How to quickly cure lichen in a person at home: treatment methods

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What does lichen look like in humans? What are the types of this disease? How to treat? Readers can find answers to these and other questions in this article.

Ringworm is an infectious skin disease characterized by the appearance of flaky and itchy spots on the body. As doctors note, people with weak immune systems are at risk. Moreover, such a “gift” can be received both from an animal and from an already ill person.

Causes and symptoms

Almost always, lichen on the leg is transmitted by contact. The most common reasons are:

• weak immunity;
• colds;
• severe stress;
• poor diet and poor sleep;
• not a fully formed organism (in children).

What does lichen look like on a person’s leg:

• the appearance of lesions (spots) measuring 0.5-1 cm;
• change in skin color;
• peeling;
• itching

Any of the symptoms is a reason to go to the hospital. Some types of lichen can be dangerous for the patient and others.

Features of the disease

Ringworm is one of the most common skin diseases that occurs in humans after viral infections, colds and other factors that reduce the body’s immunity. Women are more susceptible to the effects of shingles than men. The presented disease has similar features to chickenpox, since after the first appearance, a person develops resistance to the disease. But lichen can recur if your body is weakened.

Lichen bacterium

One of the features of the disease is the fact that it can go away on its own within a few months, without the use of medications. But you shouldn’t wait for a positive outcome; you need to take action right away.

This applies to cases where your skin is covered with a large number of plaques. This creates certain psychological and physiological problems. Treatment can be carried out both with medications and folk remedies, but it is best to do it in combination.

Flat type

To date, the main cause of this disease has not yet been identified. Experts believe that it lies in genetic disorders, due to which the human body reacts negatively to cells, and therefore secretes antibodies against them. The theory is confirmed, since the symptoms of the infection disappear immediately after the patient is given immunosuppressive drugs.

This type of lichen forms on the leg in the form of red spots of different shapes.

Over time, they are able to increase in size and eventually merge into one. The disease can cause severe discomfort in the patient; itching also occurs during sleep.

Feature - the surface of the stain looks shiny, there is no peeling. Treatment:

• sanitation of foci of infection;
• identification and cure of the main disease;
• prescription of multivitamin preparations, restoratives and vitamins;
• the use of hormonal agents for systemic and external treatment;
• the use of Bucca rays and cryodestruction methods to destroy skin nodules;
• taking radon and hydrogen sulfide baths.

Dermatosis can become a chronic disease, so treatment takes a long time. The infection may occur with temporary exacerbations, but it is almost impossible to completely get rid of lichen planus. If you treat treatment with full responsibility, you can achieve a positive result.

Ringworm on the leg can become chronic

What does ringworm look like?

Lichen planus

What are the symptoms of lichen planus? This disease, it is worth noting, affects not only the skin, but also the nail plate and mucous membranes. The abdomen, back and limbs are predominantly affected.

What is the appearance of the formations? These are itchy rashes that are red, pinkish, or even red-purple in color. This kind of shiny rash has an asymmetrical shape.

At the very beginning of infection, there are few such rings, but every day the affected area increases. In most cases, erosions and ulcers appear at the site of these formations, which gradually merge together.

Pityriasis versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor or so-called versicolor versicolor is known for its scaly patches, which are most often found in young boys and girls. This disease can affect absolutely the entire body, including the limbs and head.

In the first days of infection, the spots of such lichen may have a greenish color, but over time they become brownish. The shape can be completely different, but their size usually does not exceed a few centimeters.

Ringworm

Lichen pelvis is an infectious-allergic disease, sometimes called Pincus lichen. This type of herpes is typical for boys 3-9 years old.

It is noted that lichen planus superficially resembles herpes planus. At first, this formation has a pearlescent tint. The size usually does not exceed a millet grain. As for the shape, the rash resembles an oval. Over time, these nodules do not merge. However, the color changes from flesh to bright pink. Peeling is not observed.

Typically, lichen planus affects the limbs, lower abdomen, and genital area. In rare cases, this disease occurs in the mucous cavities.

Pityriasis rosea

Zhibert's lichen or pityriasis rosea, as doctors note, appears for the most part after cooling (during spring and autumn). Moreover, such a rash is observed mainly in women.

This lichen affects the entire body except the limbs. The color of such formations can be either light brown or pink.

Such spots with rounded edges cause discomfort to the patient, peel and cause itching. The size of the rash is usually 3-5 cm. At first, pink plaques appear in one place, but over time they spread to distant areas of the body.

Ringworm

Ringworm appears on the torso, head, neck and shoulders. These are red and pink spots, the diameter of which is 1-4 cm. There are many foci of this disease, hair falls out in such places.

The spots peel off and crusts form on the edges. Over time, the flat rash turns into purple formations, from which unpleasant-smelling pus is released.

Shingles

What are the symptoms of herpes zoster? If the stage of lichen is the initial stage, the size of the spots is approximately 0.5 cm. Next, bubbles with clear liquid appear on the patient’s body. Over time, such formations dry out, become crusty and fall off. Swelling and redness of the skin also occurs.

What areas does shingles affect? Typically, such a rash appears on the face, on the arm, between the ribs and in the genital area.

Linear lichen

Linear lichen is a unilateral rash over the entire body. The width of such a rash is 1-2 cm, length - 5-30 cm. The lines, as doctors note, can be either straight or wavy. On the extremities, this disease grows parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arms and legs.

This type of formation usually appears as a rash on the surface of the skin. The color of lichen varies from pinkish to deep red. However, over time, such spots begin to lighten.

Ringworm Devergie

Devergie's lichen is an inflammation of microscopic orifices in the epidermis, which results in the appearance of red, dense nodules that resemble bran in appearance. The hair in the affected areas appears weakened and the formations flake off. Over time, small nodules merge into large red spots.

What area does Devergie's lichen affect? Hair on the head, forehead, cheeks and neck, nails and phalanges of the fingers, upper back and chest, elbows and knees. From the outside it seems that the person is covered with goose bumps.

Herpes

The development of vesicular lichen begins with redness, inflammation of the skin and the appearance of pustules on the affected area.

These types of bubbles open over time, their contents come out, and crusts form. The spots themselves merge into larger formations with jagged edges.

Lichen asbestos

How to recognize lichen asbestos? The first thing that appears in the hairline is silvery scales. At first the lesions are small, but after that they begin to grow. The scalp becomes red and inflamed, peeling occurs, and sometimes cracks form.

As you might have guessed, lichen asbestos mainly affects the scalp and the area behind the ears.

Pink type

Zhiber's disease appears due to the development of a pathological malfunction, which is allergic in nature. It worsens after a decrease in the body’s protective functions, experienced ARVI and colds. Ringworm is not transmitted from person to person.

In the initial stages of the disease, a round pink spot appears on the leg. The first plaque is usually called the “mother spot”; its size reaches up to 25 mm in diameter. After a while, the rest of the body also becomes covered with spots, but smaller in size. The formations may peel and itch. It is important not to touch them, because... Bacteria and germs can enter the wound. It is better not to wear very tight clothes to avoid damaging your skin.

No treatment is prescribed for the disease. After 2-3 weeks, the plaques disappear on their own, but when the first spots appear, you must go to the hospital to determine the diagnosis. The symptoms of pityriasis rosea can easily be confused with other skin diseases. The patient is recommended:

• Until complete recovery, follow a diet that does not contain highly allergenic foods;
• You can’t take baths, it’s better to shower - it should be daily, it’s forbidden to rub your skin with a washcloth;
• the rash must be smeared with special products that will soften the skin and relieve irritation;
• if itching causes great discomfort, it is recommended to take antihistamines;
• if the rash has occupied a large part of the body, creams containing corticosteroids may be prescribed.

For lichen deprivation, daily showering is recommended.

Treatment methods

When diagnosing pityriasis versicolor, the patient is prescribed antifungal drugs - in a systemic and external complex. Local therapy involves the use of special shampoos, gels and creams. Traditional treatment methods can be supplemented with homeopathic or folk remedies. Their correct combination allows you to count on a favorable prognosis.

Pharmacy drugs

The essence of drug treatment for versicolor versicolor is the use of antimycotic and keratolytic drugs aimed at eliminating fungi and exfoliating the affected layer of skin. The drugs used are available in the form of a spray, gel, ointment or tablets, so the patient is able to choose the most suitable remedy.

Table. Drug treatment of lichen versicolor.

To avoid the possible spread of the disease among family members of the infected person, he needs to be given separate bathroom accessories and bedding.

If there is an individual intolerance to antifungal drugs, the skin disease can be treated using herbal medicine or homeopathy.

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Herbal medicine for lichen versicolor

1. Dymyanka. A medicinal plant that has a calming effect on the skin.
2. Barberry. A large species of shrub used for medicinal purposes. Restores the affected areas of the skin, eliminates peeling, which is a frequent companion of pityriasis versicolor.
3. Potassium bromide. A colorless substance with a crystalline structure. Often used in the treatment of dermatological diseases.
4. Goldenrod. A perennial herbaceous plant, effectively used for rashes or itchy skin.
5. Graphite. A mineral that promotes the activation of regenerative processes in the human body, due to which the affected areas of the skin are quickly restored.
6. "Psoril." Homeopathic medicine available in capsule form. It is used to treat many skin pathologies, including lichen versicolor. The therapeutic properties of the drug are achieved due to the oil content of violet, rosemary, elderberry, mint, milk thistle and other plants.

Shampoo "Psorilom" for lichen

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of therapy can also be supplemented with the help of traditional medicine. they will help eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore the affected skin to its former appearance. Below are the most effective recipes for folk remedies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA1kMwIykE4

Table. Traditional medicine for pityriasis versicolor.

Folk remedies for pityriasis versicolor
In folk medicine, there are a huge number of recipes used for pityriasis versicolor, but not all of them are truly effective. Therefore, in order to avoid possible consequences, it is recommended to consult with your doctor before using this or that product.

The main emphasis in the treatment of various types of lichen is on medications. After consulting with your dermatologist, try one of these proven home recipes. How to treat lichen at home? Use medicinal herbs, natural substances.

Traditional methods:

• Mix melted lard - 500 g, fresh birch buds - 1 cup until smooth. Place in a clay dish and simmer the mixture in the oven for 3 hours every day. After a week, throw away the kidneys and pour the fat into a clean container. Lubricate the hot spots every day.
• Grind the roots and leaves of celery, proportions 1:1. Apply the resulting paste daily to problem areas. Take 2 tbsp of freshly squeezed celery juice three times a day. l. spoons.
• Prepare an infusion of bearberry root. Grind the plant, pour in 200 g of water, boil, let it brew. After 6 hours, the natural medicine is ready. Take the strained infusion after 2 hours, one tablespoon at a time. The course of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
• Squeeze lemon juice and wipe the inflamed areas 2-3 times a day.

Important! Check with your doctor to see if these recipes can be used for your type of illness. They will not cause harm, but some varieties of lichen are prohibited from being treated with caustic compounds, including lemon juice.

Read about the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis using traditional methods at this address.

Since ancient times, people have been cured of lichen by various natural methods using folk methods. Today, such recipes help no less, and in combination with medications they give a good effect.

To eliminate the disease, it is recommended to use natural substances such as apple cider vinegar, sea buckthorn or rosehip oil. These oils should be used to wipe damaged areas of the skin. Infusions, decoctions of St. John's wort, rue or onion juice will help boost the immune system and strengthen strength.

Self-medication can lead to a number of unintended consequences. All treatment and its process should be monitored by a dermatologist after diagnosis. The occurrence of tubular lichen is a very unpleasant disease that can complicate and ruin the patient’s life.

If you regulate your diet, maintain proper personal hygiene and do not stay in direct sunlight for a long time, they will greatly reduce the risk of skin diseases. Prevention

To prevent the fungus from becoming a panacea for humans, it is necessary to adhere to a number of preventive measures:

• Apply various cosmetic acidifying preparations to the skin, because the alkaline reaction negatively affects pathogenic microorganisms.
• Proper skin care.
• Avoid hypothermia.
• Wear clothes exclusively from natural fabrics.
• Regular change of personal linen.
• When tanning, use cosmetic protective products.
• After recovery, disinfect all your belongings and bedding.

These simple rules will help you forget about problems with lichen forever.

Girdle type

Shingles on a person’s leg may appear due to the active action of the herpes and chickenpox viruses that previously entered the body. The virus remains in the body forever, settling on nerve tissues. When the immune system is weakened, the virus is activated and thereby provokes lichen. Blisters form on the skin and can often be found near the hairline.

It is important that they are not damaged, so it is better not to wear tight clothing. If the integrity of the rash is disrupted, the infection becomes a complication.

Ringworm is treated with antiviral and antifungal drugs. In severe stages of the disease, systemic treatment procedures are used. The doctor prescribes medications that will reduce the activity of the virus. To strengthen your immune system, you need to take vitamins. Purulent wounds are cauterized with brilliant green.

The main signs of lichen

It is worth remembering that lichen does not always occur in an open form. Moreover, it is sometimes localized only in a certain small area of ​​the body . It is important to take into account the fact that all varieties of lichen have several common features:

• impaired pigmentation, due to which the skin may acquire a reddish, lighter or brownish tint;
• peeling or formation of small blisters;
• development of severe itching.

It is believed that this disease is most often observed in people experiencing severe stress, having weakened immunity, problems with the functioning of internal organs, hereditary predisposition, and who have had a cold.

To avoid the development of any type of lichen, it is important to follow simple recommendations. So, you should remember about personal hygiene and not touch other people's animals . It is also important to periodically take a child who attends kindergarten, clubs or school to a dermatologist.

Pityriasis type

Pityriasis versicolor (colored) appears on the human body due to a yeast-like fungus. This type of lichen can rarely appear on a person’s limbs, and if it does appear, it occurs on the thigh and tibia. The disease appears as a rash of different colors (from red to brown). The spots may begin to peel and itch. The disease affects the upper layer of the epidermis, so it can be cured with the help of keratolytic and antifungal drugs.

For treatment to be effective, a certain regimen must be followed:

• Wipe the lesions with salicylic alcohol or a mixture of resorcinol 2 times a day.
• Apply antifungal cream to the rash. Usually the doctor prescribes several drugs with the action of different substances.
• Use systemic antifungal agents when a large part of the body is affected.
• The doctor may prescribe physiotherapeutic procedures to destroy the fungus.

To heal faster, it is necessary not only to kill the fungus, but also to adhere to the rules of hygiene every day: take a shower, wear clean clothes, change bed linen.

The affected areas should be wiped with salicylic alcohol 2 times a day.

Scaly

This disease is well known as psoriasis. This is a chronic disease with a latent course and characteristic relapses. The affected areas periodically become inflamed. Causes include stress and changes in the immune system. Lichen squamosus is not contagious.

Among the main symptoms are the following:

• slightly raised red spots appear on the skin;
• the rash is dry, causing severe itching;
• localized in the bends of the arms and legs, as well as in the buttocks and lower back;
• The spots increase over time and merge into a single whole.

To make a diagnosis, it is often enough for a specialist to simply study the clinical picture. Already during a visual examination, not only the type of disease, but also the degree of its severity is determined. Additionally, a blood test is prescribed, and in rare cases, a histological examination.

During the treatment process, the patient’s age, gender and the presence of various concomitant diseases are taken into account. Local drugs and antibiotics are used.

Shearing type

The disease that forms on the human leg is divided into 2 types: trichophyton and microsporia. They are contagious and considered severe. You can catch the disease from a person or an animal. Microsporia is a simpler form that can go away on its own in a person with a strong immune system. Treatment of trichophytosis is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

If the disease that forms on the legs is not treated in time, it can progress and spread to other parts of the body: toes, feet, nails. It is very difficult to cure lichen on these parts, even with the help of medications. The nail plates and skin of the fingers are resistant to antifungal drugs, so treatment may take a long time.

The spots are oval-shaped and pink in color. They can occur on the knees, inner thighs and calves.

For effective treatment, an appointment with a specialist is necessary. The doctor takes tests and then prescribes appropriate treatment. Drugs are selected depending on the type of ringworm. The beginning of healing occurs with the help of external means. These can be antifungal ointments, creams and lotions. To disinfect wounds, iodine mesh and alcohol are used. For quick healing, use sulfur ointments. When external agents do not help, systemic antibiotics are added to treatment: Griseofulvin. This remedy has few side effects and works well on lichen. To strengthen the immune system, vitamin complexes are prescribed. Drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels improve blood circulation.

At the end of treatment, the patient must pass control tests, which are taken 3 times with a break of 1 week. If all 3 tests show a negative result, the disease has receded. If the examinations are bad again, treatment continues.

Alcohol will help in disinfecting ringworm

Treatment of lichen of viral origin

The first signs of lichen in a person indicate problems in the body. It may appear due to weakened immunity. As a rule, this is how a pathology that is of a viral nature develops (for example, herpes zoster or pityriasis rosea). It can begin with an acute form. In this case, symptoms that are pronounced for lichen are characteristic, as well as a deterioration in the patient’s condition.

Your doctor will tell you how to remove lichen. If necessary, special diagnostics (microscopy or immunofluorescence) are prescribed.

Diagnosis of multicolored and tubular lichen in humans and its treatment are also carried out by a dermatologist.

If the pathology is viral, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

• antiviral (local and systemic);
• analgesics (simultaneously relieving inflammation);
• immunostimulating;
• antihistamines;
• antiseptics.

Treatment for herpes zoster

Why does shingles develop? It is believed that the pathology is caused by the action of the herpes virus, which is actively spreading throughout the body. It entails the appearance of dangerous skin pathologies and disturbances in the functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Nervous ringworm can begin with the formation of a blistering rash in places located along the nerve endings.

How to get rid of lichen caused by viruses? To reduce the concentration of the virus, doctors recommend using broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. They are usually prescribed in combination with other medications (analgesics, immunomodulatory agents).

According to indications, the following drugs can be used in tablet form:

1. Acyclovir. Thanks to its active substance, the product blocks the further production of pathogenic cells, and also prevents their negative effects on internal organs. In parallel, the medicine relieves pain and has an immunostimulating effect.
2. Valavir. The drug is active against herpes types 1 and 2, as well as the causative agent of herpes zoster. The tablet is absorbed immediately after oral administration, completely breaking down to acyclovir and valine. The drug is also used to eliminate the symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia.
3. Famciclovir. Reduces the signs of herpes zoster, as well as the intensity of postherpetic neuralgia.

In combination with the above drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Nimesil) can be prescribed. Their action is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, as well as eliminating pain.

In some cases, the administration of immunoglobulin (for example, Zostevir) is also prescribed.

Among the characteristic signs of lichen, unbearable itching is noted, which causes significant discomfort to the patient, which leads to a serious complication - postherpetic neuralgia. In this case, antihistamines (Fenistil, Loratadine, Suprastin, etc.) are also used to treat lichen.

Before applying a special external remedy, the affected areas (bubble elements of the rash) should be prepared. That is why the doctor recommends treating the inflammation with some kind of antiseptic.

Manifestations of pityriasis rosea, its treatment

What to do if specific pink plaques begin to appear on the body, flaking inside? You should find out this from a dermatologist.

Only a highly qualified doctor should undertake a diagnosis. Typically, he can check for inflammation during an examination or dermatoscopy. If necessary, you will need to do a culture test or a skin biopsy. For manifestations of pityriasis rosea, treatment should also be prescribed by a doctor.

It is still not possible to determine the exact cause of the pathology. It is believed to be of viral or infectious origin. The disease can appear when infected with a herpes infection in people susceptible to allergies.

The patient is advised to refrain from any water procedures.

You are only allowed to shower under running water and without using detergents. You should also adhere to a certain diet.

Considering that there are no special drugs for the treatment of pityriasis rosea, the patient is prescribed a number of medications that relieve the symptoms of the pathology:

• antihistamines (Zodak, Cetrin, Erius, Tavegil, Suprastin, Fenistil). They relieve itching and reduce inflammation of the skin. They also have an anti-edematous effect;
• external hormonal ointments and creams (Flucinar, Lorinden, Sinalar, ointment with birch tar). These are combined drugs that have antibacterial and antiallergic effects. The active substance of almost all drugs in this group is a synthetic hormone;
• oral antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Erythromycin). In combination with local ointments and creams they give quick and positive results.

Ringworm in a child

Ringworm in a child manifests itself differently on the leg than in adults. Parents need to know this information because... Often they may confuse symptoms with other diseases or begin treatment on their own. With improper therapy, there is a risk of recurrence of the disease in a more serious form. Ringworm in a child requires specific treatment, since many drugs are contraindicated for use in children. Girls get sick more than boys. If a fungus appears on a baby’s leg, it is important to find out the original cause of infection and the type of disease.

Children under 10 years of age may often get ringworm. The source of infection is a sick person, animals and household items.

When the first signs appear, it is better not to start smearing the rash with brilliant green or iodine. The specialist must see the initial picture of the disease in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

Features of treatment

Ringworm in children is treated with ointments, creams and some types of tablets. The doctor also prescribes a set of treatment procedures, which include quarantine and physiotherapy. In addition to drug treatment, it is important to clean the child’s room every day - the fungus spreads through spores. They can live for a long time in bedding and clothing. The course of treatment lasts from 2 weeks to 2 months.

Diagnostics

In order to make a correct diagnosis, the patient must undergo appropriate tests and undergo the necessary procedures:

1. Dermoscopy.
2. Scraping
3. Examination of the resulting chips under a microscope. As a result, the presence of yeast can be easily detected.
4. Iodine test.
5. Examination of brightly colored spots using a fluorescent lamp.

By following the order of the above methods, the doctor is able to make an accurate diagnosis in a short time

Since there are different types of lichen, a dermatologist usually conducts additional studies to clarify the diagnosis and draw up a more detailed clinical picture. To accurately draw a conclusion, the following laboratory tests are carried out:

1. Balzer iodine test;
2. microscopic examination of the patient's affected skin;
3. Beignet symptom test;
4. luminescent study;
5. using a Wood's lamp, which helps to detect the correct color of the spots.

Based on the results obtained, the dermatologist can definitely diagnose tubular lichen to the patient.

The signs of the disease are quite specific, so in addition to a standard visual examination, doctors prescribe the following procedures to make an accurate diagnosis:

• microscopic examination of a sample of affected skin;
• use of Wood's lamp;
• iodine test or, as doctors also call it, Balzer's test.

Diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor
Each of the above methods is unique and effective in its own way in terms of diagnosis, therefore, if pityriasis versicolor is suspected, they are often prescribed together.

Microscopy

During a microscopic examination, a skin scraping is taken from the affected area of ​​the patient's body, which is then examined under a microscope. This procedure allows you to identify traces of yeast (under a microscope lens, the fungal threads have a rather curved shape, which is clearly visible only with this diagnostic method).

Microscopic examination of the skin

Wood's lamp

A common diagnostic test method prescribed for suspected different types of lichen. With its help, you can identify traces of fungal cells on the patient’s head, or more precisely, on its scalp. To do this, you need a Wood's lamp - a special device that emits ultraviolet rays.

Application of Wood Lamp

Essentially, it is an ultraviolet lamp used in diagnosing skin diseases. During diagnostics using a Wood lamp, the patient's hair is not affected by its radiation. Therefore, this method is considered one of the most popular.

Balzer test

During this procedure, the area of ​​the patient's skin to be examined is treated with an iodine solution and then wiped with alcohol. Under the influence of the liquids used, the upper layer of the epidermis loosens, and the lichen spots become brighter and stand out against the background of healthy skin. The Balzer test is also performed as a confirmatory test to determine whether the disease has been cured.

Balzer iodine test

Traditional methods

When treating lichen, traditional methods show excellent results. Birch tar is especially distinguished, which is added to Vishnevsky ointment and soap. If a person is contraindicated in using antibiotics and other medications, this folk method can be used. Birch tar can remove pathogenic microflora and heal skin damage. It is actively used as an antiseptic. Folk substances that help cure lichen:

• propolis, raisins and garlic;
• birch buds, burdock root;
• birch charcoal;
• apple cider vinegar;
• castor and sea buckthorn oils.

Additional treatment recommendations

To get rid of the disease faster and more effectively, you must not only take medications correctly, but also ensure that simple rules are followed:

• Remove dust daily, especially in hard-to-reach places.
• Personal items and bedding should be washed in hot water to remove all pathogenic bacteria.
• The patient's outer and personal clothing should be ironed from the inside and outside.
• Protect the patient from overload and stressful situations.
• Do not stay in direct sunlight or cold for a long time.

Tubular lichen is often accompanied by relapses, which can rarely be avoided. In order to prevent relapses, you need to put effort into strengthening the immune system and take multivitamin complexes. To improve personal hygiene, you need to buy cosmetics with the addition of salicylic acid.

Since sun fungus is not a contagious disease, it can be treated at home. In the initial stages of development, there is no need to resort to the use of potent drugs; in such cases, it is enough to purchase an antifungal shampoo and use it for a certain period.

Shampoos for lichen for humans

The most effective shampoos available without a doctor's prescription include:

• "Mycozoral";
• "Nizoral";
• "Sebozole-ketoconazole";
• "Keto plus";
• "Fitoval" and others.

It is advisable to avoid using creams

If you are in doubt about choosing a product or have any difficulties, contact the seller for help. Shampoos must be used strictly according to the instructions indicated on the packaging. It is also advisable to avoid using greasy skin creams during the treatment period, as this will slow down the healing process.

Prevention

You can become infected with lichen in different ways, both for children and adults. There are general rules of prevention that will help avoid the occurrence of the disease:

• You must not have contact with stray animals;
• Be sure to wash your hands with soap after going outside, as well as upon returning from the toilet and public places;
• It is prohibited to use other people's hygiene products. You cannot wear someone else’s or unsterile clothes;
• Try to avoid stressful situations;
• Keep your immune system healthy. Take a course of vitamins 1-2 times a year, but first consult a doctor.

After contact with animals, children should wash their hands

Causes of lichen

What are the causes of lichen? There are a great many of them. Eg:

• allergic reaction to a particular drug;
• all kinds of viruses;
• stress;
• weak immune system;
• heredity;
• metabolic disease;
• dysfunction of the epidermis;
• hyperhidrosis;
• endocrine diseases;
• wounds and microcracks;
• oily skin;
• hypothermia;
• neglect of personal hygiene rules;
• chemotherapy or radiation treatment, etc.

Ointments and creams

Ringworm can also be treated with antifungal ointments and creams. These drugs include, for example: miconazole, naftifine, clotrimazole, etc. Most of these drugs are available without a doctor's prescription, but in severe cases, stronger drugs may be prescribed. Use these creams following the directions for use.

The importance of lichens in nature and human life

They have the following positive effects:

• prevent the destruction of rocks due to the production of special acids,
• contribute to the formation of soils, acting as humus,
• protect the surface of tree bark from harmful microorganisms,
• are food for animals (for example, moss),
• take place in cooking, becoming the basis for baking,
• widespread in medicine due to antibacterial properties,
• used in many production processes in the chemical, textile and cosmetics industries.

Review

The body (thallus) of most types of lichen differs from any fungus or algae that grows separately. The fungus surrounds the algae cells, often enclosing them in complex fungal tissues unique to lichen. In many species, the fungus penetrates the cell wall of the algae, forming penetrating haustoria similar to those that occur in pathogenic fungi. Ringworm is poikihydridic, meaning it can survive in extremely low water levels. However, it takes at least a few minutes for the membranes to reconfigure after a period of dehydration.

Algal or cyanobacterial cells are photosynthetic, and as in plants, they convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars to feed both symbionts. Both partners obtain water and mineral nutrients mainly from the atmosphere, through rain and dust. The fungal partner protects the algae by conserving water and serves as a larger capture area for mineral nutrients and, in some cases, provides minerals derived from the substrate. If cyanobacteria are present as a primary partner or a second symbiont in addition to the green algae, as in some tripartite lichens, they can fix atmospheric nitrogen, complementing the activities of the green algae.

Although the strains of cyanobacteria that occur in different cyanolichens are often closely related to each other, they differ from their most related free-living strains. Ringworm is a close symbiosis. It expands the ecological range of both partners, but is not always necessary for their growth and reproduction in natural conditions, since many of the symbiont algae can live independently. A striking example is the algae Trentepohlia

, which forms orange-colored populations on tree trunks and on suitable rocks. The lichen shoot (diaspora) usually contains cells from both partners, although the fungal components of the so-called “fringe species” are located on the cells of the “main species” algae.

Ringworm may be an example of mutualism, commensalism, or even parasitism, depending on the species. Cyanobacteria in the laboratory can grow faster when they are alone rather than when they are part of a lichen.

Most recently, on April 26, 2012, scientists reported that the lichen survived and showed remarkable adaptation of its photosynthetic activity during 34 days of simulated Martian conditions at the Mars Simulation Laboratory established by the German Aerospace Center.

Story

Although lichen had already been recognized as an organism for quite some time, it was not until 1867, when Swiss botanist Simon Schwendener proposed the dual theory of lichen, that the true nature of this relationship began to emerge. Schwendener's hypothesis, which at the time lacked experimental evidence, arose from his extensive analysis of the anatomy and development of lichens, algae and fungi using a light microscope. At the time, many of the leading lichen researchers, such as James Crombie and Nylander, rejected Schwendener's hypothesis because the general consensus was that all living organisms were autonomous. Other prominent biologists such as Heinrich Anton de Bary, Albert Bernhard Frank, Melchior Treub and Hermann Hellriegel were not so quick to abandon Schwendener's idea, and the concept soon spread to other fields of study such as the study of pathogenic microorganisms, microbes, plants, animals and person. When the complex relationships between pathogens and their hosts were finally defined—a refutation of the idea of ​​the integrity of organisms—Schwendener's hypothesis began to gain popularity. Further experimental evidence of the dual nature of lichen came when Eugene Thomas published his results in 1939 regarding the first successful resynthesis experiment.

Symbionts

Living as a lichen symbiont seems to be very beneficial for the fungus to obtain essential nutrients, as about 20% of all fungal species have adopted this lifestyle. The largest number of fungi included in the lichen is noticeable among ascomycetes, where about 40% of species have formed such a relationship. Some of the fungi included in the ringworm originate from fungi that live as saprotrophs or plant parasites (for example, Leotiales, Dothideales and Pezizales). Other ringworm fungi are found in only five orders in which all species are such (orders Graphidales, Gyalectales, Peltigerales, Pertusariales and Teloschistales). Mushrooms in the composition of lichen and themselves can be found even in the same genus or species. Overall, about 98% of lichens have a marsupial mycobiont. After ascomycetes, the largest number of fungi included in the lichen is found among deuteromycetes. There are relatively few basidiomycetes included in lichen, but they include mushrooms, for example, Lichenophalia

, as well as clavarioid fungi such as
Multiclavula
and corticoid fungi such as
Dictyonema
.

Autotrophic lichen symbionts are usually simple photosynthetic organisms and are traditionally known as algae. These symbionts include both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. About 100 species of photosynthetic partners from 40 genera and five different classes (prokaryotic: Cyanophyceae; eukaryotic: Trebouxiophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Chlorophyceae) have been found in lichen. Prokaryotes belong to the cyanobacteria, which are often called blue-green algae. Blue-green algae occur as symbionts in approximately 8% of known lichen species. The most common genus is Nostoc.

.
Most lichens contain eukaryotic autotrophs belonging to chlorophytes (green algae) or xanthophytes (yellow-green algae). About 90% of all known lichen species have green algae as a symbiont, and among these, Trebouxia
is the most common genus, occurring in approximately 40% of all lichen species.
The second most commonly represented genus is the green algae Trentepohlia
. Overall, about 100 species are known to be autotrophs in lichen. All algae are probably able to exist independently in nature, as well as in lichen.

A specific type of fungus and algae is not necessarily always associated with lichen. One fungus, for example, can form lichen with various algae. The thalli of a given fungal symbiont with different partners will be similar, and the secondary metabolites will be identical. This indicates that the fungus has a dominant role in determining the morphology of lichen. In addition, the same algae species may have relationships with different fungal partners. There are known types of lichen in which there is one fungus associated with two or even three types of algae. It is rare to observe the opposite, when two or more species of fungus can interact and form the same lichen.

Both the lichen itself and its partner fungus bear the same scientific name. Lichens are included in fungal classification schemes. Algae have their own scientific name, which has nothing to do with the name of the lichen and fungus.

Morphology and structure

Some lichens have visible leaves (lichen foliaceus), others cover the substrate like bark (lichen lichen), others such as the genus Ramalina

, take shrubby forms (shrubby lichen), and there are gelatinous forms such as the genus
Collema
.

Although the form of lichen is determined by the genetic material of the fungal partner, interaction with the photobiont is necessary for the development of this form. When grown in the laboratory in the absence of its photobiont, the lichen fungus develops as a homogeneous mass of hyphae. When combined with a photobiont under appropriate conditions, its characteristic shape emerges through a process called morphogenesis. In some surprising cases, a single lichen fungus can grow into very different lichen forms when interacting with any green algae or cyanobacteria as symbionts. It is only natural that these alternative forms were at first considered to be different species until they were first found growing in a Siamese manner.

There is evidence that the lichen symbiosis is parasitism or commensalism rather than mutualism. The photosynthetic partner can exist in nature independently of the fungal partner, and not vice versa. In addition, photobiont cells are usually destroyed during nutrient exchange. The association can continue because the reproduction of photobiont cells matches the rate at which they are destroyed.

Under a microscope, a section of a typical lichen foliaceus thallus has four layers of intertwined fungal filaments. The topmost layer is formed by tightly adhered fungal hyphae, forming a protective outer layer called bark that can be several hundred microns in thickness. This cortex may be further covered by a 0.6-1 µm thick epicortex in some Parmeliaceae, which may have pores and be secreted by cells, as it is not itself cellular. In ringworm, which includes both green algae and cyanobacteria as symbionts, the cyanobacteria may be located on the upper or lower surface in small pustules called cephalopodia. Beneath the upper crust of the algae is a layer consisting of algae cells embedded in fairly tightly intertwined fungal hyphae. Each element or group of photobiont cells, as a rule, is individually “wrapped” in hyphae, and in some cases haustoria also penetrate there. Beneath this layer of algae is a third layer of loosely intertwined fungal hyphae without algal cells. This layer is called the core. Below the pith, the lower surface is similar to the upper surface and is called the lower cortex, again consisting of tightly woven fungal hyphae. The lower bark often has fungal root-like structures known as rhizines that serve to anchor the thallus to the substrate on which it grows. Lichens also sometimes contain structures composed of fungal metabolites, for example crustose lichens sometimes have a polysaccharide layer in the bark. Although the thallus of each lichen usually appears homogeneous, some evidence suggests that the fungal component may consist of more than one genetic individual of a given species. This, it seems, may also apply to the photobionts involved.

Growth forms

Lichens are informally classified by growth form into:

• cortical (flat, paint-like), e.g. Caloplaca flavescens
• filamentous (hair-like), e.g. Ephebe lanata
• foliaceous (leafy), e.g. Hypogymnia physodes
• bushy (branched), e.g. Cladonia evansii, C. subtenuis
  and
  Usnea australis
• scaly (powdery), e.g. Lepraria incana
• covered with small scales (consisting of small scale-like structures and no lower bark), e.g. Normandina pulchella
• gelatinous when blue-green algae produce a polysaccharide that absorbs and holds water.

Reproduction and distribution

Many lichens reproduce asexually, by vegetative propagation, or through the spread of diaspores containing algal and fungal cells. Soredia

are small groups of algal cells surrounded by fungal filaments that form in structures called
sorals
, from which soredia can be dispersed by the wind.
Another form of diaspora is isidia
, elongated projections of the thallus that break off for mechanical spread. Bushy lichen, in particular, can break apart easily. Due to the relative lack of differentiation in the thallus, the line between diaspore formation and vegetative propagation is often blurred. Many lichens break into fragments when they are dry, dispersing themselves through the action of wind, and resume growth when moisture appears.

Many of the fungi within the lichen appear to reproduce sexually in a manner typical of fungi, producing spores that are presumably the result of sexual synthesis and meiosis. Once spread, such fungal spores must meet a compatible algal partner before a lichen can form. This may be a common form of reproduction among basidiolichens, producing fruiting bodies that resemble their free-living relatives. In ascolichens, spores are produced in the spore-producing organs. The three most common types of spore bodies are apothecia

,
perithecia
and
pycnidia
.

For reproduction, lichens have isidium, soredium and a method of simple fragmentation. These structures also consist of fungal hyphae wrapped around cyanobacteria. While all reproductive structures are composed of the same components (mycobiont and photobiont), each is unique in its own way. Isidium is small growths on the outer surface of the lichen. The soredium is a scaly shoot that emerges from the upper part of the thallus. In order to create a lichen, the soredia shoot must contain a photobiont and a mycobiont.

Growth and longevity

Lichenometry

Lichenometry is a method used to determine the age of exposed rock surfaces based on the size of the lichen thallus. Introduced by Beshel in 1950, this method has found many applications.

Ecology

Lichen must compete with plants for access to sunlight, but because of their small size and slow growth, they thrive where higher plants struggle to grow. Lichen is often the first to establish itself in places where soils are inaccessible, and constitutes the only type of vegetation in some extreme conditions, such as high mountain heights and high latitudes. Some survive in harsh desert conditions, while others survive on the frozen soils of arctic regions.

The main advantage of the ecophysiology of lichen is that it is poikilohydride ( poikilo

- variable,
hydrid
- associated with water), meaning that although it has little control over hydration state, it can tolerate irregular and long periods of severe drying. Like some mosses, liver mosses, ferns and some "resurrection plants", after drying out, the lichen enters metabolic arrest or stasis (known as cryptobiosis), during which the cells of the lichen's symbionts become dehydrated to the point that most biochemical activity ceases. In this state of cryptobiosis, lichens can survive extreme temperatures, radiation, and drought in their harsh habitat.

Lichen has no roots and does not require a constant supply of water like most higher plants, so it can grow in places that most plants cannot, such as bare rocks, sterile soils or sands, and various artificial structures such as walls , roofs and monuments. Many lichens also grow as epiphytes ( epi

- on the surface,
fit
- plant) on plants, in particular, on the trunks and branches of trees.
In such cases, the lichen is not a parasite, since it does not consume part of the plant and does not poison it. Some terrestrial lichens, such as members of the subgenus Cladina
(deer lichen), however, produce allelopathic chemicals that leach into the soil and inhibit plant seed germination and young plant growth. The stability (i.e., durability) of the substrate is one of the main factors in the habitat of lichen. Most species of lichen grow on the surface of stable rocks or on the bark of old trees, but many others grow on soil and sand. In these latter cases, lichen is often an important part of soil stabilization. Moreover, in some desert ecosystems, the seeds of vascular (higher) plants cannot take root in any places except where the crust stabilizes the sand and helps retain water.

The European Space Agency has discovered that lichen can even survive in space. In an experiment led by Leopoldo Sancho from the University of Madrid, two species of lichen - Rhizocarpon geographicum

and
Xanthoria elegans
—were sealed in a capsule and launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket on May 31, 2005. Once in orbit, the capsules were opened and the lichen was directly exposed to the vacuum of space with significant fluctuations in temperature and cosmic radiation. After 15 days, the lichens were brought back to earth and were found to be in completely normal condition, without any noticeable damage from their time in orbit.

When grown on mineral surfaces, some species of lichens slowly decompose their substrate and physically destroy the minerals, contributing to the weathering process in which the rocks gradually turn into soil. Although this contribution to weathering is generally benign, it can cause problems for man-made stone structures. For example, there is currently a problem with lichen growth at the Rushmore National Memorial, requiring the use of climbers to clear the monument.

Some animals can eat lichen, such as deer living in arctic regions. The larvae of a number of lepidopteran species feed exclusively on lichen. These include lead-gray lichen and whitish cutworm. However, ringworm is very low in protein and high in carbohydrates, making it unsuitable for some animals. Ringworm is also used by northern flying squirrels for nesting, as food and as a source of water in winter.

Air pollution

If the ringworm is exposed to air pollutants continuously, it is unable to avoid the accumulation of pollutants. Because it has no stomata or cuticle, the lichen can absorb aerosols and gases throughout the surface of the thallus, from which they can easily diffuse to the photobiont layer. Since lichen does not have roots, its main source of most elements is the air, and therefore the level of trace elements in the lichen often reflects the accumulated composition of the surrounding air. The processes by which atmospheric deposition occurs include fog and dew, absorption of gases, and dry deposition. Consequently, many ecological studies of lichens highlight their effectiveness as biomonitors of atmospheric quality.

Not all lichens are equally sensitive to air pollutants, so different types of lichens show different levels of sensitivity to specific air pollutants. The sensitivity of lichen to air pollution is directly related to the energy needs of the mycobiont, so the stronger the dependence of the mycobiont on the photobiont, the more sensitive the lichen is to air pollution. When exposed to air pollution, a photobiont can use metabolic energy to rebuild cellular structures that could be used to support photosynthesis. Thus, less metabolic energy remains for the mycobiont. A change in the balance between photobiont and mycobiont can lead to a breakdown of the symbiotic relationship. Therefore, the death of lichen can occur not only from the accumulation of toxic substances, but also due to an altered nutritional relationship in favor of one symbiont over another.

Evolution and paleontology

The evolution of lichens and the ascomycete phylum is complex and not fully understood, but since there are fifteen different classes of ascomycetes, scientists generally believe that the different lichen species evolved independently of each other through similar evolution. The fungi that form lichens continue to develop, evolving differently than those that do not form lichens.

The formation of lichen is an ancient feeding strategy of fungi. The extreme habitats that lichens inhabit are not usually conducive to the formation of fossils. The oldest fossil lichens in which both symbiotic partners were found date back to the early Devonian, about 400 million years ago. Slightly older spongiophyton

also considered a lichen on morphological and isotopic grounds, although the isotopic basis is not sufficiently reliable.
It has been suggested, although not yet proven, that the even older fossil Nematothallus
was a lichen.

It has also been argued that Ediacaran fossils were lichens, although this claim is controversial. Additional evidence was used to interpret lichen dickinsonia

.
Lichen-like fossils composed of coccoid cells and thin filaments are preserved in marine phosphorites of the Doushantuo Formation in southern China. These fossils are thought to be between 551 and 635 million years old. And they belong to the Neoproterozoic. The discovery of these fossils shows that fungi developed close partnerships with photoautotrophs long before the evolution of vascular plants. Vinfrenation, an early zygomycetous symbiotic lichen that may have used controlled parasitism, is found in Scotland and dates to the early Devonian. There are also several examples of fossilized lichens trapped in amber. The Ancium
fossil is found in pieces of amber in Northern Europe and dates back to approximately 40 million years.
The Lobaria
fossil was found in Trinity County in Northern California, USA, and dates back to the Early to Middle Miocene.

In 1995, Gargas and colleagues proposed that there were at least five independent causes of lichen: three among basidiomycetes and at least two among ascomycetes. However, Luzoni et al. show that lichens probably began appearing earlier, followed by several independent species losses. Some fungi that do not form lichens may have secondarily lost the ability to form interconnections in lichens. As a result, ringworm formation was seen as a highly successful nutritional strategy.

Lichens were a component of early terrestrial ecosystems, and the oldest terrestrial fossil lichens are estimated to be 400 million years old. Recent research shows that ascomycetes were originally decomposers, and that the independent emergence of lichens occurred several times.

Taxonomy and classification

Lichens are named after their fungal component, which plays a primary role in determining the shape of the lichen. The fungus usually creates most bulky lichens, although this is not always the case for filiform and gelatinous lichens. The lichen fungus usually belongs to ascomycetes - rarely belongs to basidiomycetes, in which case the lichen is called basidiolichen

to distinguish it from the more common
ascolichens
.
Previously, some taxonomists classified lichens as mycophycophytes
, but this is no longer accepted because the components belong to separate lineages.
Neither the ascolichens nor the basidiolichens form monophyletic lineages, but they form several major groups consisting exclusively or mainly of lichens in each phylum. Even more unusual than basidiolichens is the fungus Geosiphon pyriforme
, a member of the Glomeromycetes, which is unique in containing cyanobacterial symbionts within its cells.
Geosiphon
is not generally considered a lichen, and its peculiar symbiosis was not recognized for many years. The genus is more closely related to endomycorrhizal genera.