Erythrasma

Erythrasma is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium minutissimum. It occurs most often between the third and fourth toes, but it can also frequently be found in the groin, armpits, and under the breasts. Because of it's color and location, it's often confused with a fungal infection like jock itch. Erythrasma is more common in the following populations:

• Overweight people
• Elderly
• Diabetics
• People in warm, moist climates

Erythrasma Appearance

Erythrasma starts as a pink to red patch with well-defined edges. This patch has a finely wrinkled appearance with a very fine scale on it. After some time, the rash fades from pink to a uniform brown color. This consistent brown color with the fine scale distinguishes it from jock itch or other fungal infections which are typically more red around the edges with thicker scaling on the edges.

Other Rashes Like Erythrasma

Even though erythrasma is often confused with jock itch, other skin conditions can look similar. These include:

• Inverse psoriasis
• Tinea Versicolor
• Intertrigo

Erythrasma Diagnosis

At times, your doctor can diagnose erythrasma based on its typical appearance. But more often, your doctor will need to perform other tests to help make the diagnosis. The best way for your doctor to tell the difference between erythrasma and a fungal infection is to do aWood's Lamp examination on the rash. Under the UV light of a Woods Lamp, erythrasma turns a bright coral red, but fungal infections do not. Other tests that may help include:

• Gram Stain: A way to identify bacteria from a sample of the scale. Unfortunately, this bacteria is difficult to get to stick to the slide so it requires a special technique.
• KOH Test: This is a test used to identify fungal elements. This test might be done to confirm that there is no fungus present.
• Skin Biopsy: A sample of tissue is removed and evaluated under a microscope. In erythrasma, the bacteria can be seen in the upper layer of the specimen.

Erythrasma Treatment

Since this is a bacterial infection, erythrasma is best treated with antibiotics, and fortunately several antibiotics fit the bill. The following are antibiotics that are typically prescribed for erythrasma:

• Erythromycin 250mg four times a day for 5 days
• Clarithromycin 1gm once
• The antifungal creams miconazole, clotrimazole and econazole, but not ketoconazole
• Topical antibiotics like clindamycin or erythromycin twice a day for 2 weeks

As with any type of disease, gaining proper knowledge and understanding of the condition is crucial in finding the most effective treatment. The same goes with fungal infections, which is caused by a type of fungi that can be present in various parts of the body resulting in a wide range of symptoms. Moreover, fungi feed on keratin that is commonly found in your hair, nails, and skin. This also explains why fungal infections often affect those areas in the body more than anywhere else.

Lack of proper hygiene is often cited by health experts as the main cause of fungal infection, which promotes the growth and spread of bacteria or fungi. In addition, fungi also thrive in damp, moist, warm, and humid environments. Hence, it is important to maintain proper hygiene when you are exposed to intense amount of sweating to discourage the spread of fungi.