Fungal Infections of the Skin

Athlete's foot. Jock itch. Ringworm. Did you know that all three of these common infections are caused by fungi? Fungi survive by eating plant or animal matter. They can infect and live in the outer layer of skin.

Some fungal infections can be difficult to recognize because they may not cause any symptoms or only cause slight redness and dryness in the affected area. Other fungal infections may cause itching, swelling, blistering and severe scaling or dry flaky skin.

You can get a fungal infection by coming into contact with a person who has one. Or you can get one from touching damp surfaces that harbor fungi, like the floors in public showers or locker rooms. You can even catch a fungal infection from one of your pets.

Fungi tend to grow in warm, moist places, such as between the toes, in the groin, under the breasts and other parts of the body. Sometimes, the clothes we wear encourage fungi to develop, such as tight-fitting socks or close-fitting clothing.

There are several types of fungal infections. These infections are generally named for the part of the body they affect. Doctors commonly use the term tinea followed by the Latin name for the body part affected to identify the specific kind of infection. As tineas grow, they often spread out in a circle, leaving normal-appearing skin in the middle, which makes it look like a ring. At the edge of the ring, the skin is lifted up by the irritation and looks red and scaly. Because of the way it looks, tinea infection is often called "ringworm."

In the following pages, you can learn more about fungal infections. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Proper treatment of a fungal infection depends on the correct diagnosis, which makes going to a doctor so important. Other skin problems can produce similar signs and symptoms as fungal infections, but have very different treatments.