Erythrasma
Erythrasma Causes
Some people report mild itching or burning, especially in the groin area, even if erythrasma usually causes no symptoms. Corynebacterium minutissimum is a bacterium which causes erythrasma. Its usual appearance is a reddish-brown slightly scaly patch with sharp borders causing lesions occurring in moist areas such as armpit, groin, and skin folds to itch slightly.
Erythrasma Definition
A common skin condition affecting the skin folds and is called erythrasma. An infection by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum is a result of the slowly enlarging patches of pink to brown dry skin. People affected by this condition are mostly overweight or have diabetes which are common in warm climates.
Erythrasma Diagnosis
In diagnosing erythrasma, the doctor may try the Wood's lamp test (when examined under this ultraviolet light, the lesions glow a coral-red color) or culture of scrapings from the lesion.
Erythrasma Symptoms and Signs
Erythrasma is a condition typically located in moist body folds as in the groin and inner thighs, under the arms (axillae) and between the toes, especially between the 4th and 5th toes and less commonly, it can be found in the buttock crevice or in the folds underneath the breasts. Some people, especially those with diabetes, the infection can become widespread and can involve the arms, trunk and legs.
Erythrasma Treatment
In treating erythrasma once its diagnosis is established, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics such as erythromycin or clarithromycin, Whitfield's ointment, topical antibiotic lotions such as clindamycin, or aluminum chloride solution to inhibit sweating and moisture.