One of the main reasons people find tinea infections don't clear up is because they don't use their medicines long enough.

"Most tinea infections need treatment for one to two weeks or sometimes more, but they should also be treated for a minimum of one week after the infection has cleared," recommend Self Care pharmacists.

Many people know they are suffering from a yeast infection, jock itch or athletes foot, but never really realised that these are all different types of fungal infections. Most fungal infections are commonly called tinea. You can get tinea infections on your body (for example ringworm, jock itch), or on your feet, nails or scalp.

Another tinea infection, called pityriasis versicolor, affects the skin on the trunk of the body, especially the back. It can also spread to the neck, arms or stomach. When people tan in summer the affected parts remain as whitish patches on their body and they may often wonder what this is.

There are also other fungal infections like oral thrush (in the mouth) or nappy rash.

Although fungal infections can occur at any time during the year, they tend to occur most frequently during the warm summer months.

Fungal infections are caused by organisms called fungi and the heat of the warmer weather gives the fungi ideal conditions to grow. Fungal infections tend to develop where two skin surfaces come together such as between toes, the buttocks and under the breasts in women. These areas tend to be moister because they sweat a lot or they are not dried well enough after a shower or bath.

A very common fungal infection is athletes foot, also called tinea pedis. You don't have to be an athlete to get athletes foot. Athletes foot occurs most frequently in warm conditions, when the feet sweat a lot and don't get a lot of air circulation.

Athletes foot can be caught by sharing public showers or walking barefoot in these places. The infection usually starts around the fourth and fifth toes where the skin can become soft and whitish in colour and start to flake. The infection is often very itchy.

All fungal infections can be treated with medicines from your pharmacy. Treatments are available as creams, lotions, solutions, oral liquids for mouth thrush, powders or sprays. Your Self Care pharmacist can suggest the best treatment for your needs.

"However you must use your anti-fungal medicines until the infections has cleared," advise Self Care pharmacists. "To prevent the infection from coming back you should also use it for at least another week or so after it clears."

Nail and scalp fungal infections need stronger medicines, which your doctor can prescribe and you may need to use the medicines for a much longer time.

For more information on different fungal infections and their treatment, talk to your local Self Care pharmacist and get your free copy of the Fungal Infections fact card.

For further information please contact: Your Local Self Care Pharmacist