Introduction

Albinism, a group of inherited disorders, results in little or no production of the pigment melanin. The type and amount of melanin your body produces determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Melanin also plays a role in the development of certain optical nerves.

Most types of albinism result in hypopigmentation — either no pigment in your skin, hair and eyes, or lighter pigmentation than would be expected for someone in your family. Because one function of melanin is to absorb ultraviolet light, most people with albinism are sensitive to sun exposure and are at risk of developing skin cancer.

All forms of albinism cause problems with the development and function of your eyes. People with albinism have poor vision that can’t be completely corrected with prescription eyewear.

Albinism is present at birth, although some types of the disorder may not be easily identified in infants. Although there’s no cure for albinism, people with the disorder can take steps to improve vision and avoid too much sun exposure. Albinism doesn’t limit intellectual development or educational potential. Unfortunately, people with albinism often feel socially isolated and experience ridicule or discrimination.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of albinism are usually, but not always, apparent in a person’s skin, hair and eye color. Regardless of the effect of albinism on appearance, all people with the disorder experience vision impairments.

Skin
Although the most recognizable form of albinism results in milky white skin, skin pigmentation can range from white to nearly the same as parents or siblings without albinism.

For some people with albinism, skin pigmentation never changes. For others, melanin production may begin or increase during childhood and adolescence, resulting in slight changes in pigmentation. With exposure to the sun, some people may develop:

• Freckles
• Moles, with or without pigment
• Large freckle-like spots (lentigines)
• The ability to tan

Hair
Hair color can range from very white to brown. People of African or Asian descent who have albinism often have hair color that is yellow, reddish or brown. Hair color may also change by early adulthood.

Eye color
Eye color can range from very light blue to brown and may change with age.

The lack of pigment in the colored part of your eyes (irises) makes them translucent to some degree. This means that the irises can’t completely block light from entering the eye. Because of this translucence, very light-colored eyes may appear red in some lighting. This occurs because you’re seeing light reflected off the back of the eye and passing out through the iris again — similar to red eye that occurs in a flash photograph.

Vision
Signs and symptoms of albinism related to eye function include:

• Rapid, involuntary back-and-forth movement of the eyes (nystagmus)
• Inability of both eyes to stay directed at the same point or to move in unison (strabismus)
• Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Causes

The cause of albinism is a mutation in one of several genes. Each of these genes provides the chemically coded instructions for producing one of several proteins involved in the production of melanin. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found in your skin and eyes. A mutation may result in no melanin production at all or a significant decline in the amount of melanin.

In most types of albinism, a person must inherit two copies of a mutated gene — one from each parent — in order to have albinism. If a person has only one copy, then he or she won’t have the disorder.

Impact of mutations on eye development
Regardless of which gene mutation is present, the lack of melanin results in abnormal eye development. Vision impairment is, therefore, the common characteristic across all types of albinism.

Melanin plays some yet-to-be-determined role in the development of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that transmits signals to your brain. Without enough melanin, a particular area of the retina essential for sharp vision doesn’t develop normally.

Melanin also appears to play a role in the development of nerve pathways from your eyes to your brain. In people with albinism, these nerve pathways aren’t organized normally.

Types of albinism
The system for classifying types of albinism is based primarily on which mutated gene caused the disorder rather than how it’s manifested. Nonetheless, most types of albinism have some features that distinguish them from each other. Types of albinism include:

• Oculocutaneous albinism. Oculocutaneous albinism is caused by a mutation in one of four genes. (5) These mutations result in signs and symptoms related to vision (ocular) and those related to skin (cutaneous), hair and iris color.Oculocutaneous albinism 1 is caused by a mutation in a gene on chromosome 11. Most people with this type of albinism have milky white skin, white hair and blue eyes at birth. Some people with this disorder never experience changes in pigmentation, but others begin to produce melanin during childhood and adolescence. Their hair may become a golden blond or brown. Their skin usually doesn’t change color, but it may tan somewhat. The irises may also change color and lose some of their translucence.

  Oculocutaneous albinism 2, caused by a mutation in a gene on chromosome 15, is the most common form of the disorder worldwide. It’s more common in Sub-Saharan Africans and African-Americans than in other population groups. In people of African descent, the hair is usually yellow, the eyes are blue-gray or tan, and the skin is white at birth. With sun exposure, the skin may over time develop freckles, moles or lentigines. In some cases, the skin may be light brown, and the hair may be brown, auburn, ginger or red.

  In Caucasians with oculocutaneous albinism 2, the hair is usually blond, the skin white and the eyes blue at birth. The hair and eyes may darken. The skin usually develops freckles, moles or lentigines.

  The rare oculocutaneous albinism 3, caused by a gene mutation on chromosome 9, has been primarily identified in black South Africans. People with this disorder usually have reddish-brown skin, ginger or reddish hair, and hazel or brown eyes.

  Oculocutaneous albinism 4, caused by a gene mutation on chromosome 5, is a rare form of the disorder generally presenting signs and symptoms similar to those of type 2. Studies suggest that this type may be one of the most common forms of albinism among people of Japanese and Korean descent.

• X-linked ocular albinism. The cause of X-linked ocular albinism is a gene mutation on the X chromosome. (A woman inherits an X chromosome from each parent. A man inherits an X chromosome from his mother and a Y chromosome from his father.)In order for a woman to have ocular albinism, she must inherit the gene mutation from both parents. A man with the disorder inherits the gene mutation from his mother. Because there’s no corresponding gene on the Y chromosome, the single mutated gene on the X chromosome is sufficient to cause ocular albinism in a man.

  People who have ocular albinism have the developmental and functional vision problems of albinism. But a person’s skin, hair and eye color are generally in the normal range or slightly lighter for his or her family.

• Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is a rare albinism disorder caused by one of at least seven mutated genes. People with this disorder have signs and symptoms like those of oculocutaneous albinism, but they also develop lung and bowel diseases and a bleeding disorder.
• Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Chediak-Higashi syndrome is a rare form of albinism caused by a mutation in a gene on chromosome 1. Signs and symptoms are also similar to those of oculocutaneous albinism. The hair is usually brown or blond with a silvery sheen, and the skin is usually creamy white to grayish. People with this syndrome have a defect with white blood cells that results in a susceptibility to infections.

When to seek medical advice

If your child lacks pigment in his or her hair or skin at birth — as is often the case in infants with albinism — your doctor will order an eye examination and closely follow any changes in your child’s pigmentation.

For some infants the first sign of albinism is a rapid back-and-forth shifting (nystagmus) in the eyes, particularly if the type of albinism has little effect on pigmentation or if your family is mostly fair. If you observe nystagmus in your child’s eyes, talk to your doctor.

The presence of Hermansky-Pudlak and Chediak-Higashi syndromes may not be apparent when your doctor first makes a diagnosis of albinism. Contact your doctor if your child with albinism experiences frequent nosebleeds, easy bruising or chronic infections.

Screening and diagnosis

A complete diagnostic workup will include a physical examination, a description of changes in pigmentation, a pigment history and a thorough examination of the eyes.

A pigment history includes a comparison of your child’s pigmentation to that of other family members to determine if your child’s is lighter. Your doctor may also ask you about any changes you may have observed in your child’s hair, skin or eye color.

A medical doctor specializing in vision and eye disorders (ophthalmologist) will conduct your child’s eye exam. The exam will include an assessment of potential nystagmus, strabismus and photophobia. He or she will also use a device to visually inspect the retina and determine if there are signs of abnormal development. A test called an electroretinogram, which measures brain waves produced when light is shined in the eye, can indicate the presence of misrouted optical nerves.

If your child has albinism, he or she will almost certainly have the whole spectrum of functional eye problems. If he or she has only one of the eye impairments, such as nystagmus, another condition may be the cause. Disorders other than albinism may affect skin pigmentation, but these wouldn’t cause the visual problems associated with albinism.

Complications

Complications of albinism include physical risks as well as social and emotional challenges.

Skin disorders
One of the most serious complications associated with albinism is the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. Long-term exposure to the sun may also cause skin to become coarse, rough and thick (pachydermia).

Social and emotional factors
The reactions of other people to those with albinism can often have a negative impact on people with the condition:

• Children with albinism often experience name-calling, teasing or embarrassing questions regarding their appearance, eyewear or visual aid devices.
• Many people with albinism find the word “albino” hurtful, because they’re being labeled simply on the basis of a condition rather than being thought of as individuals.
• A long history of myths has attributed supernatural powers or deviant personalities to people with albinism. Even modern movies may depict the “albino” as the “bad guy.”
• People with albinism usually look very different from members of their own family or ethnic group and, therefore, may either feel like outsiders or be treated like outsiders.

All of these factors may contribute to social isolation, poor self-esteem and stress.

Treatment

Because albinism is a genetic disorder, interventions to treat people with albinism are limited. Your child will most likely need to wear prescription lenses, which provide modest improvement in vision, and he or she should receive annual examinations by an ophthalmologist.

Although surgery is rarely part of treatment for albinism, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery on optical muscles that minimizes nystagmus and may provide modest improvement in vision. Surgery to correct strabismus may make the condition less noticeable, but it won’t improve vision.

Your doctor will also conduct an annual assessment of your child’s skin to screen for skin cancer or lesions that can lead to cancer. Adults with albinism should continue annual eye and skin exams throughout their lives.

People with Hermansky-Pudlak and Chediak-Higashi syndromes usually require regular specialized care to prevent complications and treat them promptly.

Self-care

You can help your child learn self-care practices that he or she should continue into adulthood:

• Use low-vision aids, such as a hand-held magnifying glass, a monocular or a magnifier that attaches to glasses.
• Apply sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
• Avoid high-risk sun exposure, such as being outside in the middle of the day, at high altitudes and on sunny days with thin cloud cover.
• Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants and broad-rimmed hats.
• Protect your eyes by wearing dark, UV-blocking sunglasses.

Coping skills

Coping with vision impairment
Many people with albinism develop their own coping skills to adjust to vision impairments. Tilting the head to one side can minimize the effect of nystagmus and improve vision. Holding a book very close can make it easier to see without causing any harm to the eyes. As a parent, don’t discourage the use of these strategies.

Coping with educational challenges
If your child has albinism, begin early to work with teachers, special education instructors and school administrators. Start with educating the school professionals about what albinism is and how it affects your child. Also inquire about services the school can provide to assess your child’s needs and meet them in the classroom.

Adjustments to the classroom environment that may help your child include:

• A seat near the front of the classroom
• Handouts of the content written on boards or overhead screens
• High-contrast printed documents, such as black type on white paper rather than colored print or paper
• Large-print textbooks

Coping with teasing and social isolation
Help your child develop skills to deal with other people’s reactions to albinism:

• Encourage your child to talk to you about his or her experiences or feelings.
• Practice responses to teasing or embarrassing questions.
• Find a peer support group or online community through agencies such as the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation.
• Seek the services of a psychotherapist who can help you and your child develop healthy communication and coping skills.

Albinism is a post from: by the pines

Introduction

An infection of nail fungus occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. A nail fungal infection may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges — an unsightly and potentially painful problem.

These infections usually develop on nails continually exposed to warm, moist environments, such as sweaty shoes or shower floors. Nail fungus isn’t the same as athlete’s foot, which primarily affects the skin of the feet, but at times the two may coexist and can be caused by the same type of fungus.

An infection with nail fungus may be difficult to treat, and infections may recur. But medications are available to help clear up nail fungus.

Signs and symptoms

You may have a nail fungal infection — also called onychomycosis (on-i-ko-mi-KO-sis) — if one or more of your nails are:

• Thickened
• Brittle, crumbly or ragged
• Distorted in shape
• Dull, with no luster or shine
• A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail

Infected nails may also separate from the nail bed, a condition called onycholysis. You may even feel pain in your toes or fingertips and detect a slightly foul odor.

Causes

Fungi are microscopic organisms that don’t need sunlight to survive. Some fungi have beneficial uses, while others cause illness and infection.

Nail fungal infections are typically caused by a fungus that belongs to a group of fungi called dermatophytes. But yeasts and molds also can be responsible for nail fungal infections.

All of these microscopic organisms live in warm, moist environments, including swimming pools and showers. They can invade your skin through tiny invisible cuts or through a small separation between your nail and nail bed. They cause problems only if your nails are continually exposed to warmth and moisture — conditions perfect for the growth and spread of fungi.

Infection with nail fungus occurs more in toenails than in fingernails because toenails are often confined in a dark, warm, moist environment inside your shoes — where fungi can thrive. Another reason may be the diminished blood circulation to the toes as compared with the fingers, which makes it harder for your body’s immune system to detect and eliminate the infection.

Risk factors

Nail fungus is more common among older adults for several reasons, including diminished blood circulation, more years of exposure to fungi and because nails may grow more slowly and thicken with aging, making them more susceptible to infection. Nail fungus also tends to affect men more than women and those with a family history of this infection. Resistance to fungal infection likely has a genetic component.

These factors also can increase your risk of developing nail fungus:

• Perspiring heavily
• Working in a humid or moist environment
• Wearing socks and shoes that hinder ventilation and don’t absorb perspiration
• Walking barefoot in damp public places, such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms
• A minor skin or nail injury, a damaged nail or another infection
• Diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system

When to seek medical advice

Once a nail fungal infection begins, it can persist indefinitely if not treated. See your doctor at the first sign of nail fungus, which is often a tiny white or yellow spot under the tip of your nail.

Complications

Nail fungal infections can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. They may also lead to other serious infections that can spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.

Fungal infections of the nail pose the most serious health risk for people with diabetes and for those with weakened immune systems, such as people with leukemia or those who’ve had an organ transplant. If you have diabetes, your blood circulation and the nerve supply to your feet can become impaired. Therefore, any relatively minor injury to your feet — including a nail fungal infection — can lead to a more serious complication, requiring timely medical care. See your doctor immediately if you suspect nail fungus.

Screening and diagnosis

The first step to beating nail fungus is getting a diagnosis. Your doctor will likely examine your nails first. To test for fungi, your doctor may scrape some debris from under your nail for analysis.

The debris can be examined under a microscope or cultured in a lab to identify what’s causing the infection. Other conditions, such as psoriasis, can mimic a fungal infection of the nail. Microorganisms, including yeast and bacteria, also can infect nails. Knowing the cause of your infection helps determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment

Nail fungus can be difficult to treat, and repeated infections are common. Over-the-counter antifungal nail creams and ointments are available, but they aren’t very effective.

Oral medications
To treat nail fungus, your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal medication, such as:

• Itraconazole (Sporanox)
• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)

These medications help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected portion of your nail. You typically take these medications for six to 12 weeks but won’t see the end result of treatment until the nail grows back completely. It may take four months or longer to eliminate an infection. Recurrent infections are possible, especially if you continue to expose your nails to warm, moist conditions.

Antifungal drugs may also cause side effects ranging from skin rashes to liver damage. Doctors may not recommend them for people with liver disease or congestive heart failure or for those taking certain medications.

Other treatment options
Your doctor may also suggest these nail fungus treatments:

• Antifungal lacquer. If you have a mild to moderate infection of nail fungus, your doctor may prefer to prescribe an antifungal nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it onto your infected nails and surrounding skin once a day. After seven days, you wipe the piled-on layers clean with alcohol and begin fresh applications. Daily use of Penlac for about one year has been shown to help clear nail fungal infections, but researchers found that it cured the infections in less than 10 percent of people using it.
• Topical medications. Your doctor may also opt for other topical antifungal medications. In some cases, you may be advised to use these creams with an over-the-counter lotion containing urea to help speed up absorption. Topical medications usually don’t provide a cure, but may be used in conjunction with oral medications.

If your nail infection is severe or extremely painful, your doctor may suggest removing your nail. A new nail will usually grow in its place, though it will come in slowly and may take as long as a year to grow back completely.

Prevention

To help prevent nail fungus and reduce recurrent infections, practice good hand and foot hygiene by following these steps:

• Keep your nails short, dry and clean. Trim nails straight across and file down thickened areas. Thoroughly dry your hands and feet, including between your toes, after bathing.
• Wear appropriate socks. Synthetic socks that wick away moisture may keep your feet dryer than do cotton or wool socks (you can also wear synthetic socks underneath other socks). Change them often, especially if your feet sweat excessively. Take your shoes off occasionally during the day and after exercise. Alternate closed-toe shoes with open-toed shoes.
• Use an antifungal spray or powder. Spray or sprinkle your feet and the insides of your shoes.
• Wear rubber gloves. This protects your hands from overexposure to water. Between uses, turn the rubber gloves inside out to dry.
• Don’t trim or pick at the skin around your nails. This may give germs access to your skin and nails.
• Don’t go barefoot in public places. Wear shoes around public pools, showers and locker rooms.
• Choose a reputable manicure and pedicure salon. Make sure the salon sterilizes its instruments. Better yet, bring your own.
• Give up nail polish and artificial nails. Although it may be tempting to hide nail fungal infections under a coat of pretty pink polish, this can trap unwanted moisture and worsen the infection.
• Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Nail fungus can spread from nail to nail.

Self-care

Sometimes, because current treatments can take a long time to work and aren’t always effective, people turn to home remedies. Two remedies purported to help nail fungus infections are vinegar and Vicks VapoRub.

• Vinegar. While there’s no direct evidence that a vinegar soak can cure nail fungus, some studies have shown that it can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Experts suggest soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Be sure to rinse well and pat your feet dry when you’re done.
• VapoRub. As with vinegar, there have been no controlled clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub on nail fungus, but there have been numerous anecdotal reports that it works. However, there’s no consensus on how often to apply this product, so check with your doctor before using this product in a way it wasn’t designed to be used.

Nail fungus is a post from: by the pines

Introduction

Ringworm of the body is one of several forms of ringworm, a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of your skin. It’s characterized by an itchy, red circle of rash with healthy-looking skin in the middle.

Also called tinea corporis, ringworm of the body is closely related to other skin conditions with similar names. “Tinea” is a type of fungus, and “corporis” is the Latin word for “body.” Other common tinea infections include:

• Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). This form affects the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.
• Jock itch (tinea cruris). This form affects your genitals, inner upper thighs and buttocks.
• Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). This form is most common in children and involves red, itchy patches on the scalp, leaving bald patches.

Tinea corporis affects your arms, legs, trunk and face. Ringworm gets its name from the characteristic ring that can appear, but it has nothing to do with an actual worm under your skin.

Although unsightly, ringworm usually isn’t serious, except potentially for people with weak immune systems. Treatment usually consists of antifungal medications that you apply to your skin.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of ringworm include:

• A circle of rash on your skin that’s red and inflamed around the edge and healthy looking in the middle
• Slightly raised expanding rings of red, scaly skin on your trunk or face
• A round, flat patch of itchy skin

More than one patch of ringworm may appear on your skin, and patches or red rings of rash may overlap. You can have tinea infection without having the common red ring of ringworm.

Causes

Fungal infections, such as ringworm, are caused by microorganisms that become parasites on your body. These mold-like fungi (dermatophytes) live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin.

Ringworm is contagious and can be spread in the following ways:

• Human to human. Ringworm often spreads by direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
• Animal to human. You can contract ringworm by touching an animal with ringworm. Ringworm can spread while petting or grooming dogs or cats. You can also get ringworm from ferrets, rabbits, goats, pigs and horses.
• Object to human. Ringworm can spread by contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or animal has touched, such as clothing, towels, bed linens, combs or brushes.
• Soil to human. In rare cases, ringworm can be spread to humans by contact with infected soil. Infection would most likely occur only from prolonged contact with highly infected soil.

Risk factors

The organisms that cause ringworm thrive in damp, close environments. Warm, humid settings that promote heavy sweating also favor its spread. Excessive perspiration washes away fungus-killing oils in your skin, making it more prone to infection. Athletes are at higher risk of ringworm.

Ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm.

Others at increased risk of ringworm include people with weakened immune systems, such as people with diabetes or HIV/AIDS. If you have atopic dermatitis — a chronic, skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin — you may be more susceptible to ringworm. The barrier in your skin that normally protects you from viral, bacterial and fungal infections is often weakened or compromised. Some people may be genetically prone to this type of infection.

When to seek medical advice

See your doctor if you have a rash on your skin that doesn’t improve within two weeks. You may need prescription medication. If excessive redness, swelling, drainage or fever occurs, see your doctor immediately.

Screening and diagnosis

Your doctor will determine if you have ringworm or another skin disorder, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. He or she will ask you about possible exposure to contaminated areas or contact with people or animals with ringworm.

Your doctor may take skin scrapings or samples from the infected area and look at them under a microscope. If a sample shows fungus, treatment may include an antifungal medication. If the test is negative but your doctor still suspects that you have ringworm, a sample may be sent to the laboratory for testing. This test is known as a culture. Your doctor may also order a culture if your condition doesn’t respond to treatment.

Complications

A fungal infection rarely spreads below the surface of the skin to cause serious illness. However, people with weak immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, may find it difficult to get rid of the infection.

Treatment

If ringworm of the body covers a large area, is severe or doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicine, you may need a prescription-strength topical or oral medication. These include:

Topical

• Econazole (Spectazole)
• Miconazole (Monistat-Derm)

Oral

• Itraconazole (Sporanox)
• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Side effects from oral medications include gastrointestinal upset, rash and abnormal liver functioning. Taking other medications, such as antacid therapies for ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may interfere with the absorption of these drugs. Oral medications for ringworm may alter the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant drug that decreases the clotting ability of your blood.

Prevention

Ringworm is difficult to prevent. The fungus that causes ringworm is common and contagious even before symptoms appear. However, you can help reduce your risk of ringworm by taking these steps:

• Educate yourself and others. Be aware of the risk of ringworm from infected persons or pets. Tell your children about ringworm, what to watch for and how to avoid the infection.
• Keep clean. Wash your hands often to avoid the spread of infection. Keep common or shared areas clean, especially in schools, child care centers, gyms and locker rooms.
• Stay cool and dry. Don’t wear thick clothing for long periods of time in warm, humid weather. Avoid excessive sweating.
• Avoid infected animals. The infection often looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing. In some cases, though, you may not notice any signs of the disease. Ask your veterinarian to check your pets and domesticated animals for ringworm.
• Don’t share personal items. Don’t let others use your clothing, towels, hairbrushes or other personal items. Refrain from borrowing these items from others as well.

Self-care

For a mild case of ringworm, you can apply an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream or ointment. Most fungal infections respond well to these topical agents, which include:

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)
• Miconazole (Micatin)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)

Wash and dry the affected area. Then, apply a thin layer of the topical agent once or twice a day for at least two weeks, or according to package directions. If you don’t see an improvement after four weeks, see your doctor.

Ringworm of the body is a post from: by the pines

Introduction

Ringworm of the scalp is one of several forms of ringworm, a type of fungal infection that affects the skin, nails and scalp. Ringworm of the scalp is most common in toddlers and school-age children and causes red, itchy, bald-looking patches on the scalp.

Also called tinea capitis, ringworm of the scalp is closely related to other skin conditions with similar names. “Tinea” is a type of fungus, and “capitis” is the Latin word for “head.” Other common tinea infections include:

• Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis). This form causes a red, scaly ring of rash on the top layer of your skin.
• Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). This form affects the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on the rest of your foot.
• Jock itch (tinea cruris). This form affects your genitals, inner upper thighs and buttocks.

Although unsightly, ringworm usually isn’t serious, but it can be persistent and difficult to treat. Ringworm treatment includes antifungal medication and medicated shampoo. Ringworm can be passed on to others if not treated.

Signs and symptoms

Ringworm of the scalp usually appears as one or more round patches of scaly skin where the hair has broken off at or just above the scalp. These patches slowly expand and may be tender or painful.

The patches on the scalp may also:

• Appear gray or reddened
• Have small black dots if your child has dark hair
• Have brittle or fragile hair that easily pulls out

Ringworm of the scalp is persistent and contagious if not treated. It spreads easily through person-to-person contact or through contact with pets and shared objects.

Causes

Fungal infections, such as ringworm, are caused by microorganisms that become parasites on the body. These mold-like fungi (dermatophytes) attack the outer layer of skin on the scalp and invade the hair shaft, causing it to break.

Ringworm is contagious and can spread in the following ways:

• Human to human. Ringworm often spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
• Object to human. Ringworm can spread through contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or animal has touched, such as clothing, towels, bed linens, combs or brushes.
• Animal to human. Dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, goats, pigs and horses can spread ringworm to humans. Your child can contract ringworm by grooming or petting an animal with ringworm.

Risk factors

Though adults can get ringworm of the scalp, it occurs most often in toddlers and school-age children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools and child care centers where the infection easily spreads through close physical contact or by touching common items, such as door handles.

In addition, children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm. A pet, such as a cat or dog, can have the infection without showing any signs. Children can get the infection by touching or petting the animal.

Others factors that increase the risk of ringworm of the scalp include:

• Small skin or scalp injuries
• Ongoing wetness of the scalp, such as from sweating
• Poor hygiene
• Overcrowded living conditions

When to seek medical advice

If you suspect your child has ringworm of the scalp, see your doctor. A prescription medication is needed to cure the infection.

Screening and diagnosis

Your doctor will determine if your child has ringworm or another skin disorder, such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis. He or she will ask about possible exposure to contaminated areas or contact with people or animals with ringworm.

Your doctor may take skin scrapings or samples of a few hairs plucked from the infected area and examine them under a microscope. If a sample shows fungus, treatment includes an antifungal medication. If the test is negative but your doctor still suspects ringworm, a sample may be sent to a lab for further testing. Your doctor may also order tests if your child’s condition doesn’t respond to treatment.

Complications

In some cases, ringworm of the scalp causes kerion — a severe, painful inflammation of the scalp. Kerion appears as soft, raised swellings that drain pus and cause thick, yellow crusting on the scalp. Instead of breaking, the hair falls out or can be easily pulled out. Kerion may be caused by an overly vigorous reaction to the fungus and can lead to permanent scars and hair loss.

Treatment

Medications approved for treating ringworm of the scalp include griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Gris-Peg), which is taken by mouth as a liquid or tablet, and terbinafine hydrochloride (Lamisil), an oral granule medication that can be sprinkled on food. Your child may take one of these medications for up to six weeks. Medications you apply directly to the head aren’t as effective because they’re less able to penetrate the scalp and hair.

After starting the medication, you may not notice any changes in your child’s condition right away. Your child still needs to continue taking the medication as directed by your doctor, however.

Prevention

Ringworm is difficult to prevent. The fungus that causes ringworm is common and contagious even before signs and symptoms appear. However, you can help reduce the risk of ringworm by taking these steps:

• Educate yourself and others. Be aware of the risk of ringworm from infected persons or pets. Tell your children about ringworm, what to watch for and how to avoid the infection.
• Shampoo regularly. Be sure to wash your child’s scalp regularly, especially after haircuts.
• Keep clean. Be sure your child washes his or her hands often to avoid the spread of infection. Keep common or shared areas clean, especially in schools, child care centers, gyms and locker rooms.
• Avoid infected animals. The infection often looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing. In some cases, though, you may not notice any signs of the disease. Ask your veterinarian to check your pets and domesticated animals for ringworm.
• Don’t share personal items. Don’t let others use your clothing, towels, hairbrushes or other personal items. Refrain from borrowing these items from others as well.

Self-care

Your doctor may recommend that you wash your child’s hair with a medicated shampoo that contains selenium sulfide (Selsun, others). This may kill the ringworm spores and prevent the spread of the infection to other people or to other areas of your child’s scalp or body.

For best use:

• Lather your child’s hair with the medicated shampoo. Let the shampoo sit on your child’s scalp for 10 minutes before rinsing.
• Use the medicated shampoo two times a week for about a month. Use a milder, nonmedicated shampoo on the other days.

Have your child wear a hat or scarf if he or she is embarrassed or self-conscious by the bald patches. You don’t need to shave the scalp. Hair usually grows back six to 12 months after treatment.

Ringworm of the scalp is a post from: by the pines

Introduction

Boils and carbuncles are painful, pus-filled bumps that form under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles.

Boils usually start as red, tender lumps. The lumps quickly fill with pus, growing larger and more painful until they rupture and drain. Although some boils disappear a few days after they occur, most take about two weeks to heal.

Boils can occur anywhere on your skin, but appear mainly on your face, neck, armpits, buttocks or thighs — hair-bearing areas where you’re most likely to sweat or experience friction. Sometimes boils occur in clusters called carbuncles. Although anyone can develop boils and carbuncles, people who have diabetes, a suppressed immune system, or acne or other skin problems are at increased risk.

You can usually care for a single boil at home, but don’t attempt to lance or squeeze it — that may spread the infection. Call your doctor if a boil or carbuncle is extremely painful, lasts longer than two weeks or occurs with a fever. In that case, you may need antibiotics or surgical drainage to clear the infection of boils and carbuncles.

Signs and symptoms

A boil usually appears suddenly as a painful pink or red bump that’s generally not more than 1 inch in diameter. The surrounding skin also may be red and swollen.

Within a few days, the bump fills with pus. It grows larger and more painful for about five to seven days, sometimes reaching golf ball size before it develops a yellow-white tip that finally ruptures and drains. Boils generally clear completely in about two weeks. Small boils usually heal without scarring, but a large boil may leave a scar.

A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that often occurs on the back of the neck, shoulders or thighs, especially in older men. Carbuncles cause a deeper and more severe infection than single boils do. In addition, carbuncles develop and heal more slowly and are likely to leave a scar. Carbuncles sometimes occur with a fever.

Boils and carbuncles often resemble the inflamed, painful lumps caused by cystic acne. But compared with acne cysts, boils are usually redder or more inflamed around the border and more painful.

Causes

Boils usually form when one or more hair follicles — the tube-shaped shafts from which hair grows — become infected with staph bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). These bacteria, which normally inhabit your skin and sometimes your throat and nasal passages, are responsible for a number of serious diseases, including pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections and endocarditis — an infection of the lining of your heart. They’re also a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and food-borne illnesses.

Staph bacteria that cause boils generally enter through a cut, scratch or other break in your skin. As soon as this occurs, specialized white blood cells called neutrophils rush to the site to fight the infection. This leads to inflammation and eventually to the formation of pus — a mixture of old white blood cells, bacteria and dead skin cells.

Risk factors

Although anyone — including otherwise healthy people — can develop boils or carbuncles, the following factors can increase your risk:

• Poor general health. Having chronic poor health makes it harder for your immune system to fight infections.
• Diabetes. This disease can make it more difficult for your body to fight infection, including bacterial infections of your skin.
• Clothing that binds or chafes. The constant irritation from tight clothing can cause breaks in your skin, making it easier for bacteria to enter your body.
• Other skin conditions. Because they damage your skin’s protective barrier, skin problems, such as acne and dermatitis, make you more susceptible to boils and carbuncles.
• Immune-suppressing medications. Long-term use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone or other drugs that suppress your immune system, can increase your risk.

When to seek medical advice

You usually can care for a single, small boil yourself. But see your doctor if a boil occurs on your face or spine or if you have:

• A boil that worsens rapidly or is extremely painful
• Boils that are very large, haven’t healed in two weeks or are accompanied by a fever
• Frequent boils
• Red lines radiating from a boil, which may be a sign that the infection has entered your bloodstream
• A condition that suppresses your immune system, such as an organ transplant or HIV infection

Children and older adults who develop one or more boils should also receive medical care.

Screening and diagnosis

Doctors usually diagnose a boil simply by looking at your skin, but sometimes they take a sample of pus to check for the bacteria it contains. If you have recurring infections, you may be tested for diabetes or other illnesses that weaken your immune system.

Complications

In some cases, bacteria from a boil can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. The spreading infection, commonly known as blood poisoning (septicemia), can rapidly become life-threatening.

Initially, blood poisoning causes signs and symptoms such as chills, a spiking fever, a rapid heart rate and a feeling of being extremely ill. But the condition can quickly progress to shock, which is marked by falling blood pressure and body temperature, confusion, clotting abnormalities and bleeding into the skin. Blood poisoning is a medical emergency — untreated, it can be fatal.

Another potentially serious problem is the emergence of a drug resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Once mainly confined to hospitals, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) now affects increasing numbers of military recruits, prison inmates, athletes and even children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 percent of Americans carry MRSA on their bodies.

MRSA is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in crowded or unhygienic situations, or where athletic equipment or towels are shared. Although it responds well to several antibiotics, MRSA is resistant to penicillin, and can be very difficult to treat.

Treatment

Your doctor may drain a large boil or carbuncle by making a small incision in the tip. This relieves pain, speeds recovery and helps lessen scarring. Deep infections that can’t be completely cleared may be covered with sterile gauze so that pus can continue to drain. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help heal severe or recurrent infections.

Prevention

Although it’s not always possible to prevent boils, especially if you have a compromised immune system, the following measures may help you avoid staph infections:

• Thoroughly clean even small cuts and scrapes. Wash well with soap and water and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment.
• Avoid constricting clothing. Tight clothes may be stylish, but make sure they don’t chafe your skin.

Self-care

The following measures may help the infection heal more quickly and prevent it from spreading:

• Apply a warm washcloth or compress to the affected area. Do this for at least 10 minutes every few hours. If possible, first soak the cloth or compress in warm salt water. This helps the boil rupture and drain more quickly. To make salt water, add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 quart of boiling water and cool to a comfortable temperature.
• Gently wash the boil two to three times a day. After washing, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic and cover with a bandage.
• Never squeeze or lance a boil. This can spread the infection.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after treating a boil. Also, launder clothing, towels or compresses that have touched the infected area.

Complementary and alternative medicine

Tea tree oil, which is extracted from the leaves of the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), has been used for centuries as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. It may help relieve discomfort and speed healing.

For best results, apply the oil to a boil several times a day. The oil can cause allergic reactions in some people, so be sure to stop using it if you have any problems.

Boils and carbuncles is a post from: by the pines

<h2>Introduction</h2>
Ringworm of the body is one of several forms of ringworm, a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of your skin. It’s characterized by an itchy, red circle of rash with healthy-looking skin in the middle.

Also called tinea corporis, ringworm of the body is closely related to other skin conditions with similar names. “Tinea” is a type of fungus, and “corporis” is the Latin word for “body.” Other common tinea infections include:
<ul>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).</strong> This form affects the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Jock itch (tinea cruris).</strong> This form affects your genitals, inner upper thighs and buttocks.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis).</strong> This form is most common in children and involves red, itchy patches on the scalp, leaving bald patches.</li>
</ul>
Tinea corporis affects your arms, legs, trunk and face. Ringworm gets its name from the characteristic ring that can appear, but it has nothing to do with an actual worm under your skin.

Although unsightly, ringworm usually isn’t serious, except potentially for people with weak immune systems. Treatment usually consists of antifungal medications that you apply to your skin.
<h2>Signs and symptoms</h2>

The signs and symptoms of ringworm include:
<ul>
 <li>A circle of rash on your skin that’s red and inflamed around the edge and healthy looking in the middle</li>
 <li>Slightly raised expanding rings of red, scaly skin on your trunk or face</li>
 <li>A round, flat patch of itchy skin</li>
</ul>
More than one patch of ringworm may appear on your skin, and patches or red rings of rash may overlap. You can have tinea infection without having the common red ring of ringworm.
<h2>Causes</h2>
Fungal infections, such as ringworm, are caused by microorganisms that become parasites on your body. These mold-like fungi (dermatophytes) live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin.

Ringworm is contagious and can be spread in the following ways:
<ul>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Human to human.</strong> Ringworm often spreads by direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Animal to human.</strong> You can contract ringworm by touching an animal with ringworm. Ringworm can spread while petting or grooming dogs or cats. You can also get ringworm from ferrets, rabbits, goats, pigs and horses.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Object to human.</strong> Ringworm can spread by contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or animal has touched, such as clothing, towels, bed linens, combs or brushes.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Soil to human.</strong> In rare cases, ringworm can be spread to humans by contact with infected soil. Infection would most likely occur only from prolonged contact with highly infected soil.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Risk factors</h2>
The organisms that cause ringworm thrive in damp, close environments. Warm, humid settings that promote heavy sweating also favor its spread. Excessive perspiration washes away fungus-killing oils in your skin, making it more prone to infection. Athletes are at higher risk of ringworm.

Ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm.

Others at increased risk of ringworm include people with weakened immune systems, such as people with diabetes or HIV/AIDS. If you have atopic dermatitis — a chronic, skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin — you may be more susceptible to ringworm. The barrier in your skin that normally protects you from viral, bacterial and fungal infections is often weakened or compromised. Some people may be genetically prone to this type of infection.
<h2>When to seek medical advice</h2>
See your doctor if you have a rash on your skin that doesn’t improve within two weeks. You may need prescription medication. If excessive redness, swelling, drainage or fever occurs, see your doctor immediately.
<h2>Screening and diagnosis</h2>
Your doctor will determine if you have ringworm or another skin disorder, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. He or she will ask you about possible exposure to contaminated areas or contact with people or animals with ringworm.

Your doctor may take skin scrapings or samples from the infected area and look at them under a microscope. If a sample shows fungus, treatment may include an antifungal medication. If the test is negative but your doctor still suspects that you have ringworm, a sample may be sent to the laboratory for testing. This test is known as a culture. Your doctor may also order a culture if your condition doesn’t respond to treatment.
<h2>Complications</h2>
A fungal infection rarely spreads below the surface of the skin to cause serious illness. However, people with weak immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, may find it difficult to get rid of the infection.
<h2>Treatment</h2>
If ringworm of the body covers a large area, is severe or doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicine, you may need a prescription-strength topical or oral medication. These include:

<strong>Topical</strong>
<ul>
 <li>Econazole (Spectazole)</li>
 <li>Miconazole (Monistat-Derm)</li>
</ul>
<strong>Oral</strong>
<ul>
 <li>Itraconazole (Sporanox)</li>
 <li>Fluconazole (Diflucan)</li>
 <li>Terbinafine (Lamisil)</li>
 <li>Ketoconazole (Nizoral)</li>
</ul>
Side effects from oral medications include gastrointestinal upset, rash and abnormal liver functioning. Taking other medications, such as antacid therapies for ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may interfere with the absorption of these drugs. Oral medications for ringworm may alter the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant drug that decreases the clotting ability of your blood.
<h2>Prevention</h2>
Ringworm is difficult to prevent. The fungus that causes ringworm is common and contagious even before symptoms appear. However, you can help reduce your risk of ringworm by taking these steps:
<ul>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Educate yourself and others.</strong> Be aware of the risk of ringworm from infected persons or pets. Tell your children about ringworm, what to watch for and how to avoid the infection.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Keep clean.</strong> Wash your hands often to avoid the spread of infection. Keep common or shared areas clean, especially in schools, child care centers, gyms and locker rooms.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Stay cool and dry.</strong> Don’t wear thick clothing for long periods of time in warm, humid weather. Avoid excessive sweating.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Avoid infected animals.</strong> The infection often looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing. In some cases, though, you may not notice any signs of the disease. Ask your veterinarian to check your pets and domesticated animals for ringworm.</li>
<li class=”doublespace”><strong>Don’t share personal items.</strong> Don’t let others use your clothing, towels, hairbrushes or other personal items. Refrain from borrowing these items from others as well.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Self-care</h2>
For a mild case of ringworm, you can apply an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream or ointment. Most fungal infections respond well to these topical agents, which include:
<ul>
 <li>Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)</li>
 <li>Miconazole (Micatin)</li>
 <li>Terbinafine (Lamisil)</li>
</ul>
Wash and dry the affected area. Then, apply a thin layer of the topical agent once or twice a day for at least two weeks, or according to package directions. If you don’t see an improvement after four weeks, see your doctor.

Ringworm of the body is a post from: by the pines