Dermatophytosis is an infection following a fungus. It takes the form of lesions on the skin, especially the folds (under the arms, toes), or on the scalp, which is more commonly called ringworm.

These inflammations are often very annoying for the patient, cause the urge to scratch, and in rare cases cause permanent hair loss. It is treated after a consultation with a dermatologist, using ointments or lotions applied locally.

What is dermatophytosis?

Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection, made from filamentous fungi lodged in keratin (our skin, nails, hair or hair). These are the “ringworms”, lesions of the little or the scalp.

It manifests itself in humans as well as in animals, and is contagious.

Causes

The cause of dermatophytosis is a fungus, a unisex microscopic organism capable of reproducing very quickly in the presence of keratin, the material of our nails, skin, body hair and hair. They belong to the family of trichopyton, microsporum et epidermophyton.

Transmission has several origins depending on the contaminant.

• Human contaminant

  Close physical contact (such as during sexual intercourse, or simply sporting for judokas), or indirectly through puddles (bathrooms, swimming pools, etc.), or even objects capable of carrying the spores of mushrooms (combs, hats, clothes, etc.)

• Contaminant animal

  Dogs and cats can transmit fungi through a simple stroke (direct contact) or through their hairs scattered around a house (indirect contact). All furry mammals appear to be able to carry the contaminating spores, even without apparent signs of infection on them.

Diagnostic

Dermatophytosis is treated by consultation with a dermatologist. The doctor will take a sample from the area affected by ringworm, to confirm or not its fungal origin.

The people concerned

Children and adult women for inflammatory lesions, men for hair and beard ringworms. Populations originating in or living in countries with weak sanitary measures.

Risk factors

Hand-to-hand sports (wrestling, martial arts), swimming pools, public baths, but also domestic animals (cats, dogs, rodents, etc.) are all risk factors.

Dermatophytosis causes very visible lesions and ringworms on the skin or scalp.

On the skin

The patient presents very visible red-pink ring-shaped marks. The infection can also start in the “folds” of the body: under the arms, between the toes (what is commonly called the “Athlete’s foot”), or between the thighs.

On the scalp

Scalp ringworms develop in different ways. The “shearing” ringworms form patches where the hair is brittle, a few centimeters in diameter, sometimes contagious. Other forms of ringworm are more severe, some can become inflammatory and cover an area of ​​several centimeters in diameter and to a certain height. But the most dangerous are the favic ringworms, which cover a large area of ​​the scalp in the form of a yellow crust (hence the name favus, honey in Latin). The hair loss caused by this type of ringworm is permanent.

On the hairs

As men generally have more hair than women or children, they will be the most affected by these ringworms here. They can target beards and mustaches, body hair, and infect them. Their area of ​​application will be limited compared to scalp ringworms.

On the nails

The most frequent case of dermatophytosis remains that of the nails. They are an ideal source of keratin for these fungi, which will therefore eat away at the nail little by little. The nail usually takes on a yellowish complexion and loses its surface.

Antifungal treatment

The patient should topically apply an ointment, cream, or lotion to neutralize the fungi present in the area. It will often be necessary to shave the hair or hair surrounding the affected area.

Systemic treatment

In addition to the daily ointment, the patient may take treatment with griseofulvin or terbinafine (usually 5-8 weeks). Please note that the treatment is contraindicated in pregnancy and other specific cases, talk to your doctor.

There is no need to go as far as surgery, as ringworm fungi are easily eradicated

Prevention must above all aim to avoid any major contamination in a population, by precisely targeting the contaminating subjects. In the case of children, we can in some cases keep the patient at home rather than putting him in contact with other pupils. Or advise adults not to go to swimming pools and other places that can easily infect other people.