Diseases of the Skin

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 7 (Supplement)

Diseases of the Skin

Ringworm Caused By THERE is a group of skin diseases that are caused by a fungus of a nature similar to the blue mould that attacks leather boots and the mould that forms in hot weather on jam, cheese, etc. This parasitic mould ditiers from other moulds in its capacity to attack healthy skin. It never penetrates into the deeper tissues of the body, but if it becomes established in the'deep layers of skin, it is sometimes very difficult to eradicate. All these parasitic skin moulds are especially common in hot weather.

The appearance of ringworm is usually characteristic, and the diagnosis is comparatively easy in most cases. The shape of the rash is its most important feature. The mould grows steadily outward from the point first affected, and consequently the patch is of an irregularly circular shape. It may he red or bluish, and the centre is paler than the growing edge. The appearance is very like that of fairy rings, as shown in children's books, and these fairy rings in the grass are caused by a fungus growing in the soil.

Most Effective Treatment Ringworm is very infectious, and treatment should be carried out early and patiently. There may be one or several patches. A useful form of treatment is painting with tincture of iodine, especially the growing edge. A morn ecrliiin treatment is to paint the entire surface with liquid percldoride of iron (not the tincture) of the usual British pharinacopoeal strength, which can bo obtained from any chemist. When tins is painted on, the normal skin is only stained pale yellow, while the affected parts are coloured a deep orange red. The treatment thus also becomes a diagnostic tost. If the affected area is large, the application may cause considerable smarting, and only a small portion should be treated at first. In most cases, a few daily applications cause cessation of growth, but there must be vigilance for some tune, as fresh spreading is quite common if neglected. and a special watch hiiisj bo kept for new areas. ' Ringworm of the scalp is a more serious matter, as the parasite shelters in the deep hair-roots. The disease is usually very intractable, and medical treatment is necessary. In many cases it is necessary to remove the hair anil cause temporary baldness by means ot X-rays before the disease yields. Surfers' Itch There are other diseases of the skin caused by moulds which are closely allied to ringworm, but diffeT m their svmptoms and outlook. One of the most important of these is the extremely common surfers' itch, which is so prevalent among surfers each summer. It s an erroneous idea to suppose that this ?s caught in the water. The fungus could not live in such a way as to remain infectious in the large volume of water of the ocean.. The danger lies in walking barefooted on tho paths,

and especially on the matting, in the dressing-rooms. Probably there is some, hut less, danger in the dry sand above high-tide mark. The rash aiiects the soles of the feet and between the toes, and assumes various forms. The skin may be thickened or may be peeled off, leaving a raw surface. Unlike ringworm, there is no special shape to the areas. The disease should be suspected if there is any persistent itchy rash of the feet. It may occur without going near the benches if there has been an attack the previous year. The spores may lie dormant in the winter and grow again with the hot weather. The treatment is similar to that of ringworm, but persistence is necessary after all symptoms have apparently disappeared. Exactly the same disease may affect the hands, especially among golfers. The symptoms and treatment are the same. It may be necessary to disinfect the handles of golf-sticks, and to discard the gloves that have been worn. There are a number of other similar diseases, but they arc less common. Among these is Dhobie's{ltch, which js common in the East, and occurs also in Australia. It is very persistent, and requires prolonged treatment.