Erythrasma

Erythrasma
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	L08.1
ICD-9	039.0
DiseasesDB	29630
MedlinePlus	001470
eMedicine	derm/140
MeSH	D004894

Erythrasma is a skin disease that causes brown, scaly skin patches. It is caused by the gram positive bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum.

It is prevalent among diabetics, the obese, and in warm climates and is worsened by wearing occlusive clothing.

Course

The patches of erythrasma are initially pink, but progress quickly to become brown and scaly (as skin starts to shed).

Signs and Symptoms

Erythrasma presents with fine, brown scaling patches which are classically sharply demarcated. Erythrasmic patches are typically found in intertriginous areas (skin fold areas - e.g. armpit, groin, under breast) - with the toe web-spaces being most commonly involved.

The patient is commonly otherwise asymptomatic.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis can be made on the clinical picture alone.

However, a simple side-room investigation with a Wood's lamp is additionally useful in diagnosing erythrasma. The ultraviolet light of a Wood's lamp causes the organism to fluoresce a coral red color, differentiating it from fungal infections and other skin conditions.

Treatment

Erythrasma is treated with

• topical fusidic acid
• topical imidazoles
• (systemic) macrolides (erythromycin or azithromycin)

See also

• List of cutaneous conditions

External links

• eMedicine
• Family Practice Notebook
• DermNet bacterial/erythrasma
• Photo at University of Iowa
• -2106916858 at GPnotebook
• Hamann K, Thorn P (1991). "Systemic or local treatment of erythrasma? A comparison between erythromycin tablets and Fucidin cream in general practice". Scand J Prim Health Care 9 (1): 35–9. doi:10.3109/02813439109026579. PMID 2041927.