Posts Tagged ‘fungal infection’
Candida is an yeast type of fungus that occurs on the skin and cavities of the body but will not cause an infection in most cases. A candida infection, known as candidiasis, is more likely to occur on the skin although it can also infect the vagina, mouth or intestines. Infection of the latter two sites is usually limited to immunocompromised patients like in HIV/AIDS.
While candida tends to live on the skin without causing a fungal infection of the skin, if the conditions are favorable, it will become pathogenic. Like other skin fungi, it needs the ideal conditions like warmth, moisture and darkness to thrive and if the body’s immune defenses are lowered, this harmless yeast will quickly infect the skin and body.
Athlete’s foot is a the most common type of fungal skin infection and while it may affect the entire foot, it tends to occur more on side of the feet and between the toes. Athlete’s foot or feet fungus as it is sometimes called is medically known as tinea pedis (tinea ~ fungal infection, pedis ~ foot).
Athlete’s feet can affect men or women and is more common in people who use closed shoes or have sweaty feet.
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There are two main types of fungi (singular ~ fungus) that affect the human skin :
- Dermatophytes (also called molds)
- Skin yeasts (also called thrush or candida)
Both types of fungi (mold-like and yeast link fungi) are not threatening to human skin unless there is damage or irritation of the area or the health of the skin cannot be maintained due to poor circulation, lowered immunity or use of toxic chemicals.
A skin fungus can occur on any part of the body but it is prevalent in areas that are covered (dark), warm and moist.