Tinea corporis: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Tinea corporis is a skin infection caused by fungi, resulting in symptoms such as ring-shaped spots on the skin, itching and peeling skin, mainly affecting the buttocks, trunk, neck, arms or legs.

This type of mycosis is caused by fungi of the species Trichophyton or Microsporumwhich live in the outer layers of the skin, and which can be transmitted by skin contact from one infected person to another, or through contact with contaminated animals or objects.

The treatment of tinea corporis, also known as dermatophytosis, tinea corporis or superficial mycosis, is carried out by a dermatologist and, generally, the application of antifungal ointments or creams to the skin is recommended.

Symptoms of body moth

The main symptoms of tinea corporis are spots on the skin with the following characteristics:

• Ring-shaped spot, 1 to 5 cm in size;
• Red edges with a lighter area in the middle;
• Protrusions or reliefs on the edges;
• Itching in the region;
• Injury with or without skin peeling;

Symptoms of tinea corporis vary depending on the fungus that is causing the infection, but generally begin 4 to 10 days after infection.

In more serious cases, due to the multiplication of the fungus, the spots on the skin can come together, forming an extensive plaque, and in some cases blisters and wounds with pus can appear near the spots.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of tinea corporis is made by the dermatologist through the evaluation of symptoms and physical examination observing the characteristics of the skin lesions.

Make an appointment with the dermatologist in the region closest to you:

In addition, the doctor can perform a dermoscopy exam to aid in the diagnosis, as it allows the skin to be examined using a special magnifying glass, to evaluate the changes in more detail. Check out how dermoscopy is performed.

To confirm the presence and type of fungus, the doctor can perform a skin scraping exam, which consists of removing some skin cells and analyzing them under a microscope or sending them to the laboratory for culture examination.

These exams are also important to rule out other skin problems that can cause blemishes on the skin, such as psoriasis, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, for example.

Possible causes

Tinea corporis is a skin mycosis caused by fungi of the species Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum or Microspores dogwhich invade and multiply in the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin.

Transmission of tinea corporis

Tinea corporis can be transmitted in the following ways:

• Peer to peer: through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person;
• Animals to people: through contact with the skin or fur of infected animals, such as dogs, cats or cows;
• Contaminated objects or surfaces: it is possible for infection to occur through the use or sharing of clothes, towels, sheets, combs or brushes contaminated with the fungus;
• Soil for people: Tinea corporis can also be transmitted by prolonged contact with soil highly infected by fungi, although this form of transmission is rare.

In addition, some factors can increase the risk of developing tinea corporis, such as living in very hot and humid regions, participating in skin-to-skin contact sports such as wrestling, sharing clothes or personal belongings, or having a weakened immune system, for example. example.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of tinea corporis needs to be guided by a dermatologist and generally includes remedies such as:

• Antifungals in ointment formgel, cream or spray, such as terbinafine, ketoconazole, clotrimazole or miconazole, applied directly to the skin in the affected region, generally 1 to 2 times a day, for 15 to 30 days of treatment;
• Antifungals in tablet formsuch as griseofulvin, terbinafine or itraconazole, taken orally, in cases of severe tinea corporis or those that do not improve with topical treatment.

The treatment time must be indicated by the dermatologist, according to the characteristics of the spots on the skin, as well as the number of spots, type of fungus, severity of the mycosis and the person’s health status.

Home Treatment Options

Some home treatment options for tinea corporis are sage tea, cassava tea or aloe vera spray with tea tree oil, which can be used to complement medical treatment and speed up recovery.

These remedies have antifungal, anti-inflammatory or healing effects, relieving itchy skin naturally.

Home remedies can be prepared at home with natural ingredients purchased from pharmacies or health food stores, and used directly on the skin. Learn how to prepare home remedies for tinea corporis.

How to prevent

Some precautions are important to prevent or reduce the risk of infection by fungi that cause tinea corporis, such as:

• Do not share clothes or personal objects with other people;
• Avoid wearing very tight clothesespecially in regions with a hot and humid climate;
• Wash your skin well with neutral soap after sports that involve skin-to-skin contact with another person;
• Dry your skin well After the shower;
• Take the pet to the veterinarian if he has patches of hair or blisters on his skin.

Furthermore, if you have someone close to you with tinea corporis, it is important to ensure that the person is treated to prevent transmission of the fungus.