Fungal Skin Disease (Tinea, Dermatophytosis): Prevention

To prevent tinea (dermatophytosis/dermatophyte skin disease), attention must be paid to reducing risk factors.

Behavioral risk factors

  • Use of common facilities such as showers, bathrooms.
  • Athletes
    • Wg. high exposure for dermatophyte-related mycoses (e.g., swimming and mat athletes).
    • Anthropophilic Trichophyton ( T.) tonsurans (“Tinea gladiatorum”) in contact sports.

Disease-related risk factors.

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Foot deformities (tinea pedis)

Injuries, poisonings and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).

  • Trauma (injury), unspecified (e.g., tinea pedis: usually caused by anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum)
    • Tinea genitalis due toDamage to the epithelial barrier by regular shaving of the genital area.
    • Dermatophyte-related mycoses (esp. of the toenails (onychomycosis)) due tomicrotrauma of the skin in running athletes.

Preventive measures

  • Advice on footwear:
    • Avoid tight, closed shoes and rubber boots.
    • Avoiding heat accumulation with high humidity in the shoes, especially in sports shoes made of synthetic material.
  • Wearing bathing shoes in public swimming pools and showers.
  • Intensive drying of the feet
  • Do not walk barefoot on carpets in hotel rooms