Dermatomycosis: symptoms and treatment

Dermatomycosis is a skin disease caused by pathogenic fungi of Trichophyton, Microsporum and others.Infection occurs either by direct contact with a sick person or animal, or by contact with things on which the pathogen is present.Most often these things are shoes, clothes and personal hygiene items.

Table of contents: Symptoms of dermatomycosis Diagnosis and treatment of dermatomycosis Prevention of dermatomycosis

The following factors may contribute to infection with fungal infections:

• contact with sick people or animals;
• weakened overall immunity;
• Prolonged intake of antibiotics;
• presence of diabetes mellitus, oncological diseases, liver cirrhosis and other chronic diseases of internal organs;
• alcoholism and drug addiction;
• violation of general rules of personal hygiene;
• environment that promotes the development of fungi( hot climate, waterlogged air, poorly ventilated damp housing);
• incorrect, unbalanced power;
• non-observance of hygiene rules when visiting saunas, baths and swimming pools.

Any part of the skin can be affected by the fungus - both smooth and hairy.

Symptoms of dermatomycosis

Symptoms of mycosis diseases vary and depend on the specific zone of location.So, in the open areas of smooth skin, the affected area is slightly hyperemic( has a slight reddening), covered with scales and damp wound on top.In most cases, the patient feels itchy, at times very strong.Sometimes the affected area gives off a stench.

Symptoms depending on location:

• 

  Small pads are palpated on the scalp during palpation.In more neglected forms, the hair follicle becomes damaged and focal hair loss occurs.

• In the inguinal region or on the genitals, dermatomycosis manifests itself in the form of a rash, weighed down with the strongest itch.
• When the foot fungus between the toes appears small bubbles, which subsequently burst and this process is accompanied by an intolerable itch.In severe cases, the skin splits, and when walking, pain appears.

Important! If these symptoms occur, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.Self-medication can not be done in any case, because with the wrong therapy, the disease can go into a chronic form, the treatment of which is much harder and longer.

If there is a suspicion of the presence of dermatomycosis, then contact with household members should be minimized, thus, as much as possible to protect their loved ones.

Diagnosis and treatment of dermatomycosis

Precise diagnosis of dermatomycosis is possible only in a medical institution, a dermatologist. Primary detection occurs during visual inspection, then scraping is performed from the affected area and the resulting material is examined under a microscope.The doctor necessarily does one more diagnostic test: the skin is inspected under a Wood lamp( with the help of ultraviolet irradiation), where the infected areas emit a glow.

In the early stages of dermatomycosis are treated quite well.It is not recommended to apply powders on moistened lesions.Even the ancient Aesculapius knew the truth of "De humido infectum", which means "wet to treat wet", this rule is actual to this day.In combination with local methods, general therapy is provided.Perhaps the appointment of anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal therapy.For the duration of treatment, avoid contact with healthy people.

We recommend to read:

Dermatomycoses are quite well treated by folk methods, but the use of any, even the most proven and known, folk remedies must be coordinated with your doctor. Here are just a few recipes of folk medicine:

1. Fish oil is mixed with birch tar in a proportion of three to one and is applied to the affected areas of the skin at night as a compress.
2. A cabbage leaf is placed on the affected area, lubricated with sour cream.
3. Two liters of celandon broth are added to the bath of warm water.After taking such a bath, the inflammation is relieved and the itching decreases.
4. For seven hundred milliliters of boiling water, two tablespoons of chamomile, calendula and sage are added, the remedy is infused in a warm place.It is consumed a glass a day to improve immunity.
5. Lotion on the lesion from decoction of the bark of oak or chamomile.
6. Sick places are lubricated with birch tar or washed with tar soap.
7. Before going to bed, you can take a bath with a weak solution of potassium permanganate( manganese).This will help kill pathogenic microorganisms and reduce itching and inflammation.
8. The egg yolk is mixed with a teaspoon of tar.The resulting mass lubricates the rough and dry parts of the skin for softening.
9. Mash from ground natural coffee, applied to the place of dermatomycosis in the form of a lotion for thirty minutes, will soften and soothe the skin.
10. Shoes it is desirable to process from the inside with thirty percent acetic solution, both during the treatment period and for preventive purposes.

Prevention of dermatomycosis

Prevention of skin fungal diseases is limited to a number of non-tricky rules:

1. Personal care products and footwear should be used individually.Using other people's things leads to the transfer of fungi from a sick person to a healthy one.
2. Shoes must be kept clean, periodically treated with antibacterial and antifungal sprays.In the warm season it is desirable to wear open, well-ventilated shoes.
3. In public baths, saunas, swimming pools, you should train your slippers and do not use common things.
4. Clothing should preferably be selected from natural fabrics, because synthetics, in contact with the skin of the body, can cause irritation and various allergic reactions.In addition, synthetic fabrics absolutely do not absorb sweat, which creates an ideal nutrient medium for the development of fungi and bacteria.
5. Do not touch the homeless animals, it's worth protecting and children.Pets should be periodically inspected by a veterinarian and vaccinated on time.
6. To strengthen their own immunity is recommended a full, balanced diet, if necessary, additional use of vitamin-mineral complexes, strong, healthy sleep of sufficient duration.
7. Do not neglect preventive visits to the dermatologist, because the sooner the disease is revealed, the faster and easier it is to heal.

Observing these non-complex rules, it is quite possible to protect yourself and your loved ones from such an adversity as a fungal infection.After all, any disease is easier to prevent than treat.It is much more practical and wiser to direct our efforts towards prevention than to treating dermatomycosis.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical reviewer, therapist of the highest qualification category