various types of parasitic fungi (pathogenic and opportunistic).
• Affected areas: skin, nails, hair, mucous membranes.
• Relapse: Very likely.

Where it can happen: Public places such as bathrooms, showers, gyms, swimming pools, beaches, etc.How infection occurs: Through contact with mucous membranes, microtears in the skin.The disease is highly contagious. It’s nearly impossible to fully recover on your own. Fungal diseases are most dangerous for immunocompromised people when their overall condition is worse than normal. A doctor's help and the right choice of antifungal medication can solve the problem.You can become infected from someone else's cat or by touching objects that have spores left behind from the fungal infection. But not all types of fungal infections are pathogenic. There are also species that often persist in the body and are even useful in some cases (e. g. Candida). But if the fungal growth increases, a course of treatment may be needed.

causes of fungal diseases

Healthy people with good immunity usually do not become infected with disease-causing fungi. If everything is fine with the immune system, it can easily cope with such a load and no fungal growth will occur.

decrease in immunity

If your immune system is weakened, your risk of contracting the disease increases. If you have recently been treated with antibiotics, your immunity is always lowered and caution should be exercised.People with immunodeficiencies, cancer patients, and patients receiving cytostatic therapy are always at risk.

Insufficient hygiene when using public places

• If one goes to a swimming pool or public bath, one always needs to bring a personal towel and flip-flops with them.
• You should do the same when you go to the gym.
• It is recommended to wear only socks to the store to try on shoes.
• It is necessary to ensure that the salon professionals do not forget to sterilize the instruments.
• Do not use other people's toiletries.
• Tight shoes or synthetic underwear are not recommended.
• If the skin is damaged, you should not forget about antiseptics, since infection occurs through damaged areas.

chronic disease

They themselves reduce immunity and negatively affect the body's resistance. Skin diseases are particularly prone to problems such as fungal diseases: cracks and calluses. With certain medical conditions, the skin can become dry and brittle (for patients with diabetes, varicose veins). All skin conditions put people at risk.

characteristics of characters

There may be individual characteristics that create the right conditions for fungal disease. For example, hyperhidrosis, or sweating on the palms and soles of the feet. There are other individual characteristics that create a favorable environment for various pathogenic fungi.

Types of fungi

No classification of pathogenic fungi has been described. Diseases are often classified based on symptoms and degree of spread. Diseases such as nail fungus, skin fungus, and foot fungus are classified as superficial mycoses. The prevalence of fungal diseases may vary:

• Calatomycosis - when microorganisms are present only in the stratum corneum of the skin;
• Dermatophytosis - if the fungal infection successfully penetrates the epidermis, hair follicles and dermis;
• Candidiasis - Mucosal damage.

There are also systemic mycoses, which are characterized by damage not only to the outer skin, but also to the internal organs. Pathogen type:

1. Yeast is often part of the microbiome.
2. Molds are pathogenic.
3. Dodmiphorae are pathogenic.

Diagnosis is necessary in order to accurately determine the cause of the infection and then take effective treatment measures based on special means. If the outer skin tissue is affected, perform a smear or scrape. When the problem is in the internal organs, microscopy based on blood tests can be used to determine the type of pathogen. Certain types of infectious lesions share the same clinical symptoms, and the exact cause can only be determined through analysis.

How to Recognize Fungal Disease - Symptoms

Although each type of infection has its own characteristics and manifests itself at different stages of the disease, superficial mycoses also share common disease symptoms:

• Changes in skin color - redness or loss of color;
• Have areas of persistent peeling or leakage;
• itching;
• Crust.

For scalp injuries:

• Symptoms of fungus are usually dandruff;
• Fragility and hair loss.

on the face:

• Lesions appear in the upper eyelid folds.

On feet:

• crack;
• combustion;
• bubble;
• More common is an unpleasant odor;
• Rough skin;
• Thickening of the skin;
• Ulcers (if there is also a bacterial infection).

On the nails:

• There are small white spots on the plate;
• Affected nail has white streaks;
• Color changes to black, yellow, brown;
• The structure changes (becomes stratified);
• Thickening or thinning of nails;
• The nail plate moves away from the bed;
• Inflamed nailfold;
• Changes in nail shape or relief.

Initially, the infection develops unnoticed, and many people only notice nail fungus later in the progression of the disease, not when the condition of the skin and nails can be corrected relatively easily and quickly. If the first signs of pathological changes appear, it is recommended to consult a specialist immediately.

Medications to Treat Fungus

Medications that treat fungi are called antifungals, derived from the words "anti" and "fungal disease, " but more commonly they are simply called antifungals. Such drugs are divided into two categories based on their effects:

• Drugs used to treat spore-destroying fungi - fungicides;
• Those drugs that do not inhibit the development of a fungal infection and prevent its growth, but do not eliminate it, are fungistats.

The type of treatment a doctor decides to prescribe is influenced by a variety of factors, including the patient's physical characteristics.The effectiveness of a specific drug depends on the following factors:

• Dosage of active substance;
• Spectrum of action of active substances.

Most commonly, fungi are treated with topical medications such as antifungal ointments. If the fungus cannot be cured by topical treatments, or if the disease is systemic and has a long course, oral medications (antifungal tablets) may be used. When the situation is very difficult, the fungus can even be cured with injections.

Post form

Topical antifungals come in different forms:

• ointment;
• cream;
• spray;
• solution;
• Antifungal varnish (for nail lesions).

If the lesion is only external, then topical treatment may be sufficient. A special feature of this class of drugs is that unlike internal medicines, they have almost no side effects. If the disease recurs, comprehensive treatment with systemic antifungals is needed to manage a more complex course. The course of treatment can then be carried out. Treatment is not always correctly determined based on clinical presentation, so testing is needed. Sometimes, fungal diseases can exacerbate the course of allergic diseases a patient may have. In this case, adsorbents can be used.One of the most commonly used drugs for antifungal treatment is fluconazole. It can be used for both external and internal lesions. This substance is found in a variety of drugs. Available in tablets, capsules, injections and other dosage forms. To prevent fungus, disinfectants are used on the skin of the feet, palms and nails. Prevention also means taking timely vitamins to support the immune system.