Fungal Skin Infections

Fungal infections or mycoses are disorders caused by saprophytic or parasitic fungi. Cutaneous mycoses involve the skin and its appendages, including hair and nails. Common fungal skin infections are dermatophytosis, also referred to as “tinea” infection, and candidiasis or candidosis. Dermatophyte infections can lead to a variety of clinical manifestations, such as tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea capitis, tinea pedis, and tinea unguium (dermatophyte onychomycosis). Candidiasis is caused by infection with species of the genus Candida, predominantly with Candida albicans, responsible for about 70–80% of all candidal infections. Candida species produce a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from superficial mucocutaneous disease to systemic candidiasis. Other fungal infections include tinea nigra, black piedra, and infections caused by Malassezia yeasts.