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.
