We talk about what yeast infection is, the symptoms of skin and nail damage characteristic of this disease, and how the fungus can be treated.
What is yeast infection?
Mycosis, or fungus, is an infectious disease with a high degree of contagion, caused by parasitic fungi. It can affect both humans and animals. The infection affects the skin of the face and body, the scalp, mucous membranes (including internal organs), and nail plates.
The disease is prone to relapse, so it may be difficult to recover from the fungus without seeing a doctor.
The causes of the fungus
Infection with a fungus can occur through direct contact with the carrier of the infection or surfaces and objects with spores of pathogenic fungi. Some pathogens of the fungus are considered opportunistic, for example the genus Candida. This means that they live in the body and sometimes even bring benefits, but in some situations they cause disease.
However, harmful fungi do not always cause illness. Normally, the immune system of a healthy person easily copes with a fungal infection, preventing it from spreading throughout the body. What are the prerequisites for the development of yeast infection?
Decreased immunity
Like any infection, the fungus is more likely to infect people with weakened immune systems. People who have recently had an infectious disease and have been taking antibacterial agents for a long time are at great risk for yeast infection. In addition, cancer patients who are treated with cytostatics are prone to fungal infections. This includes people with immune deficiencies such as HIV and AIDS.
Failure to respect personal hygiene
The fungus often attacks people who neglect personal hygiene - do not use an individual towel for the feet, do not put on flip-flops in the shower in the gym or by the pool, try on shoes in a storewithout socks.
Yeast infection can be contracted in beauty salons if the masters do not properly treat manicure and pedicure tools.
Certain chronic diseases
Especially those associated with poor healing of skin lesions - wounds, calluses, cracks. For example, the skin of people with diabetes is more fragile and the regeneration processes are slower. Injured areas become the gateway for fungal infections and more.
Individual characteristics
These include excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), which develops on its own or as a symptom of an illness. The structural features of the foot play an important role - the narrow interdigital space associated with hyperhidrosis creates favorable conditions for the development of the fungus.
Wearing tight shoes also predisposes to the appearance of fungus, as this causes the formation of calluses and damages the nail plate.
Types of mushrooms
There is no unified classification of yeast infection at the moment, but most often fungal diseases are considered in terms of the prevalence of the process. Superficial yeast infections include:
- keratomycosis - the fungus is found only in the upper layer (stratum corneum) of the skin of the face and body (versicolor versicolor);
- dermatomycosis / dermatophytosis - covers the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and nails (onychomycosis);
- candidiasis - mycosis of the mucous membranes ("thrush"), skin folds caused by the fungi Candida.
Systemic mycoses involve in the infection not only the skin and the mucous membranes, but also the internal organs (histoplasmos).
Depending on the origin of the causative agents of fungal infections, they are divided into:
- Yeast,
- moldy,
- domiformes.
Of these, only the first are part of normal human microflora. The other fungi act as pathogens.
It is possible to reliably determine the type of fungal pathogen with the help of laboratory diagnostics - smear or scraping of the affected tissues. In systemic fungal diseases, a blood test is a diagnostic element. Examinations will help rule out pathologies with similar symptoms, such as fungal T-cell lymphoma of the skin.
Signs of skin yeast infection and nail fungus
The course of the fungal disease is largely due to the variety of the responsible fungus itself. But, in general, superficial yeast infections show symptoms of similar damage. Skin yeast infections are characterized by symptoms such as:
- skin discoloration due to fungal disease - redness or discoloration of affected tissues;
- the formation of scaly or oozing spots and plaques which, with the progression of the disease, may merge into one;
- itching at the focus of inflammation;
- the appearance of scabs.
When the scalp is affected, hair loss and brittleness are observed. Dandruff can also be caused by fungal infections. On the face, the fungus is often noted in the crease of the upper eyelid.
When the feet are affected by yeast infection, there are painful cracks, burning, itchy blisters, thickening and engorgement of the skin. Sometimes an unpleasant odor can be present when an injury occurs The skin in the spaces between the fingers is the most vulnerable place to fungus. If a bacterial infection joins the disease, purulent ulcers appear on the skin.
Symptoms of onychomycosis: what does the nail look like when damaged?
- the affected nail during the disease changes color to yellow, black, brown or some other shade;
- the nail plate weakens, thickens or, on the contrary, thins;
- the nail is often separated from the bed, forming a "pocket";
- modification of the relief or shape of the nail plate in the event of disease;
- inflammation of adjacent tissue (periungual fold).
The toenails, especially on the big toes, are more likely to be affected by onychomycosis than on the hands.
Preparations for the treatment of fungi: how to choose
Medicines for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections are called antimycotics. Depending on the mechanism of action directed against fungi, antimycotics can be divided into two types:
- fungicide - destroys the spores of fungal infection;
- fungistatic - inhibits the activity of microorganisms (but does not kill them) and prevents the spread of infection.
The strength of the drug itself directly depends on the sensitivity of a particular fungus to the drug, as well as the dosage of the drug itself. Therefore, one and the same agent can exhibit both fungicidal and fungistatic properties against different pathogenic fungi. But antifungal drugs, like many antibiotics, are often versatile and have a broad spectrum of action.
Oral administration of drugs for the treatment of fungal diseases is justified in cases where the infection:
- does not respond to local treatment,
- is systemic,
- affects internal organs. In the most advanced cases, antifungal agents are prescribed in injectable solutions.
An example of an effective drug which treats systemic fungal lesions and extensive superficial skin and nail disease is fluconazole. Forms of release - tablets, capsules, powders for suspensions, liquids for injections.
So, for effective treatment of skin yeast infection and nail fungus, it is better to use drugs for external use, since they do not have a systemic effect and almost do not cause side reactions. Local remedies come in the form of:
- ointments;
- creams;
- drip solutions (including for the nails);
- spray solutions;
- antifungal nail polish.
Before using drugs against the fungus, you should read the instructions or consult a doctor.
Means for the treatment of fungi of the skin of the body and feet
The review of remedies for the treatment of scalp, body and legs fungus, as well as fingernails is for informational purposes only. Data on antifungal drugs are taken from official instructions. Before using them, you should study the annotation or consult your doctor.
clotrimazole
Antifungal drug for external use. The action on pathogens of the fungus depends on the dose.
- In small concentrations, the drug has a fungistatic effect, in large concentrations it has a fungicidal effect.
- Effective against dermatomycetes, yeast and mold-like fungi, the pink lichen pathogen and certain bacteria. In susceptible fungi resistance to drugs containing clotrimazole occurs relatively rarely.
- As a local remedy, the drug is used in the treatment of fungal lesions of smooth skin, interdigital cracks in the legs, complicated secondary yeast infections, diaper rash fungi of the skin.
- The duration of local drug therapy depends on the severity of the disease, the effectiveness of the treatment and the specific form of release.
In gynecological practice, it is used in the treatment of thrush, as well as as a disinfectant before childbirth.
Examples of medicines containing clotrimazole for the treatment of mycotic diseases of the skin of the body and legs
Creamapply 2 to 3 times a day in a thin layer on cleansed skin areas. Treatment of dermatomycosis takes at least 4 weeks, tinea versicolor - 1 to 2 weeks. With fungal diseases of the skin of the legs, the course is continued 2 weeks after the elimination of symptoms of the lesion.
Powderit should be applied to the skin 3-4 times a day, while improvements are seen after 3-5 days of treatment. To prevent disease recurrence or fungus complications, they are also used within 2 weeks of recovery.
Solutionfor external use requires a double application to the affected areas during the day.
Compared to a creamy texture, ointments take longer to be absorbed into the skin, but soften the scabs.
Creamwhich, in addition to clotrimazole, includes the glucocorticoid beclomethasone, which relieves itching and inflammation in affected skin areas, has an anti-allergic effect and reduces exudation (release of fluid from wounds).
It is indicated for the treatment of advanced and uncomplicated yeast infections of various parts of the body, the skin of the feet, including those suffering from eczema. The product is applied to the prepared skin 2-3 times a day.
- A cream that contains three active ingredients - clotrimazole, beclomethasone and gentamicin. The latter is an antibiotic.
- The cream is used for secondarily infected dermatoses, dermatomycosis and epidermophytosis of the arms, legs and feet twice a day.
- The duration of treatment with cream does not exceed 4 weeks.
Terbinafine
A drug with a predominantly fungicidal effect against dermatophytes, molds, yeasts and yeast-like fungi. It can be used both internally for systemic diseases and externally.
- Terbinafine tablets are used for yeast infection of the scalp, fungus of the skin and nails, common skin lesions with fungus, candidiasis of the mucous membranes and epidermis.
- Externally, the drug is used for the treatment and prevention of dermatomycosis of the smooth skin of the body, including the legs and feet, the groin area, diaper rash, infected with a fungus, tinea versicolor.
Examples of terbinafine-based products for the treatment of mycotic dermatoses
Creamusable from 12 years old. In the treatment of mycosis of the skin of the trunk, legs and feet, it is applied once a day for 1 week. If on the feet there is a swelling of the skin, cracks, itching and peeling, the treatment is prolonged up to 2 weeks, 1-2 times a day. A similar pattern is for cutaneous candidiasis and lichen versicolor.
For diaper rash, gauze can be applied on top, especially at night, to reduce discomfort.
Aerosolthe duration of treatment for mycosis of the skin is reduced to 1 week (once a day), but it is only suitable for adults. The skin must be well hydrated, the product is therefore applied in sufficient quantity.
Dermgelit is used for mushrooms in the same way as the spray. It is chosen with increased sweating of the feet, as it has a drying effect due to its high alcohol content. In addition, the gel consistency of the drug has a cooling effect, which relieves itching.
Naftifin
Antimycotic with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. Promotes the rapid disappearance of itching and inflammation. The fungicidal and fungistatic action depends on the strain of the causative agent of the disease.
It is used in the treatment of nail fungus, tinea versicolor, mycosis of the folds and feet, complicated bacterial yeast infection.
Examples of naftifine remedies for the treatment of mycotic diseases of the skin of the body
Creams and solutions for external use.
The method of applying both forms is the same: the preparations are applied to the dried and cleansed skin of the affected area, capturing 1 cm of healthy tissue. With dermatomycosis and candidiasis of the skin, the treatment lasts up to 4 weeks, if necessary, it can be extended up to 8 weeks.
Ketoconazole
Antimycotic with fungicidal and fungistatic activity. It has an antibacterial effect against streptococci and staphylococci. It is used for dermatomycosis of smooth skin and scalp, inguinal folds, candidiasis.
Means for the treatment of nail fungus
In the treatment of nail fungus, special medicinal varnishes are often used. The composition of many of them as an active substance includes amorolfine, an effective agent for external use with a wide spectrum of action.
This drug exhibits fungicidal and fungistatic activity by destroying the cell membrane of fungi. After application, the product soaks the nail and gets into the bed during the day. The therapeutic concentration in the nail is reached 7-10 days after the first application.
The degree of fungal infection:
- should not affect more than 2/3 of the nail surface;
- if the prevalence of nail fungus is higher, consult your doctor for an effective antifungal tablet.
Before applying the products, you must remove the top coat from the affected areas using the files typically included in the kit. Files should not be used on healthy nails.
After preparing the plate, carefully treat the surface with an alcohol swab in order to disinfect, degrease and additionally remove sawn particles from the nail. Using the applicator, completely cover the nail with an even coat of varnish. The nail drying time is about 3 minutes. Avoid applying the composition to the adjacent soft seed coat to avoid dry skin.
The treatment of nail fungus continues until the nail plate is completely restored, and getting rid of it is so easy. Therefore, you have to be patient, as the process takes around 6 months for the nails and 9-12 months for the nails. The application procedure is repeated 1-2 times a week.
During the treatment period, you should abandon the extension of artificial nails and the use of decorative coatings. Although some products will cover the affected nail plate with cosmetic compounds, it is best to avoid this. Why?
The structure of the nail affected by the fungus becomes looser and more sensitive to external factors. Thus, the pigment contained in the decorative varnish sinks deeper and can affect the final shade of the "scarred" nail.
Medicines can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of fungal nail infections. They are not suitable for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women.
In the treatment of onychomycosis, certain agents "cutaneous" with naftifine are also effective. Show fungicidal properties against fungi-dermatophytes, have a fungistatic effect on fungi of the genus Candida.
Before using the products, nails showing signs of fungal infection are also pre-polished with a nail file and cut with scissors. Then it is applied to the entire surface, covering with a thick bandage, twice a day.
The course of treatment is 6 months, with complicated forms - 8 months, after which it is continued to be used for 2 weeks to prevent relapses.
Antimycotics have contraindications. When applying them at home, do not be guided by reviews, but only by official instructions.