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Suggest Treatment For Fungal Skin Infection Around Anus
Question: Skin infections around anus on buttocks, with very small and medium pimple like bumps from inside and outside of the skin. Also similar skin patterns around groin. The skin has become a bit whitish, may be because of me itching too much. Please have a look at the pictures attached.
Brief Answer:
I suggest a possibility of fungal infection/tinea cruris
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the Images.
In Images I can see scaly, patches with irregular margins involving body folds of groin and butt cheeks. Scaling is more at the margins.
The skin looks quite thickened, dark and shiny (lichenified); this is because of constant scratching.
I suggest a possibility of Fungal Infection/Tinea Cruris. Tinea classically presents with red, scaly, itchy patches which extend peripherally.
A KOH wet preparation made from a small amount of scale scraped from the lesions, to look for fungal elements, would be confirmatory.
The infection seems quite extensive, therefore, if you were at my clinic I would have suggested both Topical as well as Oral Antifungals.
One of the topical antifungals that would be effective in superficial fungal infections of the skin e.g Luliconazole, sertaconazole, terbinafine, butenafine etc may be used, twice daily.
Oral antifungals e.g either fluconazole Or terbinafine are also commonly prescribed together with topical antifungals for superficial fungal infections with extensive skin involvement.
Oral and topical antifungals need to be given for at least 4-6 weeks.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
Oral as well as topical antifungals are prescription drugs therefore, I suggest you to visit a dermatologist in your region for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as appropriate treatment.
Regards
I suggest a possibility of fungal infection/tinea cruris
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the Images.
In Images I can see scaly, patches with irregular margins involving body folds of groin and butt cheeks. Scaling is more at the margins.
The skin looks quite thickened, dark and shiny (lichenified); this is because of constant scratching.
I suggest a possibility of Fungal Infection/Tinea Cruris. Tinea classically presents with red, scaly, itchy patches which extend peripherally.
A KOH wet preparation made from a small amount of scale scraped from the lesions, to look for fungal elements, would be confirmatory.
The infection seems quite extensive, therefore, if you were at my clinic I would have suggested both Topical as well as Oral Antifungals.
One of the topical antifungals that would be effective in superficial fungal infections of the skin e.g Luliconazole, sertaconazole, terbinafine, butenafine etc may be used, twice daily.
Oral antifungals e.g either fluconazole Or terbinafine are also commonly prescribed together with topical antifungals for superficial fungal infections with extensive skin involvement.
Oral and topical antifungals need to be given for at least 4-6 weeks.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
Oral as well as topical antifungals are prescription drugs therefore, I suggest you to visit a dermatologist in your region for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as appropriate treatment.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hi Doctor,
Thank you for your reply. Should a visit to dermatologist enough for this or do you think I should visit a doctor having some other specialization.
Secondly, Do you think it's a very serious concern which would be cured with medicines/cream or ointments or there are some more serious steps which needs to be taken to cure it.
Thirdly, Is it safe to apply and have the medications mentioned by you? In case if it safe, I would like to go ahead with whatever you have prescribed and see the results for few days, before visiting a doctor.
At the least, if I can get rid of the itchiness of the skin, it would be of great relief to me. Is it safe to have cetrizine 10 mg? If yes, should I have it before/after food and during breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Thank you for your reply. Should a visit to dermatologist enough for this or do you think I should visit a doctor having some other specialization.
Secondly, Do you think it's a very serious concern which would be cured with medicines/cream or ointments or there are some more serious steps which needs to be taken to cure it.
Thirdly, Is it safe to apply and have the medications mentioned by you? In case if it safe, I would like to go ahead with whatever you have prescribed and see the results for few days, before visiting a doctor.
At the least, if I can get rid of the itchiness of the skin, it would be of great relief to me. Is it safe to have cetrizine 10 mg? If yes, should I have it before/after food and during breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Brief Answer:
I suggest you to apply an OTC topical antifungal e.g 1% clotrimazole cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, a visit to a dermatologist would be enough.
It is not a serious condition and would be fine with Oral+Topical antifungal treatment for 4-6 weeks.
I can suggest you to apply an OTC topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, twice daily for a few days. However, since the area of involvement is quite large therefore oral antifungals should also be added for faster and more compelete improvement.
However, the antifungals (Oral+Topical) that I suggested in my previous reply are prescription products and therefore would only be available on prescription of a dermatologist.
Cetrizine 10 mg is an OTC oral antihistamine that can be taken once daily in evening before or after dinner. It would provide only symptomatic improvement with itching whereas specific treatment with antifungals would be curative.
Regards
I suggest you to apply an OTC topical antifungal e.g 1% clotrimazole cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, a visit to a dermatologist would be enough.
It is not a serious condition and would be fine with Oral+Topical antifungal treatment for 4-6 weeks.
I can suggest you to apply an OTC topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, twice daily for a few days. However, since the area of involvement is quite large therefore oral antifungals should also be added for faster and more compelete improvement.
However, the antifungals (Oral+Topical) that I suggested in my previous reply are prescription products and therefore would only be available on prescription of a dermatologist.
Cetrizine 10 mg is an OTC oral antihistamine that can be taken once daily in evening before or after dinner. It would provide only symptomatic improvement with itching whereas specific treatment with antifungals would be curative.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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