The expert told about the possibility of contracting fungus in hairdressing salons

A visit to a barbershop or barbershop can turn into a fungal infection. Lubov Stankevich, candidate of medical sciences, director of laboratory medicine and production of the company "LabQuest" and "Q-Clinica" told "Izvestia" in detail on December 14.

"Special attention to this issue should be paid to visitors of barbershops and barbershops. It is in such establishments, where there is contact with skin and hair of many people, the risk of transmission of fungus is especially high. It should be noted that in some cases you can get infected with Microsporum canis during manicure or pedicure, although much less often," - she said.

Thus, specified the interlocutor of the publication, Microsporum canis is a fungus-dermatophyte, which affects the skin, hair, beard and mustache, and in some cases and nails. It is especially dangerous for children, young women and people with weakened immunity, for example, against the background of vitamin D deficiency - in such cases, hospitalization due to deep mycosis may be necessary, the expert stressed.

According to her, the symptoms of infection often go unnoticed or can be confused with other problems: itching, flaking and inflammation are often mistaken for ordinary dandruff, as a result of which a person tries to eliminate the symptoms with the help of hygienic and cosmetic products.

"It is impossible to ignore these manifestations - fungal infection does not go away by itself, and no shampoo will not help to get rid of Microsporum canis", - said the expert.

However, in addition to Microsporum canis, the problem for hair follicles can be another fungus - Malassezia, she added. It can be contracted from pets - cats or dogs. This fungus can end up not only in hair, but also on eyebrows and eyelashes. If the hairdresser or makeup artist will not observe the rules of hygiene when carrying out a cosmetic procedure, the transfer of infection is possible, said Stankiewicz.

"To reduce the risks, it is necessary to observe hygiene, carefully monitor the condition of the skin and hair, visit only verified salons that follow strict sanitary rules, and at the slightest suspicion of fungal infection - to undergo a PCR study to detect the DNA of various fungi and seek medical help," she advised.

Earlier, in spring, Andrei Kuznetsov, a dermatologist at the SberZdorovye medical company, told Izvestia what can cause nail fungus - onychomycosis - and why it should be treated. According to the doctor, risk factors for the development of the disease are the presence of psoriasis, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), fungal lesions of the skin of the feet.