Fungal lesions of the skin and nails - a disease that artfully waiting for its hour. Although at first the rashes on the skin appear to be a cosmetic defect. Recognize the disease and choose the right treatment!.

Consultant - Lyudmila Eleneva, a dermatologist in confusion days, we often do not pay attention to such seemingly minor troubles: nail changes color or any redness between the toes. And if we note for ourselves this annoying phenomenon, then the trip to the doctor "for finding out the circumstances" is postponed for later. But the itchy skin all the same strongly vexes, and we, having diagnosed ourselves "a fungus", we go to a drugstore as the Internet-edition for girls and women from 14 till 35 years transfers Pannochka. What is mycosis?.

To date, the arsenal of antifungal agents is huge. But to cure mycosis, it is necessary to act comprehensively. Only a doctor can diagnose and select appropriate drugs of internal and external action. Incorrectly using even the most expensive means of the last generation, one can only accustom one's "lodger" to a certain active substance. In the future, getting rid of the "fungus with immunity" will be much more difficult. Mycosis - a common name for infectious diseases of animals and humans, the causative agent of which are a variety of fungi.

Why does mycosis so like nails and skin?.

The fact is that the fungi excrete special enzymes of keratinase, which destroy proteins-keratins (of which the horny layer of skin, hair and nails consists), collagen and elastin. This is how fungi get themselves "food". Penetrating the nail, the fungus creates a niche where the fungal colony is located. The most suitable place - between the nail plate and the nail bed (here as a result of small nail injuries there are small crevices). Infected with mycosis tissue change the color and structure. But the fungus can exfoliate both the nail plate itself and the place of its connection with the nail bed. Later, the reaction of the nail bed to the fungus - thickening (hyperkeratosis), which is why the connection with the nail plate is broken for a long time. Over time, under the influence of the fungus inside the stratified nail plate and in the resulting horny layers, cavities, crevices, and sometimes channels that pass through the entire nail. In these cavities live fungal colonies, here the guests feel relatively safe: antifungal agents do not penetrate here.

How does the infection occur?.

Fungi for development need warmth and moisture. Therefore, the easiest way to pick up the fungus in the pool, sauna, gym, shower, on the beach. There is a possibility of infection in the manicure and pedicure room, where, firstly, it is wet, and secondly, the skin and nail plates are in danger of being injured, which means that it is easy to perceive spores of the fungus. Fungi are comfortable between the fingers, in the inguinal folds, axillary hollows, in the genital area, under the mammary glands (in women). But not every contact of the fungus with the skin leads to the development of the disease - the microorganism needs to penetrate through the skin. With increased sweating and flaking of the skin, when its protective acid level decreases, it is especially easy. Comfortable for the fungus environment - not skipping air, tight, rubber or synthetic footwear or clothing. Predispose to infection of blood supply disorders of both upper and lower extremities (varicose veins, endarteritis).

Treatment of fungal infections is a laborious and, as a rule, very long. Of course, it is better to prevent disease. To avoid contamination with the fungus, it is sufficient to treat the skin with stop antifungal ointment before and after visiting the public bath, gym or pool. Walk there only in your rubber slippers, flip flops, at home thoroughly cleaned feet, once again smear the skin with antifungal ointment and change socks. For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended that once a week you cover your toenails with antifungal varnish.

The first symptoms.

The manifestations of mycoses are extremely diverse and depend on the type of fungus, the localization of the process, the general state of the organism, and also the conditions of the external environment. Favorite "mushroom" places are the interdigital folds, the contacting surfaces of the fingers. The first signs of the disease - barely noticeable skin peeling in these areas. Patients suffering from a latent form of the disease usually do not go to the doctors and therefore are the source of infection. Often there is an interdigital variety of fungi.

In these places there are reddening, puffiness and peeling, the skin swells, the stratum corneum loosens. Interdigital fungus is accompanied by itching, and in the presence of cracks - painful. With bubble mycosis, stop bubbles of different sizes are located on the arch of the feet, the lateral surfaces of the feet and toes. Nail plates can also be affected: spots and bands of yellow color appear, nails are dull and uneven.

Attention, chameleons!.

Most of the changes in the nails actually turn out to be a fungus, but one must also take into account the other nature of these metamorphoses, for example, for chronic nail trauma, psoriasis and eczema. Changes in nails can be a consequence of certain skin diseases, internal infectious diseases, various kinds of intoxications, lesions of the nervous, endocrine and cardiovascular systems, as well as dystrophy. Finally, nail changes are congenital (outwardly similar to fungal lesions, but they are not). Of course, the appearance of the skin and nails can be corrected only by curing the underlying disease. Treatment of nails with antifungal drugs for non-fungal diseases is ineffective.

Timely treatment.

If you suspect a fungus, go immediately to the doctor. The final diagnosis of a dermatologist will be made only after a series of tests.

The prescribed treatment should be complex, besides it is rather complicated. When the nail plate is damaged, if the nail is strongly thickened and resembles the beak of a bird (the so-called onychograph), it is first softened with special preparations and patches, and then removed. The affected areas of the skin are lubricated with therapeutic ointments. You will have to undergo a long (up to 6 months) course of antibiotic treatment. In addition, a full examination and treatment of all identified foci of chronic infection will be required: carious teeth, inflammatory processes of the genito-urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract. In particular, in order to reduce the level of intoxication of the body, special attention should be given to the treatment of dysbiosis. After starting treatment, strictly observe all the rules of personal hygiene: everything that you touch should be disinfected: boil the towels, bed and underwear, iron the hosiery.

Particular attention was paid to shoes! For its disinfection, a 10% solution of formalin or acetic essence is best suited. In each pair of shoes with a stick (not to burn your fingers) put a sponge or crumpled newspaper, copiously sprinkled with a solution, and push it as deep as possible into the socks. Shoes put in a polyethylene bag, tightly tied and hidden away from children, best of all on the balcony. After 3 days, shoes carefully, so as not to burn your hands, get out of polyethylene, throw a sponge and put it on the balcony for airing. Only after that shoes are disinfected.

Little children do not have fungal infections! Children's nails are growing so quickly, and the peel is renewed at such a speed that the fungi just do not have time to take root!.

Health. Sumy. Ua.