Intertrigo

What is intertrigo?

In the medical field, intertrigo delineates a morbid condition of the skin, generated by the continuous rubbing of two contiguous body surfaces: in other words, intertrigo is a common form of inflammatory dermatosis, which mainly involves skin folds subjected to continuous friction, areas where sweat stagnates and macerates the superficial epidermal layer, inevitably favoring bacterial infections.

Incidence

Intertrigo is an infectious disease with an inflammatory nature particularly widespread in countries with a hot-humid climate: it mainly affects infants, young people, the elderly and overweight or obese people. The disorder affects both men and women equally. .

Risk factors

In some peculiar conditions, the probability of contracting intertrigo increases considerably: first of all, subjects who are obviously overweight and obese are the "favorite" target for bacterial proliferation, since sweat stagnates between the folds of the skin, literally macerating the layers Bacteria, in such situations, find the ideal conditions to proliferate and generate damage.
Intertrigo occurs very often in newborns, particularly in the intergluteal and inguino-crural folds (that is, located near the groin and at the root of the thigh): in the infant, intertrigo is linked to both sweat that stagnates , and slightly alkaline stools, which tend to "corrode" the skin, favoring its bacterial attack.
Sometimes, even the habitual use of too tight footwear, synthetic material and diapers could represent a risk factor for bacterial colonization, thus causing intertrigo.
Last but not least, poor hygienic conditions and incorrect personal hygiene can considerably affect the formation of dermatosis.

Causes

Intertrigo is caused by some peculiar bacterial strains: the Candida albicans plays a fundamental role in the manifestation of the disease and it is estimated that candidiasis intertrigo is the most frequent. Even the fungi of the genus Epidermophyton they are particularly involved in intertrigo.
Still, it Staphylococcus aureus, the streptococcus piogene and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa could favor the onset of the morbid condition.

Affected areas

The sites most affected by the manifestation of intertrigo are those most prone to sweat stagnation: groin area, axillary area, interdigital area (between the fingers, especially those of the feet), inframammary groove, abdominal area (for overweight subjects), intergluteal sulcus, folds of the neck (typical intertrigo of infants) and retroauriclar furrows. A common condition of overweight and obese subjects is continuous rubbing of the thighs: also in this case, intertrigo is favored. The rubbing between two neighboring areas can be such as to cause real trauma (friction trauma).
In some subjects, the inflammatory dermatosis could be located in very particular and unusual areas: we speak of "pyogenic perionysis" when the "intertrigo involves the superficial layers of the skin and the periungual furrows, while" angular stomatitis "s" means maceration of the corners of the mouth favored by the stagnation of saliva.
Intertrigo at the inguinal level is typical of the elderly: this condition is favored when the patient is obviously overweight and wears a diaper. Again, intertrigo worsens when the elderly, regardless of the disease, tend not to wash thoroughly: as we have seen, poor personal hygiene is one of the major risk factors that predispose to intertrigo.
The diaper favors friction with the groin: continuous rubbing could generate intertrigo, a phenomenon even more favored by the heat and skin erosion of the aforementioned area. Sweat, together with urine and moisture in the skin, is not certain a positive element, quite another, because it instigates the maceration of the skin, therefore the bacterial proliferation responsible for intertrigo. In turn, the dermatosis could spread like an oil stain and infect the haemorrhoidal plexus and the perianal area and cause vaginitis ( in women).
A cascade of events, therefore, which favors the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms, the ones responsible for the actual damage.

Symptoms

For further information: Intertrigo Symptoms

Intertrigo manifests itself with redness, de-epithelialization, peeling of the skin, irritation, redness of the area and itching. When not treated in time, through specific ointments or creams, intertrigo can evolve in a negative sense, creating an increasingly marked and painful maceration of the skin, with cracks, intense pain, bleeding, fissures, blisters and often foul-smelling pustules.
The intertrigo begins with shiny red spots with very evident limits: as you move away from the fulcrum of the spot, the area tends to show flaking, while outside the dermatosic patch (in the periphery), some small succulent lesions may be noted which tend to burst.
The area affected by intertrigo seems greasy, rich in scales and crusts, given by the rubbing and lesions caused by continuous, almost obsessive scratching.
Still, when neglected despite the painful sores, the disease could escalate into a severe form of called intertrigo septic dermatitis or impetiginized intertrigo (excessive, almost "compulsive" scratching sores and bacterial infections).

Treatment

For further information: Intertrigo Prevention and Natural Remedies

For further information: Drugs for the treatment of Intertrigo

Before proceeding with the administration of pharmaceutical specialties, the patient must undergo a medical examination, to allow the culture isolation of bacterial colonies.
Intertrigo is diagnosed through a swab, a careful microscopic examination and, when necessary, also through a biopsy: an invasive examination that involves taking a sample of infected tissue.
After discovering the responsible bacterium, the patient is generally given antifungal / antibiotic ointments or lotions, combined with nourishing and re-epithelizing / healing creams. If the pain is very severe, the specialist may also recommend pain relievers or mild natural anesthetics.