From the Research
No, exposure to sulfur mustard, organochlorides, combustion products, fuel vapors, ionizing radiation, or exciting radiation does not cause tinea versicolor, tinea pedis, or tinea cruris. These fungal skin infections are caused by specific fungi rather than chemical or radiation exposures. Tinea versicolor is caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur, while tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and tinea cruris (jock itch) are caused by dermatophyte fungi, primarily Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton species. These infections develop due to factors like warm, moist environments, direct contact with infected individuals or surfaces, compromised immune systems, and poor hygiene. While chemical and radiation exposures can cause various skin conditions including burns, irritation, inflammation, and potentially increase cancer risk, they do not directly cause fungal infections. If you're experiencing symptoms of tinea infections, appropriate treatments include topical antifungal medications like clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine, applied as directed for 1-4 weeks depending on the specific condition and severity, as supported by recent studies 1, 2. The most recent and highest quality study on tinea pedis, published in 2023, confirms that the infection is most often caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale, and that topical antifungal therapy is the mainstay of treatment 1. Similarly, a 2022 review on tinea versicolor highlights the importance of topical antifungal therapy in managing the condition, with oral antifungal therapy reserved for patients with extensive disease or frequent recurrences 2. In contrast, studies on occupational exposures to environmental pollutants, such as the 2021 review on military personnel, focus on the risks of various diseases associated with these exposures, but do not establish a link between such exposures and fungal infections like tinea versicolor, tinea pedis, or tinea cruris 3. Therefore, the most effective approach to managing tinea infections is to use topical antifungal medications, rather than attempting to address potential chemical or radiation exposures.