What should you know about inverse psoriasis medicine?

Inverse psoriasis, also called flexural psoriasis, appears in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, groin, under the breasts, or between the buttocks. The patches may look smooth, shiny, and bright red rather than thick and scaly because moisture and friction soften surface scale. Burning, soreness, and itching can occur, especially after sweating or rubbing.

A clinician may distinguish it from a fungal infection, contact dermatitis, or another fold rash by examining the pattern and the rest of your skin. The diagnosis guides medicine choice; a product that is suitable for thicker plaques may be too irritating or too strong for a skin fold.

Follow the prescribed amount and schedule, applying medicine only to the affected skin unless your clinician says otherwise. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are one option for sensitive folds because they reduce local immune activity without relying on a steroid effect; learn more about [Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-calcineurin-inhibitors/). They can cause temporary warmth or stinging when first applied.

Keep folds gently clean and dry, choose breathable clothing, and reduce rubbing. Avoid fragranced products or self-treating with combination creams, since an unneeded steroid or antifungal ingredient can change the rash and make assessment harder. Improvement may take time, and maintenance treatment may be discussed if flares return.

Arrange an assessment if a fold rash is new, spreading, cracked, oozing, unusually painful, or not improving with the treatment you were given. Seek prompt care for fever, rapidly increasing redness, pus, or marked tenderness, which can signal infection. Contact your prescriber if burning becomes severe, the skin breaks down, or you are unsure whether the medicine belongs in a particular fold.

Could this be inverse psoriasis or an infection? Which medicine is safest for this fold, how long should I use it, and what should I do between flares? Should I avoid any deodorants, moisturisers, or other creams?