Intertrigo

Intertrigo is inflammation of the skin folds. It tends to occur in warm, moist areas of the body where two skin surfaces rub or press against each other. Such areas are called intertriginous areas.

Causes

Intertrigo affects the top layers of skin. It is caused by moisture, bacteria, or fungus in the folds of the skin. Bright red, well-defined weeping patches and plaques are seen in the folds of the neck, armpits, elbow pits, groin, finger and toe webs, or backs of the knees. If the skin is very moist, it may begin to break down. In severe cases, there may be a bad odor.

The condition is most common in people who are obese. It may also occur in people who must stay in bed or who wear medical devices such as artificial limbs, splints, and braces. These devices may trap moisture against the skin.

Intertrigo is common in warm, moist climates.

Home Care

It may help to lose weight and change your body position often.

Other things you can do are:

• Separate skin folds with dry towels.
• Blow a fan on moist areas.
• Wear loose clothing and moisture-wicking fabrics.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

• The condition does not go away, even with good home care.
• The area of affected skin spreads beyond a skin fold.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider can usually tell if you have the condition by looking at your skin.

Other tests may include:

• A skin scraping and a test called a KOH examination to check for a fungal infection

  KOH examination

  The skin lesion KOH exam is a test to diagnose a fungal infection of the skin.

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• Looking at your skin with a special lamp called a Wood's lamp, to check for a bacterial infection called erythrasma

  Wood's lamp

  A Wood lamp examination is a test that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to look at the skin closely.

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  Erythrasma

  Erythrasma is a long-term skin infection caused by bacteria. It commonly occurs in skin folds.

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• In rare cases, a skin biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis

  Skin biopsy

  A skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...

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Treatment options for intertrigo include:

• Antibiotic or antifungal cream applied to the skin
• Drying medicine, such as Domeboro soaks
• Low-dose steroid cream or immune modulating cream may be used
• Creams or powders that protect the skin