Fungal Infections

What are fungal infections?

Fungal infections are usually related to the skin and the most common types are athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch and yeast infections.

Athlete’s foot (also known as tinea pedis) causes redness, burning and peeling of the skin on the feet and usually occurs due to wearing tight shoes, staying in wet socks or using shared pools. It’s highly common and it gets its name from the popularity among athletes, whose socks often become damp from sweat.

Ringworm is not actually a worm, but a fungus, and it can appear anywhere on the body. The appearance of ringworm shows itself as a red, circle-shaped sore, sometimes accompanied by scaly skin. Although it’s not a dangerous infection, it can be pretty unsightly.

Jock itch (also called tinea cruris) usually affects the genitals, inner thighs and buttocks and is more common in humid climates, such as during the summertime. It appears as an itchy red rash that is sometimes ring-shaped, but less distinctively so than ringworm.

Yeast infections are very common and usually known as Thrush, and they occur in the mouth, throat and genitals. Yeast infections also include nappy rash that babies get, and infections of the nails. The symptoms vary but yeast infections usually produce a white or yellow discharge (from the infected area), itching and pain.

What causes fungal infections?

Microscopic fungi live on many parts of our body, usually with no harm caused. However, sometimes they can grow at a rapid rate and an overgrowth is what we experience as a fungal infection.

Warm, moist environments incubate the fungi and encourage them to grow, hence why fungal infections usually appear in the genitals, mouth, inner thighs and feet that have been wearing wet socks or shoes.

How can I treat fungal infections?

It’s strongly advised to treat fungal infections whenever they occur, not because they are serious or harmful but because they can be contagious. To save from spreading the infection to others, treat them simply and quickly with our antifungal medication range at UK Meds.

More Information

• How to Treat Thrush