Athlete’s foot is a common complication of onychomycosis, a condition that involves red, itchy, and cracked skin on the feet. However, nail fungus does not only spread to the surrounding skin on the foot, it can also spread to the genitals and other parts of the body. The fungus that has spread to the genitals is called jock itch, a fungal infection of the groin, the inner thighs, or the buttocks that affect both men and women. This type of infection is characterized by red and pink spots, scaly and itchy patches, and a ring-shaped rash in the groin area. In some cases, it spreads to the anus, but the scrotum and penis are generally not affected. The good news is that jock itch, otherwise known as ringworm of the groin or tinea cruris, is highly treatable with over-the-counter medicine.
Sufferers of onychomycosis who have a weakened immune system due to diabetes or other chronic conditions are more likely to develop a widespread infection as a result of onychomycosis. For example, if nail fungus spreads and causes the skin to crack, bacteria can find their way into the body. This can then cause cellulitis, a potentially serious condition that requires antibiotics to treat and can become deadly if it enters the lymph nodes and bloodstream. Cellulitis appears as a tender, red, swollen area that feels hot to the touch. Other symptoms include pain, blisters, skin dimpling, and fever. Cellulitis is usually found on the lower legs but can affect the arms, face, and other areas as well.
When skin lesions affect other sites away from the area of the nail, it is known as dermatophytids. These are fungus-free skin lesions that look like allergic skin reactions and affect some sufferers of onychomycosis as a result of their exposure to nail fungus. Dermatophytids often appears as an itchy, red rash on the hands of individuals who have onychomycosis on their toenails, though the rash can occur on other parts of the body that are not directly affected by onychomycosis as well. In order to decrease the chance of these complications, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as symptoms appear, even if the condition doesn’t look worrisome. Onychomycosis responds best to treatment in its early stages, and the consequences of letting it progress to more advanced stages can be very severe.