Tinea pedis—An embarrassing problem for health and beauty—A narrative review

Abstract

Fungal infections present with a broad spectrum of diseases in humans (from relatively mild superficial infections of the skin and mucous membranes to the invasive or chronic infections of internal organs, which have a high mortality rate). Globally, up to 1.6 million people die each year as a result of various types of mycoses. Currently, many scientific studies focus on the best possible understanding of the aspects of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of invasive mycoses and effective methods to combat them. However, mycoses of the skin and its appendages remain a relatively less explored area. In some communities, superficial mycoses are a frequent problem as they affect nearly 70% of the population, an example of which is the athlete's foot. It involves the nails (onychomycosis) and skin (tinea pedis). It is mainly caused by keratin‐decomposing dermatophyte fungi. Less often, infections are caused by non‐dermatophyte moulds (Fusarium, Aspergillus, Scopulariopsis) or yeasts. Several factors have been listed as having substantial influence on the development of dermatophytosis, including those related to climate, season, geographical region, as well as to demography, socioeconomic and cultural customs, professions or contact with animals. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge about aetiology, epidemiology, diagnostics and therapy of tinea pedis with a special focus to the role of podologic management in spreading, prevention and therapy of mycoses. The article presents up‐to‐date knowledge on the management of the patient from the diagnosis, treatment and skincare, to counselling on how to prevent fungal skin infections in the long term.

Piperazine‐Modified Ketoconazole Derivatives Show Increased Activity against Fungal and Trypanosomatid Pathogens

“…[2][3][4] Both imidazole and triazole drugs [4][5][6] have promising antiparasitic activity against etiologic agents of serious diseases, including pathogens from the Trypanosomati-dae family, [7] which cause Chagas disease, [8][9][10] sleeping sickness, [11] and leishmaniasis. [12][13][14] Specifically as antifungals, azoles have also expanded the therapeutic options for common fungal infections ranging from athlete's foot (tinea pedis) [15,16] to vaginal candidiasis. [17,18] For these reasons, azoles remain the leading active ingredients in antifungal therapy.…”

“…1 H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , 25 °C) δ 7.69 (d, J 2-6 = 2.1 Hz, 1H, 2), 7.60 (bs, 1H, 9), 7.57 (d, J 5-6 = 8.5 Hz, 1H, 5), 7.46 (dd, J 6-5 = 8.5 Hz, J 6-2 = 2.1 Hz, 1H, 6), 7.06 (bs, 1H, 11), 6.86-6.90 (m, 3H, 10 and 11), 6.78 (m, 2H, 16), 4.57 (d, J gem = 14.8 Hz, 1H, 8a), 4.53 (d, J gem = 14.8 Hz, 1H, 8b), 4.33 (m, 1H, 13), 3.86 (dd, J gem = 8.5 Hz, J 12a-13 = 6.8 Hz, 1H, 12a), 3.61-3.66 (m, 2H, 12b and 14a), 3.53 (dd, J gem = 10.3 Hz, J 14b-13 = 5.1 Hz, 1H, 14b), 3.27 (s, 2H, 21), 3.08 (m, 4H, 19), 2.78 (m, 4H, 20); 13 C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , 25 °C) δ 170.5 (COOH), 152.0 (15), 145.7 (18), 138.8 (9), 135.3 (4), 134.7 and 132.6 (1 and 3), 130.8 (2), 130.3 (5), 127.5 (6), 127.4 (10), 121.5 (11), 117.5 (17), 115.3 (16), 107.8 (7), 74.8 (13), 67.9 (14), 66.9(12), 58.6 (21), 52.2 (20), 50.8 (8), 49.0 (19); HRMS (ES + ) calcd. for C 26 H 28 Cl 2 N 4 O 5 547.1510, found [M + H] + 547.1505.4-(4-(4-(((2R,4S)-2-((1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)piperazin-1-yl)-N-(3-(2-(2-(3-aminopropoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)propyl)-4-oxobutanamide(16) was prepared by adding trifluoroacetic acid (2.0 mL) to a solution of 3 (0.142 g, 0.16 mmol) in dichloromethane (2.0 mL) and stirring the reaction mixture for 30 minutes at 25 °C. The solvent and excess TFA were evaporated in vacuo.…”

Infant Mode of Delivery Shapes the Skin Mycobiome of Prepubescent Children

“…Moreover, cutaneous fungi have emerged as potent inducers of antigen-specific T cells in humans, engaging in homeostatic host–fungus interactions and contributing to immune pathology when dysregulated ( 4 ). Commensal and pathogenic fungi in the skin are associated with human health, infections, and diseases, including acne vulgaris ( 5 , 6 ), tinea pedis ( 7 ), and dandruff ( 8 , 9 ). Thus, understanding the determinants of skin microbial stability is pivotal in defining the contribution made by homeostatic functions in microbiota, and their corresponding impact on host health ( 3 ).…”

Diagnosis of dermatophytes: from microscopy to direct PCR

“…Dermatophyte fungi are a common cause of skin, nail and hair infections globally. The most common agents are Trichophyton rubrum and T. interdigitale, [1][2][3] but other dermatophytes belonging to the genera Arthroderma, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Nannizzia, Paraphyton, and Lophophyton (the latter three genera formerly classified within Microsporum) also cause infection. Infections commonly present as tinea pedis and onychomycosis, but can affect any keratinised area of the body, having low clinical acuity.…”