How to protect yourself from fungal infections this summer?
Summer is the time when some of our bad habits related to hygiene may invite uninvited trouble like a fungal infection. A fungus is a living organism, and there are millions of species of them. They can thrive on dirt, plants, any ordinary surface and even on your skin. Most of them are harmless but few are capable to infect your skin and cause a fungal infection. Fungi love to grow in warm and moist places, so your sweaty body parts make a perfect habitat for them in hot and humid weather.
So, let’s see the common summer fungal infections, their symptoms and how to avoid them.
A. Athlete’s foot
This type of fungal infections infects your foot. Fungi live on the dead tissues of your toe-nails, hair, and outer skin layers. If you are using tight shoes, sweaty socks or use public baths and pools without proper footwear, you are inviting Athlete’s foot.
Symptoms-
- Peeling or scaly skin
- Blisters
- Itching and burning
- Redness of the skin
Prevention
Use of shower sandals in public baths and pool sides.
Wear shoes that let your feet breathe and wear fresh socks.
Keep your feet clean and dry.
Consult a doctor if the condition is getting worse.
The doctor may prescribe an antifungal powder like Flucos dusting powder to absorb excess sweat and fight such kind of fungal infections.
B. Jock Itch
A fungus named tinea causes this type of infection. It can mostly infect areas such as inner thighs, genitals and buttocks. It is mildly contagious and can spread from person to person through direct contact or indirectly through objects with the fungus on them.
Symptoms-
- Red, circular rash with raised edges
- Redness around your genital area
- Peeling or cracked skin
Prevention
Regularly clean and dry the inner thigh area.
Use fresh innerwear every day.
Seek medical attention if the condition persists.
Use Flucos dusting powder on the doctor’s advice to prevent the spread of this infection.
C. Ringworm
Though it has nothing to do with a worm, it is a kind of fungal skin infection which is ring-shaped with a worm-like edge. It is contagious and can spread through direct contact. Humid and hot climate aids the faster spread of such infections.
Symptoms-
Red circular patch with scaly skin
Itching
Prevention
Don’t share towels or other clothes of the infected person
Always wear clean clothes
D. Yeast Infection
This is caused by a fungus named candida, which is normally present in the human body. When it grows too much, an infection can occur mostly in warm, moist areas of the body including armpits and groin. This infection is not contagious.
In infants, it can cause a diaper rash. It can cause infection in the mouth, nails or vagina too.
Symptoms-
- Rash
- Patches with oozing clear fluid
- Bumps
- Itching and burning.
- Pus in nails or yellow nails
- In case of vaginal infection, white or yellow discharge with redness and burning sensation around the vaginal area.
Prevention
Change sweaty clothes at the earliest.
Daily wear fresh innerwear, socks, gym gear.
Wear clean and dry clothes post a swim session.
Maintain overall hygiene.
Treatment
Most of these fungal infections are treatable with over-the-counter medicine like ointments and tablets. Maintaining a healthy hygiene routine and moderate use of Flucos dusting powder as suggested by doctors, especially in summer will help prevent such skin infections. It will be best to take a medical practitioner’s advice for advanced treatment if the infection is not healing with general medicine.