LOADING 0%
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
Do I need an appointment? Donate
Do I need an appointment?

PRIME THIS MONTH

There’s a fungus among us. New infection affects gay men.

A new STI

Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII/VIII is a fungal infection of the skin. Cases of this new strain are being reported in gay men across Europe including the UK. Several cases have been reported in London.

 

How is it spread?

The fungus is most easily passed on by skin to skin contact during sex. It can also be caught by sharing a towel or bedding that has been used by an affected person.

 

What’s it look like?

The rash may look similar to other fungal skin infections with circular red and scaly patches. However it can become very inflamed and develop painful spots or blisters filled with pus. The blisters may burst leaving a yellow crust. The rash most commonly appears on the face, penis, groin or buttocks.

Trichophyton can be confused with other conditions such as cold sores, herpes, psoriasis or Mpox. There are photos of the rash in the articles linked at bottom of this article.

 

How is it diagnosed?

Trichophyton can’t be diagnosed using a standard skin swab. It needs to be grown from flakes of skin
that are scraped from the rash. The sample is sent to a laboratory.

 

What is the treatment?

This strain of Trichophyton needs to be treated with antifungal tablets. (e.g. Itraconazole). It can take 2-3 months of tablets to clear the infection. Creams don’t work. Towels and bedding should be washed at 60 degrees. Shaving can spread the infection.

 

The bottom line

There have been cases of a new sexually transmitted infection in London. It’s not currently common, but should be considered if you have an unexplained painful rash that doesn’t get better.

 

Articles with photos

Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII

Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS genotype VII infections among men who have sex with men in France: An ongoing phenomenon – Jabet – 2025 – Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology – Wiley Online Library

Last month’s article

In last month’s Prime, we discussed the thoughts and opinions on the gonorrhoea vaccine.
PRIME – Last Month

Help and advice

To unsubscribe, text PRIMECANCEL to 60060

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.