Getting under your skin: how a fungus takes hold
Written by Heather Davies-Strickleton, Senior Analytical Scientist We are not alone in this world. Although we can’t see them, we share our surroundings with billions of tiny microscopic organisms (microbes). Like us, they’re looking for a cosy place to live, survive and thrive. And the place that many of [...]
Starting off on the right foot
Written by Dr Heather Davies-Strickleton, Senior Analytical Scientist Now a new year is here we start to take a closer look at ourselves. Our body shape, weight and diet are key areas we frequently try to improve. But what about our foot health? We often neglect to look as [...]
Stamping out Athlete’s foot
Written by Heather Davies-Strickleton, Senior Analytical Scientist Running into trouble: Athlete’s foot is a common problem Athlete’s foot needs no introduction. A whopping 1 in 6 of us are estimated to have this fungal infection of the foot (also known as tinea pedis).1,2 It usually starts with an irritating itchy rash between the toes, but can progress to painful cracking and blistering of the skin [...]
Ringworm you can catch by playing sports: Tinea cruris and tinea corporis
Sports are a big part of our lives. The benefits of keeping active and healthy, both physically and mentally, have never been more recognised. However, sports also come with risks, such as sprains, strains and in some cases broken bones. But there is also a lesser known menace associated with sport – ringworm. Ringworm is [...]
Ringworm of the scalp: tinea capitis
Written by Dr Heather Davies-Strickleton, Senior Analytical Scientist Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by worms, it’s caused by fungi called dermatophytes that can infect the skin and cause a ring-shaped rash. This rash can occur anywhere on the body but when it occurs on the scalp it's [...]
Fungal infection treatments – What you need to know
The significance of fungal infection is often neglected in society. However, fungal infections affect more than a billion people, resulting in approximately 11.5 million life-threatening infections and more than 1.5 million deaths annually.1 The antifungals, used to treat fungal infections, are a diverse group of drugs that include inhibitors of membrane and cell wall synthesis, as well as compounds that cause alterations of fungal membranes, effects [...]