Brief overview
- What is skin fungus? Fungal infection of the skin and/or its appendages. Common forms are athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), ringworm (tinea corporis), nail fungus (onychomycosis or tinea unguium), head fungus(tinea capitis), hand fungus (tinea manuum), cutaneous candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor.
- Causes: Dermatophytes (filamentous fungi), yeasts (shoot fungi), or molds. Infection from person to person, from animal to person, or by touching contaminated objects.
- Risk factors: People with circulatory disorders (such as diabetes, weakened immune system, or obesity) are particularly susceptible.
- Symptoms: e.g. reddened, itchy skin areas on the trunk and extremities in ringworm; grayish-white, puffy skin with small tears in the spaces between the toes in athlete’s foot; round, sharply demarcated skin changes on the head with broken or fallen-out hair in head fungus.
- Prognosis: With consistent treatment, usually complete healing without permanent skin damage. Complications mainly in people with weak immune systems and children (fungal infection of internal organs).
Skin fungus: Symptoms
The skin fungus symptoms depend on which pathogen causes the infection, which part of the body is affected and how extensive the infection is. Filamentous fungi (dermatophytes) are among the most common pathogens. They can infect the skin, hair and nails. Other common pathogens are yeasts and molds. In addition to the skin, they can also infect mucous membranes and internal organs. In the following, you will learn more about typical symptoms of important types of skin fungus:
Symptoms of athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
The soles of the feet can also be affected by athlete’s foot. Signs of the squamous-hyperkeratotic form are dry, white scaling of the skin. Sometimes a more inflammatory infection develops with vesicles and itching. Symptoms may also extend to the lateral edges of the foot. The dorsum of the foot usually remains asymptomatic.
The vesicular-dyshidrotic form affects the arch and edges of the foot, where the vesicles burst. On the soles of the feet, the vesicles do not burst because of the horny layer, but dry up. Usually, a feeling of tension and itching accompany athlete’s foot.
Symptoms of ringworm (tinea corporis)
Tinea corporis (ringworm) is also a skin fungal infection caused by filamentous fungi. It affects the trunk and extremities. The affected skin areas show round, scaly redness, which can flow together (confluence) and are usually associated with significant itching.
You can learn more about ringworm in the article Tinea corporis.
Symptoms of head fungus (tinea capitis).
Fungi can also affect the hairy areas of the head. Mostly the scalp is affected and only rarely eyebrows or beard, whereby most often filamentous fungi are the trigger. The skin fungus symptoms that occur are very diverse. In some patients, the head fungus infection proceeds almost without symptoms (no signs of inflammation). In many others, circular, sharply defined hairless areas of varying size develop. The scalp shows grayish scaling in these areas. In other cases, the affected scalp areas resemble a stubble field – due to the fungal infestation, the hairs have broken off at about the same height.
Everything about the causes, symptoms and treatment of head fungus can be found here!
Symptoms of facial fungus (Tinea faciei).
A thread fungus infection on the face manifests itself in the form of scaly, itchy skin areas. The symptoms usually worsen when the facial skin is exposed to strong light. Tinea faciei may also occur together with tinea corporis. If the symptoms are very severe, this may be a sign of a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of hand fungus (tinea manuum)
Skin fungus symptoms on the hands can also be traced back to an infection with filamentous fungi. Usually only one hand is affected at first. Later, the fungal infection can spread to the other hand. Many patients with tinea manuum also suffer from athlete’s foot.
Doctors distinguish between two forms of hand fungus:
- dyshidrosiform hand fungus: Occurs less frequently than the hyperkeratotic-squamous form. Typical skin fungus symptoms here are itchy blisters on the palm of the hand, on the edges of the hand and/or on the side parts of the fingers.
A special form of tinea manuum is the “one hand/two feet” syndrome. It is also known as tinea palmoplantaris: In this case, the skin fungus symptoms appear on one palm and both soles of the feet. Diabetics are often affected, as they are particularly susceptible to infection.
Symptoms of nail fungus (tinea unguium)
What helps, how it can be recognized and treated, read in our text on nail fungus!
Symptoms of inguinal fungus (tinea inguinalis)
Fungal infections in the groin region often affect men who sweat heavily. Typical symptoms are burning, sharply defined reddening of the skin with accentuated edges and partial scaling. The infection usually begins on the skin between the thighs and scrotum. Later, it often spreads toward the anus and buttocks. The scrotum, penis and, in women, the vulva may also be affected.
Symptoms of cutaneous candidiasis
Cutaneous candidiasis initially presents with nodular vesicles (papulopustules). These quickly develop into large red, partly weeping plaques with scaly edges, which are accompanied by small pustules.
In general, a yeast infection (candidiasis) can also affect the mucous membranes in addition to the skin. Fungal infestation of the genital region is called genital candidiasis. In women, it manifests itself as vaginal fungus. Typical symptoms are severe itching, patchy redness, wipeable white deposits on the mucous membrane, and an odorless, friable white discharge. Men are less often affected by a genital yeast infection. If it does, it manifests as acorn inflammation (penile fungus).
Symptoms of pityriasis versicolor (lichen of the genitals)
This form of skin fungus begins with sharply defined, roundish spots that are the size of lentils or pennies and hardly itch at all. Over time, the spots coalesce into larger, map-shaped foci with a smooth surface. If you stroke them with a spatula, the skin scales. The skin scales resemble the bran that gives it its name.
The skin patches are discolored compared to healthy skin. There is a difference in color depending on the color of the skin:
- Pityriasis versicolor alba: In dark-haired or tanned patients, the skin patches look light in color. Responsible for this is the dense fungal carpet on the skin, which blocks UV rays. Thus, the skin underneath can no longer produce color pigment (melanin). The result is white spots on dark skin.
- Pityriasis versicolor rubra: In light-skinned patients, on the other hand, pityriasis versicolor rubra appears with reddish-brownish spots. The coloration is caused by pigments produced by the fungus itself.
Symptoms of microsporiasis
This skin fungal disease is caused by filamentous fungi of the genus Microsporum (such as M. canis). These fungi often infect domestic animals such as dogs and cats. Through contact with such infected animals, a person can contract the fungus. This happens especially to children. They develop inflammatory, disc-shaped skin lesions on the trunk and scalp. If the scalp is infected, hair may break off in the affected areas.
Skin fungus: treatment
Fungal skin infections are treated with antifungals. These are drugs that act specifically against fungi. Patients can support the drug treatment with general tips and home remedies.
Skin fungus treatment: Medication
Externally applied antifungal agents include nystatin, clotrimazole, miconazole, isoconazole and amorolfine. For internal use, amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine and flucytosine are used.
Many antifungals are available over-the-counter. Before you treat your skin fungus yourself, however, you should see a dermatologist. He or she can tell you which antifungal is best in your case. The type of skin fungus and individual factors, for example your age and any existing pregnancy, play a role here.
In the event of severe itching or burning of the skin, anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids (“cortisone”) in cream or ointment form can be applied to the relevant areas of skin in addition to the antifungal agents.
Skin fungus treatment: General tips
- Do not wear shoes that are not very breathable.
- Socks, stockings and underwear should be changed daily and washed at least 60 degrees Celsius.
- During and immediately after athlete’s foot treatment, it helps to disinfect stockings, socks and shoes with an antifungal agent.
- Always dry the spaces between the toes well after showering or bathing (use a separate towel!), as fungi love it moist and warm.
- In places with an increased risk of infection for fungal infections (such as swimming pools, saunas, etc.) you should pay special attention to hygiene and not walk barefoot.
As a general rule, always keep at-risk or already infected areas of the body such as armpits, genital area and feet dry. You should also always use a separate towel to dry yourself. This will prevent the fungal infection from spreading to other parts of the body or other people.
Skin fungus: home remedies
As with many other diseases, a wide variety of home remedies are recommended for skin fungus. How effective these are in individual cases cannot be predicted. It is best to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist which home remedy for skin fungus is suitable for you. The expert can also point out possible side effects and interactions.
An extensive fungal infestation always requires medical treatment. Home remedies should be used here at most as an adjunct. An inadequately treated skin fungus can become chronic and sometimes even spread to internal organs. Under certain circumstances, this can lead to life-threatening complications!
Skin fungus treatment with vinegar
Skin fungus treatment with essential oils
Various essential oils can kill fungi. They also have a regenerating effect on the skin and anti-inflammatory. The most important essential oil for skin fungus treatment is tea tree oil. Since this oil dries out the skin, you should treat it with a nourishing oil or shea butter at the same time.
Skin fungus: causes and risk factors
Different types of fungi can cause skin fungus:
Filamentous fungi
In most cases, skin fungus infections are caused by filamentous fungi (dermatophytes). Experts then also speak of dermatophytosis. The most common trigger in Central Europe is the filamentous fungus Trichophyton rubrum. It is mainly responsible for ringworm and nail fungus. Other filamentous fungi that often trigger skin fungus are Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis (trigger of microsporiasis) and Trichophyton verrucosum (zoonotic pathogen, especially in rural areas).
Yeast fungi
Skin and mucous membranes can also be attacked by yeasts (fungi). The best known yeast fungus is Candida albicans. It belongs to the natural flora of mucous membranes. Under certain circumstances (such as immune deficiency) it can multiply strongly and cause an infection, for example in the vaginal region (vaginal mycosis). Another well-known yeast infection of the skin is pityriasis versicolor.
Molds
Molds play only a minor role as causative agents of skin fungus. They can infect however – just like yeast fungi – also internal organs and cause so a heavy system mycosis. This is understood to be a fungal infection that affects several organ systems or practically the entire body.
Skin fungus: transmission and infection
Skin fungus: risk factors
Various individual risk factors favor a skin fungus. These include diabetes mellitus and obesity. In the latter case, increased sweat forms in the skin folds, which provides fungi with optimal living conditions.
The skin and mucous membranes of people with circulatory disorders are also susceptible to fungal infection.
Another risk factor is a weakened immune system. Weakness of the immune system can be caused by a serious illness (such as HIV) – or by drugs that suppress the immune system. Such immunosuppressants are administered, for example, after organ transplants and in autoimmune diseases.
Skin fungus: examinations and diagnosis
If skin fungus is suspected, the family doctor or a dermatologist (dermatologist) is the right person to contact. In the case of skin fungus in the intimate area, you can also consult a gynecologist or urologist.
This is followed by a physical examination. The doctor closely examines the skin changes. He can usually tell with the naked eye whether it is actually a skin fungus or not.
To confirm the diagnosis, the physician takes a swab from an affected skin area. A fungal culture is then prepared in a special nutrient medium in the laboratory. In this way, any fungi can be cultivated and identified under optimal growth conditions. This can take up to four weeks. Detection of the pathogen type is important for choosing the right treatment.
In individual cases, it may be useful to take a tissue sample (biopsy) for more detailed examination.
Skin fungus: course of the disease and prognosis
Skin fungus does not heal on its own, but must be treated. Patience is required, because fungal infections are usually stubborn. It is particularly important to use the antifungal medication (antimycotics) for as long as prescribed by the doctor. If you stop the therapy prematurely, the skin fungus can return. However, with correct treatment, the pineal infection almost always heals completely. The skin appearance normalizes, any hair that has fallen out grows back.
However, complications are also possible, especially in people with a weakened immune system and in children. These patients have an increased risk of the skin fungus infection spreading to organs inside the body.
Skin fungus: prevention
To prevent a (new) skin fungus infection, you should heed some tips:
- Change socks and underwear daily and wash them at least 60 degrees Celsius.
- Avoid shoes that are not very breathable and always keep the skin dry in susceptible areas of the body (skin folds, spaces between toes, etc.).
- Pets such as dogs, cats and horses can transmit skin fungus pathogens to humans. Therefore, you should have them examined by a veterinarian for skin fungus and treated with appropriate antifungals if necessary.
