Tinea

Tinea is an infectious and contagious disease caused by dermatophyte fungi that feed on keratin, and therefore affect the skin, mucous membranes, nails, and scalp. Its main manifestation is a circular skin rash that causes itching. This condition is classified into five types depending on the area where it appears:

• Tinea corporis: Appears on any area of the body except the hands, feet, or scalp.
• Tinea capitis: Appears on the scalp.
• Tinea cruris: Affects the groin, perianal area, and the inner thighs.
• Tinea pedis (athlete's foot): Appears on the feet, especially between the toes.
• Tinea unguium (onychomycosis): Appears on the nails and affects their color, texture, and thickness.

Tinea can be contracted through direct contact with infected people or animals or by indirect contact, such as touching objects previously used by someone with the disease.

Symptoms

The symptoms of tinea are quite clear and common among all patients, although they may vary slightly depending on the area of the body where it appears. The most representative signs of the disease include:

• Red patches with scales that usually have a whitish center and well-defined borders. This type of rash is characteristic of tinea corporis.
• Areas of hair loss and scaling in cases of tinea capitis.
• Red cracks in cases of athlete's foot.
• Weakening and changes in the appearance of the nails.
• All skin lesions caused by tinea cause itching.

Causes

Tinea is a contagious disease that spreads through various types of contact:

• Direct person-to-person contact via the skin.
• Direct animal-to-person contact through petting, washing, or brushing animals.
• Indirect contact through objects recently used by someone with tinea, such as towels, bed linens, or combs.

Risk Factors

Although people of any age can contract it, children and young people are the most susceptible, especially to tinea capitis. The risk factors that promote its appearance include:

• Contact with infected people or animals, due to its ease of transmission.
• Participation in contact sports where skin rubs against other participants' skin.
• Wearing very tight clothing that may cause chafing, particularly in the groin area, making it easier for tinea to develop.
• A weakened immune system, as it makes it easier for infections to spread.
• Warm climates, where fungi develop more quickly.

Complications

It is rare for serious complications to arise from a tinea infection. In some cases, excessive scratching may cause wounds or infections in the skin. Only when the immune system is severely weakened might the infection spread beyond the skin surface.

Prevention

Preventing contagion is difficult, especially when it is unknown that the people or animals with whom we interact have tinea. However, especially when living with infected individuals, certain measures can be taken to reduce the risk:

• Maintain personal hygiene and wash hands frequently.
• Dry properly before getting dressed.
• Keep common areas such as bathrooms, locker rooms, or gyms clean.
• Wear loose clothing during hot periods to reduce sweating.
• Avoid sharing personal items, bedding, or clothing that come into direct contact with the skin.