Skin fungus, also known as dermatophytosis or tinea, is the infection of a skin area by various species of fungi. Fungi that cause fungal infections typically thrive in warm and moist areas on the surface of your skin and can cause an itchy rash. Most commonly this occurs between toes (athlete's foot), other parts of your feet, groin (jock itch) scalp, beard (ringworm infection), fingernails or toenails (onychomycosis). Some common symptoms include itching, stinging sensations/pain at affected sites, red rashes with scaly borders which may blister when scratched often accompanied by hair loss around infected regions. Treatment for most cases includes using antifungal creams/ointment medication regularly such as terbinafine and miconazole nitrate - these are applied topically over affected regions along with powders sprinkled directly into socks & shoes . Oral anti-fungals tablets like fluconazole capsules may be prescribed depending upon severity caused due to metabolic imbalance caused by systemic yeast infestation which result from over use antibiotics / steroids ect
Causes of skin fungus
Skin fungus is caused by a variety of factors, such as exposure to moisture, humidity, and certain types of bacteria or yeast. It can also be caused by wearing wet clothes for too long, using contaminated creams or ointments on the skin, sharing unwashed towels or clothing with an infected person, having close contact with animals that have fungal infections in their fur and/or skin, and coming into contact with surfaces such as shower floors that are not properly cleaned. People who sweat excessively or those who have weakened immune systems may be at greater risk of developing skin fungus.
Types of skin fungus
• Ringworm (tinea corpora)
• Yeast infection of the skin or cuticles(candidiasis, moniliasis)
• Jock itch (tinea cruris)
• Nail fungus (onychomycosis)
• Skin abscesses caused by fungi such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Prevention of skin fungus
Skin fungus, or tinea, can be prevented by practicing good hygiene and following a few steps. The most important prevention step is to keep skin clean and dry. When showering or bathing use warm (not hot) water and always gently pat the area(s) affected with a soft towel afterwards instead of rubbing it dry; avoid tight-fitting clothing on those areas of your body as they may cause increased moisture. Wearing light cotton socks helps facilitate air circulation when feet are sweating throughout the day which in turn creates less occasions for fungal growth. Avoid sharing personal items such as razors, towels, combs and clothes because fungi can spread this way too. In case you’ve been around someone who already has an active fungal infection – try not to touch them even if they have no visible symptoms yet – better safe than sorry!
Lastly make sure to visit your doctor regularly so that any potential issues get identified early enough for successful treatment before their severity increase significantly.