Dermatophilosis

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What is dermatophilosis?

  • Dermatophilosis is a skin condition
  • It causes spots and blisters, sometimes with scabs
  • You can catch dermatophilosis through sex or other physical contact
  • The condition is not serious and can be treated effectively with antibiotics or an antiseptic solution.

How do you get it?

Dermatophilosis is a skin condition that has been spreading amongst men who have sex with men since December 2025. Cases have been reported in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and also in the Netherlands. The bacterium itself is not new, but human-to-human transmission is. 

How do you catch dermatophilosis?

You can catch the dermatophilosis bacterium through contact with livestock. You can also catch it through intimate contact with other people, such as during sex. 

Symptoms

Symptoms of dermatophilosis

In humans, dermatophilosis resembles many other bacterial skin infections. It causes inflammation of the hair follicles, leading to the formation of spots and blisters, sometimes with scabs on top. These occur mainly on hairy parts of the body, such as the beard or pubic area. 

Check how the spots can look.

They are not painful, but may sometimes cause itching or a burning sensation. Just like ordinary spots, they do not leave any scars. They do not make you ill either. The symptoms of dermatophilosis are very different from those of Mpox. Read more about Mpox.

Symptoms of dermatophilosis usually appear within 14 days of coming into contact with the infection.

What you can do

What should you do if you have dermatophilosis?

Do you have symptoms of dermatophytosis? And have you had sex with someone who also had these symptoms? You can ask your GP for treatment. Or call the Sexual Health Centre at your local GGD.

Wait until you have recovered from dermatophilosis before having sex. By then, the scabs on the spots will have healed. Until then, do not share towels or bed linen with your housemates, and wash everything at 60 degrees. Cover the spots and scabs with clothing. Make sure that other people or animals do not come into contact with the spots. 

Treatment

Treatment of dermatophilosis

Dermatophilosis responds well to treatment with antibiotics, an antibiotic ointment or an antiseptic solution. Treatment usually lasts a few days. Treatment is only necessary if the spots are causing you significant discomfort. It can also clear up without treatment. 

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Read further

  • Mpox

    There was an outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) in Europe. Symptoms include skin rash and fever. It’s not an STD, but it can spread through sex.

  • Syphilis

    Syphilis is a serious STD. Sometimes you can recognize it from the presence of an ulcer. It’s important to treat syphilis timely with medication.