Did you know that 'punctate keratolysis' that tends to develop in summer?

 

Wouldn't there be a lot of people who are worried about the smell because their legs are steamed? The cause of that smell is likely petechiae keratolysis. Petechial keratolysis is one of the skin diseases that are prone to occur in summer. It may be an unfamiliar disease name, but it is by no means a rare disease. However, although it is not a rare disease, many people may not know the cause or specific symptoms. It is characteristic of this disease that proper prevention can be made by knowing the cause. This time, I heard about such petechiae keratolysis. We will also discuss treatment and prevention methods.

What is petechiae keratolysis?

I'm not very familiar with it, but what kind of disease is petechiae keratolysis?

It is a petechial keratolysis that can also be called pitted keratolysis or pitted keratolysis. It is a skin disease characterized by the formation of small, shallow holes in the skin on the soles of the feet or at the lateral margins. It is a small concave hole about a few millimeters in length, but as the symptoms progress, the hole grows and looks like a crater. It can happen to anyone, but it is most common in the teens and 50s, and it is known that men are more prone to it than women. Although more common in men, that doesn't mean women don't get it at all. It is a disease that can occur to anyone, but there are a few people who think that it must be athlete's foot if there is an abnormality on the soles of the feet in summer. However, since the causes and treatment methods of these two are different, it is important to know the difference in symptoms and not to judge yourself.

Please tell me what symptoms look like petechiae keratolysis.

In petechiae keratolysis, a small hole of a few millimeters is formed on the sole of the foot or on the lateral margin. In addition, there are many people who have symptoms in the belly of the toes. It is characterized by the appearance of a crater on the moon, and as it progresses, the holes can stick together and dents of several centimeters are possible. Even if you normally cover your feet with socks, you will immediately notice them when you take them off.

In addition to appearance, characteristic symptoms often include odor or pain. To the extent that the smell of feet is sometimes described as 'smell', there are some people who are hurt by being pointed out by people around them. It also looks itchy, but the symptom is pain, not itching. There are many people who complain of a tingling sensation, and it is characterized by a tendency to feel pain when walking.

Because it is easy to develop in summer, it is often mistaken for athlete's foot. Athlete's foot that occurs on the feet is called tinea pedis, and it shows symptoms such as blisters, peeling of the skin, and sore throat. It is different from the symptoms of petechiae keratolysis, so let's know the difference.

What causes petechiae keratolysis?

Petechiae keratolysis is caused by bacteria such as 'Collinebacterium' or 'Microcox'. The causative bacteria prefer a high-temperature and high-humidity environment and proliferate as the legs become sluggish. Therefore, it often occurs during the wet rainy season or summer. When your feet are steamed in shoes or socks, the high temperature and high humidity cause keratolytic enzymes to occur. That enzyme dissolves the dead skin cells, creating a crater-like hole.

People who sweat a lot or sweat profusely are at an increased risk of getting it, and younger people are more likely to get it than older people who don't sweat a lot. For women, wearing boots on a daily basis increases the risk of developing sweat inside. In addition, hyperhidrosis (eg, focal focal hyperhidrosis) is also a risk as a cause of petechiaetolysis, and people who work in an environment where their feet sweat a lot or who sweat a lot while playing sports should also be careful.

It is thought that the cause of the bad smell in the legs is that the leucine contained in the sebum and dead skin cells in sweat is decomposed by bacteria such as Collinebacterium to produce a substance called acetic acid.

Are there any asymptomatic cases?

Petechiae keratolysis is rarely asymptomatic. Because the bacteria dissolve the dead skin cells in the skin, dents on the skin are a common symptom. It is not an exaggeration to say that a small hole in the sole of the foot is noticed, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is an asymptomatic condition and does not lead to a diagnosis. In most cases, symptoms are recognized by finding a dent in the skin of the sole of the foot when taking a bath, or by a strong foot odor. Foot odor or pain varies from person to person, but it is a symptom that can occur to many people.

About the diagnosis and examination method for petechiae keratolysis

Petechiae keratolysis can be predicted by skin depressions and odors of several millimeters on the soles of the feet. Since the concaveness of the skin is on the order of several millimeters, you can also check the skin condition with the loupe. A painful symptom in addition to the appearance and smell would suggest petechiaetolysis. Athlete's foot is a disease similar to petechial keratolysis, but it must be distinguished because the treatment method is different.

Athlete's foot is one of the most well-known skin diseases, and some of you may have experienced it because it bothers many people in the summer. Symptoms of athlete's foot include blisters and peeling of the skin, causing the skin to become dull. The distinguishing point is that the symptoms of petechiae keratolysis are 'pain', whereas athlete's foot is prone to 'itchiness'. In addition to the characteristic symptoms, by denying athlete's foot, it is diagnosed as petechiae keratolysis.

Please tell me how to check.

To differentiate between petechiae and athlete's foot, the affected area may be tested for fungus. The cause of petechiaesis is 'bacteria', but the cause of athlete's foot is 'fungus = fungus'. For fungal testing, a part of the affected area is cut using a dedicated instrument and the collected sample is viewed under a microscope to check for fungus. Even if you shave, there is little pain and many people feel itchy. When you find out that there is a fungus in the affected area, you are diagnosed with athlete's foot. On the other hand, if 'no fungus = negative', it is diagnosed as petechiae keratolysis, not athlete's foot. The disease is predicted because of a small hole or strong smell on the skin, but it is differentiated from athlete's foot for a more accurate diagnosis.

Methods of treatment and prevention of petechial keratolysis

Petechiae keratolysis is a disease that gets better with proper treatment. A strong smell is also one of the characteristic symptoms, and it is not uncommon for people to suffer from criticism from family members and people around them. But rest assured, the symptoms don't last forever. Using over-the-counter medications puts you at risk of getting worse rather than getting better if your medications don't work for you. Let's start by not putting up with painful symptoms and seeing a dermatologist.

Please tell me how to treat petechial keratolysis.

Treatment of petechial keratolysis uses antibacterial drugs to fight bacteria. Antibacterial agents such as 'erythromycin' or 'nadiproxacin' are prescribed as topical drugs, so apply to the affected area by following the dosage and usage. It depends on the severity of the symptoms, but in most cases, it is applied 1-2 times a day. When applying the medicine, it is important to apply it to clean skin. Wash thoroughly with soap and keep it clean before applying.

Antibacterial drugs work for petechiae, but antifungal drugs do not improve it. This is because the cause is not a fungus. Some people may apply commercially available athlete's foot medicine based on their own judgment that 'it will be athlete's foot'. If you have petechiae keratolysis, no matter how many days you continue to apply athlete's foot medicine, the cause is not a fungus, so symptom improvement is not expected. If you think that you are not getting better with commercially available athlete's foot medicine, we recommend that you see a dermatologist. If you follow the dosage and usage of the prescribed topical medication, many people see improvement in symptoms within 1 to 2 weeks. Although it is not a direct treatment for the skin, it is also known that washing the socks you use with hot water is effective.

Is there any way to prevent petechial keratolysis?

The causative bacteria prefer high temperature and high humidity, so not creating that environment is the biggest prevention. The soles of the feet sweat a lot, so be especially careful during the monsoon or summer months. If you notice that your socks are worn out, replace them as soon as possible and do not leave them in a wet environment. If you sweat a lot or are conscious of sweating, it is recommended that you bring several socks and change them frequently. Also, remove your socks and wash your feet immediately after returning home to avoid the environment favored by germs.

Pay attention to the cleanliness and dryness of the skin of your feet. Hygroscopic cotton socks are also recommended to prevent sweaty feet. If you wear boots or work shoes at work, be careful about sweating inside your shoes. It is important not to leave them worn for long periods of time or to leave them wet, but to allow them to dry properly. If the inside of the shoe is wet with moisture, it is even harder to sweat. Keeping wet shoes dry and not leaving them dry is also important for prevention. If possible, it's a good idea to use open-toed shoes or sandals during periods of high sweating.

In the rainy season or summer, many people say that their feet sweat easily. Leaving stung legs in place increases the risk of getting the disease. Laundry doesn't dry well during the rainy season, but it's also important not to wear under-dry socks. Be sure to dry shoes that are wet in the rain before wearing them. In addition to the formation of small holes in the legs, petechial keratolysis causes pungent symptoms such as smell and pain. Foot odor is often a complex, so it is painful to be criticized by people around you. However, petechiae keratolysis is a preventable skin disease. Those who are aware that “the feet do not sweat well,” or those who work easily in sweat, pay special attention to the cleanliness of the feet. Don't judge yourself by saying, "It must be athlete's foot" or "It will get better soon."

organize

While petechiae keratolysis may be an unfamiliar name, it is actually a skin condition that can affect many people. Characteristic symptoms such as small holes in the skin of the soles of the feet, strong odors, or pain There is an award. Athlete's foot is easily mistaken for petechiae keratolysis, but the cause and treatment method are different. In order to differentiate it from athlete's foot, if you have symptoms of concern, first consult a dermatologist. A complete cure is expected by properly applying the topical medication prescribed by the doctor and keeping the feet clean. If your feet do not sweat well, keep your feet clean by changing socks frequently or washing your feet properly.