Intertrigo management

Intertrigo is a common inflammatory condition of skin folds triggered or worsened by warmth, friction, moisture, maceration and poor ventilation, and often complicated by Candida infection.

Clinical presentation

• Moist, red or discoloured patch in the groin, armpits, under the breasts or at the umbilicus.

• Burning, tenderness, itching and/or a bad-smelling discharge.

Investigation

• Skin scraping for KOH microscopy.

Non-pharmacological management

• Clean the folds daily and dry them well.

• Separate folds with absorbent cotton material or clothing.

• Weight loss in overweight or obese people; control diabetes.

Pharmacological management (2–4 weeks)

• A: Clotrimazole cream every 12 hours, OR C: miconazole cream every 12 hours, OR C: ketoconazole cream every 12 hours,

• AND A: hydrocortisone cream/ointment every 12 hours.