What is "dermatophytosis"

n. (context medicine English) A fungal infection of the skin caused by a dermatophyte.

n. fungal infection of the skin (especially of moist parts covered by clothing) [syn: dermatomycosis]

Dermatophytosis is a condition caused by fungal infection of the skin in humans, and other animals.

The fungi that cause parasitic infection, collectively dermatophytes, feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive on warm and moist skin, but may also survive directly on the outsides of hair shafts or in their interiors. In pets, the fungus responsible for the disease survives in skin and on the outer surface of hairs. It is especially common among people who play sports involving skin-to-skin contact, wrestling in particular. Wrestlers with ringworm may be withheld from competition until their skin condition is deemed noninfectious by the proper authorities.

Currently, up to 20% of the population may be infected by dermatophytes at any given time. The most common term for the infection, "ringworm", is a misnomer, since the condition is caused by fungi of several different species and not by parasitic worms.