Mycologist

A mycologist is a qualified specialist in such a field as fungal diseases, skin lesions, nails, hair. Mycology is a science from the field of dermatology and venereology. Therefore, the main goal and narrow focus of a mycologist and mycology is dermatology.

Mycology is a part of dermatology that studies genetics, fungal morphology, and physiology. The name of mycology and mycologist are quite understandable, since mycology is the study of fungi, that is, skin problems and diseases.

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Who is a mycologist?

Who is a mycologist? This is a doctor who diagnoses, treats and prevents fungal infections of nails, hair and skin. The causative agents of fungal diseases are various types of pathogenic fungi. The source and carrier of the disease can be a person, an animal, personal items and hygiene items.

The task of the mycologist is to find out the cause of the disease, find the source of the infection and eliminate it. Only after this can full treatment of the patient begin. The mycologist's field of activity is associated with such diseases as lichen, trichophytosis, candidiasis, rubrofitia and others. The mycologist also deals with the treatment of fungal diseases, for example, the treatment of nail fungus - onychomycosis.

To diagnose any disease, a mycologist conducts a full diagnosis of the patient. Takes scrapings from the affected area, that is, from the mucous membrane, skin or nail bed. The resulting samples are carefully examined under a microscope, and only after that the mycologist determines the disease and prescribes appropriate treatment.

When should you see a mycologist?

When to see a mycologist is a question that many patients ask, as everyone wants to know how to determine that a simple skin rash or nail damage can cause a serious illness.

You should contact a mycologist if you notice causeless or unpleasant changes on your skin that cause you discomfort. Particular attention should be paid to problems with nails, hair on the body and head. As a rule, any fungal disease begins to affect the skin between the little finger and the fourth toe, as well as in the folds of the feet. The main symptoms of the lesion are:

• Redness and itching of the skin.
• Peeling of the skin and subsequent formation of cracks and deep tears.

It is simply impossible to ignore such diseases, because if the cause is a fungal infection, the disease will progress and rise higher and higher until it affects the entire arm or leg. The danger is not only in the serious consequences of timely treatment, but also in the accompanying unpleasant sensations and deterioration in appearance due to growths and cracks in rough skin.

What tests should be taken when visiting a mycologist?

If you are going to see a doctor, you need to know what tests you need to take when visiting a mycologist. The first thing you need to do is take scrapings from your nails and skin. This will allow you to check for fungal diseases. Scrapings from eyelashes and skin are also taken to check for demodex, that is, mites.

To confirm the diagnosis, the mycologist sends the samples for laboratory testing. The results of the tests take from a couple of days to a week.

What diagnostic methods does a mycologist use?

A mycologist, like any other doctor whose work is closely related to the treatment of infectious diseases, has several diagnostic methods that allow him to accurately determine the disease and prescribe treatment.

In his practice, the mycologist uses laboratory methods of research and diagnostics. Only a full examination of the patient and examination of scrapings allow diagnosing the disease.

What does a mycologist do?

What does a mycologist do if his field of activity is very broad? Doctors who work in the field of mycology study and treat skin diseases, mycoses and other infections that appeared due to yeast fungi. It is yeast fungi that cause candidiasis, which is very difficult to get rid of. If mold fungi appear in the body, then we are talking about diseases such as epidermophytosis, trichophytosis or microsporia.

Every professional mycologist should know how to recognize a disease caused by a fungal infection from diseases with other causes of damage. Thus, non-fungal diseases, which in their symptoms are similar to those with which a mycologist works, can be caused by smoking, ENT problems, poor nutrition, infectious diseases in the body, hereditary diseases, injuries, problems with the cardiovascular system and allergic reactions to various irritants. In addition, mycologists deal with trichophytosis, that is, lichen diseases.

What diseases does a mycologist treat?

What diseases does a mycologist treat? First of all, these are diseases associated with fungal infection, that is, mycoses, as well as non-fungal diseases and nail problems. A mycologist treats diseases such as:

• Actinomycosis.
• Fungal pneumonia.
• Panniculitis.
• Aspergillosis.
• Onychomycosis.
• Mucormycosis.
• Dermatitis and itching.
• Paronychia.
• Candidiasis.
• Changes in nail color.
• Staphylococcal syndrome.
• Impetigo.
• Excessive sweating.
• Versicolor lichen.
• Dermatitis of the feet and hands.

Advice from a mycologist

Mycologist's advice is practical recommendations that will help solve many problems that a mycologist faces before they develop into a disease. Of course, it is not always possible to prevent the development of a disease, but preventive measures will never be superfluous.

1. If you have a predisposition to allergic diseases, try to avoid anything that can cause a reaction. Stay away from plants with allergenic pollen and keep your home clean, as sometimes the cause of allergies can be dust in the house.
2. To prevent damage to the skin, it is enough to follow basic hygiene rules. Take proper and regular care of your skin, do not allow diaper rash, chafing or prickly heat to develop. Use body talc and deodorants. Morning and evening showers will help avoid skin problems.
3. If you have developed candidiasis, in simple terms thrush, then you should not self-medicate or wait for the disease to pass on its own. Since delaying time leads to irreversible consequences, therefore, consult a doctor immediately. Remember that candidiasis can also appear due to medications that you took earlier. Only a doctor can find the cause of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.
4. Always keep your hands and feet clean and dry. Since excessive sweating of the feet can lead to serious skin problems, the treatment of which will take more than one month. As for the hands, their cleanliness and regular care are a guarantee that fungus or nail problems will not bother you.
5. Eat right, you should have a balanced diet. Our health depends on the quality of the food we eat. Don't forget to take vitamins in the winter and spring, when the body is most weakened and susceptible to various infectious and fungal diseases.

A mycologist is a specialist who knows everything about skin, hair and nail problems. This is a professional in the field of dermatology and genetics. Only a qualified professional mycologist is able to diagnose a disease, find and eliminate its cause.