Dermatophytosis refers to the same type of skin infection as does tinea or ringworm. They are fungal infections involving your skin, hair or nails, which are contagious and zoonotic infectious diseases.
Dermatophytosis is a fungal skin infection caused by dermatophytes, with Trichophyton being the dermatophyte type most frequently invading. Yet, Microsporum or Epidermophyton groups can be the cause of tinea as well.
Dermatophytes require keratin for growth, so they only dwell around hair, nails and the outer layer of your skin. And warm, moist areas are more vulnerable to this type of fungal infection.
Dermatophytosis is classified according to its location. Common body sites where this pathogen infects and the corresponding med terms are:
- feet ~ tinea pedis
- scalp ~ tinea capitis
- nails ~ tinea unguium
- groin area ~ tinea cruris
- beard area of face ~ tinea barbae
- trunk, arms, legs ~ tinea corporis
Tinea versicolor is a yeast caused skin infection rather than a dermatophyte type fungus.
Pruritus is the dominant symptom of most types of tinea. And some other symptoms this fungus skin infection may produce involve:
- erythema
- circular hair loss
- mild inflammation
- hyperpigmentation
- skin scaling, flaking
- small pustules, scabs
- crusty, scaled nail bed
- brittle, thickened, malformed nails
- ring-like red rash with raised border
Dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis and various types of alopecia can cause similar skin symptoms.
Risk factors for dermatophytosis include:
- tight clothing
- moist condition
- communal baths
- Cushing syndrome
- warm, humid weather
- damaged skin, skin lession
- immunocompromised, i.e. AIDs
- genetic tendency to develop allergic reaction type health conditions, i.e. hay fever, asthma
A coexisting bacterial infection could complicate this relatively minor fungus skin infection.
Treatment for minor cases of dermatophytosis usually only require use of a topical antifungal until symptoms of your tinea clears. Onychomycosis will likely require taking an oral antimycotic drug because topical treatments for nail fungi infections are very often unsuccessful.
Taking an oral antifungal may be an unavoidable treatment for severe dermatophytosis and dermatophytes infecting your hair follicles on your face and scalp. And corticosteroids are occasionally essential to treat severely inflamed skin.
Since dermatophytes prefer moist skin, keeping it dry prevents an outbreak of tinea. Some helpful suggestions are:
- sport opened toed shoes
- wear loose fitting clothes
- on sweat prone skin areas
- wear moisture absorbent shoes
- wear only clean socks, jock strap
Some suffer from chronic dermatophyte caused skin health condition marked by recurrent symptoms.