Skin Fungus Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Skin fungus is a term that is often used for fungal infections of the skin. Under normal circumstances, there are certain fungi found on human skin. However, if the amount is excessive, there are cracks in the skin, or if the immune system is weak, the fungus can cause infection.
There are various types of skin diseases that occur due to fungi. Some of them are:
- Tinea versicolor
This one skin disease is better known as tinea versicolor. Panu skin disease is a fungal infection that damages the outer tissue of the skin. The signs are white spots or spots that are found on the skin. These spots are usually present in large numbers and separately.
- Tinea corporis
This fungal infection, which is more popularly known as ringworm, can be contagious. Transmission can occur either through touch or direct contact with sufferers or through other media that have been in contact with infected people. For example through clothes.
Signs of tinea corporis can be seen from the infected skin area in the form of a circle-like a reddish ring
- Tinea capitis
This fungal infection is a type of skin disease that only affects the scalp. Sufferers will experience hair loss and can end up with baldness.
- Tinea cruris
This skin disease is caused by the tinea fungus which often lives in damp areas – such as the inner thighs, buttocks and genitals. Signs include itchy, burning, redness, and cracking of the skin.
- Nail infection
In medical terms known as fungal nail infection, this skin disease generally only affects the nails. Those who are prone to nail infections are people who like to wear artificial nails, elderly women, often wear shoes that are too small, swim in public pools, people with diabetes mellitus, and so on.
Symptoms
The symptom of skin fungus is itching, especially when sweating. Skin fungus usually causes the skin to be reddish in color, and have pimple-like spots on it. Not infrequently, the top layer of the skin also looks peeling.
However, for more specific skin fungus symptoms depending on the type of skin disease, such as:
- Panu
The signs are white spots or spots found on the skin. These spots are usually present in large numbers and separately.
- Ringworm
Symptoms of ringworm are infected skin areas in the form of a circle like a reddish ring
- Tinea capitis
Signs include skin that feels itchy, burning, red, and cracked.
- Tinea cruris
Signs include itchy, burning, redness, and cracking of the skin.
- Nail infection
The signs are changes
Reason
There are various types of fungi that can infect humans and cause skin fungus. In general, divided into 2 types, namely:
- Dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton species
- Non-dermatophytes, for example Candida
Dermatophytes can cause skin infections from the scalp to the skin of the feet and nails. Meanwhile, Candida species more often infect areas of skin folds such as groin or breast folds.
Not everyone is prone to skin fungal infections. The following conditions make a person more susceptible to experiencing it:
- Living in an area with a humid climate
- Easy to sweat
- Wearing tight clothing that doesn’t easily absorb sweat
- Impaired immune system, for example in people with HIV or diabetics whose blood sugar is not controlled
- A householder has a skin fungal infection
Diagnosis
Doctors can suspect the presence of skin fungus by looking at the skin disorders experienced by sufferers. However, if the picture of the skin disorder is not typical, then further examination is needed to confirm it.
The follow-up examination is carried out by scraping the skin on the area of the skin that has abnormalities. The results of the skin scrapings will be dripped with KOH solution (potassium hydroxide) and viewed under a microscope to find out if there is fungus in the skin scrapings.
For fungal infections of the dermatophyte type, another examination that can be used is the Wood’s lamp examination. When the skin infected with dermatophyte fungi is exposed to a wood lamp, the skin will glow yellowish green.
Treatment
Treatment for skin fungus depends on the type of fungus that causes it. If it is caused by a dermatophyte fungus, skin fungus that is not too extensive can be treated with topical medications containing miconazole or clotrimazole.
However, if the skin disorder is very extensive, the sufferer should take drugs orally, such as griseofulvin, terbinafine, or ketoconazole. These medicines should only be taken as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.
Treatment of non-dermatophyte fungi that are not too extensive can also use creams containing miconazole or clotrimazole.
If skin fungus is triggered by a low immune condition such as HIV or diabetes where blood sugar is not controlled, the cause of the low immune system must be treated to support the healing of skin yeast infection.
Treatment of skin fungus takes a long time, at least two weeks.
Prevention
To prevent skin fungus, you should do the following things:
- Use clothes that easily absorb sweat
- Change clothes, socks, or shoes when your body or feet get sweaty
- Do not share towels and clothes with other people, especially people with skin fungus
- If you have diabetes mellitus, take medication and manage your food properly so that your blood sugar is controlled