Know about Fungal Skin Infections (1 of 2)

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• Fungal Skin Infections (Types)

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• Some common fungal skin infections are listed below:

  Dermatophyte infections

  Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis)

  Around one in five people in the UK have athlete’s foot. It's caused by a fungus that grows in warm, damp areas of skin, such as between your toes. The fungal infection makes your skin itchy, flaky and red. It also causes white cracks to appear, especially between your toes and on the side of your foot. Occasionally it causes blisters.

  You can pick up athlete’s foot if you walk bare foot on damp, contaminated floors such as communal shower facilities, swimming pools or saunas. If you don’t wash your hands after you touch a contaminated area, it can spread to other parts of your body. See our frequently asked questions for more information.

  Nail infections (Tinea unguium)

  Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of your nail and spread slowly down to the base. They tend to take a long time to develop. They cause your nail to discolour and become crumbly. The surrounding tissue may also thicken. Later, your nail can become so thick that it's painful to wear shoes. Toenails are usually affected more than fingernails.

  You can get a fungal nail infection if you have athlete’s foot and it spreads to your nails. You can also get an infection if your nail is weak, for example from a previous injury.

  See our frequently asked questions for more information.

  Ringworm of the body (Tinea corporis)

  This often affects exposed parts of your body, such as your arms, legs or face, and causes a red, ring-shaped rash. Ringworm is contagious. You can catch it by coming into contact with somebody who already has ringworm or touching contaminated items, such as clothing or bedding. Domesticated animals, such as sheep, cattle and pets can also carry the fungi that cause ringworm.

  Ringworm of the groin (Tinea cruris)

  This is also called ‘jock itch’ because it’s more common in young men. This is because the scrotum and thigh are in close contact and create conditions in which fungi can thrive. It can also affect women if they wear tight clothing. It can cause an itchy, red rash in your groin and the surrounding area.

  Like ringworm of the body, ringworm of the groin is contagious and can be passed on in the same ways. You may also get ringworm in your groin if you have athlete’s foot and touch your groin after touching your foot without washing your hands.

  Ringworm of the scalp (Tinea capitis)

  This can occur at any age, but mostly affects children before they reach puberty. Ringworm can affect any part of your scalp but you usually get patches of it. Symptoms can be similar to those of ringworm on your groin and body and your scalp will look scaly and feel itchy. You may also develop pus-filled areas on your scalp, called ‘kerions’. During the infection your hair may fall out and leave bald areas but this usually grows back once the infection has been treated.

  You can get ringworm on your scalp by sharing a contaminated comb or clothing used by somebody with the infection.

  Yeast infections

  Some fungal skin infections are caused by yeast infections, such as the following.

  Intertrigo

  Intertrigo is a yeast infection that you can get in the folds of your skin, such as on your abdomen (tummy), if you're overweight. It's often caused by the yeast Candida albicans. It affects areas where your skin presses or rubs together and can cause chafing. If you have intertrigo, your skin may turn red or brown and if it’s very moist, it can start to break down.

  Pityriasis versicolor (Tinea versicolor)

  This condition is caused by a type of yeast called Malassezia. It’s quite common and usually affects young adults after they reach puberty. If you have pityriasis versicolor, your back, upper arms and torso may have patches of scaly, itchy and discoloured skin. This is usually a pink, brown or red colour. If you have darker skin, it may lose some of its colour.

  Thrush (Candida albicans)

  C. albicans is a common fungus that often lives in your mouth, stomach, skin and women’s vaginas. Usually it doesn't cause any problems. However, if you’re unwell, pregnant, take antibiotics or have diabetes, the yeast can multiply and cause the symptoms of thrush.

  A thrush infection often looks like small white patches, which leave a red mark if you rub them off. In women, vaginal thrush can cause itchiness and a white discharge.

  Thrush can also affect newborn babies in their mouth and this is called oral thrush. It's easy to mistake the white patches for milk. It isn't usually serious, but babies with thrush in their throats may stop feeding properly. Babies may also develop thrush in the nappy area.
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