<unk>  is a fungal infection of the skin. It gets worse during summer and the symptoms are  alleviated during winter. Dermatophytes of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum are the most common causative agents. Mode of transmission of Dermatophytes  is via direct or indirect contact with skin (or) scalp lesions of infected people,animals (or) fomites. Following transmission, the dermatophytes use proteases to adhere to the stratum corneum of the skin. Penetration by dermatophytes is achieved by secreting multiple serine-subtilisins and metallo-endoproteases (fungalysins) formerly called keratinases that are found only in the dermatophytes. Acutely, the host responds to fungal invasion by Type IV delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (also known as "Trichophytin reaction") leading to a cell mediated response.<unk>  should be differentiated from other superficial skin infections which may all present as a red, pruritic, annular and scaly rash on different parts of the body such as tinea versicolor, tinea nigra, white piedra, black piedra, superficial candidiasis. Tinea corporis should also be differentiated from other annular skin eruptions, especially subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), granuloma annulare, and erythema annulare centrifugum. Worldwide, the prevalence of<unk>  is 20000-25000 per 100,000 persons. The common risk factors for<unk>  are xerosis (dry skin), skin-skin contact with an infected person, contact with infected pets, topical immunosupressive drugs, low socioeconomic status, occlusive footwear, high humidity, rural settlement, poor hygiene, excessive sweating, public showers, obesity, diabetes mellitus. The skin is characterized by erythematous, papulosquamous, annular, well-ircumscribed, superficial rash with central clearing which may be located on the scalp, neck, trunk, extremities and groin. Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of<unk>  include KOH preparation showing refractile, long, smooth, undulating, branching, and septate hyphal filaments with or without arthroconidiospores; culture and sensitivity may yield the diagnosis but it takes 7-14 days for colony growth; hemotoxylin and eosin stain may be used in diagnosis of Majocchi's granuloma in which KOH examination of scales may be false negative. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing may be used to identify various dermatophytic infections and even help in evaluating drug resistances of different species of dermatophytes. The mainstay of therapy for<unk>  is topical antifungals. Topical Antifungalrug|antifungals]] include imidazoles, allylnines and other agents including ciclopirox olamine, benzoic acid preparations (Whitfield's ointment), tolnaftate, haloprogin, drying agents and salicylic acid. In some situations, systemic antifungal therapy may be used for<unk>  which includes griseofulvin, ketoconazole, terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Effective measures for the primary prevention of<unk>  include avoiding sharing clothing, sports equipment, towels or sheets of infected individuals. Washing clothes worn by infected individuals with fungicidal soap and avoiding infected pets.
Dermatophytosis
Onychomycosis
Tinea versicolor
Granulosis rubra nasi
Linea negra
Sycosis vulgaris
Herpes simplex
Pseudomonas dermatitis