Tinea barbae is a dermatophyte infection of the beard area most often caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes or T. verrucosum. Diagnosis is by examination of plucked hairs on potassium hydroxide wet mount. Treatment is with oral antifungals and sometimes prednisone.
Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.
Tinea barbae is a dermatophytosis that manifests in the beard area as superficial annular lesions, but deeper infection similar to folliculitis may occur. Tinea barbae may also manifest as a kerion (a large, boggy nodule caused by a severe inflammatory reaction to the dermatophyte) that can result in scarring hair loss.
Diagnosis of Tinea Barbae
Potassium hydroxide wet mount
Diagnosis of tinea barbae is by identifying the fungal element (hyphae) on potassium hydroxide wet mount of plucked hairs, culture, or biopsy.
Differential diagnosis of follicular-based papules and pustules in the beard area includes bacterial folliculitis.
Treatment of Tinea Barbae
Oral antifungals
Sometimes prednisone
Options for Treatment of Superficial Fungal Infections
