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Fungal infections are common throughout much of the natural world. Infectious diseases are caused by fungi invading a certain part of the body and exceeding the capacity of your immune system to cope.
Fungi can live in the air, soil, water, plants, and the human body. Fungi can be helpful or harmful, just like other microbes. A person trying to recover from infection with harmful fungi may not be able to kill them since they can live in the environment and re-infect the body.
What is Skin Fungus?
A fungus is a tiny organism, such as mold or mildew. Fungi are harmful in about half of cases. Fungal infection occurs when one of the harmful fungi lands on your skin. You may develop a rash or feel itchy.
Types of Fungal Infection
- Athletes foot. It is also known as tinea pedis. It is a type of fungal infection that can affect the skin on your feet, as well as your hands and nails.
- Jock itch. It is known as tinea cruris. Jock itch can affect the skin on your groin area, inner thighs. And buttocks.
- Ringworm. It can affect your skin and scalp. Similar to an athlete’s foot and jock itch, it’s caused by dermatophytes. Ringworm is also part of a group of fungi that grow on the skin.
- Yeast infection. It can infect your skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or genitals.
- Toenail fungus. It can affect your toenails, fingernails, and nail beds. It is also known as tinea unguium. Its symptoms start as a small light-colored spot on your nail.
Symptoms of Fungal Infection
- Irritation and scaly skin
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itching
- Blisters
- Scaly feet
- Cracking and burning sensation
- A red rash with a circular shape and raised edges
How to Diagnose Fungal Infection?
Diagnosing fungal infections includes monitoring and assessing the infection and symptoms. It includes examining the scrapings of the scale under the microscope. Your doctor will also do a fungal culture test to identify a specific fungus and help determine the best treatment for you.
What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Fungal Infection?
- Weak immune system
- Taking immunosuppressant medications
- Excess weight and diabetes
- Trying skincare products
- Heavy sweating
- Rashes
- Are pregnant
Treatment For Fungal Infection
Treatment of fungal infection depends on the location of the infection. For sexually transmitted infections such as yeast infections, your doctor will recommend antibiotics. Skin fungus and other fungi-related skin infections are treated with anti-fungal medications. There are also the topical treatment and OTC products available.
