Dr Françoise Gahongayire, a dermatologist and esthetician at King Faisal Hospital, urges everyone to moisturise their skin, regardless of gender, to prevent fungal diseases.
Le Canapé: Which fungi cause contagious skin diseases?
Gahongayire: Among the fungi, we can talk about what are called dermatophytes. These are dermatoses that are on the skin and can be transmitted. These fungi can be transmitted either from one person to another, either through clothing, or from domestic animals to people, or in contaminated environments, where there are people in the same community who can transmit from one person to another. Some areas, wetlands can also transmit the fungi.
Le Canapé: What are the diseases caused by these fungi?
Dr Gahongayire: For example, ringworm. It is localized on the scalp. It is too common in children. When it is not well treated, it can also go to the hairless skin, to the face, to the back, even to the hands, to the arm, … They can go anywhere.
There are also fungi that can develop on the skin, apart from the scalp, and other fungi that can go into the folds. We have folds for example between the toes, what we call athlete’s foot, folds on the genital area, candida albicans or candidiasis, even in the mouth there are candidiasis.
Le Canapé: Can these skin diseases caused by fungi be cured?
Dr Gahongayire: Yes, very well indeed. These are diseases that can be cured very well. Of course, the patient has to adhere to the treatment because it is often a long treatment. And in principle, after examining the patient, we notice that the fungus is not located in just one place. It is several lesions or extensive lesions. That’s why we use systemic treatment, antifungals that are systemic. We combine topical drugs, that is to say drugs that must act on the lesion, we apply to the lesion, often ointments or lotions, it depends on the location of these lesions.
Le Canapé: Are drugs enough, isn’t it necessary to counsel patients?
Dr Gahongayire: Obviously, as these are contagious diseases, when we treat a patient, we must also give advice, educate the patient. For example, when the fungus is located between the toes, the patient must be asked to reduce the humidity between the toes. Every time he or she takes a bath, you have to know how to wipe, to reduce this moisture there and create a kind of dryness.
If you are treating fungus on the head, you have to create a balance there because often people tend to dry the head too much. When there is a lot of hair, it doesn’t work like on hairless skin. On the head, we need a lot of oil because we have sebaceous glands. So you have to restore this environment. Know how to moisturise the scalp first and then give the medication, and on a regular basis. And washing the head with soap too often, washing the head with soap too often, … is not good. It’s not good because it dries out and it keeps the fungus growing.
Le Canapé: oil in the hair, we thought it was only for women…
Dr Gahongayire: there is no skin for women, there is no skin for men. You have to moisturise the skin, nothing to do. Because when it’s dry, you put on medication but it often responds badly.
Le Canapé: Can oil in the hair be used to prevent fungus?
Dr Gahongayire: Exactly. You have to moisturise the skin well. You put that oil in there, you wash twice or once a week, using a special soap that’s designed for hair, the soaps that we call quite mild, it’s not very aggressive, so you prevent fungus.
Another thing, if fungus is prevalent in children but with hair salons it’s people who get their hair done every day. As it’s almost the same population, it’s people who get contaminated all the time. So we have to break this vicious circle. Know how to hydrate well, use medication well and follow the advice.
Le Canapé: Are there other preventive measures?
Dr Gahongayire: You have to wipe yourself well, avoid sharing hand towels, you must not change your clothes even if you are brothers and sisters. You have to respect each other’s personal hygiene. For example, underwear should not be shared, you should not wear someone else’s singlets, you should not use someone else’s shirt. You have to be personal with your toiletries. That’s very important. And then I would ask people to change socks and shoes regularly and to know how to wash properly.
Le Canapé: What about immunity in all this?
Dr Gahongayire: In current research it is predominantly in children. From an immunity point of view, the child is not very stable because of growth. A lot of children in school age have fungus. That I find ringworm, so fungus in children, is very normal. But when I see that an adult is affected, I have to look for what is behind it. Is there diabetes in it? Is there something that lowers immunity, is there a dryness somewhere, or are there other bad habits that he has acquired that need to be corrected. In other words, I always have to look for the reason for these fungi.
Le Canapé: But these children can also infect adults?
Dr Gahongayire: Of course. Small dogs, small cats, … You have to know how to do good hygiene for these pets when you adopt them.
Gérard Rugambwa
