Tinea Pedis ( Athlete's foot ) : Athlete's foot is an infection of the feet caused by fungus. The medical term is tinea pedis, or ringworm of the foot.
Causes
Athlete's foot occurs when a certain fungus grows on the skin of your feet. The same fungus may also grow on the heels, palms, and between the fingers.
Athlete's foot is the most common type of tinea fungal infection. The fungus thrives in warm, moist areas. Your risk for getting athlete's foot increases if you:
• Wear closed shoes, especially if they are plastic-lined
• Keep your feet wet for long periods
• Sweat a lot
• Develop a minor skin or nail injury
Athlete's foot is easily spread. It can be passed through direct contact or contact with items such as shoes, stockings, and shower or pool surfaces.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes or side of the foot. Other symptoms can include:
• Red and itchy skin
• Burning or stinging pain
• Blisters that ooze or get crusty
If the fungus spreads to your nails, they can become discolored, thick, and even crumble.
Medication
Conventional treatment typically involves daily or twice daily application of a topical medication in conjunction with hygiene measures outlined in the above section on prevention. Keeping feet dry and practicing good hygiene is crucial to preventing reinfection. Severe or prolonged fungal skin infections may require treatment with oral antifungal medication.Zinc oxide-based diaper rash ointment may be used; talcum powder can be used to absorb moisture to kill off the infection.
Treatment
Over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams can help control the infection:
• These contain medicine such as miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine or tolnaftate.
• Keep using the medicine for 1 to 2 weeks after the infection has cleared to prevent it from returning.
Vaginal yeast infection : Vaginal yeast infection is an infection of the vagina, most commonly due to the fungus Candida albicans.
Causes
Candida albicans is a common type of fungus. It is often found in small amounts in the vagina, mouth, digestive tract, and on the skin. Usually it does not cause disease or symptoms.
Candida and the many other germs that normally live in the vagina keep each other in balance. However, sometimes the number of Candida albicans increases, leading to a yeast infection.
This can happen if you are:
• Taking antibiotics used to treat other types of infections. Antibiotics change the normal balance between germs in the vagina by decreasing the number of protective bacteria.
• Pregnant
• Obese
• Have diabetes
Symptoms
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
o Ranges from a slightly watery, white discharge to a thick, white, chunky discharge (like cottage cheese)
• Pain with intercourse
• Painful urination
• Redness and swelling of the vulva
• Vaginal and labial itching, burning
Treatment
Medications to treat vaginal yeast infections are available in either creams or suppositories. Most can be bought without a prescription.
Treating yourself at home is probably okay if:
• Your symptoms are mild and you do not have pelvic pain or a fever
• This is not your first yeast infection and you have not had many yeast infections in the past
• You are not pregnant
• You are not worried about other sexually transmitted diseases from recent sexual contact
Medications you can buy yourself to treat a vaginal yeast infection are:
• Miconazole
• Clotrimazole
• Tioconazole
• Butoconazole