Introduction
Fungal skin infections are caused by different types of fungi and can be a common culprit of itchy skin.Fungi invade and grow in dead keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. The different types of fungal infections are divided into groups based on what type of fungus is involved.
Fungal infections on, or near to the surface of the body
The most common fungi to cause skin infections are the tinea group of fungi. For example,athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common fungal infection of the toes and feet. Tinea infection also causes ringworm (tinea corporis) and ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). It also causes many fungal nail infections. A common fungal infection of the mouth and of the vagina is called thrush. This is caused by an overgrowth of candida which is a yeast (a type of fungus).
Fungal infections within the body
Fungal infections of the skin, nails, vagina and mouth are quite common. If you are healthy and have a normal immune system, it is rare for fungi to affect internal organs. However, fungal infections of the heart, lung, brain and other organs sometimes do occur.
Causes of Fungal infection
You’re more likely to get a fungal skin infection if you:
· don’t dry your skin fully after a bath or shower
· come into contact with a person or animal with a fungal skin infection
· touch contaminated items, such as clothes, towels and bedclothes
· walk barefoot in shower and pool areas
· wear tight clothing that doesn’t allow sweat to evaporate
· have diabetes
· are pregnant
· have a weakened immune system, for example, if you have HIV/AIDS
Treatment of fungal infections
General measures
- Correct predisposing factors where possible.
- Keep the affected skin clean and dry. Wash daily. Take care to dry between the toes and in the skin folds; use a hair dryer if necessary. Use your own towel.
- Hot wash socks, towels, bathmats at a temperature of at least 60C.
- Antiseptics
- Dequalinium chloride lozenges for oral candidiasis (Dequacaine®, Dequadin®)
- Di-iodohydroxyquinoline for vulvovaginal candidiasis (Floraquin® vaginal tablets).
To reduce reinfection
- Avoid walking bare foot where others may tread - wear jandals, sandals or aquasocks at the public pools and sports changing rooms.
- Avoid long periods wearing the same clothing, or wearing occlusive clothing such as wet weather gear and nylon pantyhose.
- Wear open-toed sandals when possible. Avoid long periods in occlusive footwear such as gum boots or tramping boots.
- Use antifungal foot powder e.g. ciclopirox (Batrafen®), econazole (Pevaryl®), miconazole (Daktarin®, Fungo®), tolciclate (Tolmicen®), tolnaftate (Tinaderm®), undecylenic acid (Mycota®). Sprinkle it in your shoes.
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