Tropical skin infections

Skin disease may represent a primary condition, or be a secondary manifestation of systemic illness. Both infective and non‐infective conditions need to be considered in a patient presenting with skin disorders, and detailed knowledge of geographical endemicity patterns is vital in formulating the correct differential diagnoses of skin conditions from the tropics. Pyogenic infection is common and can complicate many other tropical skin infections. Syphilis still occurs worldwide and may need to be considered. Mycobacterial infection should be considered with a history of living in endemic areas or a history of high‐risk activities. Fungal infection, either superficial or deep, should be considered in the differential, particularly in the immunocompromised. Cutaneous leishmaniasis can be protean in its manifestation, and should always be considered with a history of travel to any of the endemic regions.