Treatment of Fungal Infections of the Skin

Introduction

Fungal skin infections are caused by different types of fungi and can be a common culprit of itchy skin.Fungi invade and grow in dead keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. The different types of fungal infections are divided into groups based on what type of fungus is involved.

Fungal infections on, or near to the surface of the body

The most common fungi to cause skin infections are the tinea group of fungi. For example,athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common fungal infection of the toes and feet. Tinea infection also causes ringworm (tinea corporis) and ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). It also causes many fungal nail infections. A common fungal infection of the mouth and of the vagina is called thrush. This is caused by an overgrowth of candida which is a yeast (a type of fungus).

Fungal infections within the body

Fungal infections of the skin, nails, vagina and mouth are quite common. If you are healthy and have a normal immune system, it is rare for fungi to affect internal organs. However, fungal infections of the heart, lung, brain and other organs sometimes do occur.

Causes of Fungal infection

You’re more likely to get a fungal skin infection if you:

·         don’t dry your skin fully after a bath or shower

·         come into contact with a person or animal with a fungal skin infection

·         touch contaminated items, such as clothes, towels and bedclothes

·         walk barefoot in shower and pool areas

·         wear tight clothing that doesn’t allow sweat to evaporate

·         have diabetes

·         are pregnant

·         have a weakened immune system, for example, if you have HIV/AIDS

Treatment of fungal infections

General measures

• Correct predisposing factors where possible.
• Keep the affected skin clean and dry. Wash daily. Take care to dry between the toes and in the skin folds; use a hair dryer if necessary. Use your own towel.
• Hot wash socks, towels, bathmats at a temperature of at least 60C.
• Antiseptics
• Dequalinium chloride lozenges for oral candidiasis (Dequacaine®, Dequadin®)
• Di-iodohydroxyquinoline for vulvovaginal candidiasis (Floraquin® vaginal tablets).

To reduce reinfection

• Avoid walking bare foot where others may tread - wear jandals, sandals or aquasocks at the public pools and sports changing rooms.
• Avoid long periods wearing the same clothing, or wearing occlusive clothing such as wet weather gear and nylon pantyhose.
• Wear open-toed sandals when possible. Avoid long periods in occlusive footwear such as gum boots or tramping boots.
• Use antifungal foot powder e.g. ciclopirox (Batrafen®), econazole (Pevaryl®), miconazole (Daktarin®, Fungo®), tolciclate (Tolmicen®), tolnaftate (Tinaderm®), undecylenic acid (Mycota®). Sprinkle it in your shoes.

Related : 

Your skin demands some attention

What’s the Best Skin Rejuvenation Treatment?

What’s the Best Skin Rejuvenation Treatment?

Our skin is the most important feature of our body. However, various factors such as unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits, ageing and polluted environment can cause numerous skin problems. Nowadays, skin irregularities like wrinkles, acne scars and blotchiness are the most common of all skin problems.

Dr. Krupa Shankar Skin Diagnostic Centre offers a variety of skin treatments for facial rejuvenation including surgical and non-surgical procedures.

1. CHEMICAL PEELS

Skin resurfacing through chemical peels is a non-surgical cure. Chemical peels are made using differing formulas to treat moderate to severe acne, scars, and pigmentations.

Peels are done on weekly or fortnightly basis. A pre peel preparation of about two weeks is completed before first peel. The chemical solution is applied to your whole face or just on some spots. The number of peels differs depending on the severity of skin problems.

Types of chemical peels

Glycolic (AHA) Peel: There is no need of anesthesia as it is a mild peel used to reduce effects of aging and sun damage such as wrinkles and brown spots.

TCA Peel: TCA peel is effective in the reduction of wrinkles, pigmentary changes and skin blemishes. It is also used on the other areas of body that have been exposed to the sun.

Phenol Peel: It is used to treat severe skin problems including rough and sun damaged facial skin. Unlike TCA, it cannot be used on other parts of body.

2. DERMABRASION

It’s a surgical treatment that uses a wire brush or a wheel to create injury. The injury heals as the new skin grows replacing the old wounded skin.

Dermabrasion requires anesthesia for it is painful. Sometimes ice pack or freezing spray is used to harden the skin. Post-surgery care is similar treating burns.

3. LASER RESURFACING

There are two forms of laser resurfacing. One involves less invasion and injury while the other is more invasive and needs drilling which is also called fractional resurfacing. Like other skin rejuvenation treatments, it is used to treat wrinkles, age spots, scars from acne and other causes.

Before choosing any skin rejuvenation treatment, it is of utmost importance to get the knowledge of any risk involved. Consult a doctor to get a more comprehensive knowledge of the treatment that would suit your skin.

Also see :Say GoodBye to Tattoo

Say Goodbye to Your Tattoo

The craze for tattoo is evident everywhere. However, it is a craze that vanishes soon too. Tattoo removal can be as painful as getting a tattoo and have many side effects too. Q-Switched lasers now provide a safer and less painful technology for effectively removing tattoos.

Dr Krupa Shankar, one of the top dermatologists in Bangalore, shares some facts about tattoo removing Q-Switched laser technology:

Three types of lasers are currently used for tattoo removal. Q-switched ruby laser, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and Q-switched alexandrite laser. The Q-switched ruby and alexandrite lasers are useful for removing black, blue and green inks. The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser can be used to remove black and dark blue inks. The frequency doubled Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser is used to remove red and orange tattoos.

There are five types of tattoos: professional, amateur, medicinal, traumatic, resulting from accidents, cosmetic, such as eye or lip liner. Q-Switched laser systems can remove all types of tattoos with no or little scarring.

In treatment, laser light is applied to the tattooed area which on absorption breaks ink into small particles, leaving the surrounding skin unharmed. Over a series of treatments, more ink shatters causing the tattoo to fade and then vanish.

The number of treatments is based on various factors such as type of tattoo, age, skin type, medical history. Q-Switched lasers can be painful, therefore anesthesia is used.

LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers emit monochromatic, that is of single color and/or wavelength, light through stimulated emission.

Tattoo removal lasers produce specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by certain colors of tattoo ink while avoiding damage to surrounding skin. Each wavelength corresponds to a certain range of tattoo ink colors, which why different types of tattoo removal lasers are available. Many wavelengths are needed to treat multicolored tattoos.

Tattoo removal techniques such as surgical excision, salabrasion, dermabrasion, cryosurgery, and chemical peels have been abandoned due to the failure in yielding desirable results and adverse effects including hypopigmentation and scarring.

Also have some useful information about laser treatment

Your skin demands some attention

According to Dr. Krupa Shankar not all skins are alike. Some dry, some are oily, some are sensitive, and others are a mix of dry and oily, delicate and oily, or dry and delicate. You may even have a skin type that is all of the three – dry, sensitive and oily. Knowing your skin type is a standout amongst the most principal issues in any skin care regime. This is on account of your skin can react contrastingly to various sorts of skin treatments.

Basically the individual with oily skin has excessive oil-secreting glands. All skins contain glands just underneath the surface of the skin which emit oil to continually nourish and moisten the skin.

The dry skin on the other hand is the inverse of the oily skin. The oil glands under the skin may not be as productive in secreting oil onto the skin surface for some reason, depriving the skin of its basic moisturizing need. Appropriate skin care is absolutely dependent upon the skin type you have.

Nowadays, the idea of beauty has achieved a whole new dimension. The principle substance of beauty, that is skin, is currently viewed as an imperative part of our social lives. There is lots of accentuation in the general public to have a smooth,clear and radiant skin. With this expanded accentuation, the number of skin treatments has likewise shot up. Innumerable treatment have likewise developed as an aftereffect of this hyper fixation on excellent skin. Few treatments guarantee spotless skin.But, despite the fact that the nature of treatment is sensibly great, it doesn’t yield craved results in light of unacceptability of skin. There are also certain different properties – which when not effectively compared, can decrease the effect of even the most trusted of treatments. Consider following points before going for any skin treatment–

1. The sort of dermis assumes a critical part in choosing the outcomes of any skin treatment on your body.

      2. If you are experiencing any skin deformity, it is vital to know the exact reason for its cause before hopping to any skin treatment.

Planning to go for a laser hair removal treatment? Here are Some Tips

We all desire for a silky, smooth and hairless skin and in this age of science and technology it is possible to fulfill this desire. The laser hair removal treatment has become exceedingly popular and a huge number of people are opting for this treatment in order to get rid of unwanted body hair. In case you too are planning to go for a laser hair removal treatment then here is some advice from the renowned expert, Dr. Krupa Shankar. Keep reading to know more:

• Results are NOT permanent

The first thing you must know about laser hair removal is that this treatment is effective but its results are not permanent.  A lot of people have a huge misconception that the results of this treatment are permanent and after undergoing a set of six sitting they can boast of a hairless body for the rest of their lives. Well, sadly this is not true at all. You can expect up to 80% reduction in the growth of your body hair after undergoing at least six sessions of this treatment.

• Contact ONLY experts

This treatment is so much in demand that a lot of people have jumped into this business and are offering this service at a lower price. Beware of such people because they are not experts and there are chances that you can get severe burns on your body if you take services of inexperienced professionals. Always go to renowned and experienced dermatologists in order to get a laser hair removal treatment done!

• Skin type and hair type

Laser works best on hard and dark hair. Fair skin and dark hair are a perfect combination and laser works best on people who have this sort of skin and hair combination. The best way is to consult an expert in order to talk about it in an extensive way.

The Best Way to Fight Wrinkles & Acne at the Same Time

Acne breakouts or wrinkles are challenging enough when you’re dealing only with one or the other, but when you’re struggling with both at the same time, it’s doubly frustrating!

5 essential products for treating acne and wrinkles

Essential #1: A  gentle, water-soluble cleanser. Acne does not respond to drying cleansers or bar soaps; these actually make matters worse. “Medicated” cleansers aren’t helpful either, because the active ingredient, even if it’s effective, is just rinsed down the drain. On the other hand, just because your skin is showing signs of aging doesn’t mean you need a rich cleansing cream, because the emollient ingredients in these types of cleansers can clog pores and make breakouts worse.

Essential #2: A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliant. Exfoliating with a BHA (active ingredient: salicylic acid) product is the most effective way to improve breakouts and fight signs of aging at the same time.

Essential #3: A treatment serum with antioxidants. Most serums are lightweight, which makes them great for use on breakout-prone areas, and the best ones are loaded with the kinds of ingredients all skin types need to look and act younger and healthier and to help heal the red marks blemishes leave behind.

Essential #4: Lightweight anti-aging/anti-wrinkle moisturizer. The trick in this case is to find a moisturizer that hydrates skin without feeling thick, creamy, or greasy, all of which can aggravate breakouts. Apply at night after exfoliating and after applying your treatment serum, and be sure to apply it around your eye area, too.

Essential #5: Matte-finish daytime moisturizer with sunscreen (or a foundation with sunscreen). No anti-aging routine is complete without daily sun protection from a product rated SPF 15 or greater, and greater is better, to a point. Those with breakouts and wrinkles need sun protection from a product that smoothes and hydrates without making breakouts worse. Don’t forget, you also can use consider a foundation and a pressed powder with sunscreen as your daily facial sun protection.

This steps can be done once or twice daily, after cleansing and exfoliating.

Also See:  Skin health by Dr. Krupa Shankar

Mental Stress and Skin Disorder

It is extremely surprising to actually believe that stress can affect our skin as well. Imagine flaky patches, dry skin and rashes on skin because of tension and stress. Well hold your horses because it is true. 

It is crystal clear about the stress youngsters go through nowadays. Be the stress due to board exams or semesters, high competition in everything possible. Good clothes, academics, money, brands, travel destinations. Because of such unhealthy competitions children suffer from massive stress which further has worse consequences.  

It has just been deduced from a study that children (mostly undergraduates) were found out with more symptoms of stress. They suffered from oily, dry, waxy or had flaky patches on the scalp. The study also stated that these children had abnormal sweating habits and had troublesome day.

This study thus stated about the ratio that suffers from skin problems due to excessive mental stress. According to psychologists this stress can be channelized and all these issues can be resorted with some dedication. They say that today’s generation is low on peace and certainly short on self-satisfaction. They are not satisfied with what they have. Situations like these forcefully push children towards stress. Psychologists believe if the children could start following the simple strategy of working they might be able to lose the hells which they think keep breaking on them.

Dr. Krupa Shankar, Bangalore is an renowed dermatologist states that often I see youngsters with skin problems, they don’t have any genetic issue nor are they exposed to extreme conditions. They are certainly victims of stress. Nevertheless, try taking less stress, or try to channelize it somehow. But you must get your skin checked if you think you are stressed, let Dr. Krupa Shankar help you come out of your worst skin conditions. 

Derma Roller For younger looking skin

Everybody is born with lovely, shining skin, yet few individuals figure out how to keep it that way for longer. However, it is a fact that for most of us, protecting our skin's health is not a top need, we mindlessly avoid paying attention to the skin that it needs. Everyday our skin has to deal with harsh forces like dust, awful cosmetics, dry air, cruel UV rays, allergens, pollution, and other harming stuff that accelerate the occurrence of skin related issues.

The skin is the biggest organ of the body, making it most helpless against the cruel components. Skipping out on a decent healthy skin regimen can truly bring about your skin to look more aged than its actual age. These days a lot of people are relying on Derma Rollers to get back the glory of their skin.

The main thing you have to think about derma roller procedure is that it is 100% safe, maybe even more secure than the dermatological treatments you get at the salons and beauty parlors.

This technique involves pricking the skin with micro-needles. This pricking prompts the skin to speed up the healing process and in a way it gets renewed. These pinpricks open up your skin's pores, animating the lower layers and accelerating the collagen creation.  According to Dr. Krupa Skankar you should do nothing more than to offer your skin some assistance with healing itself and to kick off the regular skin revival process.

While the treatment may hurt a bit in the first sitting, you soon wouldn't worry about the pinpricks when you see the positive outcome that too in a short time. Do remember to get it done from a reputed skin care clinic that has skilled professionals.

Derma rolling is one of those do-it-without-anyone's-help systems that truly deliver visible changes to your skin directly after the first treatment. 

Role of Dermatologist for Skin Treatment

Dermatologists have magical wands like Photoshop that can change the look and texture of your skin by treating all your acne, scars, and wrinkle problems. Dermatologists are specialized skin doctors whose aesthetic goals are to give treatment for skin, hair, and nails. A dermatologist performs dedicated treatments related to skin conditions like externally applied, injected, and internal medicines, ultraviolet light therapy, and a range of dermatologic surgical treatments.

Science and technology have evolved the techniques to change the shape of your natural features like nose, lips, and chin. Dermatology also helps in treating the droopy jaws, skin dullness, spider veins, sun spots, tattoo marks, and many more such conditions. Cosmetic dermatology also benefits the surgical use of high frequency electric current treatments known as electrosurgery that destroy the tissues, cryosurgery, excision surgery, and laser surgery. The laser surgery is in high demand these days and targets the skin hypopigmentation that results in clearing them by either lightening or tightening. This technique is highly used to remove acne, scars, and moles from the skin.

Dr. Krupa Shankar has established one of the best skin clinics with all the facilities under one roof. This clinic provides services such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, skin tightening, chemical peels, sclerotherapy, collagen fillers, and microdermabrasion. Dr. Krupa Shankar is one of the renowned names in the field of skin doctors in Bangalore. He has earned a reputed medical degree and an internship with specialty training for pediatric, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.

As we all know that skin is the largest organ of our body. Our skin protects us against harmful environmental elements and eliminating toxins, therefore it is important to take good care of our skin to maintain the quality.

Regular skin diagnosis help skins experts check the skin on various parameters and help you get healthy skin. Conducting a thorough analysis is one of the most important aspects not only for any beauty treatment to  achieve expected results, but also health reasons as well to ensure there are no underlying conditions that need to be addressed.

What's important about skin analysis is that it gives you a clear picture of its current state, from which a treatment plan can be made. And, by detecting any possible issues early it can reduce the amount of treatments that might be needed, as well as the associated costs involved.

Skin analysis involves a careful examination of the condition, taking into account any aspects that may be damaging to our health, including skin type, underlying medical conditions, previous sun exposure and daily skin care routine.

When you want to achieve remarkable results, you need to ensure that the skin care specialist conducts a comprehensive diagnosis, which addresses possible internal and external influences. To achieve great results, it is best to embrace the science of the Skin Scanner, perpetrating deep into your skin and unveiling a highly accurate diagnosis. A part of skin analysis process is using a UV camera to take a snapshot of the condition of your skin, allowing the analyst to see what the naked eye can't do.

Dr. KrupaShankar specializes in skin care, and conducts thorough skin diagnosis to treat any kind of skin issues.

 

Keep your skin flawless this Monsoon

Monsoon season certainly provides relief from the scorching heat of harsh summers but the humidity that comes along with the rainy season takes a huge toll on the skin. A lot of people complain that their skin becomes more prone to acne, rashes and blemishes during monsoon. Dr.Krupa Shankar shares a few valuable tips to keep your skin clean and clear amidst the humid climate. Read on:

·    Drink plenty of water: This certainly is one of the most common skincare advices but it works like a charm. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily in order to flush out the toxic substances out of your system. This would keep your skin naturally clean and hydrated.

·    Don’t skip sunscreen: Cloudy days do not give you an excuse to skip sunscreen. The skin is at risk from getting damaged due to UV rays even in monsoon, so make sure you apply sunscreen before stepping out of your den.

·    Wash your face: It is important to wash your face 2-3 times a day in order to keep it oil-free and dirt-free. Washing your face would save your skin from getting sticky due to humidity.

·    Use moisturizer: Some people have a wrong notion that using moisturizer in monsoon can cause stickiness due to the humid climate. Your skin always needs moisturizer in order to remain in its best form but make sure to pick a moisturizer that suits your skin type.  

Grow young through fitness

Rejuvenation of human bodies leads to the revival of their inner strength. Experience the whole new perspective of living with Dr. KrupaShankar Devasthanam, who has pioneered the domain of Dermatology. He is an ex-Professor & Head of dermatology, Academic coordinator, Post graduate teacher & examiner, clinical researcher & Chairman of scientific committee (Manipal Hospital Bangalore).

Dr. Krupa Shankar has accomplished Co2 laser surgery in South India and erbium YAG laser applications in vitiligo. He is also actively implicated in researching monoclonal antibody therapy of psoriasis and stem cell therapy in vitiligo. Apart from diagnostic services like patch test, skin prick test, autologus serum skin test, atopic patch test, fungal mounts and skin biopsy, Dr. Krupa Shankar also offers various other treatment services. Patients can avail unmatched Treatment Services inclusive of botox, fillers, chemical peels, Fractional Laser, Microdermabrasion, Derma roller, Ablative Radiofrequency and more at highly nominal charges.

Adding, he is the owner at Dr. Krupa Shankar's Skin Diagnosis Center, Bangalore, which has helped several patients, from across the globe, to overcome various skin related problems. The Diagnosis Center is well-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and other treatment facilities requisite for personalized care. A well-versed team of dermatologists is allied with this Diagnosis Center, which operates in complete sync with your concerns. Dr. Krupa Shankar has marked a remarkable niche in the domain owing to his vast expertise in all facets of dermatology together with cosmetic, medical and surgical.