A few months ago I suddenly developed pain and itching around my breasts. The skin was red with a rash, spots and small bumps. The doctor said it was a fungal infection. The symptoms disappeared with the Daktacort cream. I was advised to continue using a greasy cream afterwards. Now the itching and rash are back. At a young age I suffered from eczema a lot. What could this be: eczema, a yeast infection or maybe something else? And how can I best treat this?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with a medical degree.
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, without a pathogen. It is caused by the – slightly too sharply tuned – own immune system. Eczema damages the skin and causes moisture to escape. A fungus or a yeast (a single-celled fungus) can easily grow on it. The skin under the breasts and in other skin folds easily remains somewhat moist and can be damaged by softening and sticking. Daktacort is a combination of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid with an anti-fungal agent. Two birds with one stone. Keeping the skin oily protects against breakage, but if it’s wrong, I’d just use Daktacort again. A fungus or yeast is always present somewhere on the skin. It’s not like a bacteria or parasite that you can eradicate completely. If mold or yeast is treated on the spot, the skin can recover.
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