The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is the body's first line of defense against infection and other harmful external elements. The skin is external and therefore open to free roaming bacteria and viruses. Because of this fact, it is essential for people to take care of their skin to prevent the development of fungal infections that may be acquired from the environment or from an infected person or animal.



Many fungi are largely invisible to the human eye and lives for the most part in soil and other dead matter. It is considered harmless but can cause a problem called fungal infections to certain individuals. Many cases of fungal infection may be treated with over-the-counter topical medications and prescription drugs. This is because many kinds of fungus live in our body rarely spreads below the skin. They can be found on different parts of the body, including our skin, nails, and hair.

A kind of fungi infection is caused by certain dermatophytes, a parasitic fungi may affect a person's skin, hair, and nails. Types of dematophytes may include: Trichophyton (affecting our skin, hair and nails), Microsporum (causes ringworm epidemics in children), and Epidermophyton (fungal that grows on the outermost layer of the skin, causing tinea). These fungal infections are often seen after the stage of puberty (except Tinea capitis, a fungal infection concerning scalp hair seen in children).

Many kinds of fungal infections are commonly seen in different parts of our bodies. Tinea is a type of fungal infection that affects the hair, skin, or nails. It may appear like a simple insect bite but may grow into a circular or ring form. Since this infection affects different parts in our bodies, they are aptly named accordingly: scalp ringworm is found on the head, and body ringworm affects arms, legs, or chest.

Other kinds of fungal infection may include the following:

Athlete's foot and jock itch are other fungi infections that may be developed. Athlete's foot may appear between the toes but can also affect the toenails and the bottom or the sides of the feet. The toe area is ideal for fungi growth because it is moist and damp.

Jock itch is an infection of the groin and the upper thighs. A misconception of this infection would be that only men and boys acquire this, but it is a fact that women and girls can also get this infection, too.

Candida affects the skin around the nails. One type of Candida is seen on babies as diaper rash and thrush-white patches found on babies' mouth.

Doctors may usually prescribe over-the-counter antifungal topical ointment, lotion, powder, or spray to treat the infection. Many infections usually respond well to these topical medications. Severe cases may not respond well to topical medicine and may require oral prescription drugs and antibiotics if the infection is accompanied by bacterial infection. These drugs should be taken as prescribed by doctors to prevent the development of side effects and other unwanted conditions. Improper use of antibiotics for example may lead to the development of antibiotic resistance or microorganisms' ability to withstand the effects of even the most potent antibiotic.