Causes of cutaneous candidiasis
Patients sometimes inquire as to why doctors frequently refer them for testing or appointments with “related” experts. It would appear that what is simpler is: if it is spilled on the skin, treat the skin; nevertheless, not everything is that easy...
There are illnesses and skin disorders that are indicators, or indications, of a more serious pathology of the internal organs, in addition to burdening the patient with their symptoms. Skin candidiasis is one of these diseases.
Case from practice
An overweight, slightly overweight 30-year-old girl who had previously complained of dry skin on her hands began to feel itchy between her fingers. Then the redness joined the itching and the skin began to burst. Because she often had to wash and wash dishes with her hands, both she and the doctors who treated her interpreted the incident as "a gunpowder allergy."
However, the suggested medication (topical corticosteroids and antihistamines) only provided short respite; the symptoms never entirely vanished, and stopping the prescription resulted in a severe aggravation of the dermatosis. Changing washing powder and detergents on a regular basis didn't help either.
Here's where you'll find the dermatologist's office. After assessing the patient, I suggested pausing therapy for a time and testing for mushrooms. Following receiving the results and interrogating the patient further, I referred her to an endocrinologist, where the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was confirmed after an additional examination.
Prescribed antifungal treatment had a rapid effect and dietary adjustments made up for the initial manifestations of diabetes. I also recommended a gentler treatment for the skin of the hands, as the softening creams have been going on for 2 years since then. The dermatosis is no longer repeated and the lady who went to the dermatologist was able to prevent the development of serious endocrinological diseases in time.
Where does cutaneous candidiasis come from?
Candida fungi may be found virtually anywhere: in the environment, on the skin, in the intestines of healthy humans, birds, and animals, and so on... Nonetheless, the majority of us do not develop cutaneous candidiasis; only the "fortunate" get ill.
Very often, skin lesions and their appendages are caused by Candida albicans, which under normal conditions can be part of the normal microflora of the skin and intestines of humans and animals. Other candida (C. stellar idea, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guillermondi, C. curse, C. pseudotropicalis, etc., more than 160 species) are far less frequent causal agents, but have recently grown more prevalent.
The factors that influence the development of cutaneous candidiasis may be classified into two categories: internal and external.
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Internal:
1-Metabolic disorders, especially diabetes mellitus, obesity.
2-Severe, depleting diseases, more often oncological.
3-Chronic infectious diseases (tuberculosis).
4-Conditions after surgery.
5-Conditions associated with increased sweating (from prolonged elevated temperature to neurosis)
6-Circulatory disorders of the extremities.
7-Long-term treatment with corticosteroids (systemic), cytostatics, antibiotics (more often with self-administration of the latter)
8-Chronic intoxication.
9-Alcoholism, drug addiction.
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External:
1-On the skin and mucosal membranes, direct and long-term contact to hazardous chemicals (detergents, acids, alkalis, cement, etc.).
2-A room with a high temperature and humidity.
3-Clothing that is excessively warm, tight, and obstructive (not breathable).
4-Erosion, burns, skin damage during manicure.
5-Bad habits (for example, lip-biting in children, the habit of biting nails).
6-Ionizing radiation.
Most of the time, these variables are coupled, as in the case of the preceding example, where an aggressive environment (washing powder and dishwashing detergent solutions) combined with the development of internal pathology acted as an impetus for the development of a fungal infection.