Erythrasma: a disease that benefits from the sun

Erythrasma looks like a fungal infection of the skin, but in fact this disease is caused by bacteria that constantly live on the skin of a person and under normal conditions do not bring him any harm, and as a result, spots appear on the skin. The bacterial pathogen is activated when the skin's pH changes or its sweating increases, when the skin suffers from poor hygiene or, on the contrary, is cleaned to the point of destroying its protective properties. The level of the body's defenses and the state of immunity also matter. Knowing the characteristic signs of erythrasma helps to prescribe the right treatment.

The word "erythrasma" is of Greek origin and means red staining. Spots on the skin caused by erythrasma form most often in places that sweat most often - large folds on the skin, inguinal region, in women - the area under the breast. Erythrasma can be transmitted through sexual contact, with hygiene items, while walking barefoot on the beach or in the pool.

Manifestations of erythrasma and the main symptoms of the disease

Erythrasma does not usually cause discomfort, only sometimes patients complain of slight itching. Therefore, the disease can go unnoticed for a long time. Initially, yellowish brown or reddish spots appear, covered with small scaly scales.

In erythrasma, only the epidermis is affected, and the nails and hair are not deformed. The spots gradually grow and merge into a large affected area with a clear border, smooth, with small bran-like scales. Later, the center of the spot may turn pale or, conversely, get dark pigmentation.

The course of erythrasma is long, long-term. Increased skin moisture can cause an exacerbation, and then patients note itching and burning, soreness when touched. An aggravation usually occurs in the warm season, when the air is high in humidity, and the skin sweats more often, which contributes to the activation of bacteria on it.

Complicated course of erythrasma is in patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperhidrosis, and obesity. In this case, eczema joins the spots on the skin. The presence of diaper rash can cause a secondary infection to join the erythrasma.

Differential diagnosis of erythrasma and methods of treatment

Luminescent diagnostics allows you to quickly and correctly make the correct diagnosis, especially in combination with the characteristic localization of spots on the skin. Erythrasma should be differentiated from candidiasis, eczema, pink lichen.

Treatment is usually carried out by rubbing an antibacterial ointment into the affected area, treating it with anti-inflammatory drugs. If extensive lesions of the skin are affected, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. A preventive measure for relapses of erythrasma is the treatment of hyperhidrosis, consultations with an endocrinologist, as well as disinfection of the patient's clothes and shoes.

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