Intertrigo with an open sore: what it means

Intertrigo repeatedly exposes folded skin to moisture and friction. The surface may soften, split, weep, or form a shallow erosion. Yeast or bacteria can enter damaged skin, but an open sore is not proof of either infection. Pain, warmth, swelling, pus, odor, or redness that spreads suggests a complication. The cause may also be eczema, an allergy, or another condition, so the sore should be viewed rather than treated with a collection of home remedies.

Rinse gently with clean lukewarm water and pat around it dry. Do not scrub, peel crusts, or apply alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, perfume, vinegar, or essential oils. Keep touching surfaces apart with a sterile or clean non-stick dressing if a clinician or pharmacist advises one, and replace it when wet or soiled. Wash hands before and after care. Avoid sharing towels. Do not put antifungal, steroid, or antibiotic products into the sore unless a clinician has advised that exact product and use.

Contact a clinician promptly for any open sore in a skin fold, especially when it is enlarging, draining, bleeding, increasingly painful, warm, swollen, or surrounded by spreading redness. Fever, chills, dizziness, or feeling unwell calls for urgent advice. People with diabetes or reduced immune function should seek help early. A clinician can decide whether the wound needs a dressing, testing, or treatment for yeast or bacteria.

How deep does the sore appear? Which dressing keeps it protected without trapping moisture? Does it need treatment such as Topical Antifungal Treatment or something different?