FUNGAL SKIN INFECTIONS =

                                       

Fungal skin infections are caused by certain types of fungus, or excessive growth of normally harmless types. Fungal skin infections usually affect your skin because they live off keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. Most fungal skin infections can be treated effectively.

Causes of fungal skin infections =

                        

You're more at risk of getting a fungal skin infection if you:
  • 1)have recently taken a course of antibiotics
  • 2)are taking steroids
  • 3)have high blood sugar levels (for example, if you have uncontrolled diabetes)
  • 4)are overweight
  • 5)have had fungal skin infections in the past
  • 6)have a weakened immune system caused, for example, by cancer or HIV/AIDS.
Moist skin encourages fungal skin infections. This means you're more likely to pick one up if you don't dry your skin properly after sweating or bathing, or if you wear tight clothes that don't allow sweat to evaporate. Damage to the surface of your skin, such as a cut or graze, can also encourage fungi to grow.
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.

How do fungal skin infections spread?

1)Fungal skin infections can be spread from person to person. 

2)For example, athlete's foot is thought to be spread in communal areas, such as gyms and swimming pools. 

3)Contact with bed sheets or towels and personal items such as hairbrushes can also spread fungal infections. 

4)It's also possible to catch some fungal infections from animals such as cats or dogs, and, more rarely, cattle. 

5)Ringworm is occasionally caught this way.


Diagnosis of fungal skin infections =


Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she will look at the appearance and location of your rash. They 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.

Prevention of fungal skin infections =


There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting a fungal skin infection, such as:
  • 1)drying your skin carefully after bathing
  • 2)wearing loose fitting clothes and underwear
  • 3)choosing cotton socks and natural fibre underwear to allow your skin to breathe
  • 4)not sharing towels, hair brushes, and combs
  • 5)washing bed linen and clothes often to get rid of fungal spores
  • 6)throwing away or disinfecting pillows, hats, combs or scissors if someone in your family has scalp ringworm
  • 7)always wearing thongs or plastic shoes in communal areas such as swimming pools and change rooms
  • 8)alternating shoes every two or three days so that they have time to dry out (to help prevent athlete's foot)
  • 9)wearing synthetic fibres that 'wick' the sweat away from the body, helping to keep your skin dry if you're exercising.

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