Arbitrarily using drugs of unknown origin
Through exploitation, the patient said that the disease has been progressing for 2 years, starting with multi-arc red plaques, a thin scaly surface, has gone to many places for examination, used many types of topical medicine bought online, bought at pharmacies but without prescriptions. In addition, the patient also bathes in leaves, drinks traditional and traditional medicine every day. The lesions do not improve but also spread throughout the body.
Through the examination process, doctors discovered that the patient's basic lesions were polyarc-shaped red plaques, clearly bordering the healthy skin, the center of the lesions was benign, the surface was peeling and thinly sticky, spreading to the head, face, hands, feet, and body. Fresh examination to find fungus in the arm, leg, and body showed images of filament fungus. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with: systemic skin fungus. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole and topical antifungal medication.
After 3 days of treatment, the patient's condition has improved well: skin lesions are darker, less red, no longer scaly. The patient continued treatment according to the hospital regimen.
MSc.BS Duong Phuc Hieu - Department of Treatment of Women's and Children's Skin Diseases, Central Dermatology Hospital, said that skin diseases caused by dermatophytes are superficial skin infections, including stem fungus, facial fungus, inguinal fungus, hand and foot fungus. Diagnosis is mainly based on clinical symptoms and fresh examination tests to find fungus. Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor may prescribe topical medication, oral medication or a combination of both. The disease usually responds to treatment quite well after 1-2 weeks. However, improper use of medication can make the condition worse and prolong the treatment time.
Consequences of abusing topical medication incorrectly
According to BSCKII Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Head of the Department of Treatment of Women's and Children's Skin Diseases, currently, along with the development of e-commerce platforms, people can easily access many types of topical medicines with flowery advertisements such as: "Boils fungus after 3 days", "Ends eczema, leech cysts after just one application", "3 generations of family em"... Therefore, the Central Dermatology Hospital receives many patients coming to the clinic with skin ulcers, red papules and excessive itching that cannot be controlled.
Doctors said that most topical medicines of unknown origin or self-mixed medicines (mixed creams) often contain high-content Corticosteroids. In the early stages, the skin itching disappears very quickly, redness disappears, causing patients to mistakenly believe they have recovered. In fact, corticosteroids only suppress local immunity, preventing fungi from being destroyed and also "nurturing" fungi to develop silently.
When continuously applying the above drugs without prescription, without clear origin or ingredients to the fungal skin area, patients will face serious complications:
- Inflammation after steroid application (Tinea Incognito): Fungi lose their typical shape, spread throughout the body, and penetrate deep into hair follicles, making treatment later very difficult.
- Skin atrophy, stretch marks: Skin becomes as thin and sticky as paper, revealing blood vessels and irreversible stretch marks appear.
- Bacterial superinfection: The skin's immune system is weakened, creating conditions for bacteria to invade, causing pus, ulcers, and even blood infections.
- Drug dependence: Stopping application is a severe, itchy skin fungus outbreak.
If you have accidentally used the wrong medicine, your doctor recommends:
- Stop applying the medicine immediately: Accept a few uncomfortable days to cut off dependence.
- Take a photo of the drug label (if any): This helps the doctor determine the active ingredient you have used to have an accurate handling direction.
- Specialized examination: Severe skin fungus due to incorrect medication needs a combination regimen between oral antifungal drugs and specialized skin recovery creams.
