Mycosis most often affects the feet, nails and skin. If you catch ringworm, don't panic, but don't take it lightly either. Mycosis, detected early, can be treated easily.
The most common isathlete's foot . In some environments, e.g. soldiers, steel workers, sportsmen, the infection reaches as much as 70%.
Dermatophyte disease, caused byfungi , begins with changes between the fingers. The epidermis in these places becomes moist, wrinkled, bubbles and longitudinal erosions form, sweat takes on a very unpleasant smell. If we do not react in time, the changes will spread and cover more and more areas of the feet. Sick areas are very itchy at first, but then there is pain that makes it difficult to walk. Ignoring these symptoms causes the nail to attack. Then the appearance of the tile surface changes. It loses its natural pink color, becomes cloudy white, yellow or even black, moreover, it thickens, and the previously smooth surface becomes ugly and porous. In a serious stage of the disease, the nail hurts with each pressure. There are times when it is difficult to find a comfortable shoe.
Less severe is the fungus of the skin calledTinea versicolor , which is caused by yeast and causes brown or white patches on the body. It is most often located in the groin in men or in the folds under the breasts in women and creates great psychological discomfort, especially when the affected person has to undress, for example in a swimming pool, in a solarium, or in a sauna.
Mycosis thrives in heat and humidity
The disease is not the result of a lack of hygiene, on the contrary - frequent use of soap with an inappropriate pH, excessive sterilization of the skin, long-term soaking of the feet in water weaken the protective lipid layer of the skin and make it susceptible to fungal attack. There are also many places that favor its spread. Swimming pools, gyms, saunas, fitness clubs - these are just some examples. Sometimes, to get infected, it is enough to wipe off with someone else's towel, use borrowed shoes or a hairbrush, or even a shared shower. Passable sports equipment in rentals, low-airing shoes are also allies of fungi that like heat and moisture and reproduce perfectly in these conditions.
Mycosis - treatment
If you notice disturbing skin changes - peeling, cracking of the epidermis, redness and itching, or thickening or change in color of the nail plates, it is worth visiting a dermatologist immediately. The same goes for the appearance of white or brown spots on the body. The mycosis will not go away on its own. There are many drugs available in pharmacies with which it can be effectively cured. An important part of the therapy is footwear decontamination as it can transmit spores. The procedure consists in putting a cotton wool soaked in a 5-10% formalin solution into the shoes, wrapping them in a plastic bag and leaving it for two days. Instead of formalin, you can also use 1%. quinoxizole solution. Shoe disinfection prevents recurrence and the chronic nature of the disease.
According to an expertprof. Roman Nowicki, head of the Mycology Laboratory of the Dermatological Clinic of the Medical Academy in GdańskHe althy skin can cope with fungal attack. The most at risk are people suffering from diabetes, asthma, allergy sufferers, the elderly, patients after long therapy with antibiotics, hormonal drugs and cytostatics, i.e. all those who have a weakened immune system. And the number of risk factors is constantly increasing. In addition, we wear clothes made of synthetic fabrics, we use swimming pools, gyms, etc. No wonder that the number of fungal infections is becoming an epidemiological problem, as evidenced by statistics. Every second Pole is infected with onychomycosis, and every fourth with onychomycosis. Among European countries, we occupy a less honorable 4th place, after the Russians, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Mycosis - prophylaxis
The best barrier is prevention. The main rule is to keep the skin in conditions in which it is dry and airy. Sweating of the body and feet is favored by clothes, i.e. underwear, shoes, and socks made of plastic. Therefore, they are not recommended, especially for people who are prone to sweating. Natural materials that allow the skin to breathe are recommended. You should not overdo it, but use moderation and common sense. It is worth remembering that the recommendation to change shoes is not only an imperative of elegance, but hygiene. Because even leather shoes should rest and dry for 1-2 days, so that they can be safely put on again. The protective effect extends to other areas as well. For example, it is advisable for ladies who like to wear nail tips to use protective anti-fungal varnishes, because the adhesive that holds the tips destroys the protective layer of the nail plate, which is conducive to infection.
Particular caution is recommended to people who have already had contact with the disease. They should avoid walking barefootafter wet wooden and carpet floor coverings, frequently change socks and underwear. If they use the swimming pool and shared bathing equipment, they must wear appropriate protective footwear, especially carefully wipe the skin folds, i.e. groin, armpits, spaces between the fingers, and then use powders and antifungal creams as a preventive measure. Because it is possible to live with the disease, but not very pleasant.
In the case of athlete's foot, I recommend the following method: 5 grams of bee putty, pour 1 liter of spirit and set aside for 14 days. Shake the bottle several times a day. Then drain the liquid through cheesecloth. Pure propolis is an excellent bactericide, disinfectant, the goo that remains on the gas is an effective means of lubricating sick places. Onychomycosis is more difficult to cure because fungi are deposited in the nail matrix. Doctors most often remove it, which is painful for the patient. Meanwhile, it is enough to put the overcooked onion to the nail overnight, wrap it with a bandage and put on a sock. The treatment lasts 8-9 days, and you need to cook fresh onions every day. On the other hand, I treat tinea versicolor, or tinea pedis, by recommending lubrication with a disinfectant, for example with amber spirit and an ointment rich in vitamins. But the most important thing is to heal the lining of the colon. I recommend then drinking 20 percent of the spoon in the morning on an empty stomach. Natrium Tiosulfuricum dissolved in a glass of hot water and the rice diet. For ten days you have to drink the preparation in the morning and eat only boiled rice 3-4 times a day, to which you can add ground linseed, grated apple or flavored herbs.