An acute ulcerative variant of interdigital athletes foot caused by T. mentagrophytes is characterized by pain, maceration of the skin, erosions and fissuring of the skin, crusting, and an odor due to secondary bacterial infection.Plantar athletes foot (moccasin foot) is also caused by T. rubrum which typically causes asymptomatic, slightly erythematous plaques (areas of redness of the skin) to form on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot that are often covered by fine, powdery hyperkeratotic scales.The vesiculobullous type of athletes foot is less common and is usually caused by T. mentagrophytes and is characterized by a sudden outbreak of itchy blisters and vesicles on an erythematous base, usually appearing on the sole of the foot. This subtype of athletes foot is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus. Complications
As the disease progresses, the skin may crack, leading to bacterial skin infection and inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. If allowed to grow for too long, athletes foot fungus may spread to infect the toenails, feeding on the keratin in them, a condition called onychomycosis.Because athletes foot may itch, it may also elicit the scratch reflex, causing the host to scratch the infected area before they realize it. Scratching can further damage the skin and worsen the condition by allowing the fungus to more easily spread and thrive. The itching sensation associated with athletes foot can be so severe that it may cause hosts to scratch vigorously enough to inflict excoriations (open wounds), which are susceptible to bacterial infection.
Hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis is a rare autosomal dominant disease of the conjunctiva and the oral mucosa caused by a duplication of chromosome 4q35. In the mouth it appears similar to white sponge nevus, with painless, diffuse, folded and spongy white plaques. In the eye it appears as gelatinous plaques on bulbar perilimbal conjunctiva. == References ==