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Fungal skin infections usually affect your skin because they live off keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair
and nails.
Fungal skin infections are divided into groups, depending on what type of organism is involved. The full name
depends on where the infection is found on your body.
Dermatophyte infections
Most basic fungal skin infections are caused by dermatophytes - types of fungi that cause skin, nail and hair
infections. They are very common, affecting between one and two in 10 people at some point in their lives.
Dermatophyte infections include the following.
Intertrigo
Intertrigo is a yeast infection of skin folds caused by the fungus Candida albicans, which lives on your skin and in
your digestive system. It affects areas where skin touches skin, such as your armpits, groin, and under heavy breasts
or fat folds, where the environment is warm and moist. It can cause itching, soreness, spots and scales, creating a
white-yellow curd over the infected area.
Pityriasis versicolor
This yeast infection causes dark patches to form on pale or untanned skin and light patches on tanned or darker skin.
Another name for this condition is Tinea versicolor (versicolor means 'of various colours'). Teenagers and young
adults are most often affected in the UK.
Thrush (Candida albicans)
The fungus Candida albicans usually lives in harmony with us and rarely causes problems. However, in certain
situations, such as if you're ill, have poorly controlled diabetes, are pregnant or using antibiotics, the fungi multiply
and cause thrush symptoms.
Thrush can affect your mouth and tongue, areas lined with a mucus membrane such as your vagina, and other moist,
folded skin. Thrush infection often looks like small white patches, which leave a red mark when rubbed off. In adults,
vaginal thrush can cause itchiness and a thick, white discharge.
Thrush sometimes affects men, causing a painful red rash on the head of the penis (glans). It also commonly affects
newborn babies in the mouth (oral thrush).The white patches may be mistaken for breast or formula 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.
The symptoms and appearance of a fungal skin infection depend on the type of fungus causing it and the part of your
body affected.
Fungal skin infections can cause rashes with a variety of different appearances. Some are red, scaly and itchy,
whereas others can produce appear similar to dry skin. The fungus may infect just one area or several areas of your
body.
Fungal infections of your scalp or beard can lead to hair loss. Fungal rashes can sometimes be confused with other
skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.
Fungal infections inside your body can cause more serious health problems than those on your skin. These infections
only affect people whose immune systems aren't working properly - either as a result of an illness such as HIV/AIDS,
or because you're taking medicines that suppress your immune system.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she will look at the appearance and location of your
rash. Your GP may also take a skin scraping, or a fragment of your nail or hair, and send it to a laboratory for testing,
to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of fungal skin infections
As most fungal skin infections are surface infections, you will usually need to use antifungal treatments that are
applied directly to your skin in the infected area (topical treatments).
There are a variety of treatments available in the form of creams, lotions and medicated powders. If the rash covers
quite a large area of your skin, or affects your nails or scalp, you may need to take some tablets.
Some treatments are available over-the-counter from a pharmacist, without a prescription. For example, sprays are
available for treating athlete's foot. Ask your pharmacist for advice.
Stronger forms of topical treatments and antifungal medicines in tablet form are only available if you have a
prescription from your GP. You may be prescribed antifungal shampoo if you have a scalp infection.
These treatments are usually effective. They can occasionally cause side-effects, which may include skin irritation or
an upset stomach. It isn't unusual for your rash to return, even when it seems to have been treated. You may need to
take some treatments for a few weeks, or up to 18 months for toenail infections.
If you're buying an over-the-counter antifungal treatment, you need to be sure that you have a fungal infection. You
may recognise the rash from a previously diagnosed fungal infection. But if there is any doubt about your diagnosis,
or if over-the-counter treatments don't work, contact your GP.
There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting a fungal skin infection. You should: