That intense itch that you have on your skin for several days, it appeared red, dry and with sharp edges, and it doesn’t seem to go away no matter how much body lotion you have put on…
Well, you might be having a fungal skin infection.
How does fungal skin infection come about?
Fungi is a type of microorganism. The common fungal skin infections are usually caused by two types of fungi: Candida sp yeasts. and dermatophytes.
Candida sp., also known as yeasts. Image credit: Medical News Today.
Dermatophytes. Image credit: Science photo library.
For this article, let’s put more emphasis on dermatophytes.
Where do dermatophytes live in your skin?
The thought might be a little bit too disgusting to bear, but dermatophytes usually reside in the stratum corneum of your skin, i.e. the deepest layer of your epidermis. This layer consist of the dead keratinised skin cells, which the dermatophytes prefer over the living cells.
Examples of fungal skin infection caused by dermatophytes
Some of the common fungal skin infections caused by dermatophytes include the athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris), and ringworm infection (tinea corporis).
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
Athlete’s foot usually characterised by itching, flaking and fissuring of the skin between the toes or on the foot. It often appears as white and ‘soggy’, due to the maceration of the skin.
Image: Healthline.
Athlete’s foot usually affects adolescents and young adults, especially in males. Common ways to get infected include visiting communal area such as locker rooms, swimming pools and showers, sharing socks and shoes, having sweaty feet and keeping your feet wet for a long period of time.
Jock Itch (tinea cruris)
In jock itch, it is common to find rashes around the groin and inner thighs area. However, the rash may spread to buttocks. It often involves both sides of the body (known as bilateral) and is intensely itchy, reddish-brown with a well-defined edge.
Image credit:DermNetNZ.org
Ringworm infection (tinea corporis)
Ringworm infection usually involves major skin surfaces except for the face, hands, feet groin or scalp. It is especially distinctive because the ringworm infection usually comes in itchy pink or red scaly slightly raised patches like the following:
Image credit: Healthline.
Over time, the lesions often show “central clearing”, as the central area is relatively resistant to the staying of dermatophytes. Thus, this appearance is termed as ringworm because it makes a ring shape.
Treatment
Antifungal cream is the mainstay treatment for fungal skin infection. Some of the examples of antifungal medication include clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole and terbinafine. Treatment of skin fungal infection can take weeks to months, as it tend to reoccur. All creams should be applied for an additional week after th resolution of the infection to eliminate any remaining fungi completely. Consult a pharmacist or a doctor before you purchase the product.
When it may not be a fungal skin infection:
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Not itchy
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Has family history of similar condition
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Usually trigger by a susbtance or an event
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Have other symptoms such as fever
Please seek medical advice and do not self-treat.
References:
Cover image credit: webmd
