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A fungus is a microscopic organism. Some fungi can grow on the body – commonly affected areas include the skin, scalp, feet, the finger and toe nails, and also the moist linings of the mouth and vagina. The term ‘tinea’ is used for most fungal skin infections – these are also known as ringworm (on the body, limbs or scalp), athlete’s foot and jock itch (on the groin)
INTRODUCTION
Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. Although these fungi can be found in many different places, they are especially common in the warm, moist environments of pools, showers, locker rooms and other sports facilities, where people walk with bare feet. Once dermatophytes infect the skin of someone's foot, the warm, moist environment of socks and closed shoes contribute to their growth.
Pets can also be a source of a fungal infection. Dogs and cats, as well as farm animals, can be infected with a fungus. This infection usually looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing.
OTHER AREAS OF THE BODY SUSCEPTIBLE TO TINEA
Fungus infections are named for the part of the body they infect.
TINEA CRURIS is a fungus that grows in the moist, warm area of the groin. (Cruris comes from the Latin for leg.) The common name for this infection is "jock itch."
TINEA CAPITIS causes itchy, red areas, usually on the head (capitis comes from the Latin for head). The hair is destroyed, leaving bald patches, the infected hairs become brittle and break off easily. This tinea infection is most common in children.+
TINEA VERSICOLOR is a common superficial fungal infection of the skin that results in pigment changes. It is most common in healthy young adults. Finely scaled patches that can be pink, tan, or more commonly, white, usually appear on the neck, trunk, and upper arms. The affected areas do not tan, and are often first noticed after sun exposure.
TINEA UNGUIUM is a fungal disease involving one or more nails of the hands or feet. The nail gradually thickens, and becomes discoloured and brittle.
If you are unsure what your skin condition is, then ask your doctor. Other skin problems can look just like tinea but have very different treatments.
SYMPTOMS
Tinea presents itself by causing itching, redness on the skin and a circular patchy lesion that spreads along its borders, at the same time clearing at the center. As it grows, it spreads out in a circle, leaving normal-appearing skin in the middle. This makes it look like a ring., hence its name "ringworm." This may not always be seen in every infected person. Fungi need a warm, moist environment to grow well, so they rapidly settle into warm, sweaty skin, particularly that between the toes and at the groin.
Athlete's foot may affect different people in different ways. In some, the skin between the toes (especially the last two toes) peels, cracks and scales. In others, there is redness, scaling and even blisters on the soles and along the sides of the feet. These skin changes may be accompanied by itching. The fungal infection may spread to one or more toenails.
 
EXPECTED DURATION
Response to treatment usually takes several weeks to months. Even after proper medical treatment, the infection can easily recur if your feet are exposed again to fungi and sweaty, warm conditions. For this reason, many people have persisting and recurring athlete's foot infection for many years. Successfully curing the infection often requires changes in your foot-care regimen and what you wear on your feet.
PREVENTION
Prevention is very important in treating athlete's foot infection because of frequent recurrences. You can help prevent athlete's foot by keeping your feet clean and dry and also try the following suggestions:
- Wash your feet thoroughly every day and wear a clean pair of socks after your daily bath or shower.
- Dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between your toes.
- If you use public pools or showers, wear thongs or sandals.
- Wear leather shoes rather than vinyl, since leather lets feet "breathe" so they are more likely to stay dry.
- Wear cotton socks to absorb sweat.
- If possible, don't wear the same pair of shoes for two days in a row.
- Avoid tight footwear, especially in the summer. Sandals are the best warm weather footwear.
- If possible, go barefoot at home.
- Dust an anti-fungal powder into your shoes in the summertime.
TREATMENT
Athlete's foot should not be ignored--it can be easily treated, but it also can be very resistant to treatment. Begin treating athlete's foot with a topical (applied to the surface) antifungal medication, such as
- Clotrimazole found in Canestan
- Terbinafine found in Lamisil
- Miconazole found in Daktarin and Resolve
- Econazole found in Pevaryl
- Ketoconazole found in Daktagold
For patients who have trouble keeping their feet dry, a powder is recommended.
- Prantal powder which contains diphemanil methylsulfate· Tinaderm powder which contains tolnaftate
- Fungo powder which contains miconazole
For those with tinea versicolor Selsun shampoo is commonly used. It is effective, easy to use, and inexpensive. After treatment, it may take months for the pigment to even out, even though the fungus has been eradicated. Pevaryl foaming solution is also an effective treatment.
Those who have a fungal nail infection, the following is recommended
- Canestan topical solution which contains clotrimazole
- Daktarin tincture which contains miconazole
· Loceryl nail lacquer which contains amorolfine. For patients with long-standing or recurring athlete's foot infections, topical antifungal drugs may only relieve symptoms without actually curing the infection. Oral medications can be more successful at initially curing an infection, but you still can be susceptible to recurrences. Griseofulvin (found in Grisovin) is an older antifungal medication. Newer alternatives include itraconazole and terbinafine, but there are potential drug interactions and side effects with all these medications that limit their use.
The old-fashioned remedies such as Castellani's Paint and Whitfield's Ointment are still useful for mild cases, but the best treatment is one of the new antifungal creams mentioned above. These should be gently applied after drying 2 or 3 times a day for 2 weeks.
DIABETES AND OTHER CONDITIONS
People with diabetes can easily get bacterial skin infections in areas infected with fungus, so they should get attention from a health-care provider as soon as an abnormality is noticed. A fungus rarely spreads below the surface of the body. Your body usually prevents this. People with weak immune systems, like people with AIDS, may have a hard time getting well from a fungus infection, but they don't usually have problems with ringworm. Tinea infections usually don't leave scars after the fungus is gone. A lot of people don't even know they have a fungus infection and get better without any treatment
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