Psoriasis ad dermatomycosis

Abstract

Mycological study was performed on 52 patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of psoriasis; they were attending the Dermatology Service at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, Medellín, Colombia, between August 1991 and February 1993. One hundred and nine specimens were obtained from either psoriatic plaques or lesions suggestive of dermatomycosis. The diagnosis of dermatomycosis  was established in 10 patients (19.2%); 5 of them had Candida albicans onicomycosis that was not associated with age, sex, occupation or psoriasis therapy; 4 men suffered from E. floccosum infection and in one woman T. tonsurans was found in interdigitallesions of the feet. Statistically significant association was found between dermatophytic infection and the use of systemic steroids (p = 0.021 ). Dermatophyte growth was not obtained from the psoriatic plaque and histological changes typical of the disease were not seen In the mycotic lesion. In conclusion: the frequency of dermatomycosis is low in psoriasis patients; the skin infected with fungi is free from psoriatic changes and the risk of acquiring dermatophytic mycosis Increases about 30 times In patients receiving systemic steroids.