Tinea Incognito on the Face and Neck / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

Tinea incognito is a dermatophytosis modified by previous treatments such as prolonged use of corticosteroids. Because the lesions often atypical appearing without classic features of ringworm, the diagnosis can be delayed or missed especially when tinea incognito is on the face and neck. A 75-year-old male patient who had been treated with topical steroids at the local dermatologic clinic for 10 years for the eczematous lesion on the scalp and face and recently the lesions spread throughout his neck and back. Physical examination showed ill-defined erythematous scaly patches on the face, neck and back and reddish crusted papules on the scalp. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation on the left face and right neck showed hyphae and fungus cultures were positive for colonies of Trichophyton rubrum (T. ruburum). The result of DNA sequencing from the colony was identical to that of T. rubrum. The lesions were treated by oral terbinafine and topical isoconazole.