Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report

Tinea incognito is an incorrectly diagnosed form of fungal infection due to a changed clinical picture as a result of systemic or topical corticosteroids or even local immunomodulators. This type of skin lesion is most often located on the trunk but can affect any part of the body. We present a case...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk, Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/530
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849733076245020672
author Marta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk
Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek
author_facet Marta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk
Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek
author_sort Marta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk
collection DOAJ
description Tinea incognito is an incorrectly diagnosed form of fungal infection due to a changed clinical picture as a result of systemic or topical corticosteroids or even local immunomodulators. This type of skin lesion is most often located on the trunk but can affect any part of the body. We present a case report of 76-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who was admitted to hospital because of extensive, painful, and burning erythematous and papular lesions in an annular pattern, covered with a thick, yellow crust, located on the scalp and neck. The skin lesions were accompanied by extensive hair loss. The patient had previously undergone intensified treatment of the underlying disease due to the exacerbation of skin lesions of a subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus type. A suspicion of tinea incognito was raised, and direct mycological examination and culture confirmed the presence of dermatophytes (<i>Microsporum</i> spp.). Tinea incognito can be difficult to diagnose because the clinical picture is relatively nonspecific and can mimic other dermatoses, such as subacute lupus erythematosus. Therefore, in doubtful cases it is necessary to perform a direct test and culture for fungal infection, especially before initiating treatment with glucocorticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents.
format Article
id doaj-art-795e6a25606d470f98d123b9c9d52c1f
institution DOAJ
issn 2309-608X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Fungi
spelling doaj-art-795e6a25606d470f98d123b9c9d52c1f2025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-07-0111753010.3390/jof11070530Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case ReportMarta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk0Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek1The Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandThe Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandTinea incognito is an incorrectly diagnosed form of fungal infection due to a changed clinical picture as a result of systemic or topical corticosteroids or even local immunomodulators. This type of skin lesion is most often located on the trunk but can affect any part of the body. We present a case report of 76-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who was admitted to hospital because of extensive, painful, and burning erythematous and papular lesions in an annular pattern, covered with a thick, yellow crust, located on the scalp and neck. The skin lesions were accompanied by extensive hair loss. The patient had previously undergone intensified treatment of the underlying disease due to the exacerbation of skin lesions of a subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus type. A suspicion of tinea incognito was raised, and direct mycological examination and culture confirmed the presence of dermatophytes (<i>Microsporum</i> spp.). Tinea incognito can be difficult to diagnose because the clinical picture is relatively nonspecific and can mimic other dermatoses, such as subacute lupus erythematosus. Therefore, in doubtful cases it is necessary to perform a direct test and culture for fungal infection, especially before initiating treatment with glucocorticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/530tinea incognitotrichoscopysubacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus<i>Microsporum</i> spp.glucocorticosteroids
spellingShingle Marta Kasprowicz-Furmańczyk
Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek
Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
Journal of Fungi
tinea incognito
trichoscopy
subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
<i>Microsporum</i> spp.
glucocorticosteroids
title Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
title_full Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
title_fullStr Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
title_short Tinea Incognito Caused by <i>Microsporum</i> spp. Mimicking Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—Case Report
title_sort tinea incognito caused by i microsporum i spp mimicking subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus case report
topic tinea incognito
trichoscopy
subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
<i>Microsporum</i> spp.
glucocorticosteroids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/530
work_keys_str_mv AT martakasprowiczfurmanczyk tineaincognitocausedbyimicrosporumisppmimickingsubacutecutaneouslupuserythematosuscasereport
AT agnieszkaowczarczyksaczonek tineaincognitocausedbyimicrosporumisppmimickingsubacutecutaneouslupuserythematosuscasereport