Erythrasma Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Jun 11, 2020
  • Author: Abdul-Ghani Kibbi, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: William D James, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Consider the following:

  • Pityriasis versicolor [24] : Noteworthy is the coexistence of erythrasma with pityriasis versicolor, as described in a 53-year-old woman in whom both infections occurred in the axillary and genitocrural region. [25]
  • Pruritus ani [26]
  • Seborrheic dermatitis [27]

A prospective study was conducted on 842 Korean male soldiers in whom a high prevalence of pitted keratolysis—a corynebacterial infection—was noted. This infection remarkably coexisted with other etiologically related dermatoses of the skin, including erythrasma and trichomycosis axillaris occurring at a higher rate than expected. [28, 29]

It is highly recommended to perform a direct KOH examination to exclude dermatophytosis because 31.6-62% of patients with erythrasma may have a concurrent infection with a dermatophyte. This has been shown in one study where Trichophyton rubrum (81.25%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (6.25%), and Candida species (12.5%) were demonstrated. [30]

Differential Diagnoses