Dermatomycosis
Dermatomycosis is a broad term for fungal infections of the skin, nails, or hair. The group includes ringworm, athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, and similar conditions caused by dermatophytes or other fungi. In humid climates, these infections are particularly common and can be persistent without appropriate treatment.
Key points
- Dermatophyte fungi, or occasionally other fungal species, are responsible for conditions ranging from ringworm to fungal nail disease.
- The infection changes appearance by site, producing scaly ring-like marks on skin, crumbling nails, or patchy flaking hair loss on the scalp.
- Antifungal treatment usually clears the infection, though systemic therapy such as itraconazole is often needed for stubborn nail or widespread skin cases.
How it presents
The appearance varies with the site affected. On the skin, dermatomycosis typically causes ring-shaped, scaly patches with a clearer centre, or diffuse redness between skin folds. Nail infections produce thickened, discoloured, crumbling nails. Scalp involvement causes patchy hair loss with flaking. Itching and mild burning are common across all forms.
Treatment with antifungals
Most dermatomycosis responds to antifungals. For stubborn nail infections or widespread skin involvement, systemic treatment is often necessary. Itraconazole is widely used for dermatophyte nail and skin infections, typically given in short courses. Keep affected areas clean and dry throughout treatment, as warmth and moisture help fungi persist.