Fungal Rash on Face

Facial fungal rash is known by various medical names. Some of the medical terms for fungal rash on face are face fungus, facial tinea, tinea barbae, tinea face, tinea faciei, fungal face infection, fungal infection of the face or face ringworm. Fungal rash on chest, back, buttocks or any other parts of the body is medically termed as tinea corporis. Athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm and candida are also examples of fungal infections on different areas of skin. Here's what exactly is a facial fungal rash.

Facial fungal rash is basically inflammation of the skin on your face, which is caused by a fungal infection. It is often a superficial infection caused by keratinophilic fungi or dermatophytes which is limited to the glabrous skin of your face. In female patients, this infection might appear on any surface of the face. In men, this fungal rash on skin is known as tinea barbae which is a dermatophyte infection in the bearded areas. Fungal face infection is a much common problem in people residing in warmer areas.

Common Symptoms of Facial Fungal Rash

If you have a rash on your face which is in form of round, pink patches it is probably a fungal rash. The patches of fungal infection are usually raised, rough and have a scaly border. Some skin lesions may appear darker than the surrounding skin in case of fungal rash. You will also most probably experience itching on the along with a fungal rash. While some patches can have redness, some can also appear like patches of extreme dry skin.

Tips for Preventing Fungal Face Infection

Here are a few steps that you can follow in order to prevent fungal infection and rash due to the same on your facial skin. These preventive measures will also help avoid formation of fungal rash on legs, chest, back and other parts of your body.

• Avoid close contact with people who have a fungal rash.
• Always keep your skin clean and dry.
• Wash your face with gentle face wash or soap after physical exertion to make it oil free.
• Wash and keep your personal items like bedding, clothing, linens clean.
• Avoid sharing personal care items like towels, razors, combs, brushes and cosmetics.
• Wash your hands frequently to keep them germfree and avoid further spreading of germs through them.

Facial Fungal Rash: Care to be Taken

If you have already got a fungal rash on your facial skin, you must follow the home care tips given below to keep it from spreading further and curing it.

• Do not scratch the fungal rash, as this will worsen the infection.
• Do not touch the infected areas with your hand as the same will spread the infection.
• Keep your skin clean and dry and do not apply any type of make-up. Bathing twice a day and drying your skin thoroughly after bathing is very essential
• You can also opt for over-the-counter topical antifungal creams or lotions like Terbinafine, Clotrimazole, Miconazole.
• Apply the above mentioned creams for 1-2 weeks. If you do not see any improvement after 2 weeks, you must consult a dermatologist.

Facial Fungal Rash: Warning Signs

In case you have a rash on your face along with any of the following signs, you must consult a dermatologist as soon as you can.

• The rash has worsened and skin tenderness has increased.
• Skin has become red and painful to touch.
• Yellow or brown scabs have formed over the rash.
• Pus drains from the skin rash.
• You are experiencing extreme itchiness on these patches
• You have a fever over 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C).

Your doctor might prescribe an antifungal cream, lotion, or oral antifungal medication for fungal rash treatment. He might prescribe oral antifungal medication such as griseofulvin, fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine. A systemic antibiotic treatment is required in case of bacterial superinfection. You must take the medication regularly, as prescribed by your dermatologist. Persistent moisture around the face, poor personal hygiene and living conditions with poor sanitation are the primary causes of fungal rash. Regular skin care and hygiene is very important to stay away from any such type of skin infections.