[KoK! Health] My Sweat-Drenched Skin... Beware of Athlete's Foot in Summer

During the summer, high humidity makes it easy for mold to thrive. Additionally, various chemicals and impurities mixed in rain and sweat increase the risk of skin damage. Common infectious skin diseases that frequently occur in summer include fungal infections such as athlete's foot, tinea cruris in the groin area, and intertrigo.

To prevent athlete's foot fungus, it is essential to first understand the environment that the fungus prefers. The fungus thrives in hot, humid, and occluded skin conditions. Therefore, especially during the rainy season, it is advisable to prepare two or three pairs of shoes and alternate wearing them. If shoes get wet, they should be thoroughly dried before wearing again.

Athlete's foot can occur not only on the feet but also in the groin area. Tinea cruris, commonly called "wanseon," is a fungal infection that appears on both sides of the groin and is mostly caused by the transfer of athlete's foot fungus from the feet to the groin. Professor Woojin Lee of the Department of Dermatology at Seoul Asan Medical Center explained, "It is important to keep the affected areas of athlete's foot and tinea cruris dry. Applying an appropriate antifungal ointment for about a month can lead to recovery."

Intertrigo, an inflammatory dermatitis that occurs where two skin surfaces touch, is also a common skin condition in the hot and humid summer. It can develop anywhere skin folds meet, including neck wrinkles, behind the knees, between fingers, buttocks, groin, and between toes. Especially if rainwater contacts the skin and is left unwashed for a long time, various chemicals mixed in the rainwater can irritate the skin, leading to an inflammatory reaction and symptoms of contact dermatitis such as red spots. Professor Lee advised, "It is important to keep skin folds dry and maintain a cool environment. If symptoms are mild, applying mild steroid or antibiotic ointments can improve the condition."