Skin fold rashes, known medically as intertrigo, are one of the most painful and misunderstood skin conditions affecting women in the UK today.
Most women don't talk about it. Most GPs don't take it seriously.
They say: "Lose a bit of weight." "Keep the area dry." "Try some powder."
And so women do. They powder themselves every morning. They blow-dry their folds. They stuff paper towels under their breasts before leaving the house.
And still, the rash comes back. Every single time.
Here's what nobody tells you: if you leave intertrigo untreated for more than 2-3 weeks, it stops being an occasional problem and becomes a permanent one.
A condition that returns every summer. Every time you sweat. Every time it's warm.
And without proper treatment, it doesn't stay mild. It progresses:
✗ Cellulitis - a deep tissue infection that can require hospitalisation
✗ Abscesses that need surgical drainage
✗ Secondary bacterial infections spreading across multiple folds
✗ In severe cases, sepsis - a life-threatening blood infection
Research shows that up to 23% of women with untreated chronic intertrigo develop a systemic infection within two years.
You don't have to let it get that far.