Search

Superficial fungal infections are widespread, regardless of age and gender, in populations all around the world and may affect the skin and skin appendages. Although there are thousands of fungal infections from various genera and families in nature, those that are pathogenic for humans and nesting in skin folds are limited in number. The prevalence and distribution of these fungi vary according to the patients and certain environmental factors. Because the areas including the lids, external auditory canal, behind the ears, navel, inguinal region, and axillae, also called flexures, are underventilated and moist areas exposed to friction, they are especially sensitive to fungal infections. Fungi can both directly invade the skin, leading to infections, and indirectly stimulate immune mechanisms due to tissue interaction and their antigenic character and contribute to the development or exacerbation of secondary bacterial infections, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Superficial fungal infections can be classified and studied as dermatophyte infections, candidal infections, Malassezia infections, and other superficial infections independently from the involved skin fold areas., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Darier disease, also known as Darier-White disease, is characterized by yellow to brown, oily keratotic papules and plaques in the seborrheic areas of the face and chest. This disorder may show different clinical manifestations, such as palmoplantar pits and nail abnormalities. The trigger factors are mechanical trauma, heat, humidity, ultraviolet B, and pyogenic infections. The disease usually becomes apparent in the second decade of life. The ATP2 A2 (SERCA2) gene mutation was detected in all patients. Histopathologic changes include epidermal adhesion loss, acantholysis, abnormal keratinization, eosinophilic dyskeratotic cells in the spinous layer known as corps ronds, and the presence of grains in the stratum corneum. Although the treatment for Darier disease is unsatisfactory, some relief has been achieved with the use of corticosteroids and retinoids., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The appropriate intake and metabolism of vitamins and minerals are critical to maintaining homeostasis. Imbalance in essential nutrients, either through dietary excess or deficiency or disorders in metabolism, can result in a spectrum of dermatologic and systemic manifestations. Certain nutrient deficiencies produce a characteristic pattern of cutaneous eruption. Recognition of these patterns is important, as they can alert the physician to an underlying nutritional disease. We review nutritional diseases involving zinc, biotin, essential fatty acids, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and riboflavin that present specifically with intertriginous eruptions., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intertrigo is a superficial inflammatory skin disorder involving any area of the body where two opposing skin surfaces can touch and rub or chaff. The word "intertrigo" comes from the Latin inter (between) and terere (to rub) and reflects the rubbing together of skin against skin to create maceration and irritation, hence, friction dermatitis or chaffing. It is a common disorder that can affect any individual from infancy to old age. It is primarily caused by skin-on-skin friction and is facilitated by moisture trapped in deep skin folds where air circulation is limited. The condition is particularly common in obese patients who have diabetes and who are exposed to heat and humidity. The moist, damaged skin associated with intertrigo is a fertile breeding ground for various microorganisms, and secondary cutaneous infections are commonly observed in these areas. The present chapter does not deal with "ordinary" intertrigo, but rather with other skin diseases that have affinity to the intertriginous areas. Diseases mentioned are: acrodermatitis enteropathica, the baboon syndrome or intertriginous drug eruption, Darier disease, Hailey-Hailey, granular parakeratosis, Kawasaki syndrome, necrolytic migratory erythema, streptococcal intertrigo and others., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)