What are dermatophytes?
Dermatophytes are types of fungi that cause common skin, hair and nail infections. Infections caused by these fungi are also known by the names “tinea” and “ringworm.” It is important to emphasize that “ringworm” is not caused by a worm, but rather by a type of fungus called a “dermatophyte.” One example of a very common dermatophyte infection is athlete’s foot, which is also called tinea pedis. Another common dermatophyte infection affecting the groin area is jock itch, also known as tinea cruris. Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans are two common dermatophytes. These two species are usually transmitted from person to person. Another common dermatophyte is Microsporum canis, which is transmitted from animals such as cats and dogs to people. Dermatophytes like to live on moist areas of the skin, such as places where there are skin folds. They can also contaminate items in the environment, such as clothing, towels and bedding.
