Infection caused by fungi, being Candida albicans the most frequent.
The factors that predispose to its appearance are: warm weather, tight clothing, humidity, poor hygiene, antibiotic treatments that alter the normal bacterial flora, obesity, diabetes, immunosuppression, etc.
The infection can appear on any part of the body, but it is more common in moist and frequently rubbed areas such as skin folds (armpits, groin, buttocks, submammary), spaces between fingers, genitals, oral mucosa and nails. The skin is reddened, inflamed, and may peel. It appears as plaques of variable size and shape but well demarcated. The affected areas may be itchy, burning or painful. There may be vesicles at the edges and cracks at the bottom, including a thick, whitish fluid. It is called intertrigo when it affects the folds.
It is diagnosed by the appearance of the lesions. It can be confirmed by a skin sample collected by scraping, which under potassium hydroxide staining demonstrates the presence of the fungus.
Treatment consists of good hygiene of the area, leaving the skin well-dried, aerated and avoiding rubbing. Dehydrating agents (e.g. compresses with Burow's solution) and topical antifungals such as azoles can be used.
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