Health

One of the reasons why fungal infections may appear is because of damp in shoes made of synthetic material and clothes. Mycosis is an infection which may be caused by many agents; one of them is the maceration of the skin, which is produced above all during summertime, when people use to practise sports more often than the rest of the year.

There are three types of fungal infections: Pityriasis versicolor; Dermatophytes, commonly known as Tinea ; and Candidiasis.

  • Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection. Its name comes from its ability to change colour. It affects mainly men between 15 and 30 who live in warm and humid countries.
  • Tinea may affect different parts of the body (depending on the fungus that causes it). It is characterized by a reddish rash on the skin which provokes itch and stinging. Tinea may also produce flaking on the skin and even sometimes blisters sweeping.
  • Candidiasis is also one of the main unpleasant infections of the summer (when it is more effective). It affects mainly skin folds and mucous membranes. Candidiasis provokes flaking on the skin and Erythema, like Dermatophytes, the difference between one and the other is that with Candidiasis, erosion appears at the bottom of the fold. Anyway, the clinic diagnosis should come with samples in order to identify the responsible organism.

The immigration phenomenon and the fact that people travel more and more are having an impact on the creation of new types of fungus responsible for several kinds of Tinea (infection that had been practically disappeared except for Athlete´s foot, a kind of Tinea usually appearing in gymnasiums, swimming pools and sports centres).