Overview
Tinea corporis is a superficial fungal infection of the skin caused by dermatophytes, leading to annular, scaly, and often pruritic lesions 12.Diagnosis
Clinical presentation: Annular, scaly patches with possible central clearing and peripheral erythema 12.
KOH preparation: Microscopic examination for fungal elements 1.
Culture: Confirms the presence and identifies the species of dermatophyte 1.
Wood's lamp examination: Can help identify some dermatophytes, though not all (e.g., Trichophyton mentagrophytes may not fluoresce) 1.Management
First-line treatments:
- Topical antifungals: Ciclopirox 0.77% cream/gel, terbinafine 1% cream/gel, or clotrimazole 1% cream 1.
- Systemic antifungals: For extensive disease or recalcitrant cases, oral terbinafine 250 mg daily or itraconazole 200 mg daily 1.
Adjunctive measures:
- Hygiene: Regular cleansing and drying of affected areas 1.
- Avoidance of irritants: Minimize contact with irritants that may exacerbate inflammation 1.Special Populations
Pediatrics: Careful use of topical agents to avoid systemic absorption; monitor for compliance and side effects 1.
Comorbidities: In cases with psoriasiform reactions, consider dermatophytid reactions and manage accordingly with antifungal therapy 2.Key Recommendations
Confirm diagnosis using KOH preparation and culture to identify the causative dermatophyte (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
Initiate treatment with topical antifungals for localized disease; switch to systemic therapy if lesions are extensive or resistant (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
Monitor for and manage atypical presentations such as psoriasiform eruptions, which may require extended antifungal therapy (Evidence: Weak) 2.References
1 Llamas Carmona JA, Vera Casaño Á, Martin González MT, Martinez Pilar L, Gómez Moyano E. Flexural comedones and scar formation caused by inflammatory Tinea corporis. Pediatric dermatology 2021. link
2 Gianni C, Betti R, Crosti C. Psoriasiform id reaction in tinea corporis. Mycoses 1996. link