Tinea
Tinea, a common fungal skin infection, requires treatment to halt its spread. The most recognizable form is athlete's foot, characterised by itching, burning, or stinging sensations, along with an unpleasant odour if the foot is affected. Additional symptoms may include a red, scaly rash resembling a ring, cracks, peeling, blisters, nail discolouration, and bald spots on the scalp.
Highly contagious, tinea spreads through wet floors, shared footwear or towels, and direct skin contact. Thriving in warm, moist environments, tinea targets areas prone to sweat, earning it the nickname "ringworm" due to the circular rash it produces, unrelated to actual worms.
Tinea infections are categorised based on affected body parts, including athlete's foot, jock itch, scalp ringworm (common in children), body ringworm, and nail infections. Preventive measures include thorough drying of the skin post-washing, especially between toes and skin folds, wearing cotton socks, using antiperspirants, and donning footwear like thongs in moist environments.
Nail salons should be approached with caution as one type of tinea targets nails. If tinea is suspected, consulting a pharmacist for treatment recommendations is prudent. Maintaining cleanliness and dryness in the affected area helps prevent fungal spread, with anti-fungal medications proving effective in treatment, a topic a pharmacist can advise on.
