Brown pigment on skin

Hi, Ive had a dry brown like rash under my armpits and where my bra goes for quite awhile now, and its spread down my stomach and is now on my back, it has to be some sort of infection,if I dont put cream on it, it gets very dry and cracks and gets itchy. I have been to the doctor twice, and been prescribed creams but its is not getting rid of it, its so annoying and looks terrible. It dosent hurt at all it just itches. Please help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be erythrasma. Erythrasma is a chronic superficial infection of the intertriginous areas of the skin. It is true that groins are effected but the typical appearance is well-demarcated, brown-red macular patches. The skin has a wrinkled appearance with fine scales. Wood lamp examination and gram staining are the tests for its diagnosis.

The standard therapy of erythrasma is antibiotics and antifungals because it is caused by a bacteria C minutissimum. Erythromycin is the drug of choice.

Mild steroids are helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with it. But use it only after a dermatologist’s prescription.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[Sez922]

Thanks for your quick reply. Will I be making it worse using normal soap on the effected areas, and wondering if you know what causes this? Is it something you eat or have I reacted to something that I have put on my skin?
I am also pregnant and my doctor said its superficial, so wont effect my baby is that right? Its not internal, just external.

Regards...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Erythrasma is a chronic superficial infection of some areas of skin like the skin folds. It is a superficial infection and your baby won’t be harmed by it. It is not caused by changes in diet etc, Infact, it is caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum which is a normal skin flora but under some conditions like heat, humidity, stressful states of body, immunocompromised states of body, it can flourish.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.