Trichomycosis Axillaris: A Clinicoetiological Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Microbiology

Background:

• Trichomycosis axillaris (TA) is a prevalent superficial bacterial infection affecting hair shafts, primarily in the axilla.
• It is characterized by the formation of pigmented concretions around the hair shaft, caused by various species of corynebacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical presentation, diagnostic features (Wood's lamp, dermoscopy), and microbiological/histopathological aspects of Trichomycosis axillaris.
• To determine the frequency of the corynebacterial triad in affected individuals.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 patients diagnosed with TA.
• Data collection included clinical examination, Wood's lamp examination, and microbiological/histopathological analyses.

Main Results:

• The study population comprised predominantly young males (94.8%) with a mean age of 29 years.
• The flava variant (96.15%) was the most common, exhibiting yellow fluorescence under Wood's lamp. Clinical symptoms included malodor, staining, and itching.
• Histopathology confirmed bacilli, and cultures yielded diphtheroids (64.71%) and Staphylococcus (41.17%), though a specific causative agent was not consistently identified. Only 5.13% showed the corynebacterial triad.

Conclusions:

• Trichomycosis axillaris primarily affects young males, often in rural settings during summer.
• The flava variant is the most frequently observed type.
• Current diagnostic methods do not consistently link specific bacterial species like diphtheroids or staphylococci to the cause of TA.