Intertrigo

Intertrigo is a common skin condition that can cause annoying and painful symptoms, and although it’s a simple condition, it can lead to severe issues.

Intertrigo

Intertrigo is caused by the friction of the skin, where the skin areas are in close contact with each other, like the skin folds, which causes damage to the skin.

Causes and risk factors of intertrigo

Intertrigo occurs due to the friction between two areas of the skin, and this is worsened by heat and moisture. The moisture makes the skin surfaces stick together, and this increases the friction, which leads to skin damage, and therefore, bacterial or fungal overgrowth and inflammation. This overgrowth may also cause an infection because the friction may cause the skin to break, which permits the bacteria or fungi to get into the skin.

The risk of intertrigo increases due to the following factors:

• Certain conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and urinary incontinence.
• Living in a hot and humid environment.
• Excessive sweating.
• Excess skin when great weight loss occurs.
• It’s more common in babies and older people.

Symptoms of intertrigo

• Intertrigo mostly occurs in the armpits, beneath and between the breasts, in the creases of the neck, between the abdominal folds, between the buttocks, between the toes and fingers, in the inner thighs, and in the groin at the scrotum.
• Early symptoms of intertrigo include a red rash with small bumps in the area where the skin friction occurs, itchiness, burning, stinging, and pain in some cases.
• When not treated, intertrigo can cause more severe symptoms, such as the affected skin becoming raw and having cracks, crusted or scaly skin, and bleeding or oozing from the skin.
• When intertrigo leads to infections, it causes a foul smell from the affected area, bumps with pus, and raised and tender bumps.
• Intertrigo can lead to serious complications if not treated well, including sepsis, cellulitis, and nail fungal infections.

Diagnosis of intertrigo

• Medical history.
• Examining the affected skin.

Treatment of intertrigo

• Keeping the affected area clean, dry, and cool.
• Skin creams or gels.
• Using fiber skin barriers.
• A steroid cream.
• Antifungal or antibacterial cream for infected intertrigo.
• Certain medications for some cases.
• To prevent intertrigo: keep the skin dry and clean, shower and dry off after sweating, avoid tight clothes and shoes, wear clothes that are made of absorbent fabrics like cotton, and change the diaper of your child frequently to prevent diaper rash.