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Pityriasis versicolor on the groin mimicking erythrasma

N Aste1, M Pau, N Aste

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. dermo@unica.it

Mycoses
|June 11, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pityriasis versicolor (PV), a fungal infection, can mimic erythrasma, a bacterial skin disease, particularly in groin folds. Accurate diagnosis via mycological examination is crucial to prevent treatment errors for these common skin conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia yeasts.
  • Erythrasma is a superficial bacterial skin infection typically affecting skin folds like the groin.

Observation:

  • A case study of a 45-year-old man with pityriasis versicolor exclusively in the inguinal folds and inner thighs is presented.
  • The patient's PV lesions clinically resembled those of erythrasma.

Findings:

  • Pityriasis versicolor can present with clinical features that mimic erythrasma.
  • Conversely, erythrasma may also present with atypical or overlapping symptoms.

Implications:

  • This highlights the importance of considering differential diagnoses in common skin infections.
  • Simple mycological examinations are essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of pityriasis versicolor and erythrasma.
  • Misdiagnosis can lead to significant therapeutic errors, underscoring the need for careful clinical evaluation.

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