The palms of the hands, soles of the feet and nails are never involved. The course is essentially chronic and shows no tendency to spontaneous cure.
The red pinta is that most often found in white people, the patches being of brick-red color.
The white pinta may not only be caused by a species of Monilia but it may represent an area formerly invaded by a species producing some other color and then dying out leaving a vitiligo-like area.
The violet pinta is quite common among miners, while the black one is the type which more often appears in the black population. The black varieties may show either a pure black or a violet-black color.
Treatment
Local applications of iodine preparations or of chrysarobin seem most effective. The resorcin sulphur ointment noted under tinea cruris is best for the face.
CHAPTER XXXIV
MINOR TROPICAL AFFECTIONS OF THE SKIN
Dermatophiliasis
This is a skin infection due to the penetration of the region about the feet and especially the toes by the female sand flea or chigoe. It is also sometimes called the jigger. This flea is a member of the subfamily Sarcopsyllinae which differs from the ordinary flea subfamily in that the impregnated female becomes fixed in the tissues of the host instead of developing her eggs in a free state. The proper name for this flea is Dermatophilus penetrans, synonym Sarcopsylla penetrans. It is found abundantly in Central America and Northern South America as well as in the West Indies. It is also found in East and West Africa as well as India and is apparently rapidly spreading over the tropical world.