Condition

Skin fungus of tinea is condition that can develop on your hair, nails, or skin. It normally appears in circular patterns enclosing a normal-looking skin in its center. The skin irritation and redness shows up at its edges. There is also the presence of scaling. The circular or ring pattern explains the common indication of “ringworm” of a tinea infection. However, there is no such thing as a worm under the skin in fungal infections.

Tinea infections are termed after the body part where the fungus grows. Tinea corporis, which is derived from the Latin word corporis which means body, is the common fungal infection of the body. Symptoms of this tinea include small, red spots which may grow in size and can occur in your chest, arms, or legs.

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is the infection caused by the fungus dwelling on the moist skin between your toes. The patient may experience skin redness and itching. The skin may also appear whitish in color with a wet surface. The infection can spread to the toenails which can cause thickness of the infected nail.

Fungal infection in the groin area is called tinea cruris, popularly known as “jock itch.” This fungal infection is common among men, especially athletes. The source usually comes from the athletic wear or equipment that they use.

The common “ringworm” or tinea capitis typically occurs on the head. The scalp may experience severe itching and may develop redness in certain areas. There is a tendency of hair damage in this fungal infection, leading to baldness. Ringworms are common in children.

Rarely does a tinea infection penetrate below the skin surface and impose a critical condition. The usual body defenses prevent the spread of fungus inside. However, individuals with very weak immune systems, particularly those with AIDS, will have a difficulty in coping with fungal infections.

Usually a fungal infection does not leave scars after it has been healed. Sometimes, tinea infections just disappear even without the slightest medical treatments.

Symptoms

Tinea Capitis

Otherwise known as “ringworm of the scalp”, tinea capitis commonly affects school-aged children. Its primary symptoms are the annular patches of the noninflammatory or inflammatory alopecia. For noninflamed areas, what may appear are black dots, which reflect broken shafts of infected hair at the scalp. In some cases tinea capitis infections have nonspecific dandruff as their manifestation. In microsporum infections, gray patches of hair developed. These patches constantly lack the luster of a normal hair because of spore coating. However in inflamed areas, there is always the presence of pustules, scales, and erythema. Some individuals acquire “kerion”, a boggy, localized, and indurated granuloma. This kerion can ultimately lead to permanent hair loss and scarring.

Tinea Barbae

It is the bearded area of men who work in zoos or with animals, which is affected by tinea barbae. Other conditions present in this fungal infection are similar inflammation to ingrown hairs and bacterial folliculitis. Oral therapy is very much preferred in treating tinea barbae. This is because hair follicle infections do not respond in topical therapies. Similar active agents are used in treating tinea barbae and tinea capitis.

Tinea Corporis

Tinea corporis is the general term for fungal infections of the body also known as “ringworm of the body”. It does not only affect children but also adults who dwell in areas with hot and humid climates. The common appearance of tinea corporis is that of a circular plaque which have a distinct border. Because of the asymptomatic characteristic of tinea corporis, it can spread among children in confined areas.

Tinea Cruris

Generally known as “jock itch”, tinea cruris affects the medial part of the upper thighs or groin area. As compared to yeast infections, jock itch generally does not infect the penis or the scrotum. Men are more prone to this dermatophyte infection than women.

Tinea Pedis

Popularly termed as “athlete’s foot,” tinea pedis is the frequent dermatophyte infection. Athlete’s foot is generally related to the warmth and sweating of the feet in occlusive footwear use. It is usually males, 20 to 40 years old, who are greatly affected. Symptoms of this fungal infection include the whitening in the macerated areas of the third or fourth toe webs. Also, on the dorsal surface of the foot, there is appears to be a pattern or scaly hyperkeratosis of the heels and soles.

Diagnosis

Wood's Light Examination

Usually dermatophytes do not fluoresce under normal circumstances. However, there are two known zoophilic dermatophytes, Microsporum andouinii and Microsporum canis which are considered exceptions. It appears that these two causes of tinea capitis show in the color blue-green. Wood's light examination can also be effective in distinguishing between Corynebacterium minutissimum bacteria causing erythrasma and tinea cruris.

Upon positive results, the extent of infection, areas of sampling, and treatment responses are only few of the outcomes from Wood’s light examination. Said examination can also be helpful in identifying the contacts of an infected individual.

Microscopy

Microscopic examination is the main core in diagnosing any fungal infections of the body. Evident material is taken from a live area of the lesion. This specimen is then soaked in a potassium hydroxide solution before examination under a microscope. With the advancement of technology, microscopy now is done easily and quickly with specific and highly sensitive dermatophyte recognition.

A doctor can conclude that microscopy is positive when he has identified the hyphae in fungal infections and yeast formation in the Candida or further Pityrosporum infections. Once positive results have been reached, then the doctors may prescribe immediate medication because the identification of species do not usually affect the choice of treatments.

Culture

Cultures are not really recommended as a primary treatment considering it is both time-consuming and expensive. However, when the patient is undergoing a long-term oral treatment, cultures are recommended especially when there are doubts on the tinea infection diagnosis.

Specific zoophilic species can be identified which can ultimately lead to proper management of infection and can prevent of further occurrences in the future. In cases of fungal infections in the nail, the specific fungus must be identified. This is because oral antifungal treatments in these cases do not have specific effects and must be properly identified.

Treatment

If either your physician or your dermatologist has diagnosed you of tinea infections, medical treatments are immediately prescribed. Early treatment of the skin condition may prevent further complications and recurrence of the fungus in the body. Over-the-counter topical treatments and other special medications have active contents which counter several symptoms of the infection. Treatments may last from two to three weeks at most.

The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the location of the fungal infections. Some parts of the body are more difficult to cure than other exposed areas. Oral medications are administered if tinea infections are found at areas where it is impossible for topical medications to reach. Although it may take for months to see its results, oral medications are preferred for fungal infections which are resistant to other common medications. Skin irritation takes time to heal. For baldness or nail damage due to tinea infections, new hair or nail may grow back in time respectively.

Both patients and medical experts should be aware of some side effects of the medical treatments prescribed therein. Some of these products may cause unpleasant results on the bodily system. However, it has found out that modern medications have done away with bothering side effects. It is advisable to conduct blood or skin tests before taking in medical treatments to counter fungal or tinea infections.