Tinea facialis is a skin disease on the face that appears as red, scaly patches with itching. This condition can not only interfere with appearance, but can also get worse and spread to other people if not treated immediately.
Tinea fasciis or tinea faciei is a fungal infection that occurs on the skin of the face and can appear on the cheeks, chin, lips, forehead, or around the eyes. This infection is more likely to occur in people who sweat a lot or don't keep their skin clean.
Tinea facialis can be transmitted through direct physical contact or sharing the use of personal equipment, such as towels or razors, with people with tinea facialis. Not only that, tinea fasciis can also be transmitted if you come into contact with animals, soil, or objects that have been contaminated with fungi.
Tinea Fasalis Symptoms
Tinea facialis or ringworm of the face is caused by a fungus that can also cause skin infections in other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, and trunk. Tinea facialis can cause some of the following symptoms:
- The face feels itchy and red spots appear
- Itching on the face gets worse if exposed to sunlight or sweating
- Bumps or boils around the patches on the face
- Facial skin becomes dry and scaly
Symptoms of tinea facialis can mimic the symptoms of other skin diseases, such as psoriasis, rosacea, or contact dermatitis, so they are often misinterpreted as these diseases. This can lead to inappropriate treatment, so that tinea facialis becomes more severe and difficult to treat.
Treatment of Tinea Fasalis
Because the symptoms can resemble other skin diseases on the face, tinea facialis needs to be checked by a dermatologist. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a skin scraping examination.
After the diagnosis of tinea facialis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe antifungal drugs, namely:
Topical antifungal drugs
Topical or topical antifungal medications are usually available in cream or ointment form. Doctors will generally prescribe antifungal ointments, such as: ketoconazole, miconazole, or imidazole, to treat fungal infections on the face. The antifungal ointment is usually used 2 times a day.
Oral antifungal drugs
To treat tinea facialis that is severe or does not improve with topical antifungal medication, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungal drugs, such as terbinafine and itraconazole.
Treatment of tinea facialis can take a long time, which is about 2-4 weeks. Treatment also usually still needs to be continued for 7-10 days even though the symptoms of tinea facialis have improved. The goal is that this disease can be cured completely and not reappear.
To prevent or reduce the risk of developing tinea fasciis, you can take the following preventive steps:
- Do not share the use of personal equipment, such as clothes, combs, razors, or towels, with others
- Diligently wash your hands with soap and clean water
- Wash and dry facial skin regularly, especially after sweating
- Limiting activities in damp or wet places, such as swimming pools, spas, or steam room
- Do not touch animals with fungal infections without wearing gloves
If you don't get treatment, tinea facialis can get worse and will be more difficult to treat. This fungal infection can also spread to other parts of the body, and even spread to other people. Therefore, if red, scaly, and itchy patches appear on the facial skin, immediately consult a dermatologist to get the right treatment.