Skin Infections
Skin Infections caused by fungi
Ptiriasis tinea versicolor or blemished skin. It is a common infection, chronic and safety of outer layers of the skin. It is caused by fungus called Malassezia fufura, and is characterized by spots on the skin caused by desquamation of the infected cornea layer and scaly. (pityriasis = desquamation), (turning color = versicolor).
This effect is especially noticeable in the summer in white-skinned people. With exposure to the sun, areas that are shed not acquire the color of skin burned and if they do healthy areas. This fungus primarily affects the skin and sebum-rich wetlands. Other factors predisposing to infection are immunocompromised, overproduction of the hormone cortisol, and a genetic factor that is supposed to include some of the above causes.
It is especially common among adolescents and young adults. The lesions vary in color depending on the skin of the person concerned. In fair-skinned people tend to be reddish or brown, while in the dark skin patches may cause hypo-or hyperpigmentation.
Characteristic of Skin Infections
The characteristic spots are covered by a thin crust and often grow close together and causing growing areas. These areas are more frequent in the neck, upper chest and back and upper extremities. Injuries to the face are rare but can occur in the front of the arms, back of hands, groin and pubic region. They produce, in general, itching.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis can be made by examining the lesions, but sometimes you must take skin samples for the presence of fungi with a special stain under microscope. This skin disease can be confused with similar injuries as pityriasis alba, caused by an allergic reaction that also causes flaking of the surface layers, seborrheic dermatitis and other types of ringworm.
Treatment
There are several products to treat this infection, though the fungus is very difficult to eradicate from the sick person’s skin tends to recur again and again. An alternative is easy to apply with sulfosalicylic acid soaps used in showers daily for 2 to 3 weeks and then intermittently three times a week to prevent recurrences.
Lotions with miconazole, clotrimazole. ketoconazole or terbinafine, twice daily for 4 weeks are also helpful. The problem with this treatment is cost, because if large areas of infection are large numbers should apply creams or lotions.
Oral medications such as ketoconazole or fluconazole in doses of 400mg, repeated in 1 week or itraconazole 200mg/24 hours for 7 to 15 days are also effective. That if they should be followed with liver function tests and medical supervision should be continued if more than a week.