What is a fungal infection of the skin?

Tinea corporis is the medical name for fungus appearing anywhere on the body.  This organism prefers warm, moist skin; this is why the infection is often worse in warm weather.  Not all skin rashes on the body are due to fungus.  Eczema can appear very similar to a fungal infection.  Fungal infection of the feet is call Tinea pedis or "athlete's foot."  Fungal infections can also involve the beard, scalp, groin or nails.

This fungus usually starts as a scaly, round, red patch of skin most people call "ringworm."  It can be very itchy.  Many people try over-the-counter cortisone creams on the rash which will make it spread or worsen.

Can it be treated?

Yes, but proper treatment requires the correct diagnosis.  You should seek an opinion from a skin specialist who will take a scraping and examine it under the microscope for the presence of fungal forms.  A culture may also be sent to a lab to determine the type of fungus.  After the diagnosis is confirmed, a prescription medication will be ordered by the physician.

Is it contagious?

Yes.  Many types of fungus are spread from animals to humans.   You may need to have your pet treated at the same time by a veterinarian to ensure you don't get the infection again. 

Human to human contact can also spread this fungus as in wrestlers, children in daycare centers and using others' towels or combs. 

Soil contains fungi and occasionally gardeners can develop Tinea infections.

Treatment

A topical prescription antifungal cream is usually prescribed except for deep-seated infections of the scalp or in immunosuppressed patients, when an oral treatment is indicated.  Medications must be continued for a week after the skin heals to ensure all fungal organisms are dead.

Systemic antifungal treatments will require blood tests before you start the medication and after you finish the drug to check liver function.  Since these drugs are metabolized by your liver, you will want to avoid alcohol and other drugs which can damage the liver.  Treatment with these drugs usually last one to two months.

Recurrent infections are unusual if the source is determined and treated or avoided.

Nail infections are very difficult to treat and require months of therapy with oral antifungal drugs.  It usually is not worth the risk to your health to treat these infections.  Occasionally a nail will partially break off or grow so thick that it has to be surgically removed.   This is performed in the dermatologist's office under local anesthesia.  Removal is relatively painless and there is minimal pain afterward.  The nail sometimes will grow out normally after it is removed.