Tinea Corporis - Causes, Symptom And Treatment of Tinea Corporis

What is Tinea corporis ?

Tinea corporis , more commonly known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the body. fungal infection that can affect the scalp , skin, fingers, toenails or feet. A mold-like fungus known as dermatophytes causes the condition.

Causes of Tinea corporis

This infection is not caused by a worm. Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin, and it can be caused by many different types of fungi. Although the fungus can be "caught" from many sources, puppies and kittens are very common carriers of the infection

Symptoms of Tinea corporis

Typically, scaly red patches on the skin, the size of which varies from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter.

The patches are ring-shaped or oval and the edges are red and scaly. Inside the ring, the skin may be a bit scaly but looks normal in all other respects. The fungus spreads from the centre of the patch but the activity is confined to the outer edge.

Prognosis of Tinea Corporis

It has improved and tinea has become curable, if the source of infection is eliminated completely, and the right treatment is given persistently. Half-hearted treatment is demoralizing and results in chronicity. The superficial varieties of this disease do not leave any atrophy or scarring.

Treatment of Tinea corporis

Tinea corporis usually clears up quickly when antifungal medicines are applied twice daily to the skin.

Use the antifungal cream and oral medication for one week after the lesions have cleared because there may be fungus under the skin which is not visible with the unaided eye.Most treatment failures occur because patients stop the medication too early.

Tips for Preventing Tinea corporis

• Keep the skin clean and dry daily.
• Wear loose fitting clothing.
• Change socks frequently - this is especially important for those who have a tendency to perspire a lot.
• Try to wear open-toed shoes.
• Wash hands after handling animals, soil, and plants
• Avoid touching characteristic lesions on other people
• Practice good hygiene when participation in sports involves physical contact with other people.