Intertrigo, commonly called “skin fold dermatitis”, refers to a type of inflammatory

rash A rash is a change of the skin that affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracke ...

(

dermatitis Dermatitis is a term used for different types of skin inflammation, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened ...

) of the superficial skin that occurs within a person's body folds. These areas are more susceptible to irritation and subsequent infection due to factors that promote skin breakdown such as moisture, friction, and exposure to bodily secretions and excreta such as

sweat Perspiration, also known as sweat, is the fluid secreted by sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and Apocrine sweat gland, apocrine glands. The eccrine sweat glands are distribu ...

urine Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and many other animals. In placental mammals, urine flows from the Kidney (vertebrates), kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and exits the urethra through the penile meatus (mal ...

, or

feces Feces (also known as faeces American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, or fæces; : faex) are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the ...

. Areas of the body which are more likely to be affected by intertrigo include the inframammary fold, intergluteal cleft, armpits, and spaces between the fingers or toes. Skin affected by intertrigo is more prone to infection than intact skin. The term "intertrigo" commonly refers to a secondary infection with

bacteria Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of Prokaryote, prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micr ...

(such as '' Corynebacterium minutissimum''),

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

(such as '' Candida albicans''), or

virus A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living Cell (biology), cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Viruses are ...

es. A frequent manifestation is candidal intertrigo. Intertrigo occurs more often in warm and humid conditions. Generally, intertrigo is more common in people with a weakened immune system including children, the elderly, and

immunocompromised Immunodeficiency, also known as immunocompromise, is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. Most cases are acquired ("secondary") due to extrinsic factors that affe ...

people. The condition is also more common in people who experience

urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence (UI), also known as involuntary urination, is any uncontrolled leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a significant effect on quality of life. Urinary incontinence is common in older women ...

and decreased ability to move.

Cause

Bacterial

Bacterial intertrigo can be caused by '' Streptococci'' and '' Corynebacterium minutissimum''.

Diagnosis

Intertrigo can be diagnosed clinically by a medical professional after taking a thorough history and performing a detailed physical examination. Many other skin conditions can mimic intertrigo's appearance including erythrasma, inverse psoriasis,

scabies Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious human skin infestation by the tiny (0.2–0.45 mm) mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei'', variety ''hominis''. The word is from . The most common symptoms are severe itchiness a ...

, pyoderma,

atopic dermatitis Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a long-term type of inflammation of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is also often called simply eczema but the same term is also used to refer to dermatitis, the larger group of skin conditi ...

, candidiasis,

seborrheic dermatitis Seborrhoeic dermatitis (also spelled seborrheic dermatitis in American English) is a long-term skin disorder. Symptoms include flaky, scaly, greasy, and occasionally itchy and inflamed skin. Areas of the skin rich in sebum, oil-producing gland ...

, and fungal infections of the superficial skin like '' Tinea versicolor'' or '' Tinea corporis''.

Treatment

Treatment for intertrigo focuses on managing excess moisture, friction, and addressing secondary infections. Initial management emphasizes prevention and patient education. Patients are often advised to wear loose, breathable clothing (such as cotton) and avoid synthetic fabrics. Moisture-wicking textiles designed for skin folds are also increasingly recommended due to their ability to wick away moisture, promote evaporation, reduce friction, and often provide antimicrobial properties through embedded silver. Daily skin fold hygiene, including cleansing with a pH-balanced cleanser (avoiding alkaline soaps) and thorough drying, is commonly advised. Skin barrier products are also commonly suggested to protect against both moisture and friction. While specific product selection guidance is limited,

barrier cream A barrier cream is a Topical medication, topical formulation used in industrial applications and as a cosmetic to place a physical barrier between the skin and contaminants that may irritate the skin (contact dermatitis or occupational dermatitis ...

s containing

zinc oxide Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the Chemical formula, formula . It is a white powder which is insoluble in water. ZnO is used as an additive in numerous materials and products including cosmetics, Zinc metabolism, food supplements, rubbe ...

or honey have been used. Absorptive powders like talc or cornstarch are generally no longer recommended. Secondary infections often require targeted treatment. For fungal and candidal infections, topical

antifungal An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as ...

s (

clotrimazole Clotrimazole, sold under the brand name Lotrimin, among others, is an antifungal medication. It is used to treat vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, diaper rash, tinea versicolor, and types of ringworm including athlete's foot and jock itc ...

nystatin Nystatin, sold under the brand name Mycostatin among others, is an antifungal medication. It is used to treat ''Candida (fungus), Candida'' infections of the skin including diaper rash, Candidiasis, thrush, esophageal candidiasis, and vaginal ...

, miconazole) are typical; severe cases may require systemic antifungals ( fluconazole,

itraconazole Itraconazole, sometimes abbreviated ITZ, is an antifungal medication used to treat a number of fungal infections. This includes aspergillosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis. It may be given ...

). Topical miconazole is sometimes preferred for its additional antibacterial action. Treatment usually lasts at least two weeks. For significant inflammation and itching, combination antifungal/low-potency

corticosteroid Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are invo ...

preparations may be used, though evidence supporting corticosteroids over antifungals alone is limited. Bacterial infections may require topical or systemic antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), used judiciously due to antimicrobial resistance concerns. In severe or refractory cases where medical management fails, surgical options may be considered. These include procedures to remove excess skin and tissue, such as panniculectomy (removal of excess abdominal skin and fat) or other body contouring procedures. Breast reduction can be beneficial for women with macromastia, and post-bariatric patients with excess skin folds may also benefit from body contouring procedures to reduce skin-on-skin contact and improve hygiene. Intertrigo is also a known symptom of

vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 is one of the B vitamins, and is an essential nutrient for humans. The term essential nutrient refers to a group of six chemically similar compounds, i.e., "vitamers", which can be interconverted in biological systems. Its active f ...

deficiency.

References

External links