Fungi are microorganisms, some of which are visible to the naked eye. Fungi essentially grow on other organisms (living or dead) and feed off them. To understand “what is fungus,” we need to understand its basic function. Fungus plays a vital role in the helping along the decomposition process of plants and animals.  They’re also crucial in the development of antibiotics, antioxidants and other forms of medication.

You may be wondering what causes fungus to grow on our body. First, though, we need to understand the basic growth pattern of fungus. Some types of fungi (like yeast) grow individually; others join and link together to form long tubes, called hyphae. Hyphae grow as a network of fibers in the organism the fungus is thriving on. Mushrooms, toadstools, and mold on bread are the most common types of hyphae.

However, there exist some types of pathogenic fungi which can cause superficial or systemic fungal infections in the human body. Superficial fungal infections are those that target the uppermost layer of tissues on our body like the skin, hair or nails. The most common fungal infections are athlete’s foot, jock itch, and yeast infections. Systemic fungal infections, on the other hand, attack the internal organs. Generally these begin in the lungs first and then spread to the liver, kidneys, etc. These two broad types of fungal infections add a whole new type of answer to the question “what is fungus?” – it can be a threat to our health.

Fungus can be a true pathogen, which indicates that it can cause an infection to develop in an otherwise healthy individual. It can also be an opportunistic pathogen, which means it can cause infection in a person who is basically immuno-compromized due to diseases like cancer, or HIV/AIDS. Systemic fungal infections are more likely to occur due to these opportunistic pathogens; superficial infections are more often linked to true pathogens.

And so it follows that what causes fungus to grow on our body depends completely upon the type of fungi or the type of infection. In case of a superficial infection, the fungus generally grows in moist areas of the body such as armpits, groin, or vagina. Areas where folds of skin are observed are also prone to these infections. It is also possible that such an infection can spread through contact or by sharing personal items. In the case of a systemic infection, the main cause is suppression or weakening of the immune system, either due to disease or a long course of antibiotics.

There do exist some types of fungi which are true pathogens and can cause systemic infections. These are generally present in the environment and affect those who inhale them. Some examples of these infections are Histoplasmosis and Coccidioidomycosis.  However, the spread of such pathogens is quite rare and not something most people will ever need to worry about – it’s more likely you’ll see them on an episode of “House.” The more common types of fungi, such as athlete’s foot, yeast infections or jock itch are the ones we have to deal with on a regular basis.

A fungal infection of the skin is, as you’ve probably guessed, a skin disease which has been caused by fungus. Many types of fungi live on our skin at a given time and do not cause any problems. However, if these fungi grow uncontrollably, or if a certain harmful fungus begins to thrive on your skin, you can develop a fungal skin infection.

Fungal infections of the skin live on the protein that makes up your skin, namely Keratin. There are various types of fungal skin infections. The symptoms and treatment of these infections thus vary according to the fungus itself and the area of your body that is affected. However, in general the most observed sign of a fungal skin infection is a rash. The rash could be red and itchy or even dry and scaly. If these infections are present on your scalp or beard they make even cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the skin occur mainly when the skin is moist. Hence if you do not dry yourself properly after a shower you may be at risk. Also if you wear tight clothes which do not allow your sweat to dry up you may be at risk for developing a fungal infection. These infections can spread from person to person. Especially in community swimming pools and health centers, there is a higher risk of contracting these skin diseases. Sharing personal items such as bed sheets, towels or even a hair brush of an infected person can cause a fungal skin infection. You may also get them from an animal such as a dog or cat.

There are primarily two types of fungal infections of the skin; dermatophyte and yeast.

Dermatophyte infections affect two out of ten people. They include the two most common types of fungal skin infections:

• Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) causes the skin to become dried out, prickly, flaky and red, mainly between your toes. You may also get blisters on your feet. You generally tend to catch this infection from a community pool or gym or any area with contaminated scales. (If you get this fungal skin infection on your hands, it is called Tinea manuum.)

• Ringworm, a fungus which can cause infections on various parts of the body. Ringworm appears similar to athlete’s foot in that the skin is red and scaly, often with oozing blisters – the patches, though, often are in the telltale shape of a ring. The most common are known as Tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin or jock’s disease), Tinea corporis (ringworm of the body), or Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp).

Yeast infections often aren’t thought of in the same category as dermatophyte infections, but they are indeed also caused by fungus.

• Intertrigo is the most common type of yeast infection. It mainly occurs in moist skin folds such as armpits and belly folds, and is caused by the fungus Candida albicans (which is present on your skin and in your digestive system).
• Another type of fungal infection of the skin caused by yeast is Pityriasis versicolor (Tinea versicolor). It is seen as dark-colored patches on skin which isn’t tanned – and light-colored patches on the darker parts of your skin.

Ringworm has nothing to do with worms; it isn’t a worm in your body, and it isn’t contracted by coming in contact wth worms. It’s defined as a contagious and itchy skin disease, which usually presents itself in small, circular patches – thus the name “ringworm” – it’s usually a telltale sign of the infection. It’s caused by any of a number of fungi, and it primarily affects the feet or scalp, although it can also be seen in the groin, hands or arms, among other spots.

There are several good ringworm cures, but the best approach of all is prevention: good personal hygiene goes a long way toward making sure you never contract ringworm; in particular, keeping susceptible areas clean and dry will eliminate most possibities of contracting fungal skin diseases like ringworm.

Summer and rainy days are the periods when you are most at risk because moisture and humidity provide a perfect environment in which fungi can grow easily. It’s also advisable to avoid sharing your personal items with anyone else, and don’t use anyone else’s personal items like hairbrushes, combs or undergarments. Ringworm and other fungal skin infections can be transmitted easily between people. Unwashed clothing can be one of the worst villains, because it carries loads of germs and often can trigger an immediate skin reaction.

Cures for ringworm are primarily antifungal treatments for your skin, which can heal the rash fairly quickly. If you feel that you have ringworm or another fungal infection of the skin, you can first try one of the many natural remedies or prescriptions available, such as the ones you see advertised on this site. Many of them will easily eliminate the telltale ring and rash in a matter of days. Ringworm treatments are also available over-the-counter at your local drugstore as well. Lamisil, Mycelex, Nizorol and Monistat are among the most commonly used over-the-counter treatments. If they don’t work for you, you should then consult a health care professional, who may prescribe one of several effective anti-fungal medications, such as the topical cream Spectazole, or an oral medication like Diflucan or Sporonax.

Most cases or ringworm, however, resolve pretty quickly with a natural approach. Just click to your right to find one of our specific recommendations.