Pedocrural Tinea in Previously Damaged Lower Leg Skin or Leg Ulcers The Pedocrural Mycotic Infectious Unit

This manuscript focuses on how onychomycosis, interdigital mycosis of the feet or tinea pedis compromises the treatment of chronic venous and lymphatic stasis dermatitis. Tinea pedis, interdigital mycosis of the feet, and onychomycosis often lead to directmycotic infection of previously damaged skin on the lower leg and chronic wounds in the proximity. This tinea cruris and wound mycosis are not the typical presentation of tinea corporis because of the underlying damage and therefore difficult to identify (tinea incognita). The ideal environment for this localmycosis is especially the chronic venous and lymphatic leg ulcer with skin erosion by a weeping wound. The diagnosis should be confirmed cytologically, or histologically by taking curettage samples. Intensive topical antimycotic treatment must encompass the entire foot and lower leg as a mycotic infectious unit (pedocrural tinea). Consistent topical antimycotic treatment will improve the condition of the skin on the lower leg within a few days and facilitate modern wound management. Already-damaged skin on the lower leg should be treated prophylactically for mycosis in the presence of onychomycosis or tinea pedis.