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Contents
  • Spotting the Signs
  • Who's at Risk?
  • Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Prevention Tips

What's Causing Those Weird Patches Between Your Toes?

What's Causing Those Weird Patches Between Your Toes?

The Hidden Culprit

Erythrasma is a common but often overlooked skin infection. It's caused by bacteria and can affect various parts of your body, especially moist areas.
Contents
  • Spotting the Signs
  • Who's at Risk?
  • Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Prevention Tips

Spotting the Signs

Erythrasma typically appears as scaly, reddish-brown patches in skin folds or between toes. It's often mistaken for athlete's foot or other fungal infections. The key difference? Erythrasma glows coral-red under a special UV light called a Wood's lamp.

Who's at Risk?

While anyone can get erythrasma, certain factors increase your risk. These include diabetes, obesity, excessive sweating, and living in warm, humid climates. The bacteria thrive in moist, occluded areas of skin.
Erythrasma is a bacterial skin infection characterized by scaly, reddish-brown patches in skin folds or between toes, often mistaken for fungal infections.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors usually diagnose erythrasma by its appearance and the telltale glow under a Wood's lamp. Treatment options include topical antibiotics like clindamycin or erythromycin, or oral antibiotics for more extensive cases. With proper treatment, erythrasma usually clears up within a few weeks.

Prevention Tips

To prevent erythrasma, keep skin folds dry and clean. Use antiperspirants to control sweating, and wear breathable fabrics. If you're prone to recurrences, your doctor might recommend preventive measures like using antibacterial soaps.

FAQs

Is erythrasma contagious?

No, it's not typically spread from person to person.

Can erythrasma come back after treatment?

Yes, recurrences are common without proper prevention.

Does erythrasma only affect the feet?

No, it can occur in any warm, moist skin folds.

Can over-the-counter antifungals treat erythrasma?

Some may help, but antibiotics are more effective.

How long does treatment usually take?

Typically 2-3 weeks for topical treatments.

The Bottom Line

While erythrasma isn't serious, it can be persistent and uncomfortable if left untreated.
Wondering if those patches might be erythrasma? Chat with Doctronic to learn more about your symptoms and treatment options.
Additional References
  1. Holdiness MR. Management of cutaneous erythrasma. Drugs 2002; 62:1131.
  2. Avci O, et al. J Dermatolog Treat 2013; 24:70.
  3. Inci M, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2012; 26:1372.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.