Intertrigo
Intertrigo Causes
Where two skin surfaces rub or press against each other, intertrigo tends to occur in warm, moist areas of the body, commonly seen in obese individuals. People who are restricted to bed rest or in those who wear medical devices that may trap moisture against the skin such as splints, braces or artificial limbs may be cause to this condition.
Intertrigo Definition
An irritation of touching skin surfaces in body fold regions (armpits, under the breasts, buttocks, belly, groin and sometimes between toes or fingers) is called intertrigo. It can be worsened by any conditions causing increased heat, friction and wetness and may be complicated by superficial skin infection with yeast or bacteria.
Intertrigo Diagnosis
Basing upon the appearance of your skin is where your health care provider can often make the diagnosis. A KOH examination or a skin scraping may also be done to rule out the possibility of a fungal infection, and furthermore, a Wood's lamp may also be used to rule out a bacterial infection called erythrasma.
Intertrigo Symptoms and Signs
The skin may become inflamed in neck creases, on the skin behind the knee or in front of the elbows, in the groin folds or in the thigh, or less commonly under the belly or breast folds for people who are obese. It is also noted that redness and breaks in the skin (erosions) of opposing skin surfaces where the area may ooze or be sore or itchy, for intertrigo is most commonly seen in skin fold areas.
Intertrigo Treatment
Treatments for intertrigo include calcineurin inhibitors (pimecrolimus cream and tacrolimus ointment), which are non-steroid topical agents and can be helpful in difficult cases, low-potency topical steroid creams, coexisting infection should be treated if preset, and a biopsy may be recommended if the diagnosis is uncertain.