What Causes My Bottom Skin To Be Cracked And Bleeding?

Overview

Intertrigo caused by skin friction — Intertrigo is a common inflammatory skin status that's caused by skin-to-skin friction that is intensified by heat and moisture.

What is intertrigo?

Intertrigo is a mutual inflammatory skin condition that is acquired past skin-to-pare friction (rubbing) that is intensified by oestrus and moisture. It usually looks like a ruby-red rash. Trapped moisture, which is normally due to sweating, causes the surfaces of your skin to stick together in your skin folds. The moisture increases the friction, which leads to skin damage and inflammation.

In many cases of intertrigo, impairment to the skin allows bacteria and/or mucus normally present on the surface of your skin to overgrow. The warmth, trapped wet and friction-induced skin impairment create an ideal surround for bacteria and fungi to grow and multiply. This overgrowth of bacteria and/or fungi triggers your immune arrangement to respond, which results in secondary inflammation and a visible rash. In more severe cases, the bacterial and/or fungal overgrowth is significant enough to cause a secondary infection.

Is intertrigo a fungal infection?

Intertrigo itself is non an infection. It's an inflammatory skin condition. However, intertrigo often leads to a fungal or bacterial infection. This is known as a secondary infection. Candida — a blazon of yeast, or fungus — is the most common crusade of secondary infection related to intertrigo.

What parts of the body get intertrigo?

Intertrigo can appear in between any skin areas that are in shut contact with each other, such every bit peel folds, and that are often moist.

The most common places that intertrigo occurs include:

In the crease(s) of your neck.
In your armpits.
Below or betwixt your breasts.
Betwixt your belly folds.
Between your buttocks.
In your groin at your scrotum.
In your inner thighs.
Betwixt your toes and fingers.

Babies are specially at take chances for intertrigo because their peel is fragile and they're more likely to have moist skin from drooling or from wearing diapers. The most common places for babies to accept intertrigo include:

On their buttocks or in their groin area (oftentimes referred to simply as diaper rash).
In between their neck folds.
In the creases of their skin rolls or folds on their artillery and legs.

Are there unlike kinds of intertrigo?

There are a few names for intertrigo (too known every bit intertriginous dermatitis) depending on certain factors such every bit where it appears and if it's caused an infection or not. Your healthcare provider may employ ane or more of these terms to describe your intertrigo:

Astute intertrigo: If your intertrigo just recently appeared, it'south chosen acute intertrigo.
Recurrent intertrigo: If you've had multiple cases of intertrigo over time, information technology's called recurrent (relapsing) intertrigo.
Chronic intertrigo: If your case of intertrigo has lasted six weeks or more than, it's called chronic intertrigo.
Uncomplicated intertrigo: Simple intertrigo means your intertrigo has non caused an infection.
Interdigital intertrigo: Intertrigo between your fingers or toes is called interdigital intertrigo.
Candidal intertrigo: Candidal intertrigo happens when your intertrigo becomes infected by the yeast (fungus) Candida. Candida is the most common cause of intertrigo infections.
Diaper rash: Likewise known as diaper dermatitis, diaper rash is a form of intertrigo.

Can intertrigo spread to other parts of my torso?

You lot tin can have intertrigo in more one place on your body at the same time, but intertrigo does not spread to other parts of your body. This is because a central contributing factor for intertrigo is friction from peel-to-pare rubbing, so just places on your body where your skin rubs together tin can have intertrigo.

If you lot become an infection from your intertrigo, the infection can spread to other parts of your trunk and can crusade serious complications. It'due south important to encounter your healthcare provider every bit soon as possible if yous have signs of an infection.

Who gets intertrigo?

Anyone at any age can get intertrigo. Babies frequently get diaper rash (diaper dermatitis), which is a form of intertrigo. People who have obesity, diabetes and/or a weakened immune organisation due to underlying disease or medication are more likely to get intertrigo.

How mutual is intertrigo?

Intertrigo is a mutual skin condition. It'southward about common in hot and humid environments and during the summer.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes intertrigo?

Intertrigo is caused past skin-to-skin friction that is made worse by rut and wet. This about usually happens between peel folds or creases and betwixt your toes or fingers.

The trapped moisture — often due to sweating — causes your skin surfaces to stick together. This increases the friction between your skin surfaces, which causes skin damage, bacterial and/or fungal overgrowth and inflammation. In many cases of intertrigo, the skin breaks open from the friction, which allows leaner and/or fungus to become into your peel, causing an infection. The moisture and warmth brand a perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to multiply. If the affected area comes in contact with sweat, pee or poop, it can make your intertrigo worse.

Unlike kinds of fungi and bacteria that can cause secondary infections include:

Candida : Candida, a type of yeast and fungus, is the most common crusade of secondary infections in intertrigo cases.
Dermatophytes: Dermatophytes are fungi that require keratin (a type of protein) for growth. These fungi tin crusade infections in your peel and nails. Dermatophyte fungi ofttimes cause secondary infections from intertrigo in betwixt your fingers or toes.
Staphylococcus aureus : This bacteria — often called staph — is a common cause of intertrigo bacterial infections.

What are the signs and symptoms of intertrigo?

Signs and symptoms of intertrigo depend on how severe it is and if there is an infection or not.

Early on symptoms of intertrigo without infection tin can include:

Having a somewhat symmetrical ruby or cherry-red-brown rash with small bumps in an area where your skin rubs against itself.
Having itching, stinging and/or called-for in the affected area.
Feeling uncomfortable or experiencing hurting in the afflicted surface area.

If intertrigo is not treated in its early phase, you can develop the post-obit symptoms:

Feeling like your affected peel is raw.
Having cracks in your afflicted peel.
Experiencing bleeding or oozing from your affected skin.
Having skin that is crusted over and/or scaly in the affected area.

Symptoms of intertrigo with an infection can include:

Having a foul smell in the affected surface area.
Having bumps on your afflicted skin that contain pus.
Having raised, tender bumps on your affected skin.

If you take signs of an infection, it's of import to encounter your healthcare provider or go to the nearest infirmary as before long as possible. Infections need proper medical treatment and can lead to serious complications if they're left untreated.

Is intertrigo contagious?

Intertrigo is non contagious. You lot can't get it from some other person or spread it to another person.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is intertrigo diagnosed?

Even though intertrigo is a common condition, it tin can be difficult to diagnose because it can wait like other skin conditions that can touch skin folds. Your healthcare provider volition inquire you thorough questions near your history, focusing on any skin conditions you currently have or have had in the past. They'll also ask you questions virtually medications you take, allergies and sensitivities you may accept and if you've used certain kinds of topical ointments or soaps. They'll then do a visual examination of your affected skin.

If your provider suspects you take an infection from your intertrigo, they may perform certain tests such equally a skin scraping to run across what kind of organism is causing the infection.

What tests will be done to diagnose intertrigo?

There's currently no formal test or assessment tool to diagnose intertrigo. Your healthcare provider will diagnose your intertrigo based on thorough questions almost your history and a visual exam of your afflicted skin.

If your healthcare provider thinks yous may have an infection from your intertrigo, they may perform one or more of the following tests:

Forest'south lamp exam: A Wood's lamp is a small tool that uses black lite to illuminate areas of your skin. Your healthcare provider will hold the tool over your afflicted skin in a darkened room. If a sure kind of leaner or fungi is causing your infection, the calorie-free will cause the affected area of your skin to change colour.
Pare scraping: Your healthcare provider will apply a tool to scrape and remove some of your affected peel. They volition then wait at the skin sample under a microscope to come across what kind of fungus or bacteria is causing your infection.
Skin biopsy: Your healthcare provider will use local anesthesia and a biopsy tool to remove a small piece of your skin. A laboratory technician or a pathologist will then examine it nether a microscope to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Management and Handling

How is intertrigo treated?

The primary way to treat intertrigo that hasn't acquired an infection is past keeping the affected surface area dry, clean and cool.

Ways yous can keep your intertrigo dry, make clean and cool at dwelling include:

Dry yourself thoroughly with a clean towel later on you take a shower. Dry out the affected area past patting it with a towel, not rubbing it.
Use a fan or a hairdryer on the "absurd" setting over the affected area multiple times a solar day.
Clothing loose vesture and breathable fabrics, such every bit cotton wool.
Utilise a balmy antiperspirant (deodorant) in your armpits or under your breasts to minimize sweating.
Employ a powder drying agent, such as talcum pulverisation, on your affected area. If you lot use an ointment for your intertrigo, practise not use it and powder at the same fourth dimension. They will create a tacky paste.

Other things y'all can do to treat uninfected intertrigo include:

Use pare barrier creams or anti-chafing gels: Creams or ointments with zinc oxide and/or petrolatum tin assistance reduce friction between your affected skin by creating a bulwark.
Use cobweb skin barriers: Use materials such as clean gauze or cotton to carve up the affected skin that is touching can help reduce friction.
Use a topical steroid foam: Your healthcare provider may recommend a topical steroid cream to help with inflammation. You tin can buy mild steroid creams at your local pharmacy without a prescription.
Use topical anti-fungal and/or anti-bacterial creams: Your healthcare provider may recommend a topical steroid cream to assistance combat fungal and bacterial overgrowth that contributes to inflammation. You can purchase anti-fungal and anti-bacterial creams at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

Treatment for intertrigo that has caused an infection depends on what caused it. Your healthcare provider volition demand to find out what kind of bacteria or fungi have acquired your infection in society to give you proper treatment.

Treatment for infected intertrigo can include:

Antifungal cream: If you have an infection that's caused past a mucus, your healthcare provider may have you utilize a specific topical antifungal cream or ointment on the afflicted area.
Antibody cream: If you lot have an infection that'due south acquired past bacteria, your provider may have you use a specific topical antibacterial cream or ointment on the affected area.
Oral medication: Your provider may prescribe you one or more oral medications (pills) in guild to care for your infection. These could include antibiotics or antifungal medications.

Prevention

What are the hazard factors for getting intertrigo?

Hazard factors for getting intertrigo include:

Obesity: Intertrigo is strongly associated with having obesity. People who have obesity usually have more pronounced skin folds and increased sweating. It tin can also be more than difficult for people with obesity to properly clean and care for their skin folds.
Diabetes: Having diabetes tin can cause increased sweating, which helps contribute to intertrigo. In addition, having diabetes and chronic high blood sugar can increase your skin surface pH, which makes it more than platonic for bacteria and fungi to grow and multiply. This tin can put people with diabetes at a higher hazard of getting an infection from intertrigo.
Incontinence: People who have urinary incontinence (not beingness able to control their bladder) and/or fecal incontinence (not existence able to control their bowel movements) are at college risk for intertrigo because pee and/or poop in an absorbent undergarment creates a warm and moist surroundings. If yous already have intertrigo, contact with sweat, pee or poop can make your intertrigo worse.
Excessive sweating: Excessive sweating (known every bit hyperhidrosis) can put you at a college hazard of intertrigo.
Excess skin from significant weight loss: People who have backlog skin from pregnant weight loss are more than likely to become intertrigo due to the skin folds rubbing together.
Living in a hot and boiling environment: Intertrigo is caused past skin friction due to trapped moisture, so living in a hot and humid environment, where you are more than likely to sweat, puts you lot at a college adventure of getting intertrigo.
Your age: Intertrigo is more common in babies and older people. Babies are at a college risk for intertrigo because their peel is sensitive and they often have moist peel from drooling or from wearing diapers. It can be more hard for older people to bathe and care for their skin routinely, so they're at a higher risk for intertrigo.

What can I practice to prevent intertrigo?

In that location are several things you can do to attempt to prevent getting intertrigo, including:

Keep your peel cool, dry and clean, especially areas where your peel rubs together.
Shower and dry off completely every day and especially subsequently yous exercise or sweat.
Avoid wearing tight clothes or shoes.
Wear dress that are fabricated of breathable and absorbent fabrics, such as cotton, and fugitive dress made of synthetic materials.
Use a skin barrier protectant cream if y'all take incontinence.
Modify your child's diaper frequently to prevent diaper rash (a grade of intertrigo).

If you've had repeated cases of intertrigo, the post-obit actions may aid to preclude hereafter cases:

Have a structured skincare routine: Talk to your healthcare provider or a dermatologist almost a skincare routine that could help forbid intertrigo. The plan could include gentle cleansing, moisturizing and using a skin barrier protectant such every bit zinc oxide or petroleum jelly.
Lose weight: If y'all have obesity, losing weight could aid prevent time to come cases of intertrigo. See your healthcare provider and/or a registered dietician to discuss means you can healthily and safely lose weight.
Take a breast reduction : If you've had cases of intertrigo under your breasts, a breast reduction could help. Talk to your healthcare provider.
Have body contouring surgery: If you've had cases of intertrigo due to having backlog skin from meaning weight loss, talk to your provider almost body contouring surgeries, such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and brachioplasty, to remove extra skin.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for intertrigo?

While intertrigo can exist unpleasant and painful, it is treatable. The prognosis (outlook) for intertrigo depends on the person's overall wellness. In about cases, people recover well from intertrigo if it's treated properly.

Intertrigo can become chronic (long-lasting) or recurrent (occurring often), and then it'southward of import to accept care of yourself and follow a proper hygiene routine to forbid your intertrigo from coming dorsum.

Tin can intertrigo cause complications?

If intertrigo is not treated properly, it can cause complications, including:

Nail fungal infections: If a fungal infection from intertrigo that is betwixt your toes or fingers is not treated properly, it can cause a fungal infection in your toenails or fingernails.
Cellulitis: Cellulitis is a deep infection of the skin and soft tissue caused by bacteria. If cellulitis is not treated properly, it can be life-threatening. This complexity is more common in people who take diabetes and intertrigo.
Sepsis: If y'all accept an infection caused past intertrigo that is not treated, it could lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a medical emergency caused by the body's response to systemic infection. It can be life-threatening.

Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you have a peel rash that isn't going away or all of a sudden gets worse, it'due south important to see your healthcare provider. There are many unlike kinds of skin rashes — many of which look very like —so your provider will want to make sure your rash is in fact intertrigo and not something else.

If you have been diagnosed with intertrigo and your intertrigo doesn't seem to be getting amend with handling, contact your healthcare provider.

If you lot take signs of an infection from your intertrigo — such equally a foul olfactory property in the affected area or pus—be sure to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible or go to the nearest hospital. Infections need proper medical handling.

If y'all've had multiple cases of intertrigo over fourth dimension (recurrent intertrigo), talk to your healthcare provider about how y'all can foreclose it from coming back and more permanent solutions for prevention.

A note from Cleveland Dispensary

While intertrigo can be unpleasant and painful, the practiced news is that it's treatable and oft preventable. Try your best to prevent intertrigo by keeping your pare clean, dry and cool, particularly if yous're at a higher risk of getting information technology. If yous have symptoms of intertrigo, be sure to contact your healthcare provider. You will receive a proper diagnosis and a handling plan so that you tin can experience better soon.

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21693-intertrigo

Posted by: brownagerelf.blogspot.com