There is a bacterial skin condition that commonly strikes areas of the body where there are skin folds, and it’s what doctors are calling erythrasma. Usually, it affects people who live where it’s warm and humid. Some people are simply more prone to developing this skin condition, such as obese and diabetic individuals.

Luckily, erythrasma responds very well to treatments. Dealing with it usually involves the administration of antibiotics, which can be topically applied or orally taken. Sometimes the combination of topical and oral antibiotics is recommended. Various things may be done at home, too, in order to prevent erythrasma from striking or worsening.

If you like to know some really important matters about this bacterial skin infection concerning the skin folds, read on. Below you will learn about its causes, symptoms and treatment. Especially if you live in a place that’s warm and humid and you have family and friends who are obese or diabetic or have weakened immune system, repost this article.

Cause

A particular type of bacteria is the culprit behind erythrasma, and it’s called corynebacterium minutissimum. This microbe thrives in warm and moist places, and it’s exactly for this reason why the bacterial skin condition that it causes can be primarily observed in areas of the body where there are skin folds.

While erythrasma can affect any one at any age, it is more commonly seen in adults. There are certain things that can increase a person’s risk of suffering from this skin condition. Just about any health-related matter that causes weakening of the immune system can make it easier for erythrasma to strike as the body cannot kill the microbe behind it.

Health authorities confirm that being obese and overweight can increase your likelihood of developing erythrasma. The same is true if you have diabetes. However, you don’t need to have a medical condition just to end up with erythrasma because having poor hygiene, especially if you tend to sweat a lot, can increase your risk of having it.

Signs and Symptoms

If you want to know whether or not you have this bacterial skin condition, all you have to do is take a look at your armpits, groin area, between the toes or other skin folds on your body. If there are skin patches that are red, pink or brown in color, then you may actually be suffering from erythrasma.

The said patches usually appear red or pink initially, and with the passing of time they can become brown. It’s not unlikely for those patches to end up scaly, too. If scales are absent, it’s not unlikely for the affected areas to appear wrinkly. Mild itchiness is another common symptom.

Certainly, scratching the affected areas of the body should be avoided. If you happen to break your skin because of scratching, an infection may strike. Healing of infections especially in skin folds can be really slow and challenging due to the fact that these areas are warm and moist. In rare cases, a blood infection (septicemia) may happen.

Treatment

Because it is a bacterial infection of the skin, erythrasma is commonly treated with antibiotics. Initially, a doctor will recommend the application of antibacterial creams or ointments. If such fails to deliver expected results, then the intake of oral antibiotics may be prescribed. It’s possible for both topical and oral antibiotics to be taken at the same time.

Earlier, it was mentioned that some people are more prone to developing this bacterial skin infection due to certain medical conditions. Identifying and treating the illness or disease that can be blamed for such is important in order for the problem to be addressed more effectively.

Keeping the affected areas clean and dry all the time can help in accelerating the healing process. Someone who is living where it’s warm and humid should do everything necessary to fend off excessive sweating. The use of antibacterial soap in cleaning the affected areas of the body is recommended, too.