causes You get athlete s foot when you come in contact with the fungus and it begins to g row

on your skin. Fungi commonly grow on or in the top layer of human skin and m ay or may not cause infections. Fungi grow best in warm, moist areas, such as th e area between the toes. Athlete's foot is easily spread (contagious). You can get it by touching the aff ected area of a person who has it. More commonly, you pick up the fungi from dam p, contaminated surfaces, such as the floors in public showers or locker rooms. Although athlete's foot is contagious, some people are more likely to get it (su sceptible) than others. Susceptibility may increase with age. Experts don't know why some people are more likely to get it. After you have had athlete's foot, y ou are more likely to get it again. If you come in contact with the fungi that cause athlete's foot, you can spread the fungi to others, whether you get the infection or not. Athlete's foot (also known as ringworm of the foot[1] and tinea pedis[1]) is a f ungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itch of affected a reas, is caused by fungi in the genus Trichophyton. While it is typically transm itted in moist communal areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers or bat hhouses, the disease requires a warm moist environment, such as the inside of a shoe, in order to incubate. Because of this the fungus only affects approximatel y 0.75% of habitually (frequently) barefoot people.[2] Although the condition typically affects the feet, it can infect or spread to ot her areas of the body, including the groin, particularly areas of skin that are kept hot and moist, such as with insulation, body heat, and sweat, e.g. in a sho e, for long periods of time. While the fungus is generally picked up through wal king barefoot in an infected area or using an infected towel, infection can be p revented by remaining barefoot as this allows the feet to dry properly and remov es the fungus' primary incubator - the warm moist interior of a shoe.[3] Athlete 's foot can be treated by a number of pharmaceuticals (including creams) and oth er treatments, although it can be almost completely prevented by never wearing s hoes, or wearing them as little as possible. signs Athlete's foot causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the affected skin. Bliste rs and cracked skin may also occur, leading to exposed raw tissue, pain, swellin g, and inflammation. Secondary bacterial infection can accompany the fungal infe ction, sometimes requiring a course of oral antibiotics.[4][5] The infection can be spread to other areas of the body, such as the sually is called by a different name once it spreads, such as tinea the body or limbs and tinea cruris (jock itch or dhobi itch) for an the groin. Tinea pedis most often manifests between the toes, with tween the fourth and fifth digits most commonly afflicted.[6][7][8] groin, and u corporis on infection of the space be

Some individuals may experience an allergic response to the fungus called an "id reaction" in which blisters or vesicles can appear in areas such as the hands, chest and arms. Treatment of the fungus usually results in resolution of the id reaction. transmission From person to person

Athlete's foot is a communicable disease caused by a parasitic fungus in the gen us Trichophyton, either Trichophyton rubrum or Trichophyton mentagrophytes.[10] As the fungus that cause athlete's foot requires warmth and moisture to survive and grow, the primary method of incubation and transmission is when people who r egularly wear shoes go barefoot in a moist communal environment, such as a chang ing room or shower, and then put on shoes. Due to their insulating nature and the much reduced ventilation of the skin, and the tight space in which toes are forced to grow pressed together, shoes are th e primary cause of the spread of Athlete's Foot.[3] As such, the fungus is only seen in approximately 0.75% of habitually (always) barefoot people. Always being barefoot allows full ventilation around the feet that causes them to remain dry and exposes them to sunlight, as well as developing much stronger skin and caus es the fungus to be worn off and removed before it can infect the skin. Also, pe ople who have never worn shoes have splayed toes due to them not been forced to grow firmly pressed together by a shoe, this even further minimises the chances of infection as it prevents warm moist pockets of skin, such as those seen betwe en the third, fourth and fifth toes in shoe-wearing people.[2][10][11][12] Athlete's Foot can also be transmitted by sharing footwear with an infected pers on, such as at a bowling ally or any other place that lends footwear. A less com mon method of infection is through sharing towels. The various parasitic fungi t hat cause athlete's foot can also cause skin infections on other areas of the bo dy, most often under toenails (onychomycosis) or on the groin (tinea cruris). prevention Since shoes are the primary mode of infection and incubation and since the fungu s is almost non-existent in always barefoot cultures due to the prevalence of st rong, dry, feet that are very well ventilated, not wearing shoes at all is almos t 100% effective in preventing the fungus.[2] People who regularly wear shoes sh ould try to walk barefoot as much as possible in order to prevent infection. Sim ply remaining barefoot for a few hours after walking through an infected area is usually enough to prevent the fungus growing and wear it off your feet.[3] When moving through an area that is likely to be infected it is important to rem ember that the fungus requires the foot to remain moist in order to grow. Since fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, keeping feet as dry as possible and av oiding sharing towels aids prevention. Always dry the feet thoroughly if you wis h to put on shoes and ensure that both the shoes and socks are clean and dry and have been regularly washed. In shoe-wearers, hygiene and minimization of shoe u se play important roles in preventing transmission. Public showers, borrowed tow els, and, particularly, footwear,[13] can all spread the infection from person t o person through shared contact followed by incubation in a shoe.[13][14 treatments Without medication athlete's foot resolves in 30 40% of cases[15] and topical anti fungal medication consistently produce much higher percentages of cure.[16] jock itch Jock itch is the popular name given to an itchy rash in the groin that commonly involves the inner thighs and adjacent skin, including the scrotum in males. The medical name for rash in the creases of overlapping skin is "intertrigo." Jock itch is associated with sweating, friction/abrasion, occlusive clothing, and the direct rubbing of skin on skin. The rash may affect not only the groin, but it can involve any areas of skin that overlap, including around the anus and in the skin folds of obese individuals. Jock itch affects men and occasionally women w

orldwide. causes Jock Itch Symptoms and Signs The condition begins with an itchy area of redness in a skin fold. The area may enlarge in no particular pattern. The rash appears as raised red plaques (pl atelike areas) with sharp borders. The border may exhibit tiny pimples or even p ustules with central areas that are reddish and dry with small scales. If you be come infected with yeast organisms, the rash tends to be redder and moist. The s kin of the tip of the penis may be involved, whereas other organisms spare the m ale genitalia. Women who also have vaginal yeast infection experience vaginal it ching and white, thick, cottage cheese-like discharge. The rash becomes more irritating with time and may, in severe cases, feature breakdown of the skin that is quite uncomfortable. treatment Jock Itch Treatment Specific treatment depends upon the precise cause of the dermatitis (friction, h umidity, with or without infection). Jock Itch Causes Although the term jock itch implies some sort of relationship with athletics, th is is not necessarily true. Jock itch is particularly related to infections from microorganisms and environmental factors such as humidity and friction, which c an irritate the skin. Jock itch is more common in men than in women simply becau se the presence of male genitalia leads to increased friction and humidity. Wome n are actually predisposed to develop a similar condition underneath their breas ts. Jock itch is most often caused simply by noninfected skin affected by fricti on, humidity, and heat. However, it is not uncommon for microorganisms like fung i and bacteria to simultaneously infect the skin. People taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, those with weakened immune systems , or those who have diabetes are at risk to develop the rash. Occasionally, bacteria can cause jock itch. Bacterial jock itch can be easil y diagnosed because the affected skin glows a coral red color when illuminated b y a black light. Wearing tight clothes or athletic supporters can predispose one to infection or aggravate the problem further. Jock itch can be prevented by applying large amounts of lubricant, like petroleum jelly, to areas likely to be affected. Intimate contact or contact with objects that harbor fungus can contaminate the groin skin. The fungus is spread by contact with the spores, which may survi ve on dead skin cells or objects for a long time. If you have fungal infection, such as athlete's foot, the same organism may cause a rash in your groin. Infections caused by Candida albicans (a yeast) can produce pustules and

involve the tip of the uncircumcised penis. This infection is seen more often i n people with diabetes. Fungal molds like the Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophytin species are occasionally responsible for the epidemic infections in dormitories, barrack s, and similar situations in which people live close together and in which towel s, sheets, blankets, and other items may harbor a fungus for years. Jock Itch Prevention To prevent jock itch, try to keep your groin area clean and dry. Use cornstarch, powders, even antifungal powder, such as Desenex or Cruex, i n the various skin folds. It is best to wear loose-fitting cotton underwear. From a public-health perspective, sterilizing linens by washing in hot soapy water with bleach can help in situations of communal bedding and bath linens.