Diagnostic Considerations

Also consider the following:

Aspergillus infections under applied tape in neonates
Demodex folliculitis
Pseudofolliculitis ^[30]
Folliculitis ^[31]
Impetigo ^[32]

Occasionally, lupus vulgaris may be in the differential diagnosis of particularly deep-seated annular plaques.

Tinea faciei may be misdiagnosed as discoid lupus erythematosus, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, or contact dermatitis.^{[33, 34, 35, 36]}Tinea faciei is the most frequently misdiagnosed entity among cutaneous fungal infections. The atypical clinical features and incognito presentations support the separation of this disease from tinea corporis. Occasionally, tinea faciei may simultaneously occur with other forms of dermatophyte infections, especially tinea capitis and tinea corporis.

Differential Diagnoses

Workup

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Ansari S, Ahmadi B, Tabatabaeifar SN, Hedayati MT, Javidnia J, Taghizadeh Armaki M, et al. Familial Cases of Trichophyton benhamiae Infection Transmitted from a Guinea Pig in Iran. Mycopathologia. 2021 Mar. 186 (1):119-125. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Singh S, Verma P, Chandra U, Tiwary NK. Risk factors for chronic and chronic-relapsing tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea faciei: Results of a case-control study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2019 Mar-Apr. 85 (2):197-200. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Nenoff P, Mugge C, Hermann J, Keller U. Tinea faciei incognito due to Trichophyton rubrum as a result of autoinoculation from onychomycosis. Mycoses. 50, suppl.2. 2007:20-25.
Pustisek N, Skerlev M, Basta-Juzbasic A, Lipozencic J, Marinovic B, Bukvic-Mokos Z. Tinea incognito caused by trichophyton mentagrophytes -- a case report. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2001 Dec. 9(4):283-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Cai W, Lu C, Li X, Zhang J, Zhan P, Xi L, et al. Epidemiology of Superficial Fungal Infections in Guangdong, Southern China: A Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2014. Mycopathologia. 2016 Jun. 181 (5-6):387-95. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Del Boz J, Crespo V, de Troya M. Pediatric Tinea Faciei in Southern Spain: A 30-Year Survey. Pediatr Dermatol. 2011 Oct 13. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Ansar A, Farshchian M, Nazeri H, Ghiasian SA. Clinico-epidemiological and mycological aspects of tinea incognito in Iran: A 16-year study. Med Mycol J. 2011. 52(1):25-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Nicola A, Laura A, Natalia A, Monica P. A 20-year survey of tinea faciei. Mycoses. 2010 Nov. 53(6):504-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lari AR, Akhlaghi L, Falahati M, Alaghehbandan R. Characteristics of dermatophytoses among children in an area south of Tehran, Iran. Mycoses. 2005. 48:32-37. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Borges A, Brasileiro A, Galhardas C, Apetato M. Tinea faciei in a central Portuguese hospital: A 9-year survey. Mycoses. 2018 Apr. 61 (4):283-285. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Romano C, Ghilardi A, Massai L. Eighty-four consecutive cases of tinea faciei in Siena, a retrospective study (1989-2003). Mycoses. 2005 Sep. 48(5):343-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Alkeswani A, Duncan JR, Theos A. Tinea faciei starting at day two of life. Pediatr Dermatol. 2019 Jan. 36 (1):e20-e22. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Bassi A, Greco A, Galeone M, Venturini E, Bianchi L, Scarfi F, et al. Tinea Faciei in a 14-Day-Old Girl. J Pediatr. 2016 Jun. 173:259. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Bardazzi F, Raone B, Neri I, Patrizi A. Tinea faciei in a newborn: a new case. Pediatr Dermatol. 2000 Nov-Dec. 17(6):494-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Cohen-Abbo A. Newborn with vesicular rash. Tinea corporis (tinea faciei). Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2000 Jul. 19(7):661, 676-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Szepietowski J. Dermatomycoses in newborns. Mikol Lek. 1997. 4:41-5.
Stanes EK, Strunk T. Tinea faciei in a very preterm infant. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2018 Jan 23. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Meymandi S, Wiseman MC, Crawford RI. Tinea faciei mimicking cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a histopathologic case report. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Feb. 48(2 Suppl):S7-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Singh R, Bharu K, Ghazali W, Bharu K, Nor M, Kerian K. Tinea faciei mimicking lupus erythematosus. Cutis. 1994 Jun. 53(6):297-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Agarwal A, Hassanandani T, Das A, Panda M, Chakravorty S. 'Mask tinea': tinea faciei possibly potentiated by prolonged mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021 Jan. 46 (1):190-193. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Berry A, Abramovici G, Chamlin SL. A 21-day-old boy with an annular eruption. Tinea faciei / Tinea capitis. Pediatr Ann. 2014 Jan 1. 43(1):e16-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Media Gallery

Multiple lesions on the face caused by Microsporum canis infection in a patient who also has tinea capitis.
Erythematous scaling lesion on the cheek.

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Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, New York Academy of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jacek C Szepietowski, MD, PhD Professor, Vice-Head, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University; Director of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Disclosure: Received consulting fee from Orfagen for consulting; Received consulting fee from Maruho for consulting; Received consulting fee from Astellas for consulting; Received consulting fee from Abbott for consulting; Received consulting fee from Leo Pharma for consulting; Received consulting fee from Biogenoma for consulting; Received honoraria from Janssen for speaking and teaching; Received honoraria from Medac for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from Dignity Sciences for consulting; .

Specialty Editor Board

David F Butler, MD Former Section Chief of Dermatology, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System; Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Founding Chair, Department of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Phi Beta Kappa, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Van Perry, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Van Perry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tinea Faciei Differential Diagnoses

Diagnostic Considerations

Differential Diagnoses

References

Tables

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