All of us have heard about fungi but not all know what it is. Fungi represent microscopic plant organisms consisting of cells like mould, mildews and yeast. Their behaviour in the organism resembles the one of parasites or saprophytes as they feed on nutrients they get from humans and animals.

Though fungi are often called moulds or yeasts they are actually infections. Fungi can be found everywhere: they are called geophilic if they live in the environment, zoophilic if they live on animals, and anthropophlic – in the case of humans.

Under the term moulds we understand something with singular hyphae and able to produce cotton-looking colonies. Yeasts (Candida species is a good example), in their turn, have only one cell and bud therefore developing and creating soft pasty-looking colonies.

There are also dermatophites. It is known that they cause about 90% of all skin infections as well as hte ones of nails and hair.

Dermatophytes are generally divides into three groups: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. The first one influences skin, hair and nails; the second evokes ringworm epidemics in children; the third is responsible for the appearance of tinea and develops on the outer skin layer.

Animal fungi are also able to infect humans. They are considered alien by the immune system, therefore it fights them and inflammation and redness are much more intensive.

Skin infections are also evoked by Candida yeasts. Malassezia furfur, or Pityrisporum ovalae, is very frequent as well. This kind of fungi produces brownish patches on the skin. It nourishes and thrives on skin with high sebum substance such (i.e. the face, scalp and chest). It also causes dandruff and a rash.

In general, there are many types of skin infections caused by fungi. They are Athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, face fungus, tinea versicolor, and also some fungal nail and hair infections.