ABSTRACT
Cutaneous candidiasis is a superficial opportunistic infection of the skin due to yeasts of the Candida species. Albeit all body areas may be involved, cutaneous candidiasis mainly affects skin folds and anogenital areas, as such regions are characterized by a high humidity degree, which remarkably favors Candida growth. Genital candidiasis is diagnosed according to clinical presentation and mycological assessment of vaginal or penile discharge, including microscopic examination and fungal culture; under the microscope, budding yeast is visible. Cutaneous candidiasis is dermoscopically typified by erythema and epidermal detachment presenting as large scales usually having a peripheral distribution and an outward direction of extension. Candidal vulvovaginitis should be differentiated from conditions characterized by inflammation, pruritus and/or whitish discharge, including bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginitis, atrophic vaginitis, and psoriasis, while candidal balanitis may be mistaken for other forms of balanitis, especially Zoon's balanitis, irritative balanitis and psoriatic balanitis.
