Tinea
Tinea is a fungal infection which can infect people. All fungi need warm, moist environments and tinea is no exception. The hottest, most sweat-prone areas of the body are the likely targets of a tinea infection - most commonly the feet, groin and beneath the breasts. Tinea is highly contagious and can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, or indirectly through towels, clothes or even floors. Communal showers and locker rooms are typical infection sites. This superficial fungal infection of the skin is also known as ringworm, which is a misleading name since no worm is involved.
Fungal spores
It is likely that tiny fungal spores naturally inhabit the skin surface. Under normal conditions, they are kept under check and pose no problems. Given enough heat and sweat, the fungi can thrive and multiply by feeding on dead skin cells. When there aren’t enough dead skin cells to go around, the fungi start to eat living cells as well. The infections that attack the outer surface of the skin are called superficial fungal infections and include athlete’s foot, ringworm and thrush. There are other varieties of fungi that inhabit the deeper tissues, such as the lungs or heart. These dangerous infections, called deeper mycoses, are common to tropical areas.
Red, itchy skin
Once tinea starts eating into living skin, the symptoms can include:
- Itching and stinging
- Reddening
- Scaly rash
- Cracking, splitting and peeling
- Blisters.
Poor hygiene practices contribute to tinea infections. Suggestions to prevent tinea include:
- After washing, dry the skin thoroughly, particularly between the toes and within skin folds.
- Expose the skin to the air as much as possible.
- Wear cotton socks instead of synthetics.
- Wear thongs to swimming pools, locker rooms, gyms and other communal areas.
Treating an infection
Tinea infections respond well to antifungal creams. You should also use good hygiene and air the affected areas as much as possible. Some infections are harder to shift and might also require an oral dose of antifungal medication. Some strains have developed a resistance to common medications. In this case, your doctor may need to take a tissue sample to identify the specific organism so that the appropriate drug can be prescribed. It is important to remember that tinea is contagious while you are showing symptoms of infection, even if you are using antifungal preparations. Suggestions on how to prevent the spread of infection to other members of your household include:
- Be wary of contaminating surfaces, so don’t walk around barefoot
- Avoid physical contact
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching your infected areas
- Launder your towels and sheets separately
- Clean the shower, bath and bathroom floor scrupulously after use.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Your chemist.
- Tinea is a fungal infection of the skin.
- Fungi thrive in hot, moist areas, so common infection sites are the feet and groin.
- Good hygiene practices can prevent recurring attacks of tinea.
Related articles:
Feet - toenail problems.
Foot problems - treatments.
Pityriasis rosea.
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Article publication date: 14/09/2000
Last reviewed: 30/09/2004
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