Definition

A type of fungal infection that affects the skin, often causing a red, itchy rash.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with tinea after she complained about the itchy spots on her skin.

Conversation

I heard that you had a skin issue recently, what was it?

Yeah, it turned out to be tinea, nothing serious though.

Oh, that sounds annoying! How did you treat it?

I used some antifungal cream, and it cleared up pretty quickly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tinea originates from Latin 'tinea', meaning a moth or larva, which metaphorically refers to the fungal infections that resemble the damage caused by moths. The term has evolved to describe various skin infections caused by fungi, particularly those that create ring-like lesions.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'tinea' as relating to a 'moth' — just as moths can cause damage, tinea refers to infections that can harm the skin.

Visually Confused Words