Seen the advertisement where the man rushes home to close the door and scratch his itching groin area? Itching and burning sensation caused in different parts of the body, caused by fungal infections, usually shoots up during summer. City doctors say that problems like tinea cruris, athlete's foot and ringworms are some of the most common fungal infections people should watch out for. "Tinea Cruris, also known as the dhobi itch, is a dermatophyte fungal infection of the groin region in either sex. It is caused due to excess sweat and a damp environment. It generally occurs in the folds of the body," says Dr Archana Keshavmurthy, cosmetologist and dermatologist at Shades Speciality Centre. Believed to be more common among men, this skin problem is generally caused by a fungus called Trichophyton rubrum, while fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum are rare contributors. Dr Keshavmurthy says: "This problem causes itching and burning sensations in different folds of the body like groin, thigh folds and under breast region." Affected areas may look red or brown and are generally accompanied by flaking, peeling, scaling and cracking of the skin. "Many times, patients may end up getting pimples and pustules around the affected region," says Dr Keshavmurthy. Consulting the right doctor is very important if these symptoms appear, she adds.

Treat it

"Proper care and timely treatment can prevent this problem from becoming worse. Tinea cruris is normally treated with anti-fungal ointments that are applied topically. Consult the doctor before applying any ointments," says Dr Keshavmurthy.

Prevent it • Avoid wearing tight-fitting synthetic clothes, so that do not sweat too much in the summer sun.• Wear comfortable cotton clothes so the skin has space to breathe. • Choose pastel shades and light colours versus dark coloured clothes which tend to absorb heat and lead to excessive sweating. • Stay clean and dry. Wet skin, like damp environment, works like a fertiliser for fungi to grow.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye problems during summer. "Also called 'Madras Eye' or 'Red Eye', bacterial conjunctivitis is common in summer. Reason: Summer coincides with the mango season and flies carrying the infection are attracted to mangoes. These flies spread bacterial conjunctivitis," says Dr AR Anand, opthomologist at Sudharshana Nethralaya. Conjunctivitis refers to an infection in the white of the eye. "A superficial layer is formed in the eye because of the discharge of a liquid from the eye. It is the human body's natural way of fighting an infection," says Dr Anand. Stickiness in the eye lids is one of the main symptoms of conjunctivitis. Dr Anand says: "A person infected with conjunctivitis might find it difficult to open his or her eyes in the morning while waking up because of stickiness caused by the discharge in the eye." The infected person's eye turns red. "Conjunctivitis causes sand particle-like sensations in the eye resulting in a lot of discomfort and roughness," says Dr Anand.

Treat it

Tear substitutes, available at pharmacists, should be used by the infected person to relieve some of the roughness caused by infection.

Prevent it

n Wash hands immediately after contact with the infected eye.

n Avoid Genitican eye drops. They are no longer effective and cause allergies among most people.

n Always consult a doctor before any kind of treatment. Avoid purchasing over-the-counter drugs.