Dermatological diseases today account for a significant proportion of the diseases that more and more people face every day.The rapid spread of diseases associated with disruption of the integrity of the skin and the functions of epithelial tissue is due not only to the increasing number of pathogenic pathogens in the external environment, but also to our lifestyle, daily habits and bad habits, which are the driving force for the development of various pathologies.
What is fungus and why does it happen?
Fungal skin diseases are ranked second in frequency of appearance after pus-filled lesions in the epidermis, called pyoderma.Fungal infections have specific pathogens - fungal microorganisms, which determine the development of fungal skin lesions only in the form or condition that causes the disease.
Since fungi are part of our environment and usually do not show their presence in any form, they are opportunistic microorganisms that take on a pathological form due to changes in environmental conditions suitable for reproduction and in cases where the immune defenses of the human body are weakened.
Athlete's foot is characterized by two types of disease - dermatosis, which directly affects the skin of the heels, toes, metatarsals or soles of the feet, and onychomycosis, which affects the nail folds, nail plates and the cuticles underneath them.The causative agents of onychomycosis have the ability to increase the area of infection, spreading to adjacent integumentary tissues.
Athlete's foot can be transmitted directly, for example by walking barefoot on soil infested with fungal microorganisms, through infected plants, or through close contact with people or animals with fungal diseases.Indirect routes of transmission of fungal diseases include the development of fungal infections due to the use of personal hygiene items of a person with fungus, through clothing and bed linen, as well as during the use of patient care items.
The varying degree of susceptibility to fungal pathogens in each person is due to many factors that can influence the tendency to develop infectious diseases and the nature of the disease.
Children under 10-12 years old are considered the most vulnerable age group.Most often, dermatologists diagnose infectious diseases caused by pathogenic fungal microorganisms in children, because their outer skin layer is still quite thin, which allows fungi to more easily feed on keratin, a specific protein of the skin that is a component of epithelial tissue.
In children, the immune defense mechanism is still at the stage of development and is not yet able to protect the body from the invasion of pathogenic microflora as well as the developed immune system that will protect it, therefore the child's body is constantly at risk of infection with various diseases and pathologies.
Athletes belong to a group of people who are often in a state of constant fungal growth on the skin of their feet.Changing rooms and bathrooms, often used by athletes before and after training, are ideal environments for intense activity of fungal microorganisms, since increased air temperature and increased humidity concentration are optimal conditions for activating the pathogenic form of fungi.
That is why excessive sweating of the feet often leads to the development of fungal infections on the skin of the feet, which can be caused by constantly wearing uncomfortable tight shoes that do not allow air to circulate.Constant sweating of the feet can be determined by the specific composition of the genetic material and can also be one of the external symptoms of diseases or pathologies present in the body.
Another impetus for the development of mycosis on the skin of the feet may be a change in the usual composition of sweat glands (water, uric acid, ammonia, amino acids and fatty acids) to those that are more toxic to our body and more suitable for activating fungi.Pathological changes in the composition of sweat have a particularly favorable effect on the development of infectious diseases caused by fungi of the genus Candida or yeast-like fungi.
Disturbances in the normal functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems, as well as the gastrointestinal tract, lead to a decrease in basic metabolism in the body, negatively affecting the functioning of organs of other systems and the processes of immune defense mechanisms.Since a weakened body is not able to adequately respond to the constant attacks of bacteria and pathogenic microflora, preventing their penetration into the body, a person becomes more susceptible to the negative influence of environmental factors, and is therefore susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.
The specific parasitism of fungi on the skin of the feet and in the body is manifested by many different symptoms depending on the stage of the disease.
A weak or abolished form of fungal infection is the earliest stage of development of the disease and is distinguished by characteristic signs that are expressed quite weakly.People with ankylosing spondylitis often have a burning sensation in the area of infection, small cracks appear on the skin surface, and the epidermis itself becomes pathologically dry.
Although the initial stages of infection are best treated, if the symptoms of infection with fungal microorganisms are ignored, the disease will develop in a more severe form, and if treated carelessly and irresponsibly, the disease will return because mycosis is characterized by frequent recurrences.
The squamous-keratotic form of mycosis develops after a mild form of fungal infection, if the disease is not eliminated at an early stage.During the squamous-keratotic stage of the disease, fungal microorganisms form a white coating and hard crust on the skin surface;The area of infection gradually increases and can reach significant sizes, for example from the folds between the fingers to the metatarsal bones.
The interstitial form of athlete's foot is classified by dermatologists as an advanced stage of infection.In the alternating form of the disease, swelling occurs in the folds between the toes, accompanied by redness of the superficial layers of the skin.Edema is often coarse and easily eroded.Infected skin areas are characterized by significant sloughing of the epidermis and the appearance of deep cracks, allowing fungal cells to enter the body.The boundaries of the parasite expand and the fungus spreads through the bloodstream to other organs and systems.
The form of athlete's foot infection is the most serious stage in the development of the pathology.For the most aggressive form of dyshidrosis, the most aggressive treatment methods are used, including pulse therapy, which involves taking strong doses of medication over a short period of time.It is characterized by the presence of fluid-filled blisters on the entire surface of the foot, which can burst and form deep erosions on the skin, accompanied by pain, severe itching and many inflammatory processes.
Treatment of fungal infections of the feet is carried out in three ways: using external treatment, internal treatment and combined treatment.
External influence on the source of infection with antifungal creams, ointments, gels, varnishes, powders, tonics and sprays is used in the early stages of the disease, when the parasitic condition of the fungus has not yet spread further.
The internal effect on pathogenic fungal microorganisms is carried out using fungicides, which can negatively affect the functioning of other organs and systems of the body, therefore these drugs often have many contraindications.They are used in cases of parasitic fungi inside the body, which occur at a later stage of the development of the disease.
Combination therapy gives the most pronounced effect, but in the early stages of fungal infection, external use is enough, since internal use of antifungal drugs can create additional complications and stress for the body.
The most effective drugs for eliminating mild forms of mycosis are drugs based on terbinafine, which promote the accumulation of squalene in the skin, destroying the pathological mechanism of action of fungal microorganisms.Terbinafine is a substance that is included in various antifungal drugs, allowing it to eliminate fungal diseases caused by various pathogens.
For systemic treatment, prescribed by the attending physician in cases where local drugs are ineffective, drugs with active ingredients such as itraconazole and ketaconazole are used.This treatment takes longer and is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years old, people with liver disease and impaired kidney function.
To prevent secondary development of the disease after treatment, you must carefully disinfect sanitary items, personal belongings and wardrobes, since the fungus during its reproductive period is capable of leaving mycelium and other waste on the belongings of an infected person.
A special spray is well suited for treating shoes against fungus.Antiseptics are aimed at removing the products of the growth of fungal cells from the personal belongings of a person with a fungal disease.With a 0.1% solution, wash the inside of the shoe and leave it overnight.The spray also disinfects shoes well, is a hypoallergenic product, does not leave traces or odors, and is suitable for shoes made from any material.
To effectively eliminate fungal infection and prevent its occurrence, you must carefully follow all preventive measures and monitor your health.Any disease, including fungal diseases, is always easier to prevent than to cure.