Symptoms of Skin Fungal Infection
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 274, Word Count: 674,
Fungi are a cluster of organisms that cause skin infections. Some fungi known as yeasts are naturally present in human body. Dermatophytes are organisms which rely on an opportunity to grow. As they get a constructive environment, they grow on human body and taint the top layer of the skin as well as hair or nails. Various types of fungal skin infections are athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis), ringworm (Tinea corporis), jock itch (Tinea cruris), etc. Before treating this disease, it’s important to know the symptoms of skin fungal infection.
Risk Factors for Fungal Infections
- Antibiotic Use: Antibiotics are used to treat several bacterial infections. These medications can reduce the number of supportive bacteria usually living inside the body. Fungi get an opportunity to settle when their population decreases.
- Use of Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are used to reduce swelling and a number of skin disorders. These drugs at times decrease our immune response and create favorable conditions for the growth of fungus.
- Medical Conditions: People suffering from diseases like diabetes and some types of cancer, for e.g. leukemia are more prone to fungal infections.
- Compromised Immune System: Our immune system could get dejected due to chemotherapy (for cancer treatment) and AIDS. Fungi thus get an opportunity to grow because of such weakened immune system.
- Environmental Factors: Fungi need moisture to grow and reproduce. Fungal infections more commonly affect the damp areas of the body, including the mouth and vagina. Clothes and sweaty shoes increase possibility of fungal infections. You could be exposed to skin fungus in high moisture content areas such as showers or locker rooms.
- Heredity: Some people have hereditary inclination towards fungal infections. They are more likely to have fungal infections when exposed to contagious atmosphere.
Symptoms of Fungal Skin Infections
Symptoms of skin fungal infection might vary with a causal driving force. Fungal skin infections usually appear as a rash. Ringworm causes ring shaped, pink or red, slightly scratchy patches with a clear center. Athlete’s foot appears as itchy, scaly rash amid the toes. Jock itch appears as a ring like red rash around the groin area. It’s in the form of small, aching, enormously scratchy blisters. There could be mild irritation or cracking and peeling of the skin.
Skin becomes sore and vulnerable for bacterial infection. Scalp ringworm is highly infectious among children. Nail ringworm affects nails of the toe and makes it appear thickened and dreary. Candida infection typically occurs in warm and moist areas of the body such as diaper areas and skin folds. External Candida skin infection appears as red, flat rash with scalloped sharp edges.
Small patches appearing like rash are called satellite lesions. At times, fungal infection on one part of the body can cause rash on another part of the body. This condition is called an allergic reaction to fungus.
Diagnosis of Skin Fungal Infections
There is a strong likelihood of fungal infection if the patient has a risk factor and if a distinctive rash is seen. Types of skin fungus can be determined by 2 methods: fungal culture method and potassium hydroxide preparation.
Recognizing symptoms of skin fungal infection is very important to start the treatment as early as possible.
About the Author
Allergist Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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